Trade in value
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
Pretty Delivery inspection. I had a month warranty and I had my chosen Corvette certified tech at home do a thorough inspection. Only thing was one of the key fobs was dead. I had the local dealership wipe everything and installed the working key and the new one that the selling dealer got me. All on their dime, of course. If it is a beater car, WGAS. When it isn't I will want it gone through by a tech of my choice. Back in the day, I could do it myself but with all the gadgets, I might be better off getting someone who knows the ins and outs of the car. I could, of course, take it around the block but unless something is way wrong, probably won't notice it. I don't see much point in standing around the car with the hood up and stare at the engine pretending I know what to look for. I also don't have a rack to see any damages. That is why I just drive it off without doing much.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,164
Likes: 4,620
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
Did they play with the purchase number? I find they often do. I told one guy that he could give me $1 for the trade in for all I cared. We only argue on the the loan size of the difference. I don't care how they do it.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,164
Likes: 4,620
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 2,194
From: Loveland
If you really want to know the true cost of trading in your car. First, get their bottom line cash price on the car they are selling, then see what they are willing to purchase your car for. Have your financing already figured out. DON'T use their financing!
Last edited by kodpkd; Aug 21, 2024 at 12:04 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 54
Likes: 33
From: Ellijay
Nope, I paid what they asked for because I thought it was a good price. The only thing that changed was the amount they gave me for my trade in. They didn’t play any games with me. It was probably the easiest transaction I’ve ever had. Why because I showed up with lots of documentation as to the value of the trade in. It pays to get advice from the forum members.
Last edited by budjo; Aug 21, 2024 at 01:56 PM. Reason: Spelling
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
How do you get that?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
Good to know. Last time I saw this was late 90s. By mid 2000s, they would rustle the paperwork I gave them and be like "Awww. That's nice." and hand it back to me. Something about privacy guidelines or other but they never wanted to look at it and I never saw paperwork in any car since. Maybe next time I'll ask.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,965
Likes: 6,770
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Dealers are often all over the ballpark, and usually not in a good way. However, I did a trade-in once in my life; I was ordering a new C5 and the dealer lied through his teeth. That said, he actually ended-up giving me much more than I'd been told by him or expected. It seems that my trade-in was sold before my Vette came in and I'd mumbled something about just selling it outright when they'd contacted me asking if they could have it early. Yeah, totally nutty, but I got an extra $4K for my trade... in 2001. 
Yeah, totally nutty, but I got an extra $4K for my trade... in 2001.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
Dealers are often all over the ballpark, and usually not in a good way. However, I did a trade-in once in my life; I was ordering a new C5 and the dealer lied through his teeth. That said, he actually ended-up giving me much more than I'd been told by him or expected. It seems that my trade-in was sold before my Vette came in and I'd mumbled something about just selling it outright when they'd contacted me asking if they could have it early. Yeah, totally nutty, but I got an extra $4K for my trade... in 2001.
Yeah, totally nutty, but I got an extra $4K for my trade... in 2001. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,058
Likes: 2,159
From: Schaller Iowa
I've only done one trade-in in my life because I usually keep my vehicle until they're almost falling apart. In the summer of '22 when the market was still crazy I traded a '19 1LT A8 base car with both tops and 13K miles for a new '23 for MSRP. They offered me $53K for my trade which was $3K more than I paid for it a year earlier 😁. I felt I was in the right place at the right time. I'm sure that'll never happen again. Today I'm guessing that '19 would be maybe $40K if that.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,164
Likes: 4,620
I've only done one trade-in in my life because I usually keep my vehicle until they're almost falling apart. In the summer of '22 when the market was still crazy I traded a '19 1LT A8 base car with both tops and 13K miles for a new '23 for MSRP. They offered me $53K for my trade which was $3K more than I paid for it a year earlier 😁. I felt I was in the right place at the right time. I'm sure that'll never happen again. Today I'm guessing that '19 would be maybe $40K if that.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 194
Likes: 78
You do not tell them you're trading anything until you get the deal worked out on the new car first, AND on paper.
Like others have eluded to, they ask if you have a trade because they have a bigger pool to fudge the numbers if you do
Usually if you do the deal on the new car first, then say "Oh yeah I do have a trade" they will offer you a much lower trade in value.
Their trade in value usually includes the sales tax difference too, which is another deception tactic
However, if you do the trade first, they will offer you a bloated number and then you get less discounts on the new
It's the sales cesspool
Like others have eluded to, they ask if you have a trade because they have a bigger pool to fudge the numbers if you do
Usually if you do the deal on the new car first, then say "Oh yeah I do have a trade" they will offer you a much lower trade in value.
Their trade in value usually includes the sales tax difference too, which is another deception tactic
However, if you do the trade first, they will offer you a bloated number and then you get less discounts on the new
It's the sales cesspool
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 300
Likes: 146
From: Texarkana, TX - Glenwood, AR
That was a good deal on the C8. I just sold my '22 C8, HTC, Z51, Mag Ride, painted roof etc and it brought $80k to an individual. I am in the process of purchasing another C7 GS. In Arkansas we can sell a car to an individual either 60 days before or after and take the tax credit like a trade. I sold mine before so I just pay to transfer my personalized plate and a title fee and there is no tax. If I had sold it afterwards, I would send the documentation of the sale to state and they refund the tax! This is how it should be everywhere..... If your C8 is still in factory warranty, I would highly suggest you get an extended warranty before the OEM warranty expires. There are several dealers that sell the Premier GM warranty pretty cheap. I couldn't sleep at night if I didn't have a warranty on that car.....
~Tony
~Tony
Pro
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 668
Likes: 917
From: Iowa
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
You do not tell them you're trading anything until you get the deal worked out on the new car first, AND on paper.
Like others have eluded to, they ask if you have a trade because they have a bigger pool to fudge the numbers if you do
Usually if you do the deal on the new car first, then say "Oh yeah I do have a trade" they will offer you a much lower trade in value.
Their trade in value usually includes the sales tax difference too, which is another deception tactic
However, if you do the trade first, they will offer you a bloated number and then you get less discounts on the new
It's the sales cesspool
Like others have eluded to, they ask if you have a trade because they have a bigger pool to fudge the numbers if you do
Usually if you do the deal on the new car first, then say "Oh yeah I do have a trade" they will offer you a much lower trade in value.
Their trade in value usually includes the sales tax difference too, which is another deception tactic
However, if you do the trade first, they will offer you a bloated number and then you get less discounts on the new
It's the sales cesspool
Just so I understand, you are thinking of arguing the purchase price first and then trade in value next and subtract to figure out what you need to finance or pay cash for?
Last edited by aklim; Aug 23, 2024 at 02:26 PM.