Trading cars in - dealer valuation

[Paul Eggleton]

I've never really traded cars in, usually sold privately. Now i'm getting older I want less hassle :whistle:

What sort of % below forecourt/private value is usually offered?

Using the CSL as an example (and i'm not selling), what would a dealer offer if it was worth £25k on the forecourt? £20k? or more?

I know there are many variables but what are folks general experiences?

Thanks

[anissut]

Problem with the CSL they don't book properly in all the guides, ie: CAP and Glasses. Dealers are pretty thick about it and try to quote the same trade price as an M3. Best go try and get an independent like Nick Johnson to bid if you want a trade sale. Also Dick Lovett used to be quite good on CSLs, not sure about recently though.

[Paul Eggleton]

Problem with the CSL they don't book properly in all the guides, ie: CAP and Glasses. Dealers are pretty thick about it and try to quote the same trade price as an M3. Best go try and get an independent like Nick Johnson to bid if you want a trade sale. Also Dick Lovett used to be quite good on CSLs, not sure about recently though.

ANISSUT - my question wasn't specifically about CSL's but cars in general........

[shane@mbtech]

ANISSUT - my question wasn't specifically about CSL's but cars in general........

The % knock down is different from car to car, spec colour, age condition etc, No set trend, ive had trade in offers vary by 5k on my 996 turbo fom different dealers, that was a 32k car.

Think it depends how many they sell etc etc too, and from month to month.

I would say for example a 10k forecourt, would be 7.5k offer from trade.

[anissut]

ANISSUT - my question wasn't specifically about CSL's but cars in general........

They will just work off one of the trade guides, CAP or Glasses. Obviously whichever one has a lower trade price. It's always worthwhile having those values before you approach a dealer for a trade price. In recent times a lot of dealers have been bidding below CAP due to the nature of the market. So many variables with each and every car, ie: a lot of demand, no demand, supply status etc. There is no formula you can work off. If you know anyone with access to one of the guides just ask them first, that's what I always do.

[mattCSLnut]

I've never really traded cars in, usually sold privately. Now i'm getting older I want less hassle :whistle:

What sort of % below forecourt/private value is usually offered?

Using the CSL as an example (and i'm not selling), what would a dealer offer if it was worth £25k on the forecourt? £20k? or more?

I know there are many variables but what are folks general experiences?

Thanks

IMHO P/X is the fastest way of getting FOOKED... U might as well lower your trousers and bend over while you're asking :gayfight:... I hate car dealer for that :ban:... No offence Lawsy :whistle:

[Fasteddie]

Here's my 'ad' for the guys who bought my car off me. I recently sold my Elise 111R, I only connacted these guys to get a 'very bottom' price from them but they offered me enough to see that the hassle of selling was in fact not worth it. My car that had track suspension on it (Ohlins two ways if you need to know) it also had braided hoses, toe links done and had been 'set up' nicely when the shocks were put on, also had full dealer history almost 3 years old, needed one wheel doing, the front spoiler lip was shaved and had 17k miles. I thought I'd be happy with £21k, they offered me £19k but I could keep the shock (I can sell these for between £1000 and £1200). So surprise surprise I sold it to them. So the difference in what I could achieve was low, however I think a Dealer could sell this on at £23K no probs
These are the guys to contact, in general (Obviously) I hear Nick is a good buyer of CSL's but I know these guys like nice cars and wanted to sell me a CSL but then that takes the fun out of buying, doesn't it?? I'll tell you after this weekend!!:hahaha:

http://www.carconnector.co.uk/

[Dan_csl]

IMHO P/X is the fastest way of getting FOOKED... U might as well lower your trousers and bend over while you're asking :gayfight:... I hate car dealer for that :ban:... No offence Lawsy :whistle:

I got a superb trade in price on my old M3! Got £100 MORE than I paid for it, they then put it on eBay and lost £200 on it over what they gave me! :bigcry: :birdman:

If your smart and know what you want or need then it can be done :thumbs:

[derek]

i got offered £14k for mine and £15k if it had sav nav:smt017 against a VXR8. Most dealer get prices from traders who have no idea about the csl

[shane@mbtech]

IMHO P/X is the fastest way of getting FOOKED... U might as well lower your trousers and bend over while you're asking :gayfight:... I hate car dealer for that :ban:... No offence Lawsy :whistle:

Not always Matt, It can depend how much they have in the car you are part ex-ing against.

