Is $500 a fair dealer trade in value for my 1999 Toyota Camry?

C

coffeedrinker0146

New member
I'm looking at buying a new 2010 Honda Accord or 2012 Ford Fusion to replace my 1999 Toyota Camry.

Both dealers told me all they could offer me was $500 in trade in. This sounds like a major rip off.

The interior of the car is in excellant condition and the heating, air conditioning and radio works.

The car is a 4 cylinder with 117,000 miles on it.

The car has the check engine light on. In my state the car will not pass smog with the check engine light on. This repair is called the charcoal canister which would cost $500 to replace and the check engine light would be off.

The back bumper of the car is a little scratched on the right.

Car sales people tell me that if I sell it on my own I will only get $1000 or maybe $800.

My independant mechanic seems to think I could get $2500 if I sell it on my own without fixing the charcoal canister.

The sales people at both new car dealers talk to me like I'm stupid and I'm wrong.
 
"My independant mechanic seems to think I could get $2500 if I sell it on my own without fixing the charcoal canister." Then ask him to buy it

The trick to selling a car is finding someone willing to pay for it and I doubt that you're going to find someone that is willing to pay good money for a car with the check engine light on and won't pass smog. Ask yourself and answer honestly, would YOU pay 2500 for it.

The dealer isn't trying to rip you off, they are a "for profit" business. Your car is too old and has too many miles on it to put on the lot for sale and it needs work, so they will wholesale it. Camry's are "soft", there are so many of them in the market that they do not command big money.
 
The dealers are basically telling you they don't want your car. They are offering you the absolute lowest possible price assuming that you'll turn the offer down.

You should be able to get at least $1200 - $1500 for a good running older Camry. I don't think $2500 is a reasonable expectation. But you need to fix the emissions problem first before you can sell it. In almost every state in the USA it is the sellers responsibility to provide a valid emissions certificate when you sell the car.
 
the dealers are really sticking it to you, if you really need the money look up the kelley blue book value, kbb.com and sell it for somewhere around that price.
 
First,I would look into fixing the code.Used parts are cheap here:
http://car-part.com
Then I would advertise it for sale on Auto Trader.com. Your car should sell for close to $3000.
Then take the cash to the dealer for the down payment and get rough with THEM.
 
The dealer is looking to rip you off. Sell it yourself. Even if you only get 1500-2000, you are way ahead of the game. Put an add in a local paper, even try craig's list or e-bay. Good Luck!
 
Listen to your independent mechanic. The auto dealers are not willing to pay you what your Camry is worth since they are going to sell it wholesale. Sell it on your own.
 
Back
Top