hrothgar02

I had some free time on Saturday and needed to blow off some steam. I drive over to our friendly neighborhood Aston Martin dealer to inquiring about a used DB9 (2005). They had one for sale for $99K in mint condition; that car was sold. Just out of morbid curiosity, I asked the dealer (I know - mistake) about the trade in value of my 2004 CLK 55 Cabriolet (35k miles, parktronic, vented seats, HID's, all service records). Drum roll please.....$25K! Ta da! I knew it was going to be a low number but I didn't think it was going to be insulting. The bottom line is that if I ever become serious about the DB9, it's better to sell my car myself and scour Autotrader.com (found one the other day for $89K).

Bottom line: dealer = stealers.

JDB

Bottom line is actually that dealerships are in the business of buying and selling cars for a profit.

If you want to do all of the required work of selling a vehicle yourself, then naturally you are entitled to all that you can get for your car. But, when you ask someone else to do that work for you, putting their capital at risk (not knowing when or for how much the car will ultimately sell), detailing the car to their standards, advertising, paying the salesperson's commission, and possibly having to warranty some items in the name of customer good will, I think it's only reasonable to expect that business to offer you less that what you would be able to sell the car for, if you were doing yourself.

After all, if the dealerships weren't able to make a profit and keep the lights on (something that is becoming all the more difficult, lately) where would you be able to see that beautiful Aston-Martin?

JDB

150shot

Good post JDB-
Dealers and brokers are going to take your car in CHEAP- the positive to this is that its taken off your hands in the simplest manner, less time, and overall less hassle. Time is $$..

I have gone both ways when unloading cars, it all depends on the situation. I've got the point where a small dependent dealer will take any of my cars when I need to sell over the years, lucky find for me- but again WAY WAY lower than what I put out on autotrader or similar....Dont be insulted, its part of the practice.

1985mb

Good points from JDB and 150shot.

If it makes the OP feel any better, he can look up the Manheim results of his particular model at auction. That could have been the benchmark that the AM dealer used - it's quite possible they would have simply sent the car to auction and they quoted some % discount to the est. auction value

neilbo75

If you don't mind taking a bath with your CLK, you're going to get drowned sinking $100k into a DB9. Not to mention the prices of AM parts and service. Much cheaper to mod your CLK into a superior performing car.

Still, once they drop that V12 into the V8 Vantage body, I'm going to start salivating....

SoCalCLK

It's about managing your depreciating asset. Right now, we are in a recession, and cars like the CLK55 AMG which get 16-18mpg are not the hot item with gas still at $4.50+ a gallon.

Cars are driven by desire. If you desire to own the used Aston right now, and don't want to keep your CLK55, then you can sell for whatever the market will bear at the present time, which I estimate to be between $25K-$32K. Otherwise you can try selling the CLK55 yourself and hope for a better return.

rsr911

How ever you want to talk about depriciation. The DB9 is still a hot car right now. Look at the Astons from the early 90s. Fabulous cars!!! Sold for over $200,000.00 only 50 odd cars ever imported into the States. They are not selling at $50,000.

That having been said I would sell my soul to own an Aston!!!

hrothgar02

I know about dealership's profit needs but the offer was a little shocking to say the least. The visit to the AM dealership was on a whim. I have way to many financial irons in the fire to drop $100K on a weekend car right now. The interesting tidbid of information that I obtained was that the maintenance on the DB9 isn't as astronomical as expected (compared to Italian exotics) = $850 - $1250 every 7500 - 10000 miles (I will only drive this 6,000 miles a year).

bigben320e

I concur with SoCal, and also my advice on this:

If you really, really, have to have the Aston sell your car independently. I have always done this, and made much more money. After that, go to a high-end independent dealer/broker and get your DB9.

This method has saved me thousands on both ends.

IngenereAMG

I have a V8 Vantage and it really is a great car that always gives you a sense of occasion when you drive it.

Face it, very few cars are not going to depreciate. It's up to you what you are willing to accept to play.