I dont hate them ,after all its their business, I know loads of traders who bit a soggy one so to speak and its cost them in the end. Swings and roundabouts,

I think it depends how much you value your time, Ive sold a lot of cars over the years and TBH peoples logic defies belief. I sometimes would have rather have accepted a few k less than deal with fuckwits and weirdos.

[Fasteddie]

sorry Lawsy, didn't know you were a car dealer.

[shane@mbtech]

sorry Lawsy, didn't know you were a car dealer.

Im not now mate, I used to, but now only sell my own personal cars.
Some might still say I am due the amount of cars Ive had over the last few years.:hahaha::hahaha:, Swap my cars quite alot.

[Dan_csl]

I sometimes would have rather have accepted a few k less than deal with fuckwits and weirdos.

I did exactly that with my Escort Cosworth's before Xmas, probably could have pushed for another 1k+ tbh but the guy that bought it was genuine, rs owner's club member and had the ready's on the day so it went, I was happy with that as there was no hassle at all! Plus in the grand scheme of things a grand or two isn't a lot these days is it!? :whistle:

[northernjim]

My best mate is a car dealer and seeing as how I like cars, I have listened to his tales of woe on many an occasion...

from what I can glean off him, yes the glasses guide is relevant, but from then on it depends on how switched on he is, and you too... plus the variables of desirability of your car, time of month, state of the economy!!!!!! The more expensive the car the less of a risk they will take with their money...

On the plus side, it much less hassle to offload your undesirable, needing a service and 4 tyres car to a dealer than have a load of pikeys traipsing around your garden trying to steal your car and valuables....:clown:

I did exactly that with my Escort Cosworth's before Xmas, probably could have pushed for another 1k+ tbh but the guy that bought it was genuine, rs owner's club member and had the ready's on the day so it went, I was happy with that as there was no hassle at all! Plus in the grand scheme of things a grand or two isn't a lot these days is it!? :whistle:

did you say cosworth's Dan? no wonder a couple of bags of sand makes no odds to you...:whistle:

[mattCSLnut]

Not always Matt, It can depend how much they have in the car you are part ex-ing against.

I dont hate them ,after all its their business, I know loads of traders who bit a soggy one so to speak and its cost them in the end. Swings and roundabouts,

I think it depends how much you value your time, Ive sold a lot of cars over the years and TBH peoples logic defies belief. I sometimes would have rather have accepted a few k less than deal with fuckwits and weirdos.

I change my cars (that's my daily donkeys) quite frequently as I do biggish miles every year, I must have been through at least 20 chariots in the last 18 years. Some last six months others a year and a bit. On one occasions back in 2006 I tried to P/X as the car I was looking at (2000 MY E46 328i Sport Touring) which was right up my street, so to speak but the dealer gave me the usual "Glassy Guide Bull S**T" as if it was the fooking Bible... it's a guide, an estimate, ball park figure not the Holly grail I said ... I had a 2003 VW Passat SE 130 PD TDI, ex fleet, F VW SH, one owner, with 124K on the clock daily shitter I picked up at BCA for £4600 six months previous with 100 K on the clock ... he tried his luck with a £3500 p/x offer against his £5995 for a 2000 E46 328i Touring with 120K on the clock (greedy fook) Suffice to say I walked away (despite really wanting the E46 Touring he had)... that same night I advertised my VW on AUTOTRADER for £5995, some £500 less then the rest, few days later a local punter turns up with £5800 cash, bought my VW Passat on the spot and drove it home same day a happy man... Same night I check if the dealer still has the E46 Touring... good news, he has, and better still he's dropped the price to £5795... the following day I re visit the same dealer, check the Touring over, make him my only offer of £5000 cash there & then... his attitude all very different now that I'm a cash buyer with no P/X... he happily accepts the £5K deal and I drive home in the car I wanted all along, just a week later and £800 up, not £2495 down ... it pays to stick to your guns :beer: