HI,
I know this is usually a hard question to answer but I really need some input. I am confused on what KBB, Dealer, etc. are saying to me.

I currently own (For Past 3 years) a 1991 Pontiac Trans Am with the 350 Engine. Car is all original with no modifications. 9.2 out of 10 in terms of perfection. Interior is perfect and all OEM. Exterior is almost perfect with two small scratches. Paint is glossy. Color is Fire Engine RED exterior and Black Cloth Interior.

Mechanically perfect. New Tires and New Tuneup 6 months ago. 84,756 original miles. Always garaged. Carfax shows car never had negative news.

Dilema - I want to trade it in on a new 2002 Trans Am. KBB says it is worth roughly $3300. Dealer offered $3500. Now I know that car magazines, ebay, other classifieds show cars not nearly this perfect selling for 5K +.

Just want to get opinions on what a car like this is roughly worth. I am in NO HURRY to sell it to buy the new one. Also, if I decide to sell on my own, where has everyone had the best success in selling ?

Thank you for your opinion.

 

Not to sound like a jerk but $3500us...Take it! 85000miles is a fair bit, and the car is almost 12 years old now. I understand that the car is really clean but...Up here in Canada that car would have around 170,000 km on it (quick conversion) a dealer may pay someone around $5-6000 in Cdn funds. In my opinion anyway, he is offering you a fair trade in. Remember the $5k cars you see on ebay are retail. Trade ins are alway a bit under wholesale. Just my .02

Keiran

 

I know 2 yrs back when I was lookin for a 3rd Gen Camaro, most that were 5.7s with a little over 100k miles were tryin to sell for a minimum of $4k, not sure if they ever got it.

$3500 seems a bit low for what you're describing, I would try and sell it yourself.

 

I think he is wondering what he can get for it if he were to sell it at retail. What does kbb show your cars retail value at by the way?

Ben

 

A car is only worth as much as the person whom you are selling it to is willing to pay.

If that person doesn't want to fork over the greenbacks, best keep it or find somebody who does.

Fair price or not in your opinion, he's not willing to pay what you want, so you have to look until you find someone else.

Personally, trade-ins are usually NOT in your best interest. If they give you a decent amount of money for it, I'd bet dollars to donuts that you are over paying for the car you're buying.

If you want a fair price, sell it privately. If it is in as good of shape as you are suggesting I'm sure it will sell quickly. The milage is nothing IMO. Down here all cars get high mileage because you have to drive a long distance to get anywhere. Wanna see a pro-baseball, football, hockey or basketball game, you've got a 450 mile round trip. I've got to drive a 60 mile round trip to go to the movies!

I know things are quite a bit closer in PA, so I guess that's not relevant. Either way, I'd certainly not flinch on your asking price because of the milage.

 

Chipguy...This is what you should do. Say you would like to get $5000 for your car, and the dealership wants say $14000 for their car. Well if the dealership is not willing to give you full pop for your car then don't give them full pop for theirs. See what I am getting at. So in this example because they are only offering you $3500 trade in value, then I would say fine I'll take $3500 fro the trade in but I only think your 4th gen is worth$12000. This usually works, but you have to be nice and professional about it. You don't want to act like a know it all, or be snoughty. Be nice and pleasant and maybe you can work yourself out a deal. Don't forget by trading in your car that lowers tha purcahse price of the 4th gen saving you a bit of $$$ on the taxes,

Hope this help ya???

Don't be afraid to ask any other questions

Keiran

 

Thank you all for your information. I am thinking about keeping it until spring and then trying to sell privately. In the meantime, I will pick up the 2002.

Thanks for your info. You guys always seem to know what is up.

 

I agree with Cruzin Kaz. I they are giving you wholesale for yours, make sure you offer wholesale on theirs. Make they trade apples for apples and oranges for oranges.

 

Talk them up.....say how much you like the new car, bla-bla-bla-bla......how you would like to take it home today......

Then when they say $3,500.......pretend to talk it over with the wife and say......"Well i don't think this will work into my budget...."

Tell them how much you are willing to spend on the total deal....

Ask "Can you meet this figure, IF not then i'm sorry i will have to pass on this offer cause i can't buy from you."

I bet they will meet your needs, they work on comission and can't afford to loose sales.....

They rather make a little money then no money at all........I know quite a bit when it comes to car salesmen and the tricks they pull....frankly they do alot of lying......

 

Not to disagree but I really don't think you know as much as you say about salesman. #1 They will try to stand on their original price right to the end. #2 they don't do as much lying as you think..not a good salesman anyway.#3 a good salesman laughs at the customer who tries to play games with them. And #4 the salesmen have no real say on what the car can actually be sold for, the sales manager or owner does. I'm not trying to be a ***** FLYNLOW92rs, just trying to state the facts. I've been in the used car sales for over 15 years now. The salesman in this case did exactly what he was suppose to do. Now Chipguy needs to low ball the salesman back, but nicely and calmly.

What are they asking for the 2002 Trans Am???

