Best Used Car Value

Q.Someone posted a site a while back that gave Canadian value estimates on used cars. Does anyone know of a good one?

A.I think the car dealer calculators are so bad to give you low trade in value. Consult with AMA consumers info if your a member 430-6800. I was just at Toyota and they told me the value was $5000 retail on my car and $3000 whole sale. My car on VMRcanada was $7150 retail plus add 5%. So I take it www.vmrcanada.com would be the closest estimate. This is a free site and I think you have to pay to get on Blackbook as the dealers have. On the www.canadatrader go to valuefinder (its someplace on the top menu) and you can get an idea on other listed cars. It gives you a high and low. I called AMA a few weeks ago checking into a 2005 Mazda 3 with 44 k I recieved in 2 books 12,500 wholesale and $13,800 retail and add 10% for Alberta pricing. Then another book said the car was worth 14000 wholesale and $15,875 retail. However try get an 05 Mazda 3 for those prices they are all like $3000 higher in asking price.Some dealers want more then new price on them. Same with my car worth 7150 retail and most are priced at $10,900 and most dealers do not want to deal on imports. They seem to be keeping prices really high. Only place you can find a cheaper car is the lot on St Albert Trail but make sure you take a look underneath.The body on most look really clean and straight but rotors and whole underneath surface rusted galore. I couldn't believe the even buying a demo 06 Toyota Corolla with 12000k. The guy said he would work out a hell of a deal on cash basis. He came back with $23,800 all in and price brand new is $24,500 all in on a sport model. Are Toyota's really that great that I would only save $700 for $12000 k.? In my head to begin with the car was USED so I shouldn't be paying Freight and PDI also he should be taking off 20cents per km on the milage. I would of thought you could get the car for 21000 all in. I find mazda dealerships will at least deal a bit but the Toyota dealerships it's this is the price take it or leave it and all I visited seem to be like that. Actually sitting in the new Mazda and the New Toyota made me realize that my 2000 Mazda was higher quality inside. Bottom line here is a brand new car is the poorest investment anyone can make.You get the new ride and an empty wallet. Probably buying a 3 year old car you should save at least 40% off the list. That's probably your best move and to boot still some warranty left. In my experience I would prefered the 1st buyer take a kick in the butt. But I guess we are still fortunate the car market hasn't hit us like the house market.lol I couldn't believe I just seen a Ford Focus 2005 with 9 k just on usededmonton.com for $10,000 and yet I believe its the same powertrain as a Mazda 3. I wouldn't buy it but for a student or the wife to get groceries it would be a great starter car with a good warranty.

Blue Book Value Of Used Cars

Which blue book value should the insurance company be using when a car is totaled out for insurance purposes - private-sales, or retail-sales?Often, they will use a service which shops used cars for sale and recently sold at dealers. "Comparable"...

How To Sell Your Used Car

I need to sell an almost new 94 Mustang because of personal reasons. But since I think I might not be able to sell it myself, I am thinking about selling to dealers. I wonder if dealer will buy a used car without trade-in? If so, will they give m...

Appraising used boats

Is there a publication like the NADA Used Car Price Guide or Kelly Blue Book for boats? Are they regionalized -- I'd be interested in Puget Sound prices, for instance. And if such guides exist, where how do you get a hold of one?the BUC book ...

Frugal Luxury car?

I need to buy a new car because my place of employment is now 45 min away. My 85 GMC did trick when I only had to drive 10 min to work and the full size long bed truck will no longer do the trick in San Diego traffic. I would get another 4x4 a...

Used Auto Parts Salvage

There was a web address for a list of RV and Motorhome Salvage dealers. That link is closed and one is referred to an Auto Recyclers site. I'd like to reconstruct the list and make it available for all to use. If you know an RV / Motorhome salva...