Used-car pricing is officially insane

slefain wrote: I JUST noticed this too! Shopping for my FIL to find a new "grandkids friendly" truck. I can get a nice newer Suburban for way less than an older pickup. Now to convince him that he doesn't need a truck bed (his camper shell stays on his current truck, so I'm part way there).

I was kinda shocked but it makes sense. Pickups are work vehicles and always in demand. Large SUVs suck as work vehicles and the kind of people who buy large SUVs are the kind of people who buy new instead of used.

BTW - That pickup came out of Minnesota. We were in awe at how clean it was. Just a little rust at the fringes of the cab. It was cheaper to buy it and have it shipped halfway across the country than to buy a local one, even before considering that a local one that old will have a see-thru cab and will need all of the brake and fuel lines replaced and other nasties. Brake lines on this bodystyle SUCK to do because they put the ABS unit in the frame under the driver, so the lines are all in one big fat bundle in an inaccessible area. And the first line to go is the one to the R/F which is somehow about 15 feet long...

I think gas prices have raised the cost of small, light, economy oriented cars, and reduced the prices of SUVs, vans, and other gas guzzlers.

I can find 10 used trucks, suvs, or vans for every 1 cheap economy car.

Granted that a 1991 Civic can get better mpg than most modern cars, for the most part the majority of cars produced over the last 30 years were pretty damn ineffiecent compared to the new cars sitting on lots.

While the Fit that my girlfriend hopes to purchase doesn't get excellent gas mileage, it gets good gas mileage while still hauling a ton of crap, being very utility oriented, and comfortable to drive all day.

same thing seems to be going for newer trucks also...

my father-in-law drives a '98 s10... with over 200k miles its long in the tooth and seems to be on the verge of some serious work... so he's been looking into newer pickups...

comparing newer used trucks to a new truck he'll come out ahead based on what a lot of the local dealers will give him on trade in...

then comparing the prices of new full sized vs "small" pick ups is a little silly also...

all this goes to show that people sure don't use logic when buying cars to often :-/...

note we're in tx so trucks are sorta a big thing here...

I got a 1993 Z71 extended cab GMC for free. Not bad shape (a bit of rear 1/4 rust/cab rust, as is typical in those years) for free from a family friend. Got a really nice tranny put in it for $1500 (hence why it was free).

I could sell it for $3k no sweat. I completely agree with what people are saying about trucks always being in demand, ESPECIALLY 4x4 trucks or diesels.

I just bought a 2012 Honda Civic Si Sedan... I paid $19,345 (+tax, and a dealer prep fee of $200) essentially $700 cheaper than the price they had freely posted on their website. They also had a 2011 Civic Si Sedan on the lot, very similar color, 20k miles. Asking price? $22995

Part of the reason we went with the new 2012 Fit vs the used 2010 Fit was the cost of the used models. We found plenty of 20k mile Fit's selling for $15,000, but were able to get our new one for $17,000 out the door. Plus we got it in a cool color.

Bought a brand new 08 base model Focus for 12,400. My fiend two years later got one all fancied up (same year of course) for over 16,000.

I try not to spend over a G on used cars.

yeah it is crazy, I am trying to get a used car for SWMBO but it doesn't even make sense to look at used cars when the new equivalent is the same price or less.

I was looking at Mini Countrymen and the new ones can be had for 23k and all the used ones are going for around 25k.

EvanR wrote: Well, 3 years ago I paid $11.5k with 22,000 miles. If I could get a quick 10k, I'd be off to the Fiat dealer like a shot. Anybody want a fly-n-drive Vegas vacation?

Me!

I was thinking the other day that with used car prices so high, the rental car companies must be LOVING it!!

I am always a bit amazed they can make money renting cars for pretty damn cheap daily rates. Now days they are probably raking in the profits when they sell the rentals.

A dealer locally had a '94 F150 4.9L 5sp 2wd in good shape, nearly 200k on the clock, and wanted $2900 for it......that was with bald tires, some rust, a bad shifter bushing, drivers window didn't roll down, and a tonnaeu cover that needed burned.

KBB for clean retail was $2100, I offered that and was told "Hell no"

They called 2 weeks later basically begging me to buy it for $2400.....I laughed. I'm not going to pay a stupid markup for something that needs fixed

Autolex wrote: I just bought a 2012 Honda Civic Si Sedan... I paid $19,345 (+tax, and a dealer prep fee of $200) essentially $700 cheaper than the price they had freely posted on their website. They also had a 2011 Civic Si Sedan on the lot, very similar color, 20k miles. Asking price? $22995

Post some pics. I actually like these cars.

Datsun310Guy wrote:

Autolex wrote: I just bought a 2012 Honda Civic Si Sedan... I paid $19,345 (+tax, and a dealer prep fee of $200) essentially $700 cheaper than the price they had freely posted on their website. They also had a 2011 Civic Si Sedan on the lot, very similar color, 20k miles. Asking price? $22995

Post some pics. I actually like these cars.

it's in my readers rides...

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/reader-rides/8059/