Advice on trading-in and buying a Wrangler X

jaxjeep18 · 11-12-2005, 06:21 PM

Hey all...

Well, I've been researching into this on the forums for the past few weeks. I checked out carbuyingtips.com, which was very helpful, and I've already looked up my trade-ins value with KBB. I will be buying a new Wrangler X '05...hard top is a must. I have a white 2002 Chevy Blazer LS that I bought used. It's a 4 door, has all of the extra's that a loaded would without the leather seats. It's in perfect cosmetic condition and about 46,000 miles on it.

My question is, does anyone have any suggestions as to trading in a vehicle with a loan on it? There's currently $6450 left to pay off. I know they'll deduct that from the trade-in value and that I should get the promise to pay off within 10 days in writing so they don't mess up my credit. Can I use this trade-in as leverage to go lower on the invoice price? Or is KBB value the most they'll go. Has anyone sold a vehicle with payments on it privately and if so, how does that work?

I plan on using cars.com quote and faxing all of my local dealers to try and get some quotes and play phone tag for a few days as to who will give me the best deal. It seems difficult, up here in CT most dealers have the attitude that "someone else will buy it because it's a Wrangler"... I'm hoping this approach will work. Any suggestions from any one up in this area who can reccomend a dealer, or anyone with any ideas, would be greatly appreciated!

bobsguns · 11-12-2005, 06:51 PM

As one who used to work at a Toyota dealership, I can tell right off you'll be lucky to get anything much more than what you owe on your Blazer, IMO. You're better off selling it yourself & then paying off your loan & buying the Jeep from scratch.

Look at the trade-in as two separate deals: deal #1 is what you get for your trade; deal #2 is what you pay for your Jeep. Only you can decide what is a good deal & what is not.

ALWAYS buy on the last day of the month!!!! Dealers are more flexiable on the last day of the month! You can shop to your heart's content before then, just don't buy until the 30/31st of that month.

Skip the extended warranty, skip on ANY accessories from the dealer as you can get better for about 1/2 price on the aftermarket.

Good luck!

buellwinkle · 11-12-2005, 07:07 PM

I got 4K off list price on our 2005 X and that's the no-haggle price at Carmax and they have 2-3 locations around the country, don't know if it's close enough for you. Including the $1,500 rebate, this is about $1.5k lower than invoice price. You have to figure that Carmax is not doing this to lose money, they offer fixed pricing on a take it or leave it basis so they are not going to price at a loss. So that should be your target price or even lower if you are a good negotiator. Also, most of the money selling you a new car is made in the finance office, avoid this office at all cost, they are all top salesmen making top dollar selling you crap you don't need at extremely high prices. One monkey tried to sell me an extended warranty, imagine that when the car already comes with a 7yr/70K mile drivetrain warranty.

A dealer will typically offer $1-3K lower than KBB.com's trade-in price, this is because all they are likely to do with a car that old is flip it at a dealer auction were they will get about $1K over KBB.com's trade-in price so for them, buying your old car is worth a lot more to them than them selling you a new Wrangler X where they may only make $1k.

jaxjeep18 · 11-13-2005, 04:10 PM

Thanks for the opinions/suggestions... definitely helpful. I've decided to sell it privately because, after a little research on the same vehicle in my area, they're going for $12-14 privately.

One last question... If I do sell it privately would I be better off paying the loan off tomorrow, receiving the title and selling (I'm financed through Chase Auto, will it take forever to get the title in the mail or can I go in to a branch and leave with it?)

or

Can I sell it and then pay off the loan? How does this work? Will they write the loan amount to the bank and then the difference to me...? Is this even possible?

Whatever is more time efficient, as I found the X I want at a local dealer and I'm sure it'll go soon. Thanks again for the advice...

KKiowaTJ · 11-13-2005, 04:36 PM

if you sell it without the title its considered selling morgaged(bad spelling) goods.they can go back on you and its not good for your credit.your better off paying off the loan and then sell to avoid trouble.good luck with your new jeep when you get it

Traveller · 11-13-2005, 05:03 PM

Talk to the F&I guy at the dealership and see what he'll offer you on your Blazer. It's true that you might get a better price selling it privately, but that isn't always the case.

