Trading in a car

[Craig]

I may well be trading a car in the near future, having previously sold cars privately

So, I have just one question: to what extent is a dealer going to check a car over before offering a price on it? Is the book price the book price, or are dealers flexible on the basis of a cars condition?

 

[listenup]

There can be some flexibility based on condition and mileage, but its more likely to be based on the vehicle you are buying.

In other words, it depends on the dealers profit margin that has been built into the car you want.

It also depends whether buying new or used.

If new, it can depend on how close a dealer is to his monthly/quarterly target, and if they need an extra registration to hit it.

So its too variable to be specific.

Don't be too hung up on the trade in price - keep in mind the price to change.

Try it and see, I'm afraid.

 

[Caliente]

I recently traded a car in - despite only being 6 years old it had a lot of rust on the wheel arches and numerous dents, however all it received was a perfunctory glance and I was simply offered the genuine trade-in price for a vehicle in good condition.

In my case, I know that the dealer had had the vehicle I was after for about 10 weeks, and it had already reduced in price, so I guess that he may have simply been pleased to see it go? Saying that, I have traded in a number of vehicles (mine and the missus') over the years, and the dealers have never given the trade in much of an inspection.

 

[PhilofCas]

Hi Craig,

My experience recently (trading in a 9 year old Altea) is that they give the bodywork and interior a good look over, they ask about service history, MOT and how many owners, apart from that it seems they aren't too interested in the mechanical things, i.e. if it starts then it's fine, some won't even test drive it. I think much depends on what they're going to do with it, i.e. ours was traded into a main dealer, so literally, we dropped it off with them, it'll not turn a wheel until being picked up from them by a transporter, then into the auctions where someone will drive into the hall and it'll be sold, simple as that. So really the car has only to be able to start and drive a very very short distance, if it does that, then they're happy. One other thing, the fact you've just had new this or new that fitted is totally irrelevant to them, they don't take things like that into consideration.

Good luck!

 

[Samantha]

Only ever give a cursory glance in my experience

 

[Injector]

I once traded a 3-year old Golf GTI and the dealer looked down the panels and checked the whole thing over but never drove it.

 

[Sumdumgi]

I've just traded a car in and the guy walked around it and looked through the windows refusing the offer of the keys to look inside. Granted it was only 3.5 years old and MOT'd with a full service history but it surprised me how perfunctory the purchase was. I guess that these days they are happy to look at the Glass guide and pitch a price.

 

[XJC]

All valid points but in my experience you always get more from a private sale.

There must be some reason you're not dong it this time. Hard cash is a better negotiating tool than a trade in.

X.