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Discussion Forum

Used truck prices!!??

m2akita | Posted in Tools for Home Building on July 6, 2008 06:08am

How do you guys/gals feel about the prices that Kelley Blue Book gives for vehicles (www.kbb.com).  Would you sell your truck for what they list in the for sale by private party price?

For about three months I’ve been looking for a secondary/ back-up work truck.  Been looking at mostly older models ( ~95 and older) and have had a terrible time finding something reasonably priced.  I’ve kind of been using Kbb as a reference, but cant find anything close to what they list for prices ( I’m not even seeing stuff within $1000 of their listing price).

Wondering if Kbb is out of line with their prices.  I KNOW IM A CHEAP-SKATE but geeze!

If anyone knows of a work truck for a fare price within 4-5 hrs of central Virginia let me know.  Heres what I’m looking for:

3/4 or 1 ton, Crew cab or ext cab ( crew preferred), 4×4, AC ( doesn’t have to be working but repairable for less than 1K).  Truck doesn’t have to be beautiful at all ( will be messed up by me and the dogs in no time any way).

Thanks

Live by the sword, die by the sword….choose your sword wisely.
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Replies

  1. Hudson Valley Carpenter | Jul 06, 2008 07:15pm | #1

    Try http://www.trucktrader.com  I've seen some older trucks with relatively low mileage from private sellers on that site, at Kelly's suggested prices or even less. 

     

    1. m2akita | Jul 06, 2008 07:41pm | #2

      Thanks!  Ill take a look at that.  If been looking at the local newspaper, craigslist for about the 5 closest cities, and ebay.  The few that I have seen priced decent are gone before I can even get to look at them.

       Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.

      1. ANDYSZ2 | Jul 06, 2008 07:53pm | #3

        i would also look in hard hit construction areas for reposessed trucks.

        ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?

        REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST

         

  2. User avater
    MarkH | Jul 06, 2008 09:19pm | #4

    Forget craigs list etc. Truck prices are dropping still. I'd hit the used car dealers, you might get a better price from them.

  3. MSA1 | Jul 06, 2008 11:44pm | #5

    Honestly, i'd forget the book. With gas prices right now if you went onto a dealer lot i'm thinkin they may just give you one.:>)

    1. joeh | Jul 07, 2008 12:20am | #6

      if you went onto a dealer lot i'm thinkin they may just give you one.:>)

      Don't take it unless the tank is full.

      Joe H

      1. MSA1 | Jul 07, 2008 12:29am | #7

        I just read an article today about a local dealer that had a great week selling SUV's last week with 72mo 0% financing.

        His quote was "the people were really happy today, I dont know about next week when the tank is empty but they're happy today".

        1. User avater
          intrepidcat | Jul 07, 2008 12:33am | #8

          I was at a Chevy dealer in Georgetown Texas last week and the place was crawling with customers. Could hardly walk through the show room with all the customers. Every salesperson seemed to be busy and some had people waiting.

          From what I could tell they were buying everything from cobalts to suburbans.

           "Never pick a fight with an old man. If he can't beat you he will just kill you." Steinbeck 

    2. m2akita | Jul 07, 2008 12:59am | #9

      Im getting real close to starting to look at dealers.  Only problem is that most of the trucks at the dealers arent of the "quality" that Im looking for (maybe if a cattle stampede went through the dealer lot we'd be close).

      With what gas prices are, you'd think that people (both private and dealers) would be trying to unload these gas guzzlers.  Im not seeing it in this area.

      I have an old '78 GMC crewcab 4x4 that I was planning on 'putting out to pasture'.  But at the rate/ luck Im having, Im about ready to sink the $2k or so to get it running up to snuff ( with the crappy mileage it gets).

       Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.

      1. MSA1 | Jul 07, 2008 01:04am | #10

        When I started I figured it like this. You pull up to someones house in a junker they may not think too much of you. Pull up in a truck thats too new and you're too expensive.

        I went with a year old model. Its a 2001 chevy 3500 extended and I have never regretted owning it. The only problem i've had was a bad fuel pump. But the good is, that it still looks good, it was alot cheaper than new, and its lasted much longer than buying a 15 year old wreck.

        1. User avater
          mjcwoodworks | Jul 07, 2008 01:28am | #12

          I agree...Just traded my( Old Red ) 1990 ford in on a 08 Silverado.I was concerned about ..Image...It was looking really beat.Traded it in at 11:00 am.......Was drilling holes in the bed rails to mount tool box at 1:00pm.   That was May 11th........Best thing I've ever did  I can actually haul with it........old truck was just plane worn out.Now I roll up to a home and they're not thinking I'm some kind of gypsy. I got a great warrantee and basically care free operating for 5 yrs. instead of $500. here $500. there."Gentle to the touch, exquisite to contemplate, tractable in creative hands, stronger by weight than iron, wood is, as William Penn had said,"a substance with a soul.'"Eric Sloane

          1. bobbys | Jul 07, 2008 03:13am | #13

            I have cast my image to the winds and still drive my 89 red dodge.

