porschemikeandnancy

You all know the rationalizations when we buy or sell a car (boat, airplane, guitar, motorcycle, etc).

Today I visited a Ford dealership looking at a 2011 Mustang GT. Fortunately for me the dealer tried to low ball me on my 993 trade so I nicely told him no then left.

As I drove my 993 home, I realized a. I had no real reason to sell the 993
b. I really like the 993
c. In the 4 years I've owned the 993 it has not really depreciated much if at all.
d. Had the dealer actually given me fair trade in value on the 993, I calculated that as I drove the new Ford off the lot, I would have suffered depreciation that would purchase me both a top end rebuild plus at least two sets of new tires.

You guys will appreciate this. He had the Monroney sticker for the new GT. The dealer (a common trick) had stuck a second sticker on the car - which matched the Monroney sticker exactly (colors, format, etc). On it it actually said: "additional dealer mark up" (over $5,000) as if this was a legitimate Ford Manufacturer's line item. So I casually asked the sales manager why there was an additional $5,000 so called "list price" on the window. I said: "is anyone actually stupid enough to pay that?". He said: "yes, some people do"

When you buy as many cars as I have over my life (approaching 60 now), you begin to fully understand why car salesmen are considered one step below
a. politicians
b. child molesters
c. drug dealers

They simply have no shame

95 NC 993

Good post. I agree with you on all counts. I also LOVE the new GT and would love to have one but I also think of the fast depreciation. The $40,000 for a new convertible can sure buy a lot of 'other' things. The 3 cars I own now are basically 'stuck' at the same price, give or take a few thousand as time passes, but not $8,000 or $10,000 downhill in just a year's driving time. I find Ford dealers the worst of the worst. Very hard to deal with even though I have had a few exceptions over the years.

matt777

I couldn't get past the trade my 993 for a GT line. Seriously?

CalvinC4S

Whats wrong with drug dealers?

Other then selling you somthing that would move you to trade a 993 for a mustang?

dcdude

Whatcha doin' in a Ford store, anyways? Chasing parts for your F-150, I hope. The fake Maroney sticker is pretty deceptive. Might be illegal?

Don't beat yourself up too much. Shiny and new will always appeal at the most basic level. Dealer showrooms are bright places scientifically designed to separate you from your money. Here's Chrysler's new, 5 story, "Motor Village" flagship store, showcasing Fiat. I pass it twice daily. It's like a car vending machine facing the 110 South. Check the video:

http://www.media.chrysler.com/newsre...&id=10323&mid=

Dplus

My dad bought a 2011 GT 5.0 (412 hp, 6speed) black on black. Great car, fast, fun to drive, and its new. The thing I like most about it is that he gave me a deal on his old 993!

D.

MarkD

I can't even imagine being in that situation (Ford dealer, trade in 993, etc.).
Good choice though

I was too late to click "post reply"
What Matt said!

Martin S.

Saw an TV special aka "infomercial" on the Ford Mustang Boss 302 due out soon, the Laguna Seca model...Parnelli Jones was pimping it along with Tommy Kendall, et. al.

I have got to admit, it looks pretty cool for a "live axle" 1920's rear suspension car...no Weissach rear suspension on that beast.

rome

For a Shelby Cobra maybe, but not a late model mustang...

goofballdeluxe

...and in 5 years all you'll have is an old tired, albeit fast, Ford.

JM993

+993. Trading a 993 for a Mustang would be a SUPREME Fu*k Up.

Linnm

I find the "add'l dealer markup" reprehensible also. But, how does it compare to the airlines that increase the price of tickets as the flight time approaches? Or, the high price of tickets to the Super Bowl?

Car dealers are allowed by law to price the car they are selling anyway that they want to-and some do, thereby making extra money to cover some of the $50 deals that they must do to pay the light bill.

Wilder

+993. More appropriate than "huge mistake".

Van1

I would think that trading-in a 993 vs selling outright is a huge mistake regardless of what the replacement would be. Sure there is the convenience and opportunity costs associated with trading in, but I would think there is much more upside to selling a 993 on your own. Especially for what a Ford dealer would offer on trade.

Van1

By the way, do you mind sharing what the Ford dealer was going to offer you on trade?