I've been kicking around the idea of trading in the Turbo for a bigger daily driver (let's say... an S4).

When checking the KBB trade-in values online, I get pretty reasonable numbers for my 01 w/ 60k miles on it... around $35k. When checking with actual dealer website and going through their online evaluator, I get numbers in the mid $20's and below (!).

Just wondering if anyone had actually rolled their car into a dealership lately and what you've seen? There are some advantages to trading in (for instance, being taxed only on the difference between trade in value and price of the new car).

Thanks!

 

Three dealers offered half of what I sold my 993 to a private party in less than a week. Taxes must be different in Atlanta. Here it's the price of the car. Your trade in value does not lower it. Try selling it outright first. You can't do any worse than the dealer offers you.

 

most dealers do not use kbb, they usually go with NADA values, that whats i was offered on the last 2 cars i traded

 

I don't know where KBB gets their 'trade-in' values because no dealer I've ever approached about a trade-in has ever offered anything close to KBB trade-in. The only way you may get close to trade-in value for your trade on paper is if the dealer is making a huge profit on the car you're trading for.

 

In CA dealers go with Mannheim auction sales numbers. They are nowhere near KBB or NADA.

 

The auction values are the real value to dealer period.
He must pay less than the block price because there are fees associated with the auction.IE
auction fee, transport, inspection, recon, prep,time value of tied up capital or floor plan interest. etc...........and don't forget he needs some profit.
Tough business in this market !.
Elliot

 

Manheim latest auction pricing for '01 996TT coupe;

02/03/11 W PALM Regular $34,000 35,665 Avg SILVER 6G
03/02/11 ATLANTA Regular $37,800 22,225 Avg GREY 6G
03/09/11 W PALM Regular $33,800 46,159 Avg GRAY 6G
03/29/11 PORTLND Regular $37,000 41,377 Avg BLACK 6G
03/31/11 MANHEIM Regular $45,000 21,851 Above BLUE 6G
03/31/11 CHICAGO Regular $39,000 49,532 Above GRY 6G

 

Only a fool would trade in these cars. Even with the tax advantage in SOME states (ie the trade in value lowers the taxable amount) this is only 5,6,7% of the trade in value....and the 'spread' is much larger.

If the dealer is giving you a 'great' trade in value, they are making the $$$ up elsewhere.

Only exception is a car with hidden defects, history, etc, which will not sell in the market- or that you would not want to sell to someone for ethical reasons....

 

Thanks for the info, I will go the private route when the time comes. Those auction prices actually are fairly encouraging.

 

Like your profile pic

 

I agree you'd have to be crazy to trade one it at those values. Even though the market is soft, its still not nearly that bad.

 

KBB trade in values are computed by algorithm from the average online asking price by dealers. My experince suggests that they're not very often accurate. 996 prices in general are all over the map, and MMR on a 996 is usally a bad indicator, because it doesn't tell you about all the cars that DID NOT sell at auction. Private party is usually the best way to go with a car like this.