Im thinking about trading in one of the cars, and wondering how well they inspect the old one? Should I worry about cleaning the carpets, or let them, and so on. Thanks

 

I suppose "every little bit counts" should work here, but since you are trading in, you will not get what you want anyway, whether it be on the trade or what you intend to buy.

You lose either way. The stealerships expect wear and tear, so let their porters have something to earn their pay for.

 

They obviously didn't inspect them well at the dealer we were at. We traded in a terrible Saturn and they gave us full book trade-in value. We're talking a base-model with an engine that missed so badly over 3000 rpm that it felt like it was going to stall out. Pepsi stains everywhere, puke stain in back seat, stolen radio with the frame twisted up and the wires hangin out everywhere...the list goes on. And we got full trade-in value!

 

Also, take it to Carmax for an appraisal, you maybe surprised what they offer.

 

Car guy here- if you expect top dollar, make it look like a top dollar car. It doesn't have to be perfect, but washed and vacuumed would be nice. The newer the vehicle, the more difference it'll make.

 

If the trade in was bought somewhere else, not likely to get a good inspection because you are not going to get a good price. Unless you are talking CarMax or something.

> We traded in a terrible Saturn and they gave us full book trade-in value.

You took a car that visually was a piece of junk and got full book trade in value. Well, you did better then 99% of other people. Because most dishonest dealers would have given you what it said in the book and then shafted you on interest rates, fees, insurance, or tried to pawn a returned lemon (or factory car) or demo on you.

For most people with a car only worth $2-$3k that is not a lease vehicle, your best bet is to sell it yourself. Though in this "employee discount", $3000 cash back, and 0% finance era any car selling for more then $2K might be better off traded in.

You did not say if you were returning a lease vehicle, if you owed money on it, or what the vehicle is, so there is no real way to make a judgement except a clean vehicle that has been serviced at the dealership will get a much better price on trade in.

If the vehicle was bought there, serviced there, and returned in good clean resale condition it could add $1000 or more (repeat business) to the trade in price. Especially a lease vehicle because all you have to do is put it on the front line with a min. of cleaning and a min. of risk.

 

rebocardo- If the vehicle was bought there, serviced there, and returned in good clean resale condition it could add $1000 or more (repeat business) to the trade in price. Especially a lease vehicle because all you have to do is put it on the front line with a min. of cleaning and a min. of risk.

good post- and extremely accurate.