I love my Z, but because I live in Chicago, it is really impractical in the winter. I am looking at a 2004 Audi S4 and am wondering what everyone thinks is a fair trade in value for my car is? I have a 2003 touring, automatic, fully loaded except for the navigation. I also added a upgraded alarm and auto start ($1000). Chrome 18 inch Nissan rims and new Toyo tires. Borla Exhaust, and engine intake. MSRP of the car was $33,000 before the upgrades and I only have $5500 miles.

Thanks for your help.

Nick

 

http://www.kbb.com

 

Thanks for the reply. I looked there a few days back and it did not have the pricing available.

 

It's now there. Trade in on my Touring would be 29,200. Retail is 32,400.

 

I'm dying to know what the dealer offers you. I'll bet it's no where near those prices.

 

As a dealer I can buy 03 Touring Models with 5k-8k miles for around $26k @ the auctions.

 

That is fine, but I am buying a $50K car. I think the dealer should budge a little.

 

They said they can only give me $22,500 for my car. I would rather burn it than give it to them for $22,000.

 

At least your honest. They will give you 22, and turn around a sell it for 32.

 

Exactly. I know they are going to make money on the car, but they don't have to kill me while doing it. They are telling me my car depreciated by almost 35% with less than 6000 miles on it. I am probably the idiot for trying to get rid of this car anyway.

 

You should ask the dealer if he's ever heard of Kelly Blue Book!! That would really be a low blow for a dealer. They are probably not aware that it's in KBB since it just showed up a few days ago. They'd rip off their own mother to make a profit.

 

Dealers normally use "the black book" which is WHOLESALE (auction pricing). Look around...A lot of dealers actually quote that they will give you kbb value...simple clicky on the print button and viola...you get your $$$

 

Check this out! A used 2003 G35 Coupe with 4k miles on it with all options excluding nav goes for $31,475. My touring Z with 4k miles and all options except nav is going for around 29k. Seems like the Z is depreciating faster than the G35. Sucks!

 

I have asked around many dealers (about 3-4) and all of them said 27,500 for my 2003 Z Touring Auto with 17,500 miles. That dealer will give you 22k is out of his freaking mind. He is basically saying "ok now, turn around and bend over". Screw them, you can get a better deal 'Nick 350Z'.

 

The G costs more to begin with, right? If you like four seats, then you can have them. lol! Its not a true sports car unless it has two seats, imho.

As for KBB, Tell the dealer you will only take kbb pricing (what dealer might give you) and they will do it most likely as stated above. If not go some where else. If I were you I would keep the Z though.

 

If a dealer wants to give you 27.5 on a Z with 17,000 miles on it they are stupid. I know there's a Z on Ebay right now with 17,000 miles on it, watch what it does I'm guessing no more than $23k, probably less. Not trying to offend you or anything but your car is NOT worth 27k to a dealer. You might be able to get close to that from a private buyer.

 

Just remember, depreciation on any new car is greatest in the first 20000 miles or so. After that, the value of the car gets steady and levels out. No matter what KBB says the value of your car is, the dealers will not give you anything close to that on a relatively new car. Your best bet is to advertise the car, even nationwide advertising, cause you can always find somebody that is willing to pay the excellent blue book value on the car. Even if it costs $1000 to ship it to another state, its better than taking a 10000 loss from the dealer for a trade in.

The way the dealerships work is that they have one used car guy calling maybe 5 other dealerships and getting an average price for the car. If he's nice, they will give you the top offer for the trade-in. Since you are looking into buying an Audi, the Audi dealership does not have your Z sit on their lot and wait to sell, they simply just sell it to one of those Nissan dealers they contacted for the trade in price.

To make a long story short, find a private buyer and use the proceeds from that sale as your down payment on the Audi. Or better yet, keep the Z and get some all weather tires and put a few weights (like big bags of rice or dumbbells) in the trunk for additional traction!!!

 

I agree that they are not going to give me 29,000. But that dealership should be able to sell that car on their lot if they want to. If someone comes in for a new TT, and they realize they can't afford it, than the Z would be an awesome alternative. They would sell that car without a problem for $28,000.00. I might just try to sell it myself.

 

28k with that kinda mileage might be a tight sell for a dealer, alot of people will look and say 17,00 miles on an 03 is alot. They want be able to get close to that with that mileage and like a few of the guys said the 1st year or 2 is when new car takes the plunge in depreciation and levels off after that!

 

My dealings on used cars at the new car lot have not been good.I have an 02 Spec V that I was thinking about trading on an 03 350z.Well they want to give me less than the BLACK book on my car and charge me more than the Blue book for their car.LOL I said OK if you will only give me "auction price" for my used Nissan why would you expect me to pay MSRP on your used Nissan?In fact a New 04 350z is only about $900 more than their 03 with 16k miles.They say that they will sell it at that price and do not plan on discounting it.

BTW:Who can get me a 2003 350z at auction price?