Anyone has access to BlackBook pricing? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

SeaNile31 · 12-31-2010, 05:47 AM

I'm looking at an 05 S and the pricing from Edmunds, KBB, etc vary greatly. I'm pretty sure the dealers use BlackBook for valuing their cars. I might be making more out of this than need be. 05 S, 20K miles started at $28,950 then $28,450 and now $27,900.

Brucelee · 12-31-2010, 03:51 PM

Actually, most dealers use the auction value to place a price on a trade-in. These auction values also have data on retail prices etc.

In all my time in the trade, I have never seen a "black book."

Unless you have a friend in the trade, you cannot access the auction values.

Topless · 12-31-2010, 07:11 PM

This is actually a very unusual market for used cars. I don't think any book will get you closer than about +/- 10% of what any particular car will sell for.

My suggestion is always to focus far more on the car than the price. If you found a sweet car, negotiate your best deal and be prepared to walk away if the seller is completely unwilling to meet you in the middle. If it really is "the one" a difference of $2k one way or the other won't matter in the long run.

thstone · 12-31-2010, 10:01 PM

If you are looking at BUYING the car from the dealer, it will be priced at "market" value. This is based on what the dealer thinks that he can get someone to pay based on new car prices and used car prices. There isn't any "blackbook" or "greenbook" pricing and even the Kelly Blue Book will be ignored - the price is entirely based on what the dealer thinks they can get.

If you are looking at SELLING OR TRADING IN your car to the dealer, then the price they offer will be based on auction prices which may differ from Kelly Blue Book pricing.

It your example, it sounds like you're looking at buying used car from the dealer and have seen the price go down a bit. That is because the car hasn't sold and the dealer is adjusting the price to try to get it sold.

Also, the car seems to be priced somewhat under Kelly Blue Book Retail, but that is to be expected for a used luxury car in the middle of a severe economic recession.

Luxury used car prices have mostly fallen through the floor over the past 3 years and this has hit Boxsters even more so because they are expensive to maintain/repair, online forums are filled with story after story of engines blowing up because of poor design, and are they not thought to be a primary vehicle for most people. Bam, bam, bam - and the used car price goes way down.

SeaNile31 · 01-01-2011, 06:21 AM

Found this Black Book link while looking online an a 987 which an Infinity dealer has. If this pricing is correct, they say trade in value of an 05 S with 20K miles is $15K-20K. OUCH. I would be crushed if I had an 05 S, well cared for, went to trade it in and was offered $20K. It's amazing how many 05 S cars are advertised for over $30,000.

http://web1.intellipriceauto.com/etradeinbg/identify.aspx?lcdealer=6968001&Spanish=No&vLead=1&vTheme=2&vProgID=0&dealerid=6968001

WhipE350 · 01-01-2011, 07:06 AM

Yup OUCH. I've bought two Mercedes from a friend (well started off as my sales man and became friend second, you know how those relationships are, business is business. Anyway both times I bought cars from him I couldn't pass up the deal on the new Mercedes so I went the trade in route instead of the private sale.
The cars I traded were low miles and super clean, I knew my cars weren't going to auction so I wanted top dollar. He couldn't print a copy for me but he showed me the auction prices (low, middle, high). I told him no sale unless I get the best auction price. To make a long story short, I got 20k for my 2005 Acura TSX, they listed it for 23k and sold it two weeks later....on my 2007 C class they gave me 20 or 21k I think and listed it for 26.5k and sold it one month later. Now in both cases I'm not guessing they got those asking prices.
If you've found something you really really like and think the price is close to what you feel comfortable paying then get it, I'll tell you when I was looking and learning this fall about Boxsters I let two gems get through my fingers because of a 800 or $1200 spread from what I wanted to pay. The other option is to take your time, the right one will come along eventually.
It's interesting, I see lots of folks on this forum talking about buying cars...don't see any members offering theirs, guess we like our cars

SeaNile31 · 01-01-2011, 08:23 AM

What makes the buying process more challenging for me is the cars I have found are not local to me so they would be bought sight unseen. I have done that before 2x, once on an 05 S from private party and I talked to him several times and got a good feeling from him about the car. Having the PPI done and feedback from the dealer certainly helped. Second car bought sight unseen was my Ferrari from the dealer. I felt a little more comfortable talking to them about the car as they were a Ferrari dealer. This particular 05 S I am interested is a trade at a Subaru/Chevy dealer so I don't quite trust them as much. If we move forward the PPI will help as I will get another opinion on the car.

I am hardly one to sweat the small stuff on a deal like this or worry over $1000 if it is the right car. If the car was local it would a much easier deal. I would have looked at the car already and would have either bought it or passed by now.

Brucelee · 01-01-2011, 08:47 AM

The Wholesale/auction/trade-in prices are just that. The ASKING price is always much higher. What is not really known are actual selling prices. While some of these data are reported, they are quite subject to distortion.

What you pay is up to you and the seller.

WhipE350 · 01-01-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaNile31

I am hardly one to sweat the small stuff on a deal like this or worry over $1000 if it is the right car. If the car was local it would a much easier deal. I would have looked at the car already and would have either bought it or passed by now.

Oh I see, ya that makes it hard. Well if it was in the Charlotte NC I would go check it out for you.

I did a quick search on the big car sites and that price you are getting beats even the Base ones I found within 50 miles of Charlotte.

http://www.cars.com/for-sale/searchresults.action?sf1Dir=DESC&mkId=20081&mdId=20705&crSrtFlds=stkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-yrId&rd=50&zc=28107&PMmt=1-1-0&stkTypId=28881&sf2Dir=ASC&sf1Nm=price&sf2Nm=miles&rpp=50&feedSegId=28705&yrId=20144&yrId=20199&searchSource=GN_REFINEMENT&pgId=2102

I even searched the Miami area and the prices aren't any better. Let us know how it works out.