CHevy06 wrote:
I owe less on the Jeep than what they are paying me for it(12500 vs. 14,500) so please explain how i wont be making a little of it.
If private party value in your region is 16.5k and your trade it in at 14.5k, you just lost $2000, regardless of what you actually owe on it. If they give you full retail on the trade but bump your interest rate up from a best-case of 6% to 7 or 8%, you just lost a couple thousand $$.
The dealer will turn around and mark it up to 18.5k and put it on the lot for full retail (or on auction so it can be shipped to Seattle or Portland and sold for 19.5k)
Dealer trade in is generally the lowest possible $$ you will get for a car. Check Kelly Blue Book to get a general idea of value. I just looked mine up (2006 Limited, all options), and in Portland it's private party value is:
Condition Value
Excellent
$19,980
Good
$18,840
Fair
$17,330
The best way to buy a car these days (again, if you can swing it-your transportation situation may not allow this) is to sell your current vehicle on the private market, then either get pre-approved for a loan amount through a local bank or credit union, or straight out borrow the cash you want to spend from a bank or credit union (if you sell your Jeep for $16k and want to buy a new vehicle, sell the Jeep, pay off the current $12k you owe, then borrow the money you need through the local credit union--you will generally get better interest rates this way).
Look up the Edmunds "best price" info at Edmunds.com on the internet for the vehicle you want, then walk into your dealer, check out the car, and tell them you'll give them 5% less than the Edmunds price (cash money, no financing). Then let the haggling begin, with Edmund's price as your walk-away number.
You will be in the position of greatest strength in the negotiations. You have cash, you don't need financing, and you can walk down the street to the next dealer if they won't play ball. They want your business, because even if they only make 8% profit off the new vehicle instead of 15 or 20%, they move product, make money, and clear the showroom for the next vehicle.