Questions about Trading in my Prius v In Canada.

I wouldn't get hung up on how they're doing the calculation, just look at the bottom line. That trade-in value actually seems good to my (very untrained) eye. I'm thinking sometimes they'll raise the trade-in offer, make you feel good, and stand very firm on the new vehicle price. Or vice versa: drop the new vehicle price dramatically, but low ball the trade-in. Do your homework beforehand, see what Auto Trader or whatever is selling vehicles comparable to yours, factor in that the dealership wants to make some profit on both vehicles, go from there.

Oh and: what are you trading to?

 

When pricing your trade-in they will always find something to explain the low offer. I recall the salesman patiently explaining how he'd knocked about a grand off, because our trade-in was an automatic, lol.

Check if they've got any used Prius v's on their lot, see what they're asking.

 

I see one semi-similar locally, 2013, but with very low kms. They're asking a lot:

Used Toyota Cars for Sale in Port Moody BC | OpenRoad Toyota Port Moody

 

I'm not enamoured with 4th Gen look, storage downgrade, interior, dash style. The prime even less, due to 4 seat, raised hatch floor, no spare.

I'm sitting tight, with low expectations that next gen will be any better. Who knows though.

 

Interesting too: the typical Canadian dealership bill of sale for a new car has a clause stating that the car being sold can have sustained up to 20% of it's retail value in repaired damage, without needing to be disclosed. Now until you sign, that has no weight: you're free to revise 20% to say $500, if dealership rep will agree to it, initial the revision.

There is no government regulation backing up that 20% figure as far as I know, it's just their number.

 

Maybe subconsciously you're trying to talk yourself out of this? At the least, it doesn't hurt to wait till conditions are more favourable, ie: more stock of what you want is available locally.

 

One thing you always have to remember about car dealers, they buy cars wholesale and sell them retail. Their profit is the difference between the two. Have you ever thought about selling the car yourself then you have more control. Trade ins make for a muddy picture of what you are really getting for your car.

 

On the news just now they said CN struck.

 

Since you reported the dent to the insurance company, it should show up on reports. And yes, you can haggle the trade in offer and it'll likely be dependent on how well you negotiated the price on your new car. Remember that the end of the month is the best time to get a good deal.

I don't think $2,000 is a minor cost, though. If I were shopping for 2 identical cars in that price range, I'd take the one with zero body work done, unless there was a decent discount. My hesitation on buying a car with body work done would increase if I lived in an area with cold winters.

 

$2000 for a minor dent is not unusual, if the body shop does a decent job including paint blending.

If "bumpers" or headlights are involved, the price goes through the roof.

Someone who tries to stay "under the radar", repairs it on the sly: that I'd be concerned about.

 

Good points.
I've checked out salvage vehicles in the past. The premise that many of these sellers work on was a minor bumper/headlight repair, which caused the insurance company to total the car.

The ones that do repairs on the sly are sometimes simply trying to avoid getting insurance companies involved to keep their premiums from rising. I also know of people that received insurance checks to fix their car at a first rate body shop, and then found a cheaper place to do it and pocket the difference.

It's really a buyer beware market out there.

 

Yeah just looking through my receipts:

We had a very minor tap, slight dimple of right rear wheel well, area about the size of a softball. The total for that was $1,274 CDN.

Then, a significant T-bone, left-side towards the rear, involving replacement of the rear axle (all new parts used), a real mess. That was $6771 CDN.

The kicker: both these repairs are INVISIBLE, the car is as-new. But hey, diminished value rears it's head. No matter, not selling any time soon.

Info from the T-bone: