used cars prices

olasek

Pattern Altitude
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
1,703
Location
Oakland, CA
Display Name
olasek
I am using both Kelley Blue book and Edmunds.com and they differ substantially, Edmunds generally show prices 15-20% lower than Kelley for the same car. Of course I do know about private-seller versus dealership versus trade-ins so I am comparing apples to apples but was really surprised how different were the prices from these two sources. Any opinions?
 
I've noticed that as well. I belive Kelly was traditionally a reference source for dealers pre internet and I belive that Edmunds came out on the net as a consumer type site so perhaps thats the reason but thats just a guess. My guess is sellers use Kelly as a guide and buyers use edmunds and then negotiations bring the parites somewhere inbetween.
 
I've always used KBB as a wag. A used car is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for it.. If you find the make/model/year of the car you're interested in on eBay motors you can get a good feel of what they're going for.
 
There are 2 books that the car industry uses, NADA 'Yellow Book' on the retail side and the "Black Book" on the wholesale side. Kelly 'Blue Book' is what financial institutions use to figure what they'll lend and Edmund's is strictly a consumer publication.

The differences in them represent profits made by the various entities.

None of these books are worth a damned really unless you can evaluate the car correctly.
 
My advice...if you find a car you like at a reasonable price, buy it. I've paid more than book value for a used vehicle in top-notch condition because I knew the person who drove it took great care of it. That alone was worth way more than book value.
 
A car is worth what I am willing to pay for it, or what my customer is willing to pay for it if I am the seller.
 
The auction story is interesting.... someday, you mugs need to come visit my world and the auctions I participate in to acquire inventory.


I think it's about time you guys got your own reality TV show, everyone else has.
 
The auction story is interesting.... someday, you mugs need to come visit my world and the auctions I participate in to acquire inventory.

LOL, you need a buyer? I've been to an auto auction before...:rofl::rofl::rofl:
I loved going over to the insurance pool yard more though, that's where we'd find so many good performance parts for fractions of pennies on a dollar. See some good parts? Write a bid on the envelope and turn it in. Got an old GPz 1100 Turbo that way for $20; made a hell of a go cart....
 
I think it's about time you guys got your own reality TV show, everyone else has.

[Shameless high jack] I already pitched the idea to my son-in-law ... He's too busy with Mountain Men, premier tomorrow night, 8pm on History Channel to give it any thought right now. [/Shameless high jack]
 
Back
Top