Trade in Value

[D-Roc]

I will be buying a new car wihting the next three weeks or so. I want to gather some opinions on what I could realisticaly expect/negotiate for a trade in value of my car.

Know it is on the lemon aid guide as a car to stay away from and I have no desire to sell privately for that reason and for the fact it has high km's.
The agent has implied a trade in value of 500.00, but of course they always go low and I am not expecting $2000.00. I would be happy with 1000.00, but again I want some opinions.

I have a 2000 Ford Focus SE 253,000 km's. Runs fine, but does have an intermittent problem that can not be diagnosed at this time and is the main reason for buying a new car. It also may need a motor mount replaced as there are vibrations.

So what do you think? Is $1000.00 to high of an expectation?

[zivan56]

The Canadian black book site doesn't seem to have an appraisal value for it...which is what most dealers check first. I would be more worried that the dealer will not even want to give you anything for it, since the value is quite low. They might lower the price of the new car and make it look like you got $1000. Maybe go to one of those shadier dealers (that only sell beaters) and try to sell it for cash?

[AGR-1]

What would you pay for your car?

Most dealers can show a "trade allowance" of close to 1,000 its not a big deal to do.

"Do you want to see a 1,000 discount or 1,000 for your car?

[D-Roc]

I was just at the dealer trying the Sport trim which I ended up not liking as much as the GL. Talk a bit about numbers and they offered 900.00....I could probably get them to 1000.00 and I would be completely happy with that.

[Karbaum]

If you get $1,000, dance all the way to the bank.

[stuntman]

I was just at the dealer trying the Sport trim which I ended up not liking as much as the GL. Talk a bit about numbers and they offered 900.00....I could probably get them to 1000.00 and I would be completely happy with that.

Did you settle on the price of the new car yet? If not then that extra $100 you think you might be able to squeeze....well it is just a mirage.

[BartBandy]

Don't bother trading it in - it's trade-in value is almost $0. Sell it privately and negotiate the new car deal without it. Ask the dealer how much he'll give you for it after you've negotiated the new car price, and you'll get the real answer.

[thephenom]

Check on trader to see how much they go for.

Now divide that price by 1.13 (since trade-in is subtracted before taxes). Now compare which value is greater. If trader is still higher, sell it privately, for a $1k beater, I'm sure there are plenty of market for it. If trader is lower, then just trade it in.

All depends on how much you value your time.

[downloader]

a nine year old focus with 253 k I would be happy with $900

[D-Roc]

a nine year old focus with 253 k I would be happy with $900


The more I think about it, you are right. Besides it is not worth haggling over 100.00 in the grand scheme of things. Better to haggle over the actuall price of the car or to see if they can throw in any freebies.