Trading an SUV for a new one...?

Question

I bought a 2nd hand Ford Explorer 2005 that same year and I am ready to trade it in for a new one. I dunno a lot about trading-in, so can u give me tips on how to go about it? What questions do I ask because I don't want to be ripped off. Thanks in advance for your advices.

Answer 1

DON'T trade in! You will get ripped off -- that's the nature of trading in cars. Sell it privately. You can't expect to get much for it since it's an SUV and they aren't selling well these days. But go to www.kbb.com and use their used car section to value your car. You select the options and mileage and it tells you what your vehicle is worth in its condition.

Start here: http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/2005_For...

I already selected the year, model, and trim level for you (assuming it's not the Eddie Bauer edition).

Sell the car privately. Use autotrader.com, cars.com, craigslist.com, and/or eBay (if you're experienced and are willing to pay the fees). That's the best way to get the most cash in return. It can be time consuming to wait for a serious buyer but you can use that cash as a down payment on your new car.