[ES_TRADER]

Im looking to buy a used old car and im getting say X amount of dollars for the value when i input the specs into kbb.com. Yet, im finding sellers of this car online like autotrader.com, craigslist, etc. for almost 2 times the price KBB is quoting.

Who should i believe? Obviously i feel that private party sellers are trying to get the most they can but double?? Is KBB that off? When i bring it up to the sellers they say KBB is not accurate. ive been using it to sell cars for the last 15 years.

i sold a car while back and i used KBB pricing. buyer thought it was fair....i dont get it.

Is there a better more concrete source to use to find a fair price for a used car?

[jj thumper]

The market determines the price. KBB will give u a ballpark. If its a car in high demand or hard to find then yes it will be more.

For instance,

I want a 2006 4x4 Shadow gray mica sport edition 4runner. Hard to find. I would pay KBB or a bit more.

If im looking for a silver accord 2002-2007ish I would want to pay a lot under KBB.

It all depends. If someone asks for double, they are crazy and not in a rush to sell.

my .02

[Feyd]

Just use all of them (KBB/NADA) and get the average pricing then do your own average. They aren't suuuper accurate, but they are pretty close for starting negotations. Their pricing is based off of auction values, but auction values that are 6-12 months old, so not the most up to date, but a good benchmark.

Depends on what you are after, but if it's just an average mass-produced car people who are trying to sell them for more than they are worth are most likely over-leveraged because they financed for 72 months with nothing down. Had to have that new car, but now their job is gone and they can't afford it and unfortunatly they owe way more than it's worth. Gotta feel (maybe just a tiny bit) for the predicament they're in, but that doesn't mean you need to just bend over and take it.


Best thing to do is say, I've got xxx in cash... and I'll buy it tonight. Putting people on the spot is the only way to get them to budge on price. It puts them into a mode of weighing their options of unloading it immediatly or waiting for maaaaaaaybe someone to come along in six months.

It's a buyers market for cars right now...

[///MC]

edmunds.com/tmv accounts for market pricing. Also, best to use Manheim as that's what cars are actually selling for.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by ///MC

Also, best to use Manheim as that's what cars are actually selling for.

+2849123472839

manheim is the only real way to see what the true market values are on used cars.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by Blake

+2849123472839

manheim is the only real way to see what the true market values are on used cars.

how do u use manheim if u are not a licensed dealer? i tried to search there but u need a login

[JayKay335i]

Didn't the M3 guy teach you anything? Just cut the dudes ear off and throw him in the trunk.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by richpuer

how do u use manheim if u are not a licensed dealer? i tried to search there but u need a login

well that's the catch...you need to know someone. i used to have a login, but doesn't work anymore. post in the e90/m3 buying and selling general forum asking for someone to run you a manheim.

[ghosthi32]

guys at 6speed are good at doing manhiem price checks.

[///MC]

I have a login if you need something looked up.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by ///MC

I have a login if you need something looked up.

Pm'd

[BTM]

Originally Posted by Feyd

It's a buyers market for new cars right now...

Edited. Used prices are much less elastic than new in times of decreased income...people are scoring awesome deals on new cars, yet the used car market is functioning as it has, if not a little more rigidly. This also is an over-generalization, assuming that new cars are the normal good and that used cars are the inferior good. Within both the new and used markets it's possible to to differentiate between normal and inferior, but that really depends on how far you wanna take it, but the principle is the same in both markets. You're gonna get a better deal in an economic downturn on a new 550i than on a new Kia Rio, just as you'll get a better deal on a used niche sports car than a proven reliable, consistently in-demand reasonable family car.