I traded in my 99 GMC Suburban SLT for my Rubicon. My Suburban had 85k miles on it, and was in very good condition. I still owed $7.5k on it at the time of the trade in. At the time (in June) Jeep had a trade in allowance program. I ended up getting $12k for my Suburban, which was alot more than I expected.

Don't get taken in the deal. If you aren't happy with what they're doing for you, stand up and walk out. Two times I stood up to leave, the second time I got the keys and the registration for my Suburban and was walking to the door to leave and find another dealer. They brought me back and found me a deal that I was happy with.

Haggling can be fun sometimes, and it can be worth the effort.

jaxjeep18 · 11-14-2005, 08:52 AM

Good to know Traveller... thanks. I just spoke to a dealer who quoted me $20,045 on an '05 X (i'd need to ad a hardtop unfortunately). And also threw in that whole 3.9 financing over 60 months thing. I really do not want to do that and may cnotinue to finance through Chase Auto over 36 months.

A different local dealer has an ad in the paper stating that they have a 2006 X for $19,962 (saving $3163). I mentioned this to the dealer I had on the phone and he completely flew by it, and asked me to come down. If they can sell an ‘06 for that price, why the hell would I buy on ‘05 for $20,045?

Thanks again for the help everyone...hoepfully I'll find my X soon!

kcphilaflyer · 11-14-2005, 09:39 AM

If you go with the X, upgrade and get the Rocky Mtn Edition with the rear D44 and 3.73 gearing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**SlimShady** · 11-14-2005, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcphilaflyer

If you go with the X, upgrade and get the Rocky Mtn Edition with the rear D44 and 3.73 gearing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Definitely get the 44...even if it means you have to buy a Sport.

2005X · 11-14-2005, 01:10 PM

i regret not getting the D44, i was to much in a hurry to get a jeep, that i didnt even pay attention to what i was getting, now 1 month after getting the X, im starting to look at buying a new jeep, or shelling out the cash to replace the D35, but atleast i have 3.73 gears

**Rocky529** · 11-14-2005, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepcurious

i regret not getting the D44, i was to much in a hurry to get a jeep, that i didnt even pay attention to what i was getting, now 1 month after getting the X, im starting to look at buying a new jeep, or shelling out the cash to replace the D35, but atleast i have 3.73 gears

Don't buy a new Jeep... replace it with a 44 if you have to, otherwise the 35 will hold up for you.

jmcgonig · 11-14-2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcphilaflyer

If you go with the X, upgrade and get the Rocky Mtn Edition with the rear D44 and 3.73 gearing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 3.73 gearing can be gotten with the D35. The RME is almost $2500 more than the normal X and in most cases the same price as a sport w/o some of the options.

FWIW, I got my X w/ hardtop for $18500, so you should be able to get it for under $20k for sure.

I don't see the D35 issue as that important. It certainly isn't worth $2500+ and if I need something stronger I need to regear and can upgrade at that time for less. IMHO of course.

-Jim

jaxjeep18 · 11-14-2005, 07:20 PM

Funny that everyone mentioned this Dana concern because I just stumbled onto a silver 2005 used Rocky Mountain Ed. with only 600 miles on it. Obviously as close to new as it gets, but hopefully I can use the mileage and "its not an 06" to lower the price. This will have D44... I fell in love with it the second I saw it. If I wanted to order a hardtop could I just order one for any TJ... or X since it's an upgrade off of an X. I'll really need a hardtop for security reasons...

I'll keep you posted. I really think this is the one... only a matter of how fair of a deal we can reach. He said they use Galves and will probably wholesale it ... but I don't think I'll have enough time to sell privately without losing the car. We'll see...

JeeperJo · 11-14-2005, 07:56 PM

we traded in our '05 hulk green wrangler x with 20k miles, because we had to buy a work truck for our company, and got 14k for it, still owing 22k for it. Yesterday we saw our jeep for sale at a local Jeep dealer for 22k.

Due to the whole employee pricing, trade in value will be so low....just be prepared.

jaxjeep18 · 11-15-2005, 09:45 AM

Yeah I'm expecting to be horrified by the trade-in price. We'll see what they can do.

Can anyone help me to find an accurate price on a used 2005 Wrangler X, Rocky Mountain edition, with 600 miles on it. A/C, 6 disc, fogs... all that just no cruise control.

I'm in the zip code 06851.

I'm coming across various different opinions on what this could/should be worth.