From: joe@advtech.uswest.com ( Joe Thielen)
Subject: Re: what is the deal with "blue-book" value of an auto?
Organization: U S WEST Advanced Technologies
Lines: 48
Nntp-Posting-Host: absoraka.advtech.uswest.com

In article <C5w7or.DEx@news.cso.uiuc.edu> cka52397@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (OrioleFan@uiuc) writes:
>newton@convex.com (Vicki Newton) writes:
>
>>i am in the process of buying a new auto.  i haven't decided yet whether
>>i should sell my current car myself or trade it in as part of the new
>>auto purchase.
>
>>i know that the "blue book" value for the car is $2825.  an acquaintence
>>has offered to give me blue book value for the car.  i am just wondering
>>if this is a standard measure for negotiating a resale price or if i
>>can hope to get more money from someone else.  what exactly is blue book
>>value based on?  i know that for its year (88) my car has low mileage
>>(< 50,000).  it is in excellent working condition but does have a few
>>dings on the exterior (nothing major).  do any of these facts alter the
>>fair selling p[rice of the car?  i am not looking to rip anyone off, i
>>just naturally want to get the best price for the car.
>
>>thanks a million,
>>veek
>
>	I think the Blue Book is the NADA handbook for used car prices, no?
>	Is the Blue Book value given the retail or wholesale value???  The 
>	Blue Book value isn't set in stone, though.  Low milage, extra addons
>	and stuff like that there can increase the resale price of the car, you
>	may want to head on over to the local library or borrow your friends
>	Blue Book and read up on that sort of stuff.  I paid ~$400 under BB
>	(retail) for my '87 Civic in 1990, and it was in perfect condition and
>	had only ~14.5K miles on it.  The guy was desparate to sell, new kid on
>	the way, etc., but it was a good price.  Remeber, both you and the 
>	buyer, if he has any sort of brains at all, are using the Blue Book, so
>	you should pick a fair price.  
>
>
>				Chintan Amin
>				llama@uiuc.edu
>
>-- 
>Chintan Amin <The University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign> mail: llama@uiuc.edu
>*******SIG UNDER CONSTRUCTION HARD HAT AREA********

A mileage chart should be available in the book.  It usually goes by
the class of car you own and year.  Usually you will end up adding a few
hundred dollars to the retail price or subtracting it...  Consumer
Reports also has a number you can call and get a quote for your area.
A friend of mine used it, and was quite happy with the service.  I
believe it cost about $10.00.

-- Joe
