Help me value my car

[Holden]

Edmunds says:

Trade In $6,807
Private Sale $8,062

Of course, these aren't quite right because my car has all kinds of different mileage on different parts and still has some mods.

Here's a rundown:

Car is in great shape inside and out. Ride is great. No squeaks, thumps or anything.

Car has 70K miles.
Engine has 90K miles.
Intake manifold, entire exhaust have 45K miles.
H&R OESport springs, KYB AGX shocks, ST 19mm swaybar have 35K miles.

Three sets of wheels: Stock with R compounds. Rota Circuit 8 15" wheels (10K miles) with Falken Azenis. Steel 14" wheels with Blizzaks.

Plus many spare parts (used): Starter, PS Pump, Throttle cable, hoses and belts, stock cat, aftermarket cat, both O2 sensors, CS Stage 2 Clutch and Pressure plate (great shape), New pilot and throwout bearings, camera mount, GSR fuel pump assembly with pump, stock rear brake pads, mcguard wheel locks, stock springs (35K miles on them), complete stock intake system.

Oh yeah, the car still has a rear strut tower brace, a one piece CAI and SS brake lines.

I figure if I found an autocrosser who wanted everything I could get $8500 or so.

Has anyone traded in a slightly modded car to a dealer? How'd it go?

TIA

[Ray000]

Originally posted by Holden:


Has anyone traded in a slightly modded car to a dealer? How'd it go?

TIA

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">from a general rule from things I read and my brother who worked as a salesman at a dealership. Yea, they are out to make money and to screw you. Trading it in they usually don't give you crap $$$ for it. Trading in is for lazy people or people with money who don't want to deal with the hassle of showing buyers a car and selling it themselves. If you're looking to get the most $$$ out of your car, I don't think trading it in is the best way to go.

[Holden]

I should mention that in NY, the trade in value reduces the taxable amount of the new car, so trading a car in for $7,000 on a $21,000 car reduces sales tax by close to $600.

8% sales tax here. I'd take $400 less in my pocket (than selling it privately for $8000) and be left with all the spare parts and wheels to sell.

In states with these tax rules, trade in's can be more worth it.

Anyway, I'm just trying to estimate the value of my car so I know what to ask.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 25, 2004 04:55 PM: Message edited by: Holden ]</font>

[Holden]

In case anyone was wondering, forget about trading in your modified car for a decent price.

The Dodge salesmen I met yesterday, who does crew duty on his dealer's dirt track team, told me that the appraisers wouldn't even know what an adjustable shock was, let alone recognize one.

My plan is to kick some ass at autocrosses with a "FOR SALE" sign on it. I always make the top three in ST in my region.

CROM: If you're reading this, I'll be joining you on the MOPAR side of life somewhere in the near future... Just with six fewer cylinders!

[Holden]

Mid-30's is out of my price range these days. The dot-com boom treated me well, but now I've got a stay-at-home wife, two kids and a big mortgage.

I placed my order today: Flame Red and no sunroof. I should get it in late June with less than 10 miles on the odometer. $500 over invoice.

This time, I'm leaving well enough alone and won't be modding the engine. The suspension and shifter could use some work though... Upgrade parts are really freaking cheap. $115 for a Mopar short shifter, $36 for a fatter rear swar bar. $16 for motor mount inserts. That, I can deal with...

CROM: My wife said exactly the same thing you did, "Find some young punk with more money than brains".

I was amazed that the SRT-4 is louder at idle than my GSR was with no cat and a Greddy PE. At WOT, it's much quieter (thankfully!). The Neon really has a raw sound to it.

[CROM]

Going with a turbo Neon eh? Don't want to make the 10cyl jump [img]wink.gif[/img] You can get a pretty nice viper these days for mid 30's. I was thinking about getting a mid 90's RT10 as a beater/supercharger project.

As for getting any money on your mods, it won't happen. A modified car to a dealer or anyone for that matter is definitely seen as an abused car. The best bet for selling a car like ours is to find that 16-18yr old kid out there that has mommy and daddy's check book. I'm gonna keep my Integra forever. Blower has 80k miles on it now, so in a year or two I will probably step up to a nice turbo system and a rebuilt motor.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 03, 2004 12:29 PM: Message edited by: CROM ]</font>

[Max Psi GSR]

Originally posted by Holden:
Upgrade parts are really freaking cheap. $115 for a Mopar short shifter, $36 for a fatter rear swar bar. $16 for motor mount inserts. That, I can deal with...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Domestic parts RULE! I am personally quite fond of my FordRacing Aluminum driveshaft(600ft/lbs capable)that cost me 132$.........FROM FORD! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[SCedGSR]

Just for a frame of reference.

I sold my 96 GSR bone stock to a kid for $4500.

It had lost compression in the #2 cyl and had over 130,000 miles.

The dealership I looked into would not have taken it with suspension mods. The would have given me $4000 in a trade.

Cars are never worth what we pay for them or what we think they should be worth. I'm learning this...

[Holden]

I'm just going by the Edmunds private sale price.

My car is in really good condition. The interior is cherry except for the driver's mat. The engine consumes zero oil and runs like new right up to redline. The suspension only has 35K miles on it so the ride is awesome. This is no "fixer-upper".

We shall see...