Trade-in value?

[drogoff]

Hi all!

I'm looking at trading in my '03 MC for a similar '06 to get a newer car with a fresh 4-year warranty. I'm wondering what people have been seeing for trade-in value from Mini dealers. My car is in great condition with only 35k on it. The Kelly Blue-Book site lists anywhere from $13k (fair condition) to $15.4k (excellent condition) for my car/options/mileage/zipcode for a dealer trade-in. However, the dealer only offered $12k toward a trade. Is Kelly off? The Mini ads make such a big deal of the Mini holding its value. Is the dealer trying to hose me?

I'd appreciate any info/data/opinions. I know I'd get more selling it myself, but I'd rather not since it's a pain and can be dangerous in SoCal .

Thanks,

David

[AprilWhine]

Why not shop it around to a few other dealers to get prices? I heard good things about selling your MINI to CarMax.

[Actual Size]

I paid $4.95 for 24 hours of access to the Galves Auto Price List before we went to trade in our 2003 MCS and wouldn't you know it, the price I got from them was what the dealer offered.

[Ed_Gein]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine

I heard good things about selling your MINI to CarMax.

I don't know about MINIs, but I tried selling my 2001 VW Jetta to the one in Irvine. They have signs everywhere advertising the fact that they sell below KBB. Well you know what that means. If they *sell* for below KBB, then they also *buy* below KBB. They offered $7500. I sold it through autotrader for $10,500 in about three weeks.

I agree that selling PP is a pain, but the money difference was worth it.

[AprilWhine]

I've sold my last three cars on Ebay and gotten a very good price for each. The last was a 2005 MCSa that sold for $500 more than I paid new.

[jimskater]

Drogoff, I just got KBB trade in for my 04 MCS. Have you had lots of warranty issues or any damage to the car? Given that it's an 03, the warranty issue may be why they're coming in low.

OTOH, You might want to take the trip out to Crevier, if Irvine is being cheap.

[drogoff]

Quote: Originally Posted by jimskater

Drogoff, I just got KBB trade in for my 04 MCS. Have you had lots of warranty issues or any damage to the car? Given that it's an 03, the warranty issue may be why they're coming in low.

Not a single dent or scratch on my car. The fake silver coating on the inside driver's door is a little worn and cloth seats could use a shampoo, but otherwise great. The warranty issue is why I'm thinking of selling it. The 3-year bumper-to-bumper is up, and the drivetrain will be up in 6 months.

Quote:

OTOH, You might want to take the trip out to Crevier, if Irvine is being cheap.

Crevier is where I've been going. I got my '03 there. It would be a pain to go anywhere else: they're on my way to work, so it's great for car washes (which I'm going to need often if I get the white wheels!) and when it's been in the shop. They're still playing some games with the sale price. On my '03, they "required" I get Lojack for $2k. Now they're "requiring" $1k to extend the bumpber-to-bumper for the 4th year, and $800 for some kind of paint protection they call Express Care.

Does anyone with an '01 or '02 have any figures for likely repair costs after the warranty ran out?

Also, any good ideas on selling my '03 privately to get more $$$, without getting ripped off, or worse?

Thanks,

David

[merlinsoars]

Save yourself a bunch of heartburn and call Carl Smith at Roadshow Mini, no agenda, no BS and straight MSRP no haggling
HAVE to have lojack, HAVE to have paint protection??
Hate california dealers

Merlin

[drogoff]

Quote: Originally Posted by merlinsoars

Save yourself a bunch of heartburn and call Carl Smith at Roadshow Mini, no agenda, no BS and straight MSRP no haggling
HAVE to have lojack, HAVE to have paint protection??
Hate california dealers

Merlin

Thanks for the pointer. I agree about most of the dealers out here, but isn't shipping from Tennessee to California going to cost a bunch? Also, I'd lose the free car washes, which add up to quite a bit.

David

[jimskater]

Drogoff,

Check KBB.com again. You'll find the values change monthly.

Check around at all the So Cal dealers, too. You'll find that Lo Jack can be had for $895, the "extra" warranty/service for another $696 - 895. Some of the dealers actually treat them as true options. The San Diego dealer (Brecht) has been good to me--I'm on my 3rd car with them.

On the other hand--closed shipping of a car from the Midwest can be had for circa $800 to $1200. Weigh the cost-benefit ratio--mark-ups & "options" vs. the cost of shipping.

[merlinsoars]

I flew back for both cars, Part to break them in and I love memphis. I think a covered truck was a grand, uncovered about 500 bucks. Still beats the screwing you get from the dealer here.

Free car washes??, I guess I'ld rather do my own than get hosed here ( no pun thank you)

Merlin