Cosmo Kramer

I tend to do the same thing. I remember looking at a brand new 5.0 LX Mustang as a teenager. Guy asked me if I had a trade I said no. He took 2k off the price before I even asked to negotiate. Didn't have enough money to get it anyway, but the test drive was fun.

dr bob

Many years ago, a neighbor 'traded in' her car for a new one. My grandmother needed a reliable driver, so I asked the neighbor what the dealer had given here in trade-in allowance. We called the dealer right back, and I offered them 25% less that that number, in cash. Dealer was all over that. Neighbor was not thrilled when she realized what had happened. My grandmother loved the car, and drove it for another 10 years or so until she passed away. I sold it to a co-worker for about what I paid for it. By then it was a really low-mileage perfect example of a mid-years Ford Fairmont. Somebody's dream car I'm sure.

A neighbor recenttly replaced her six year old, 70k mile SL550, traded it in for a new one at the dealer. I'd mentioned to her several times that I was interested in it when she got tired of it, but I was travelling when she got the urge. They gave her $16k allowance for it. Ouch!

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Hopefully the 996 will be a better experience than the 928 was for norcoastal. But a used car is still a used car, and only different stuff will happen. Yeah, I'd like to have a TT as another toy, or just a NA 997C4. Or a Cayenne GTS or Turbo, or a Panamera. A new-car warranty would be nice too, as would the huge financial windfall needed to move a $100k+ car purchase down deeper into my financial noise area. I learned to work on 'my' Porsches as a teenager with a 356, through '70s and '80s 911's and on to the 928. A 997 couldn't be that tough, right?

Marine Blue

The key advantage with the 996 is the fact that there are many more mechanics which will be able to work on it. A mechanic won't have to throw parts at the car trying to figure out what is causing the problem and you won't have to drive far to find a good mechanic.

There are some advantages to trading a car in instead of selling it. What immediately comes to mine is the tax benefit, although minor in this case, the hassle of waiting to arrange shipping, paperwork or the risk of an unhappy buyer. The last one is very important when you consider that this car had some known issues.

Imo000

This is all just laziness.

EspritS4s

Plus, any buyer from Rennlist would be well aware of the issues. So expectations wouldn't be a problem. From his posts on the 996 forum, he (and others) believe that he got a really good price on the 996. I'd be suspicious of the car (especially with the non-OE front end and side skirts.) I guess I've been around the block too many times with used car dealers to trust them.

dr bob

What is the tax advantage?

Jerry Feather

The tax advantage in this state (CO) is that you only pay sales tax on the difference between the price paid and the trade in allowance. Otherwise, if you sell the trade to someone else for the trade in allowance and then buy the other car, you pay sales tax on the full purchase price. Jerry

mickster

Yup! Same in NY.

mickster

I wish I knew what dealer he sold it to...

James Bailey

The most that ANY auto dealer is going to put in a car is wholesale what they can take it to an auction and sell it for the next day. Most new car stores the new car dept and used car are separate profit centers so the used car manager wants to steal the cars so HIS department makes more profit. Once the deal is done the used car manager "owns" the trade. On many unusual cars the used car manger will call and get bids for the car from wholsalers /specialized retailers who "buy" the trade BEFORE he takes it in thus limiting his risk and still makes a few bucks profit. If the used car manager gets the car he can still try to sell it for more money before he gives it to the wholesaler who made the first offer.... and make a few more $$$. And yes there is always a bit of fluff in any dealers "asking Price" The insurance companies when trying to determine ACV actual cash value for a claim typically deduct 20-25 % from the dealer asking price...New car stores have 15-22% markup built into the sticker prices before year end factory rebates and bonus. The salesman you deal with gets paid commision on the "profit" of the sale so is very interested in making as much profit as possible, if he can convince you to take less for your car in trade....the more he makes. On many used car lots there is no actual selling price just a coded number telling the salesman the MINIMUM price he must get and HE decides where to go from there. And no matter how much you offer for a car......they are going to ask for more just to see if they can get it ! If you ever THINK the salesman is working hard to get you a deal......RUN AS FAST AND AS FAR as you can

cold_beer839

Just took our 72k mile '07 ELX Odyssey in to see about a new '11 Touring Odyssey. They offered $15.9k at first, then $17.6k after I said no. They never offered to take any off the sticker price. Needless to say we still drive our '07 Odyssey, hell it's paid for anyway and we really don't want another car payment.

mdkelly1

If he stays up-to-date on the 996 and does some preventative work like Shark Attack by using the LN Eng. IMS Bearing replacement, he should be fine and have a car he can enjoy.

Also, there are some 996's that use a diiferent motor

Landseer

He's right now discussing wheel change and spoiler additions.
Don't see him pulling the engine anytime soon for anything mechanical.
Doubt there was a PPI.
Sounds like Steve's in his comfort zone now with the car hobby.

Mark SF

Well it doesn't make any sense to me. He's struggled for a while with rough running issues, and when he's finally taken it in to be properly fixed he sells the car. How on earth can that make financial sense? Why be in such a desperate rush to get rid of it that you sell it at a $4k loss?

mickster

My guess it's a mix of buyer's remorse, disappointment in the 928 (maybe not up to the expectations in his mind); maybe wanted a 996 but "settled" (at least in his mind) for a 928--why knows.

If you're not upside down in either time or money on one of these cars then you probably bought it from a former owner who was upside down...and that really goes for darn near any car...