The Automobile Blue Book

After hours of test drives and discussions with sales people you have finally found the used car you want. Now the negotiation process begins and you want the results in your favor, meaning you want the car for a fair price.

This is where the dealer will direct your attention to a printed price guide, usually the Kelley Blue Book, the version of the book that Kelley sells to dealers. The salesperson will look up the car you are shopping for in this book and will give you the, "retail" price for that car. Be prepared that it will be quite a bit less than what the dealer is asking. At this point you are supposed to rest assured that you're getting a fair price and a great deal. So, why negotiate any further?

But what is the "Kelley Blue Book" value he showed you? It is only an estimate by Kelley of the "listing" prices dealers are asking - not what they are really getting for the car. In other words, they are "suggested retail values." The actual selling price generally varies substantially. And in most cases, they are "substantially" lower than the listed price in the blue book. You can expect to pay a lot less for the car.

So how do you figure what the car is really worth? You can research it yourself on Edmunds.com which will give you the true market value of a car. This price is the estimated average selling price for your car, meaning it's what the dealer is actually getting for the car. And it's what you need to know to negotiate a fair price.

Dealers may also use the NADA Guides and Edmund's Automobile Buyer's Guides to quote car prices however, these are not near as popular.

Dealers Survived The ''Net Threat'' - Brief Article

I''M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON TO SAY "I TOLD YOU so," but sometimes the urge is too strong to resist. This is one of those times. A few years ago, a lot of people were saying that the Internet would(Continue Article)

Auto Retailing in the Information Age: Dealers Outlast the Dot-coms! - Brief Article

The new economy offers new opportunities. The long faces, dark circles and worried glances are gone. After months of predictions that the Net would ...(Continue Article)

Wheels of personality - includes notes on buying accessories, steps to prolong the car''s life. and contacts for would-be automobile dealers - 1997 Car

Automobiles new for 1997 feature three electric models with zero-emission. They are made by Volvo, Toyota, and GM and priced around $30,000. Tips are offered ...(Continue Article)

sun shines on the PAST Winter Old Tool Show and auction in San Diego, The

The largest number of tool collectors and their spouses (four hundred strong) ever to attend the PAST Winter Old Tool Show gathered at the Sheridan Four ...(Continue Article)

Car thieves smell a RATT - San Diego County Regional Auto Theft Task Force

The San Diego County Regional Auto Theft Task Force has been successful in eradicating auto theft in the area through its use of four main strategies, namely, theft analysis, maintenance of an intelli(Continue Article)