             

            Anything goes wrong now it wont be worth fixing though.

             

             Im still gonna have to have a big truck though as i do roofing..

             

             I thought it was going to die a few years ago but it still goes great with the 318

          2. MSA1 | Jul 07, 2008 03:17am | #14

            I think a roofer is the exception to that rule. I would expect a roofer to have a messed up truck. I guess because its a pretty messy job.

            A roofer is probably the only guy i'd worry more about if the truck was too new.

            I'd figure i'd really be paying through the nose.

          3. bobbys | Jul 07, 2008 03:23am | #15

            The more ladders piled on does makes it seem more professional ;]

          4. m2akita | Jul 07, 2008 06:30pm | #16

            Cast your image to the winds??????  How can you say that!!!  Its taken me a lot of work to cultivate the image that I have with my trucks ( plus rocks and dirt, road salt, dirt, etc.).  I think people would go into shock if they saw me with a new, or at least clean shiny truck.

            I would consider a newer truck like some are suggesting, but this is going to be a secondary/ back up truck ( used only to hual or pull heavy stuff and some weekend driving) so I can in no way justify having a newer truck.  Plus I dont have the money for a new one.

             Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.

          5. m2akita | Jul 07, 2008 06:32pm | #17

            So, what does everyone think about the prices given by Kelly Blue Book ( http://www.kbb.com).  Do you guys think that they're low or in line what you would want to get for your vehicle if you where going to sell it?

             

             Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.

          6. Henley | Jul 07, 2008 06:52pm | #19

            It seams (to me at least) that the newer the truck the more
            Accurate Kelly's is.
            I've had more then my share of old vehicles and the cheaper they are
            the less "Book" means.

          7. Hackinatit | Jul 08, 2008 02:04am | #27

            I just bought an Expedition from a provate party @ 60% of Blue Book....

            hadda sign papers with the state to "prove" I wasn't screwin' 'em on sales tax.

            You offer starting at 50% of KBB, dont' go over 60%.

            You'll buy within the first three.

            Edited to say "CASH"

            A La Carte Government funding... the real democracy.

            Edited 7/7/2008 7:05 pm by Hackinatit

          8. BilljustBill | Jul 08, 2008 05:10am | #32

            I took my 2002 Ford Expedition back to the dealership, after a year of waiting on FORD to FINALLY get the dealers parts for the recall on the Cruise control...  While there, I remembered hearing on CNN about how low 2008 models of well loaded gas-guzzling SUV's are selling for super low prices... so to pass the time, I went looking...

            The sales manager was available.  He looked on his computer to say that my well taken care of SUV with 71,000 miles is worth about $7,000....  The new car sales manager said that he just sold a $35,000 Expedition with all the special Promotions for $7,000 off the sticker....  I just looked at him and asked, "Isn't that about what those models usually sold for this time of the model year, without these High Gas Prices?"  He replied, "Well, I just can't see how they could sell for any lower"....

            Heck, if the used SUV/Pickup market is that low, maybe a good truck can be found.  For now, I may stay home more, but I'm keeping mine. ;>)

              Bill

          9. alwaysoverbudget | Jul 08, 2008 07:11am | #34

            use to be in the car bussiness,if i could of sold everything at kelly i would still be in it and probably making300k a year. theres 3 major book and you region plays alot into it. go to your bank and ask what they book thier loans out of,that will give you a good idea.

            around here kbb is pretty much in dream land on a lot of stuff,nada is what all the banks here book from,dealers have a book they work from called"black book" that is what cars are bringing at auctions and what the dealers report to retail for.

            anything older than about 6 years old none of the books mean anything,you can have a 2001 tahoe worth 3200 and another one sitting right beside it for 10,995.in older stuff it's all about supply ,demand and condition.

            one example on location lets say your in d.c with a 2005 volvo,and another guy has one here in wichita.both exactly alike,the one in dc will be 7-10k higher,we don't drive volvo's here,but if you have a duelly diesil watch out.

            find what you like ,want and can afford,buy it .don't worry your going to lose money thats what cars are all about. larryif a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

          10. m2akita | Jul 09, 2008 03:13am | #36

            I wonder how KBB gets their pricing.  When you go to there web page, they ask for you to put in your zip, I would assume that they would use that to adjust for location.

