How to retort to dealership when selling a car w/mods

[dustinarden]

So i'm thinking about selling my Speed6 to a dealership (trade-in) in order to downgrade. Looking to get like a 2012 Focus 5spd. Downgrading to more of a beater in order to pay down the wifes new ride quicker so I can get something REAL fun in a few years for myself.

The car has slight mods (in sig) so I know that the dealership will use these potentially as leverage against giving me what I want. The car runs great and has given me very little problems the 3 years that i've owned it. Mostly just maintenance items is all i've done. I'm hoping to get at least 5 for it from the dealer, but I doubt i'll get more than 4. KBB and other sites put the value between 3 and 4 .. more for a private seller obviously.

I've put the feelers out on FB and CL but no serious bites yet so i'm probably going to have to go with the trade-in route.

When i take it in for an estimate I know they'll come back with "well it has these mods, etc". What tactics can I use / counter arguments against what they say that will ease them off those concerns a wee bit? Anyone successfully gotten more than KBB or similar websites at a dealer with a trade-in scenario?

[speed23]

Remove the catch can and they wont even notice the rest - maybe the intake but its Mazda. Its not like you have a meth injection system or something.

[dustinarden]

The catch can is more hidden than anything else tbh. They'd have to get right up under the car, remove the shielding etc to see it. You can see the two blue hoses leading to it from the top but barely. Also that thing was a BITCH to get on, haha. Not going through that again.

Thanks for the reply though!

[SaveMelMac]

I doubt they will even say anything about the mods. If they do just play dumb and say previous owner must of had them done, stick to your price, you might have to shop around to get the best trade in price. But if you find a ST at a dealership you usually have a little more leverage with the price of both to get the best combo deal.

[WAMBUSHHHH!]

Take all of this with a grain of salt since we're about to compare apples to oranges but it's some pretty recent first hand experience trading in a speed.

The particulars: 2013 Speed3 Tech package. 46,xxx on the odo. It was fully bolted but stocked out for the trade in with only the catch can left on. Clean title and carfax. Fully paid off. 9/10 exterior and 10/10 interior.

I went to three dealerships (two Mazda dealerships and one VW). The first Mazda dealership didn't even test drive it, they just did a once over and offered me $11.2k. They refused to budge so i LOL'ED right out the front door. The second dealership took a test drive but insisted I drive it? They seemed nervous? Either way I did appreciate the fact they let me drive it rather than some salesman/tech beat it around the block. They offered me $12k and wiggled up to $12.6 plus $500 on top for a trade in. I decided to try my luck at a VW dealership since I knew I was getting into an R.

The VW dealership test drove it and did a once over. They asked if it had been modded and I obviously said no with the exception of an intake. They didn't press any further and they never mentioned the catch can. They offered me $13k and I think KBB had it at $13.6k. I used the its in great condition, low mileage, the 2013 tech package is preferred due to the NAV, etc. They bumped it up to $13.8k with a $1,000 incentive on any VW.

I obviously took the VW dealership's offer. Again, I know this scenario is completely different than where you're at but try to find some of the sticking points that buyers tend to be concerned with. If you have records of any work, bring those. Talk the car up best you can. It doesn't sound like you're in a bind so that works in your favor. The best advice though is to get a few appraisals so you can pit the dealerships against each other. It may only result in $300 more but its something. Make sure to ask for trade in incentives or other like deals if they're available. I was going to walk at $13.8 since I may have been able to do better privately and I wasn't in a huge rush to sell but once I mentioned I was going to try elsewhere they threw in the $1,000 incentive.

If you aren't in a bind, keep trying privately. It's infinitely more annoying but you'll most likely end up with more if you can stomach it.

Originally Posted by SaveMelMac I doubt they will even say anything about the mods. If they do just play dumb and say previous owner must of had them done, stick to your price, you might have to shop around to get the best trade in price. But if you find a ST at a dealership you usually have a little more leverage with the price of both to get the best combo deal.

What does an ST have anything to do with this? He's not getting an ST?

[SaveMelMac]

