Something relatively new in terms of hi-tech to the automobile business is the auction-data software that almost all Used Car Managers now have at their fingertips.

When they are appraising a vehicle (especially if it is not the brand of their new-car franchise) they can enter the VIN, list the miles and equipment, and see what similar vehicles are selling for at auctions all over Southern California.

What does that mean to the consumer?

4 months ago, customer tried to trade out of his Yukon-not sure of year, I think it was 2004.

Appraisal was $13,000

He didn't like that number and left.

Came back 2 months later, had it re-evaluated.

Appraised at $8000


Came back last weekend, to have it evaluated again.

Appraisal came back at $4000.

That's how few wholesalers are bidding on SUVs and big trucks at the auctions.

I hope things change in the next 6 months or so. We need some GOOD economic news.

Good time to buy an SUV if you're looking!

And forced to hang on to them if you already have one!

I'd give him 4k for the Suburban

troop, how does that compare to the edmunds.com TMV appraisals that are supposed to be based in fact on actual sales prices and updated with current data?

I traded my 2000 Suburban with 110k miles in little over a month ago and negotiated up to $4k for it. Ouch. Back in April I was offered $6k w/o any negotiating. Still feel like I gave it away, but with all of the used SUV's on the market I definitely didn't want to mess with selling it myself so I puckered up and let it go.

Definitely a good time to buy a used. The 2007 Expedition EB that I bought with 31k miles has the h/d tow package, moon roof, 6cd changer, Sirius, DVD video, heated/cooled leather seats etc, rear sensor's etc and got it for $26k. They were originally asking $30k about a month before I bought it. Probably should have negotiated for more off and I probably could have still saved a few more $. Just seems like they keep going down. I paid a little more than I wanted because for some reason around here I had a hard time finding an Expedition with the h/d tow package, everyone I looked at used over the past 3 months only had the standard tow package and 3.31 gears which is only rated for 6klbs towing. That won't work with our Travel Trailer that is basically 6klbs loaded up.

Thankfully, I bought the Suburban used so I didn't completely loose my shirt on it as I paid $17k for it with 46k miles back in 2004.

No doubt I will be keeping the Expe until well over 100k miles, cause I'm sure it's value is dropping like a rock.

My neighbor is a wholesaler. Has been for over 20 years.

He is grabbing the nice SUV's that are a steal around here and taking them up to Reno to sell them.

He's doing well...

I'm not having trouble selling trucks and SUV's in central Pa. 01 Yukon with 106K just went for $7450

bperg, do you ever make it down to the Manheim auction?

nope. I've been buying from a couple new car lots for the past 6 yrs.

September 4, 2001 I got $11,600 for my 1993 2WD GMC Suburban XLE with the 454 amd 92K miles in a private sale. The dealer offered me $9k on trade. Good thing as a week later I probably would have not been able to give it away. I took delivery on the SuperDuty on September 24 with a rather large cash down payment and got good financing on a special order truck that was priced $300 below "invoice".