Approach to valuing trade-in

mumblin deaf ro

What with advertised prices being out of step with actual prices, I was wondering about how to get a rough idea of the cost to change. I've no plans to change for another year or two but like fantasising all the same.

This is what I was thinking:

I'll probably trade in at a SIMI Saab garage (a four year old focus for a two year old 9-3, unless Saab go belly-up in the meantime that is).

I checked carzone prices and 2005 focus tdci hatchbacks are at about 11K on average give or take; 2007 saab 9-3s are about 23K.

Now I know these prices are unrelated to reality, but all things being equal the forces of the universe should be bearing down on both cars, so I'm wondering would the 'market price' for a change be the difference between the two be €12K?

If I was going in to negotiate, on average should I expect the deal to settle at the Focus + 12k?

Am I way off or is there something in this?

Just to emphasise again, I know the advertised prices are inflated, I'm just wondering whether both cars would be equally inflated and therefore the relative price would be unchanged.

All comments and criticisms welcome.

A wooden spoon to the first person who says dame edna or vectra in drag.

L-M

I think your way off on your prices. I remember before Christmas doing a price up for someone on here before Christmas on a 05 1.8 TDCI Focus and it was some where around 7-8k. I'm sure it would be a bit less than that now.

What can you get one in from the UK for?

It also depends on how well priced the 93. But i think 12k is a bit over priced for the Focus.

mumblin deaf ro

Actually I said €11K for the Focus. I should explain that it's a 1.6tdci and that i got that price by punching 2005/focus 1.6tdci/simi dealer into carzone. Price go from 10-12, with a cluster at around €10,500 or €11K.

No idea about the UK - I don't plan to buy in the UK. Do you mean use the UK price as a guide?

L-M

What miles are on your own?

mumblin deaf ro

Here are the Focus valuations (hope it comes out ok)

http://www.carzone.ie/search/results?legacy_url=y&make_model=Ford%7CFocus&year=2005&cacheBuster=1236036711836882#nParam=200524+200253+102456+102550+4294961642+4294911142&sortby=Make|0

mumblin deaf ro

Limerick man wrote: »

What miles are on your own?

26,000 kms

bazz26

Limerick man wrote: »

I think your way off on your prices. I remember before Christmas doing a price up for someone on here before Christmas on a 05 1.8 TDCI Focus and it was some where around 7-8k. I'm sure it would be a bit less than that now.

What can you get one in from the UK for?

It also depends on how well priced the 93. But i think 12k is a bit over priced for the Focus.

That was me. It is a 05 1.6 TDCi Ghia. It was actually in January and the book value you were quoting me was around €10,500 iirc but realistically around €8500 if selling privately.

mumblin deaf ro wrote: »

26,000 kms

:eek: On a 4 year old diesel. You need a bike, not a car.

mumblin deaf ro wrote: »

Here are the Focus valuations (hope it comes out ok)

http://www.carzone.ie/search/results?legacy_url=y&make_model=Ford%7CFocus&year=2005&cacheBuster=1236036711836882#nParam=200524+200253+102456+102550+4294961642+4294911142&sortby=Make|0

They are asking prices, not selling prices, the guy in Kilkenny looking for €13k for one is a comedian. He probably has that car since well before Christmas when he gave the previous owner alot more for it as a trade-in than it is worth now. Sooner or later he will have to let it go at a loss as used car values are only going one way - down.

Regarding UK prices, you have to consider these prices as you are competing against people who are willing to go across the Irish sea for the same car. I know someone recently who bought a 08 Focus 1.6 TDCi Zetec up North, cost him around €14k including VRT. Saying that Saabs are alot cheaper in the UK too so in theory it should be swings and roundabouts. However alot of Irish forecourts are still not following this logic hence why their used stock is sitting there gathering moss.

mumblin deaf ro

That's really what I'm trying to get at - if both are overpriced by, say a third, the focus is really worth 9K and the saab about 18K. Just wondering whether the gap between them would be more or less constant, so there's no need to worry about the real or advertised price, just the wedge between them.

Lord Trollington

i'd imagine a ford focus Diesel with 26,000kms on it would be a lot more desireable vehicle on a Saab Dealers forecourt at the moment than s Saab 9-3 which Saab dealers wouldnt sell raffle tickets for at the moment.
I'd imagine if you traded now you'd get a fairly good deal as they'd be wanting to shift their 9-3's now that are completely priced wrong and standing them huge money..
in a years time the true market values for cars will have been fully readjusted

mickdw

I think the gap would have narrowed between those two cars in this climate. THe Saab is sure to have suffered more than the focus pricewise.

omega man

I think buyers must now focus on the cost to change and factor how much the car you are buying has depreciated. This should help ease the pain associated with the figure the dealer is giving on your trade-in if that makes sense. For example i was given a trade-in of more than half the value i paid 18 months ago but the car i was looking at has depreciated slightly heavier. Avoid the anger and the feeling of insult at your cars value and remember what you are getting for the price, its all relative.

L-M

Sorry about that lol, my tinternet decided to have a little heart attack last night. As said above I'd much rather have a Focus diesel sitting on my fore court over a 9-3, although a cheap 9-3 always seems to sell very well. I'd have to know the margin had on the Saab and how it was priced, but it was overly priced I wouldn't see shy of giving you 10k on your own, to try get some cash in, and some Saab about. If the Saab was priced well I'd be looking around 7.5-8k, with the same idea, Saab out, money in.

mumblin deaf ro

Thanks for the responses.

Topper Harley

You have to consider that dealers will not give you the full value of your car in a trade in but will expect you to pay full price for theirs. They’ll want to be able to sell it for what it’s worth at a profit to them. I was offered two grand for mine (carzone average is about €3,500), then another place offered 1,000 because the car that I would be buying off him was a grand less than the other car I was looking at. (I assume he’d still sell it for about €3,500.) Trading in is considerably less value but less hassle as well.