Originally Posted by WAMBUSHHHH! Take all of this with a grain of salt since we're about to compare apples to oranges but it's some pretty recent first hand experience trading in a speed. The particulars: 2013 Speed3 Tech package. 46,xxx on the odo. It was fully bolted but stocked out for the trade in with only the catch can left on. Clean title and carfax. Fully paid off. 9/10 exterior and 10/10 interior. I went to three dealerships (two Mazda dealerships and one VW). The first Mazda dealership didn't even test drive it, they just did a once over and offered me $11.2k. They refused to budge so i LOL'ED right out the front door. The second dealership took a test drive but insisted I drive it? They seemed nervous? Either way I did appreciate the fact they let me drive it rather than some salesman/tech beat it around the block. They offered me $12k and wiggled up to $12.6 plus $500 on top for a trade in. I decided to try my luck at a VW dealership since I knew I was getting into an R. The VW dealership test drove it and did a once over. They asked if it had been modded and I obviously said no with the exception of an intake. They didn't press any further and they never mentioned the catch can. They offered me $13k and I think KBB had it at $13.6k. I used the its in great condition, low mileage, the 2013 tech package is preferred due to the NAV, etc. They bumped it up to $13.8k with a $1,000 incentive on any VW. I obviously took the VW dealership's offer. Again, I know this scenario is completely different than where you're at but try to find some of the sticking points that buyers tend to be concerned with. If you have records of any work, bring those. Talk the car up best you can. It doesn't sound like you're in a bind so that works in your favor. The best advice though is to get a few appraisals so you can pit the dealerships against each other. It may only result in $300 more but its something. Make sure to ask for trade in incentives or other like deals if they're available. I was going to walk at $13.8 since I may have been able to do better privately and I wasn't in a huge rush to sell but once I mentioned I was going to try elsewhere they threw in the $1,000 incentive. If you aren't in a bind, keep trying privately. It's infinitely more annoying but you'll most likely end up with more if you can stomach it. What does an ST have anything to do with this? He's not getting an ST?

I read that he was getting a focus, my mind threw ST, change ST to Regular Focus. my points are still valid....

[WAMBUSHHHH!]

Originally Posted by SaveMelMac I read that he was getting a focus, my mind threw ST, change ST to Regular Focus. my points are still valid....

Not saying they weren't valid. I was just trying to gain some clarity on if there was some weird situation that you've experienced or witnessed with STs being on the lot and it being easier to negotiate on Focus's. Surprisingly I have never been to a Ford dealership to negotiate a trade in or a sale so I thought there might be something more that I missed.

[aackthpt]

Strange to ask, in a community dedicated to owning / modding / enjoying a car, for help getting rid of it.

[dustinarden]

Yeah i'd love to get an ST but if i did that i might as well stay with my 6. Its a great car and since I drive it so little i'm not DETERMINED to get rid of it ... it's been treating me good. Honestly one of the main reasons i'm in the mind to trade it out is simply to get a more modern entertainment center. I dont want to have to spend 200 on the faceplate and then another 500+ on a headunit i like .. i'd rather get a newer car with a more modern interior and just beat on it until the other car is paid off and then i'll focus on a real mid-life crisis car.

Originally Posted by aackthpt Strange to ask, in a community dedicated to owning / modding / enjoying a car, for help getting rid of it.

I dont see how. Its not like i hate the car .. just figured others here would have some similar experience / advice on "mods" when it comes to dealerships. I love the car (as stated earlier) but I dont want to drop too much more money into it either ..

[crankshaft]

I find it hard to believe that trading for a Focus would help you financially. The dealer will most likely wholesale your car, so it's not worth much in their eyes. (assuming you talking a Ford dealer). Even if they do give you good money, going over to a 12 Focus is so close to a lateral move...is it really worth it? Now, if you could sell yours directly to someone else, you're talking $1500 or more in your pocket compared to a dealer trade. That might be worth it if you simply want a newer car and fewer repairs.

One piece of good news: it's a 5 speed. Do NOT, under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, buy a 12 Focus automatic. I made the mistake of buying one of these shitboxes for my daughter without doing proper research.

[dustinarden]

Originally Posted by crankshaft I find it hard to believe that trading for a Focus would help you financially.

This is accurate. Its less about money (car is paid off) and more about cheaper use. I dont mind having a $70 a month car payment for a year again if I'm saving on insurance and fuel costs. Those creature comforts of the ford infotainment systems is a siren song. I dont want to spend $700 on a metra kit & android auto stereo system to update the thing.

Originally Posted by crankshaft One piece of good news: it's a 5 speed. Do NOT, under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, buy a 12 Focus automatic. I made the mistake of buying one of these shitboxes for my daughter without doing proper research.

Yeah I've read some posts about the automatics being garbage. I def dont want to get rid of my speed just to go to some garbage ford automatic. It'll have to be a manual tranny or i'll just stick with my ride.

I'd much prefer to sale it to someone who knows what it is and will take care of it but i'll just have to wait a little longer and see if I get any nibbles privately before going to a dealer. Seems like EVERY single focus around here is an automatic even when the dealer site says manual. I dont see how its so complicated to look into the car and say "yep .. thats a stick shift".

[Natey]

I'd call them 'reliability mods' and tell the dealer you've been driving Mazdas for years. That car's rare and let 'em try to tell you different!

Then I'd go look at Civics because that Ford is gonna leave you stranded. My mom in law's brand new Focus went back for Lemon Law, and now the new one keeps fucking up. She's almost 70 years old and her car keeps crapping out for no reason. Electrical shit on both cars.

[Aztec(h)]

Having worked in sales at a dealership, I can say that a lot of the programs they use to load a car to their websites will use the VIN info once it's loaded into inventory. They can edit most info, but a lot of times, a transmission will be inaccurate. And since it's usually a manager doing the input, they're not likely to check for accuracy with all that they've got going on

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