            I guess Im just cut from a different thread than a lot of the people around here selling their trucks.  I lot of what Im seeing is people listing trucks that are 13-15 years old, right around the 300k mileage mark, and wanting  $5000.  I might consider the $5000 price if they were in excellent shape.  But a lot of these are ready for some major maintance issues ( transmission work, injectors on the diesels, etc.).  Some of the cheaper stuff Ive looked at ($1800 - 2400) I was even sure if Id be able to make it all the way home without it breaking down.

            Two years ago I sold a truck I had to a guy I knew for $200.  It was an older truck ('88) that needed some work ( probably $600 - $800) for it to pass state inspections.  I told him what was needed fixing and what would probably need to be done in the next year or so.  Three weeks later he had it in the paper for $1200.  Had not done a thing to it, didnt tell the preson that I had call about any of the problems, and said he was pretty firm on the price.  Have no idea if he sold it or not.

            Im just trying to figure out if Im way off base in my pricing or not.

             Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.

          11. alwaysoverbudget | Jul 09, 2008 03:52am | #37

            it's hard for me to give you advice because on one hand it's what can you afford,and the other is whats the best value for your money.

            crew cab 1 t0ns 4x4 are going to bottom out at about 3k and it won't matter if you push them home,someone will pay that just to haul their 5th wheel to the lake.

            my 2cents for what it's worth is that if a guy is looking for transportation 5k for something with 300k on the clock isn't going to do well. i would look at backing down to a 3/4 ton where the desirabilty is much less and see if i could get by with a extended cab with rear doors because crew cabs really put you into a different market on trucks.around here i think i could go find a pretty decent 01 3/4,ext cab 4x4 for around 7500 with around 100k on it. watch ebay for a while and see if it would pay for you to travel to get what you want,heck i went 2600 miles for a lawn mower!!!! larryif a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

          12. frontiercc2 | Jul 07, 2008 06:34pm | #18

            You're complaining that the old trucks aren't cheap enough while I know some guys crying the blues about the plummeting trade in values of their new trucks what with gas prices climbing. Seems nobody that owns or wants a truck is happy with the current situation. Just an observation, not a condemnation. I traded my old truck (Nissan Frontier 4x4) with 200K and trade in at KBB was still $6K. I couldn't believe it.

          13. m2akita | Jul 07, 2008 09:35pm | #24

            Thats why Im trying to get a grasp from other people if they think kBB is a good reference point.  Trying to see if Im the one off base or if its the other people. Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.

          14. frontiercc2 | Jul 08, 2008 03:34am | #29

            I don't know if KBB is a good reference for you or not. My trade in was in line with KBB values, but alot of the dealers around here use the going prices at one of the larger auto auctions. They need to know what they can get for it wholesale at auction ~ESPECIALLY big guzzlers that don't move or high mileage cars. If I go to Baltimore / DC, KBB seems pretty accurate. If I go north to PA, they all use the auction pricing.If I trade a vehicle, no respectable dealer will want it on their lot. It's either used up or worn out or both.I would just keep talking to folks about it. If enough people know you're looking, something will come along. At least it always has for me.

            Edited 7/7/2008 8:35 pm ET by frontiercc2

          15. fingersandtoes | Jul 21, 2008 04:02am | #38

            Most dealers here won't take full sized trucks or suvs as trade-ins. It was fast, almost one day to the next when gas prices passed $ 1.40 a litre.

          16. Hudson Valley Carpenter | Jul 07, 2008 07:30pm | #21

            this is going to be a secondary/ back up truck ( used only to hual or pull heavy stuff and some weekend driving)

            I wonder if you couldn't make a deal with a friend to rent/borrow his bigger truck for those jobs or hire/barter with him to do them? 

            I'm not big on borrowing or loaning, especially vehicles, but under the right circumstances I wouldn't hesitate to ask.  

            The cost of insurance for a secondary vehicle is enough by itself to make renting/hiring a good option, if you don't need it very often.  

            Maybe you could make a deal with such a friend to pay a fixed sum annually, equal to the insurance, for the kind of use you have in mind. 

          17. m2akita | Jul 07, 2008 09:17pm | #23

            That would be a good idea, something that Ive toyed with, but I will need the truck more often than borrowing/ bartering would make worthwhile ( at least in my head).  Plus, I dont know anyone with a full size, empty bed pickup.

             

            Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.

            Edited 7/7/2008 2:18 pm ET by m2akita

          18. junkhound | Jul 07, 2008 08:27pm | #22

            taken me a lot of work to cultivate the image that I have with my trucks ( plus rocks and dirt, road salt, dirt, etc.).  I think people would go into shock if they saw me with a new, or at least clean shiny truck.

