Is this trade in value too good to be true?
5th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,244
From: Massachusetts
I wanted to take the sheet they wrote everything down on but the salesman grabbed it before I could. When I saw that number I instantly thought "I need to get that to the ford dealership to get a 5.0" lol. I may stop by again and act like I'm interested and see if I can get it.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 423
From: CA
The dealer is lowballing. KBB.com lists the trade in value of your GT at $24,150.
The term the dealers use is "discounting or overallowing" depending on whether they show less or more for your trade. It's a common tactic and shows up on the four square.
More often than not, the dealer will lowball you, but that's all part of the game. You should be lowballing them on the car you intend to purchase. You should also highball them on your trade.
Here's a true story: My friend was looking to buy a new Malibu two years ago. He was trading in a 2004 Hemi Ram. The KBB value at the time was $11,500. The first dealer offered him $9,500. They were also not budging off MSRP for a 4 CYL Malibu. My friend told them to wait and he walked out of the room and called me. He was really uncomfortable. I told him that if the deal made him that uncomfortable then he didn't even have to call me, just walk out. I looked up the trade in bluebook on his truck and told him the dealer was lowballing him by $2,000. I also told him that on a car as common as a Malibu, he should be able to get the dealer to knock the price close to invoice minus rebates (Supply and Demand tactics). The bottom line? I told him to get the "F" out of that dealership right now because the sale guy was pulling a # on him. My friend heeded my advice and drove to another, smaller dealer 15 minutes out of town. This dealer proceeded to give my friend at least bluebook on the trade and discounted a V6 Malibu to close to what it would cost for the 4 CYL at MSRP.
The term the dealers use is "discounting or overallowing" depending on whether they show less or more for your trade. It's a common tactic and shows up on the four square.
More often than not, the dealer will lowball you, but that's all part of the game. You should be lowballing them on the car you intend to purchase. You should also highball them on your trade.
Here's a true story: My friend was looking to buy a new Malibu two years ago. He was trading in a 2004 Hemi Ram. The KBB value at the time was $11,500. The first dealer offered him $9,500. They were also not budging off MSRP for a 4 CYL Malibu. My friend told them to wait and he walked out of the room and called me. He was really uncomfortable. I told him that if the deal made him that uncomfortable then he didn't even have to call me, just walk out. I looked up the trade in bluebook on his truck and told him the dealer was lowballing him by $2,000. I also told him that on a car as common as a Malibu, he should be able to get the dealer to knock the price close to invoice minus rebates (Supply and Demand tactics). The bottom line? I told him to get the "F" out of that dealership right now because the sale guy was pulling a # on him. My friend heeded my advice and drove to another, smaller dealer 15 minutes out of town. This dealer proceeded to give my friend at least bluebook on the trade and discounted a V6 Malibu to close to what it would cost for the 4 CYL at MSRP.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 423
From: CA
I wanted to take the sheet they wrote everything down on but the salesman grabbed it before I could.
It's another tactic. They don't want you to research. They want to trap you at the dealership and pressure you into a bad situation.
It's another tactic. They don't want you to research. They want to trap you at the dealership and pressure you into a bad situation.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 608
From: Clearwater FL
I agree that they're baiting you. But I'd play along and see what transpires. You just need to know when to walk.
What price did they give you for the maro?
You seriously have less than 8000 miles on an 09?
Low miles bring up the value fast, plus if it's still under factory warranty, that helps (virtually no risk to the buyer).
Low miles bring up the value fast, plus if it's still under factory warranty, that helps (virtually no risk to the buyer).
5th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,244
From: Massachusetts
The dealer is lowballing. KBB.com lists the trade in value of your GT at $24,150.
The term the dealers use is "discounting or overallowing" depending on whether they show less or more for your trade. It's a common tactic and shows up on the four square.
More often than not, the dealer will lowball you, but that's all part of the game. You should be lowballing them on the car you intend to purchase. You should also highball them on your trade.
Here's a true story: My friend was looking to buy a new Malibu two years ago. He was trading in a 2004 Hemi Ram. The KBB value at the time was $11,500. The first dealer offered him $9,500. They were also not budging off MSRP for a 4 CYL Malibu. My friend told them to wait and he walked out of the room and called me. He was really uncomfortable. I told him that if the deal made him that uncomfortable then he didn't even have to call me, just walk out. I looked up the trade in bluebook on his truck and told him the dealer was lowballing him by $2,000. I also told him that on a car as common as a Malibu, he should be able to get the dealer to knock the price close to invoice minus rebates (Supply and Demand tactics). The bottom line? I told him to get the "F" out of that dealership right now because the sale guy was pulling a # on him. My friend heeded my advice and drove to another, smaller dealer 15 minutes out of town. This dealer proceeded to give my friend at least bluebook on the trade and discounted a V6 Malibu to close to what it would cost for the 4 CYL at MSRP.
The term the dealers use is "discounting or overallowing" depending on whether they show less or more for your trade. It's a common tactic and shows up on the four square.
More often than not, the dealer will lowball you, but that's all part of the game. You should be lowballing them on the car you intend to purchase. You should also highball them on your trade.
Here's a true story: My friend was looking to buy a new Malibu two years ago. He was trading in a 2004 Hemi Ram. The KBB value at the time was $11,500. The first dealer offered him $9,500. They were also not budging off MSRP for a 4 CYL Malibu. My friend told them to wait and he walked out of the room and called me. He was really uncomfortable. I told him that if the deal made him that uncomfortable then he didn't even have to call me, just walk out. I looked up the trade in bluebook on his truck and told him the dealer was lowballing him by $2,000. I also told him that on a car as common as a Malibu, he should be able to get the dealer to knock the price close to invoice minus rebates (Supply and Demand tactics). The bottom line? I told him to get the "F" out of that dealership right now because the sale guy was pulling a # on him. My friend heeded my advice and drove to another, smaller dealer 15 minutes out of town. This dealer proceeded to give my friend at least bluebook on the trade and discounted a V6 Malibu to close to what it would cost for the 4 CYL at MSRP.
