msatchmo

So I just recently picked up a 2006 Cobalt SS/SC with approx 29,000. Silver, every option (G85, Recaros, etc etc etc). Car is immaculate, I can't even find a scratch on it.

Anyways, I went into my dealer to get GM Stage 2 kit added and talk about an extended warrenty. After figuring out the two above things may be in the $3000ish range I got to thinking....

If I trade in my current cobalt, I hear the NEW ones with turbo making 260hp are going for about 24,000$. I get GM Supplier discount (Uncle works for GM) and with a $1,000 cash incentive I was looking at $23,000 on the dot + tax/title.

I paid $15750 for my Cobalt so I went to KBB looked at the trade-in value to dealers in excellent shape $14,500 ouch... ok a $1400 loss, I could live with that because I know dealers have to make thier money.

So I'm thinking... for about $9,000 + tax I am getting my butt into a new 2008 or 2009 Cobalt...NOT!

I went to 2 separate dealers in my area. One offered me a piddly $10,500 for my car... I litereally laughed (and cried) inside. I take it to a dealer 5 miles down the street and they offered me $12,500... I asked how firm that was and they said they could maybe go $500 more if it was a deal breaker. So $13,000 is the BEST offer for trade-in, assuming they can haggle up $500...

So it looks more like $10,000 + tax all to have a 2 year newer cobalt with 15 more hp than I can get over stage 2, with slightly better seats and brakes... I don't think this is worth it. Those new ones are nice, but what's up with our crappy trade-in values.

JimJim

put a forsale sign on it instead of trading in, and ask for the amount$$ you want...you might make more..maybe

astrocrep

American cars... FTL...

I have a 2005 SS I am trying to sell, I am taking like a $10k hit... and its well maint. and modified!

-Rich

NinjaHampster

gas prices. there reallly hurting on car sales

Acey

iTrader: (3)

..more so the fact that we drive cars made by General Motors.

rnjmur

Car depreciate in value that is just the way it is. A 2006 to a dealer is a 3 year old car since the 2009 cars are coming out soon which makes the car even less appealing. Also, a dealership is never going to give you more then "good" condition when giving you a trade in even if the car is in perfect shape.

I should also mention that GM supplier discount does not apply to the 2008 Cobalt SS, so even if they said they would do it I wouldn't trust them giving you the actual price until I saw it all on paper. I am sure the 2009 Cobalt SS will be added to the supplier discount list though.

msatchmo

Yeah I think I'm just not going to worry about it and put about $1000 into the car (Stage 2) and call it a day.

When you boil it down it will be very close to the speed/performance of the 260hp turbo without the turbo headaches it may give as a daily driver in crappy weather (Michigan).

I just thought the $10,500 trade in was really funny, I could sell this car for $12,000 in seconds, probably even 13,000 or 14,000.

To me it's not worth the trouble of putting it up for sale (it's my only car), getting the cash, then going into the dealer and haggling, it'd probably still cost me $8000+tax and then I'd most likely have to place an order and figure out what I'll do for a car in between the time I sold my car to private party and when my new one showed up.

I think the smart plan is to just keep and enjoy my Cobalt that I got a decent deal on. I was just really surprised by the shitty trade-in and couldn't believe anyone ever would do it.

Also, The one dealer was talking up the Cobalt SS and how rare it was and that's why they can't give discounts cuz they sell like hotcakes because everyone wants them. Then I mentioned I had a SS for trade in and that I was glad they are selling so well and that should be a good trade in. You shoulda seen his face

BOOSSTED 06

just traded mine in about 1 month ago, gave me well of KBB, lots of mods but they had no problem giving me what I wanted. Actually gave me well more then I wanted to sell it for and it should have been worth less with all the mods on it

brett5

even with the gas prices when i run her nice she get like 27 -30 mpg for me so for a supercharged 4 banger i think thats pretty good...although i'm fully capiable of getting 17-18 mpg also

msatchmo

Boossted06. Did you trade at Chevy? I see you have Evo's in your garage. Perhaps mitsu gave a better trade in for ya. Mind PM'ing me what you got and what you had?

BOOSSTED 06

i traded at mitsu, but the dealer has every car manufacturer in its family and the chevy guys actually took the car and did the appraising. I had a ton of mods, i cant even find the list right now but they gave me 19,500 for the car and it had 32000 mi on it

NinjaHampster

i was just talking about dealerships in general.