Chapter 72

7/14/2005 

Ch 72 Book 2: Day at the Auction

I'm not gonna pay a lot for that car                                 

Mission Statement for Book 2: A new testament of the Joy of Swap Driving in the Golden Years. A new look has been added with images now resolved to 1024 x 768.

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Car Prices 101: What is my car worth?

This question was broached at one of our intermittent breakfast sessions at Denny’s with retired co-cube mate and Slavic immigrant, Hank Samide. He wanted to trade in his 96 Buick Century trade in Kelly Blue book value $1800 but dealer offered $800. Later that day I swapped to a dealer with a saltwater fish tank and I thought of Hank.

I had told him what he already knew, it’s hard to get a good realistic trade in value on a car. Dealers auction off the undesirable to wholesalers cheap, who touch up and resell at retail book value. As a swapper, I am entitled to dip into the silent auction (sealed bid) at my main dealership and just get a deal at wholesale. This week we had 30 various mixed vehicles shown, along with some other BMWs,  Mercedes,  etc. The common sight is the wholesaler in the background on cell phone checking with his bosses, clients, NADA whatever. Was thinking of a winter rat like the maroon 93 Maxima but instead I took the 97 Audi A6 2.8L Quattro because it was cheaper at $2176. Heated seats, Clarion 200 Wt CD satellite radio, sunroof, leather. Now Shawn is thinking of scarfing it away from me.

Attached carp-diem, or carp of the day, dealers think we are all suckers… or as they say Caveat Emptor/ buyer beware.

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Update on the Million Dollar deal from Chapter 43. Turns out anonymous guy was a con who was reselling our cars to other dealers, squeezing a profit in the margins. We kept his last wire transfer and didn’t release the bargained for stock. Let em sue.

Drove an  Enterprise Ford Econovan to Nuzzo Motor Sports in Glen Head, LI to pick up a bunch of race car parts. Tony bought me stuffed flounder lunch and offered me a spot on his race team driving the race trailer down to Barber Motor Sports Park Birmingham Alabama in 2 weeks, then up to Canada. Turned him down. Woulda been some great chapters though.