Any tips for maximizing trade-in value?

[zoomzoom!]

I really don't want to trade-in my 13 A6, but selling private is such a chore.

Unfortunately this means that dealers have more "room" to screw you over on price, because you have (2) separate transactions to negotiate (new car and trade-in).

How realistic is it to try to get somewhere really close to KBB trade-in values, understanding that I'm rating the condition of my car reasonably?

Also, should I go through the effort of an extensive detail before valuation review, or does it really not matter because the dealer will likely wholesale it anyway and won't much care about how close to "perfect" I get it?

This is all prep work as I look at ordering a '17 S6.

[Matt C]

You will, without a solitary doubt, take it right up the rectum on any trade-in. Clean her up, throw it on Craigslist, forum classifieds, Autotrader, and wait it out. It will sell for significantly more to a private buyer. Otherwise, give her a wash and hope for the best. Compare NADA/KBB #'s and go in armed with that information. Typically those #'s mean nothing as dealers look at wholesale pricing so that they can make money on both sides of the deal.

[seanentrust]

for what its worth I have a 2010 a6 3.0t prestige, super clean in perfect shape, clear bra on whole front so not one rock chip. I was trying to trade it in for an S3, it blue books at $16,500 and private party for $19000 on KBB, car max is selling them for $22-25K and the audi dealer offered me $14k, no way in hell I was taking that so I'll continue driving my a6 for a bit longer.

[Gonzoe11]

Check Galves.com for wholesale prices. This is what the dealer is using. you may have to pay for it but it will be close.

[MikeDwerks]

Just went through this in my 12 a6 with 62k. Tried to work a trade deal with 3 different Audi dealerships on an S6 and got trade offers between 20-24, Sold it private party for 26. Could have prob got another 500 or 1000 private party but was just ready to move on

The common theme with the dealers were they were not going to sell it on their lot, but just take it to auction. They only cared about auction value. With most Audi dealers I think more 4yrs old and over 50k they don't want to mess with selling it themselves

[gdawg'05a4]

Clean her up, research what other A6s of same year, similar miles and options are selling for in the area. They may still try and sell it on the lot given it's only 3 years old. Use that and KBB, NADA, etc for trade in values and try to get somewhere between that. I'm not sure how it is in VA but in MA there's a tax benefit to trading in. We only pay sales tax on the difference between the new car purchase price and the trade in. If VA is the same, see if it makes sense to sell it yourself or trade in. If you can sell it for that much more privately to cover the sales tax of the new S6 and then some, consider doing that.

[richib86]

The common theme with the dealers were they were not going to sell it on their lot, but just take it to auction. They only cared about auction value. With most Audi dealers I think more 4yrs old and over 50k they don't want to mess with selling it themselves

^^^ this


also don't bother with KBB... its a horrible tool and no dealer(at least no audi dealer) will ever honor that as the prices are way too out of whack by comparison to what the cars really sell for on the market(this holds true for the northeast, not sure about other regions though).

[VVG]

If a dealer gives you less for your trade, they can, likewise, turn around and sell it for less and still make a profit. A lower sale price makes the car easier to sell from the dealers perspective. As a rule, you will only get the auction value of a car. I have never seen it otherwise. Another alternative is to try selling to Carmax.

[CASoxFan]

Here is one thing to check out on KBB. They have this instant cash offer service where they will give you an cash offer for your car which you can take to one of a few local dealers and they HAVE to honor it. Worth taking the 5-10 minutes to try it out. Be sure that you are honest about options and conditions, etc. I recently did this and it worked out great for me:

Was trading in my 2015 BMW M235i convertible. Best offers that I got from any dealer (Audi, MB, Jaguar) was around $37k. Did the KBB instant cash offer and was offered $41.6k. Took it to a local dealer they specified and the dealer offered me $37k (he called a local BMW dealer as he was going to trade/wholesale it). Told him the KBB program guarantees the price, so I wanted the $41.6k. After a couple of calls to KBB, the dealer cut a check for the $41.6k (KBB ended up buying the car from them).

When trading a car in you will rarely get anything more than wholesale, and if you do they will make it up somewhere else.

[marty was here]

i mean, for all of the people chanting about selling it privately, does the extra amount you get for it cover the sales tax trade in savings towards the new cars price ?

i've never seen it cover the spread, so i always negotiate the trade in towards the new car.

[JoeGie]

i mean, for all of the people chanting about selling it privately, does the extra amount you get for it cover the sales tax trade in savings towards the new cars price ?

i've never seen it cover the spread, so i always negotiate the trade in towards the new car.

it depends on the state, some states will still charge sales tax on the price of the car before the trade in is applied.

[Davor_]

Clean it no need for pricey detail cause they all include detailing fee deduction.
Also in appraising of the vehicle they use all the tools (kbb, dealer blackbook, Nada, menheim auctions and what the car is being SOLD for in the area (transaction history)) and then low ball you.
I work in the industry and I'm not just repeating what I've heard.


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[zoomzoom!]

Thanks everyone....great info, much appreciated.