Second Car Prices

[Phil]

Is it just me, or has second cars taken a nose dive when trading in against another car.

I went to Motor Imports on the Naas road on saturday to have a look at BMW's second hand cars from all the BMW dealers around Ireland. I came across a 99 323i and was offered £15k for my car which I had paid £25k the year before. Now the salesguy said it was due to the Foot & Mouth outbreak, that the car had lost so much money. :eek: I tell you, I felt like putting my foot in his mouth. :D

Has anyone else had problems with the resale value of their car when trading in against a new one??

[WhipLash]

Well Phil I suppose its all relative. If the 323 Beemers are substantially cheaper than they were last year, then thats not too bad. But if its only the price of the trade-ins that are being affected, then its a total rip-off. :(

When I went to sell my Megane earlier this year, I was shocked at the less then average price I was being offered for a car that was certainly looking better than average. I just had to bite the bullet and go for a car that holds its value well - if there's such a car anymore?!

So what do you do? I'd say hang on some longer and trade in next year when the dealers stock-piles have shortened slightly.

[Phil]

The funny thing is whip, that Maxwell Motors have the same spec car as I have, except it is a year older and their looking for four thousand more than I was offer at the weekend.

Work that one out!!! Car dealers, were do we get them from?????

[WhipLash]

Sounds like the dealers are letting the punter take the hit on the de-valuation of second-hand cars. And what caused all of this in the first place? The Celtic Tiger, and the proceeding bumper year of car sales in 2000, bringing the car dealers record profits. Shouldn’t THEY be taking that hit now?

Now there's a heap of used cars sitting around dealers forecourts (and piled up elsewhere) which are not selling as easly/quickly as previous years. Punters want NEW more than ever, and they can afford it (or at least the credit).

The best thing to do is hang in there, wait for the car that exactly suits your requirements, try to sell your own car privately, and go in for the kill with cash in hand. And don't listen to car salesmen who insist on not bargening the price down while you wave your hard earned cash in their face.