any tips would be appreciated, i have never traded in a car that was less than a year old

 

Go to kbb.com (kelly blue book on line) and look up your year/make/model car, Input all options that you have on the check list, input maleage, and you are set. You can get expected trade in value, or retail value, and others. It is pretty easy to do, just follow their steps. Good luck.

 

the 1st year is when a car loses most of its value but the scion may be differnt

 

You're gonna lose thousands of dollars!

On top of that, the xB costs a little more! Why would you do that? I like the xA, what's making you change your mind?

You sure don't want more horsepower!

-THE DON

 

I can speak from personal expierence. Last summer i purchased a Chery Express Van, brandy new. Bought it for the X in June. The X and i split in July, so i go to return the van cause i dont need it, nor did i want to pay for something that would just sit. The van was 2 months old, and had 615 miles on it. I took it back to the same dealer that i bought it from, nice family dealer my ___. I had to pay them over 7K dollars to take the van off my hands, and i had to fight to get that.

Turning in a car that you are currently making payments on YOU WILL LOOSE MONEY, AND LOTS OF IT. Dealers are in the business of selling cars, not buying them back.

Another short story that may help you out. Sell it privately. To get my box, i had to unload my Hyundai Accent. At the time, it was 2 years old, and had 5K miles on it. My Scion dealer would only give me $1,500 for it! KBB said it was worth over 5K$ to a dealer for trade in. I ended up selling my Accent for $5,500 ( enough to just cover my loan ) privately, $4K more then the dealer offered me.

 

There's a lot factors to consider.

I went in with an excellent credit score (over 730) and I was willing to buy an xB that the dealer had on the lot (right color, right transmission, only 22 miles on it). They gave me a value that was on the upper end of the range. I was quite surprised.

It also depends upon the dealer... some dealers have no problem taking trades, since they just put the trade-ins on the dealer auction circuit.

Oh, I just noticed that you have a hot lava box. I'm sure that the limited nature and desireability of that model made the dealership less willing to sweeten the deal.

 

Actually, you might be shocked at how well you do.

We quit buying Scions at the dealer auctions because we were having to pay 05 invoice prices for 04s with 10,000 miles on them. (100% stock and in great shape)

 

Selling privately is a good thing too.

 

Engine: 4-Cyl. 1.5 Liter
Trans: Automatic
Drive: Front Wheel Drive
Mileage: 18,000


Equipment
Air Conditioning
Power Steering
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Tilt Wheel
AM/FM Stereo
Single Compact Disc
Dual Front Air Bags
ABS (4-Wheel)




Consumer Rated Condition: Excellent
"Excellent" condition means that the vehicle looks new, is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning. This vehicle has never had any paint or body work and is free of rust. The vehicle has a clean title history and will pass a smog and safety inspection. The engine compartment is clean, with no fluid leaks and is free of any wear or visible defects. The vehicle also has complete and verifiable service records. Less than 5% of all used vehicles fall into this category.


Trade-In Value List Your Car For Sale Online $11,775
Trade-in Value is what consumers can expect to receive from a dealer for a trade-in vehicle assuming an accurate appraisal of condition. This value will likely be less than the Private Party Value because the reselling dealer incurs the cost of safety inspections, reconditioning and other costs of doing business.

 

Engine: 4-Cyl. 1.5 Liter
Trans: Automatic
Drive: Front Wheel Drive
Mileage: 18,000


Equipment
Air Conditioning
Power Steering
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Tilt Wheel
AM/FM Stereo
Single Compact Disc
Dual Front Air Bags
ABS (4-Wheel)




Consumer Rated Condition: Excellent
"Excellent" condition means that the vehicle looks new, is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning. This vehicle has never had any paint or body work and is free of rust. The vehicle has a clean title history and will pass a smog and safety inspection. The engine compartment is clean, with no fluid leaks and is free of any wear or visible defects. The vehicle also has complete and verifiable service records. Less than 5% of all used vehicles fall into this category.


Private Party Value Search Local Listings for This Car $13,805
Private Party Value is what a buyer can expect to pay when buying a used car from a private party. The Private Party Value assumes the vehicle is sold "As Is" and carries no warranty (other than the continuing factory warranty). The final sale price may vary depending on the vehicle's actual condition and local market conditions. This value may also be used to derive Fair Market Value for insurance and vehicle donation purposes