trade in value of my '03 Forester

Mentioned I'm trading it next year.

One source said book value is $4,000 but KBB is $2,000.

Wonder what is best estimate - base model, excellent finish, 65,000 mi. no leaking fluids(currently)?

Reply to
Frank
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I've never found any of the values given online to be accurate. The real answer is, of course, that it is worth what you can get for it and that depends on too many different variables beyond simple model, finish, and condition. What sort of mood is the dealer's rep in? Are they meeting their quotas? What are you trading it in on (if you are buying a $15K or a $115K car it looks a lot different)? Is there an actual demand for your trade-in? Will they be able to offer you more trade-in by withholding some other manufacturer benefit you might not know about?

Reply to
John McGaw

Depends entirely where you are. Someplaces you can;t give them away (bad dealer service, no requirement for AWD, etc) and other places you just can't find them for sale at any price - they get grabbed up immediately at ridiculous prices.

Reply to
clare

"John McGaw" wrote

Yes. Another factor can be their current selling price of the new car. (see below) I have looked at both Kelley and Edmunds trade-in values. They give different figures, and I averaged the two. Then I made up an arbitrary "For the new car I'll pay no more than $300 over the alleged invoice." Put all that together, and let's see what their final offer is.

When I bought my Accord 2-1/2 years ago they were selling it for $400 below invoice (per TrueCar.com), and the [snotty] salesman said he therefore had little room to negotiate on my trade-in. I don't care how they juggle new car vs. trade-in, I look only at the bottom-line figure.

Reply to
Howard Lester

Since asking, I'm seeing on line, '03's selling for the $4,000.

Don't know what the family and friends deal is now but I will be using it and for my wife's '08 it was 2% under invoice and they gave her the book value of her old Nissan Sentra which was $1,000.

Frank Jr. was also going to buy under family and friends but they only offered him $500 for his Chevy which he valued at $2,000. He walked and bought a Chevy to have the Subaru dealer call the next day and offer him the $2,000.

Don't want to put up with such hassle and will probably tell dealer in advance what I want and maybe go to other nearby Subaru dealers. I know that the closest dealer makes more off of selling old Subaru's than new ones.

My brother used to sell Chevys but wanted to buy an Outback and said he did not need the family and friends deal and bought without it.

My brother had told me that a guy walked in once with all the internet info and offered to buy a car at the price he thought it should be. My brother agreed and sold him the car but told me the guy could have gotten it for less had he bargained.

I hate to go through all this rigamarole and am trying to avoid as much as possible by doing homework beforehand.

Reply to
Frank

Here's another source if you haven't looked seen it yet:

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The nice thing about it is it goes farther back in time than the others I've seen

Reply to
Dean Hoffman

I misread KBB and I think site you suggest and KBB would say I should get about $3,500 in trade. If local dealer tries to low ball me, I'll walk and go across the state line, only a dozen miles, to a larger dealer in PA.

Not buying car under duress like the time my Mazda was stolen and stripped or my '98 Forester was totaled and I needed a new right away.

Reply to
Frank

All I know is it depends on model year, extras(options, add-ons like remote starter), mileage, and region) If you wait till next year it is getting a year older as soon as January comes which will lower the price.

Reply to
Tony Hwang

Actually not. It was a year older as soon as the 2016 models hit the market.

Reply to
clare

That 2016 model is two years old when new year comes around as far as I am concerned.

Reply to
Tony Hwang

You make a point and I'll monitor it although doubt whether 13 or 14 years old will not make a big difference. I do recall being pissed off at the insurance company when my '98 Forester was totaled in giving me a month to evaluate it and then dropping $100 off the KBB value of where it was when it was hit.

We have three dealers in this area and the one I would go to for service is in the town of Newark but there is one in Wilmington and one over the line in PA - all within 10 miles.

My wife had knee replacement surgery two weeks ago and that takes all precedent.

The oil burning issue also concerns me and I may look at RAV4 and CRV.

I'm your age and with a 5 year engine and mechanical warranty will be 81 years old when it expires. Wish I could get a 5 year warranty on myself.

Reply to
Frank

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