            Well said!

            My trucks are '63 GMC and '86 Chev, DW still drives the '84 Chrysler. (hers is still pristine, mine, well......

            Got a '67 and '71 Datsun truck in storage for conversion to plug-in if I ever retire.

  4. User avater
    xxPaulCPxx | Jul 07, 2008 01:15am | #11

    I was just listening to a radio program last night on NPR (I know - I know IMERC, Bill Hartmann, Frammer, Pete Drag... et all., everything they air is a dirty dirty lie) about large vehical trade in values going down the drain.  They were in a Car Max dealership, basicly doing a play by play of the people who came in, what they wanted, and what the offer was, and how they reacted to it.

    A guy pulled up in a 2007 Caddy Escalade, with gold trim.  He paid $70,000 for it.  He wanted $57,000 for it.  He was offered $35,000 for it.  His situation dictated he had to take it.

    Lots of people are looking to trade in.  I'll bet if you went to a big used dealer and just waited around to see if you liked anything that pulled in, you could drive away with something right away if you just topped the dealer offer by a grand.

    Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

    Also a CRX fanatic!

    Save the Whales! and Guns!

    1. CAGIV | Jul 07, 2008 09:37pm | #25

      you dont think the dealer is going to have a problem with you sitting on the lot trying to pooch a customer lol?

       

      1. User avater
        xxPaulCPxx | Jul 08, 2008 04:47am | #31

        He might have a problem initially, until you point out that there now is a customer still standing in his dealership that now has $xxxx cash IN HAND to buy a car with, and he has first crack at him!

        People don't go to a dealer to trade a car, they go there to BUY a car.  Dealers are offerin bottom dollar for big pigs because they don't want them either.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

        Also a CRX fanatic!

        Save the Whales! and Guns!

    2. User avater
      intrepidcat | Jul 08, 2008 03:28am | #28

      no, you don't understand.....

      the lwered value only comes in when you want to trade......

      YOUR trade is worthless.....nobody will give you a dime more than "$"

       

       

       

      but.....

       

      when YOU go to BUY...............

       

      then that ole gas guzzler is worth a mint.....

       

       

      just the nature of the car bidnezz

       

      'scalp'em

       

       "Never pick a fight with an old man. If he can't beat you he will just kill you." Steinbeck 

      1. User avater
        xxPaulCPxx | Jul 08, 2008 04:44am | #30

        That's exactly what I'm saying - dealers are offering squat for trade...

        therefore if you want a good deal on a truck, you could camp out at a dealership with lots of volume (as to minimise your own wasted time) and beat the dealers offer on something you want.  You get the car at a better deal than you would pay at that or any other dealer.

        You can safely assume that your piece of crud will get only $500 for trade in value (i.e. scrap).  If you've SAVED more than that amount by offereing just above the dealer, you can just give your car away.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

        Also a CRX fanatic!

        Save the Whales! and Guns!

  5. fingers | Jul 07, 2008 07:06pm | #20

    Here's my take on the current situation. 

    I've seen some good deals on new trucks that are already on the lots. 

    Also people who bought a full sized truck as a "lifestyle statement" and now regret the gas milegage they're getting, are or will be trading those (lightly used in some cases) vehicles in and there are some good deals there too.

    Stereotypical gas guzzlers like Suburbans, Escalades, Expeditions, etc. are being traded in and with a limited buyers market, there will be deals .

    The problem is that you want a one ton crew cab and most people buy those cause they need them not as a "lifestyle statement", so economics dictate that those will be harder to find at a good price.

    Just my two cents.

     

  6. mikeroop | Jul 08, 2008 12:57am | #26

    Most banks and dealers i know use nada not kbb.

  7. User avater
    ToolFreakBlue | Jul 08, 2008 06:11am | #33

    No opinion or knowledge about KBB.

    Regarding you search: Might work well to find an independent used car lot that looks respectable and tell them what you're looking for. They can be on the look out at the auctions and if your committed, might give you a sweet deal since they would not have to carry the vehicle in their inventory.

    TFB (Bill)
  8. toolbear | Jul 09, 2008 02:39am | #35

    How do you guys/gals feel about the prices that Kelley Blue Book gives for vehicles (http://www.kbb.com). Would you sell your truck for what they list in the for sale by private party price?

    @@@

    Bought my van from Enterprise. It was listed at KBB plus a few hundred. No dicker sticker. The Ford dealer had a similar used van for KBB + 2000.

    It has worked out well. I will check them again for the next van.

    The ToolBear

    "I am still learning." Goya

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We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data