Just wondering if folks are getting close to what the Kelly Blue Book is for their F150 trade-in? I have a '04 Lariat Scab I'm considering letting go.

 

With the economy the way it is, "letting it go" may be more accurate than you would like...

 

Not likely. I've never found those listings for Ford trucks to be accurate. But it all depends on the way the deal is written up.

 

It's been my experience that "trade in value" is relative to 'purchase price" of the new vehicle. If you bottom dollar your purchase which most of us do, you'll definately get bottom dollar'd by the dealer on your trade. You may anyway if you lose control of the deal. Simply walk away.

Test the waters. Work a deal on an '09 and don't speak of a trade in. Don't even bring it with you. After you are satisfied with your deal, introduce your trade.

I would suggest selling it yourself, but that could take a while. You appear to be in New York which means snow. Your '04 will be worth more in the winter months.

Tim

 

Trade-in you ask? What's that? It's called highway robbery. It's called getting screwed. Why do you think that vehicle sales are terrible (less than 10M units will be sold in American in 09' vs 18M a few years ago)? Their trade-in values, which reduce actual new vehicle payouts, are ABYSMAL to say the least. Lower trade in value means higher new vehicle purchase prices. The world is a racket my friend. And why there isn't more social strife as a result is beyond me.

 

That's funny and true. The only real way to beat them at thier game is to purchase a vehicle for the long haul and wear it out.

Tim

 

ride it till the wheels fall off. Dealers go by black book. what ever the truck is selling for at the auction is what you will most likely get. See if you can talk the sales guy into showing you the going price on manhiem for your area.

 

When i traded my SUV they had a year older and lower spec one on the lot for 9k and they told me that they wouldnt give me anymore than 3k for my suv because it would go straight to auction. Well the KB value was about 4k on a trade so i done a deal and let them have it for 3k and the next week i see it on their lot for sale for 12k lol it wernt even worth 5k in mint condition. The crazy thing was someone bought it i guess as it wernt there last time i went past.

Mine was a year newer than this one and mine was a lot higher spec. Look what they are asking for it lol someone told me they got this on a trade for $800 BerglundCars.com, a Roanoke and Salem Portal dealer new car used car VA Portal dealership

It shows you how willing they are to rip you off

 

In a nutshell, the used car biz is a completely different animal than the new car side of the dealer's lot. The dealer is very limited on what they can sell a new car for due to MSRP stickers, consumer awareness, etc.

The real proft lies in used cars. You traded your SUV for 3k, they flipped it for 12k or whatever they could get and made a killing. Most likely your SUV was well maintained and good to go. The probably polished her a little, cleaned the engine and made her look new.

I've sold cars new and used at a Ford dealer while between military careers and I know the good ole boy back slapping that goes on after a full gross sale and all the smack talking that takes place afterward. It's perfectly normal. It happens in all sales environments. The salesperson gets a very small percentage of that, the buyer and the person trading both get screwed and the dealer is the only that makes out. If the vehicle is outside of factory warranty, he'll put a 30 day 1000 miles warranty on it and turn his back after it's over.

When I walk onto a dealer's lot, I know that Ford has already made thier money from the dealer. The sale is between the dealer and me, not Ford and me. My favorite saying is, "if you lose money on me, make it up on the next used car transaction". I haven't bought a used car since 1991. I'll take the hit on depreciation. Likewise I keep them well past payoff except for the POS 1995 T-bird.

To the OP, don't give your awesome truck away. If you can't get what you want, wear it out, it's a Ford.

Tim

 

To get a good estimate, you need to look at the Black Book. KBB makes you feel good untill you see Black Book. The dealers usally go by the Black

 

Don't worry about the trade in value. When you make a decision to trade, decide what you are willing to pay difference and offer it to them. You don't care how they divide it up. Just make sure you the offer you make is an out the door price plus applicable taxes and transfer fees.