 

Hello everyone,
4th Gen's I am looking at our between 29K - 32K for the new 2002 models. I agree with all above regarding negotiating and I feel I am pretty good at it.

I really feel like I can get close to 5K for it when the weather turns nice again. I could be very wrong but when I see the cars of this year in the surrounding areas selling for close to 5K in not near the shape mine is in, I feel I can get it.

Thanks again for all your opinions and have a real nice holiday ! You have all been helpful.

 

You should be able to get 5K US$ for that car easy, depending on where you live, some areas have lot and the price is low some have few and the price is high, check the local adds and what not and see what they are going for and then look at them like you would if you where buying. Always check out the competition right !!!

Then when you walk into the dealer you offer straight cash for the car, or cash down, cause most dealers I know LOVE CASH :hail: $$$.

It's a shame your not up here that car of your in the shape you say it is would go for 7K+ US$ easy so like 10K CAN$.

Good luck in your buy & sell.

 

It really depends on your area alot! 150 miles south chicago area you can pick up f-bodys for 2000-3000 in decent clean shape but, up north more 200 miles the same cars go for 5000-6000 so it really depends and while the stangs go for 4000 up north they go for 4000-5000 by chic again? why who knows but, I have watch both sides sell if they got that much who knows but, those are there sticker prices, I paid 2500 for mine down by chicago in 95 it was a 7/10 with 100,000 miles T-tops tpi 305 good tires and interior ect.

 

Dude,

It sounds like a real nice car and those 91-92 trans ams/gta's aren't very common at all. You should easily be able to fetch 5000+ for that car, especially in that kind of condition. Just put it out there and don't bite at the first offer you get...you will find someone who will appreciate it and give you a fair deal. That $3500 KBB value is the trade-in value not the private party value, which is a lot closer to what people are going to pay you. Trade-ins are always a no-gain situation at best, and usually thats when you get to dump a lease or something along that order.

 

These must be Canadian salesmen........canadians seem to be alot more civil, or at least my experience there for the summer.......

I'm not putting them down, I'm simply saying.......they are in the business to make money.......so obviously you are paying more then the car is worth, your paying them extra for the service of them finding the cars for you and bringing them all together.....

There are good salesmen out there, you can't stereotype all of them, it's your responsibility to sort through them.....

There are 2 types of "good" salesmen...........1 makes alot of money and moves alot of cars..........the other helps out the customer alot and doesn't make as much money, BUT has repeat customers.....

 

You are right about the 2 types of salesman...Kinda. In my eyes. There is the liar,cheat, steal type. and then there is the nice guy help you out guy, make sure your happy till you get rid of your new car guy. I'm the second one. The nice guy. The ony real way for a salesman to make good money at selling cars for a living is to be the nice guy, just like you said to make a repeat customer always come back to you. You may not make as much as the liar all at once, but in the end you will make alot more in total. After all once you've ripped a customer off...they arent' your cutomer anymore, they are mine! And will come back to me because they felt like they were treated with respect, and given the best deal possible. Trouble is, now I have to find a new place to sell cars because my old Boss didn't like my style cause I wouldn't the customer like the other salesman. Oh well I guess it is more rough in the States. but don't kid yourself there are alot of crappy salesman & women up here too.

 

If you do not owe money on the '91 I would try to sell it myself. You can probably get close to $5k for it yourself. The trade in price they are offering you is fair for a trade in price but if you don't feel like that is enough sell it yourself...
and use the extra money for mods on the 2002!

 

i have basically the same car you do except mine is dark red with a silver interior and 81000 miles. kbb says that retail on it is like 63-6500, i would go for 5-5500. but thats just me.

david

 

Thats how car dealers make money, they buy cars as cheap as possibly, then sell them for as much as possible. They will buy your car for the $3500 they offered you, then they will turn around and sell it for the $5000 it is worth. That is how they make a profit, if they bought cars for the same amount they sold them for, they would be out of buisness. Most people who do the trade it do it either because they have the money, and don't want to bother with the hassle of selling it themselves, or don't know any better. I know that they can be somewhat flexable in price, I know when my father bought his truck (he bought it new, might be a little differant than buying a used car) he went in there, told them what he wanted, they gave him a price, went out found the dealers cost (somehow, don't know where he got it from), told them what it was and that he would give them 500 over there cost, they took it (whole big story, ended up costing the dealer about 700 and looseing money on the sale, but thats beside the point). It is true they would rather make some money then none, but I'm assuming on a used car they are going to want to make a bigger profit than $500. I would say the best thing in my opinion you could do is go out and sell yours for the 5k, or whatever you can get for it, then try to get them to knock off 1k or so. It cannot hurt to try to make them lower the price can it?

 

Bottom line is a car is only worth what you can get out of it. I had to fly to Atlanta to get my Trans-AM. All the ones in Texas were being sold for alot more than 3K. Because that is what people were letting them go for. $3500 is a damn good price. If I had the cash I would offer that to you for it and take it myself. The price is very realistic for you car. I would take it.