Trade in my Versa .......... for another Versa?

[monkeybear]

Well, I just paid off my 2008 Versa S sedan. While I still love the Versa I wish I had gotten a different one.

I wonder if you guys think it would be a good idea to trade in my Black Sedan Versa S w/4 speed automatic transmission that I paid $14,600 for out-the-door and get a White Hatch SL w/ smart key and CVT transmission.

My car has some blue paint on the front bumper from a dumpster and a scrape on the rear fender. One of the tail lights is cracked. Its 8 months old and has almost 10,000 miles on it.

How much money do you guys think I would lose on this transaction. What should I expect on trade it? What are the SL Versas going for these days, when I bought mine it would have cost about $1,500 more for the SL model.

Anyway I am just looking for opinions on this idea.

Thanks!

[dave01978]

not sure what you would get on trade in, check out KBB.com and that will give you an idea on trade, you may want to try and sell it yourself and not loose so much $$$ keep in mind on trade you will probably loose at least 2K on trade in versus selling it outright, as the dealer needs to make there $$$.

sorry i couldnt be more help

[feloniousmonk]

You've just paid off your car loan. The economy sucks and you want to dive right back into debt?

Don't get another Versa. Wait till spring, think things over. And if you still want to go $15k+ in the red, get the new Cube.

On trade-in, the dealers will never give you fair market rate. They will always low ball so they can sell it to someone else at above market rate to turn a profit (they've got mouths to feed and bills to pay too). Better off selling on your own. As for research, there are plenty of resources available. KBB tends to be high (go figure, they cater to dealers and banks). Edmunds TMV (true market value) tends to be low (they cater to buyers). And finally there's NADA which usually come out to be the average of the aforementioned.

Google if you need the URLs.

[fjwagner]

Well, I just paid off my 2008 Versa S sedan. While I still love the Versa I wish I had gotten a different one.

I wonder if you guys think it would be a good idea to trade in my Black Sedan Versa S w/4 speed automatic transmission that I paid $14,600 for out-the-door and get a White Hatch SL w/ smart key and CVT transmission.

My car has some blue paint on the front bumper from a dumpster and a scrape on the rear fender. One of the tail lights is cracked. Its 8 months old and has almost 10,000 miles on it.

How much money do you guys think I would lose on this transaction. What should I expect on trade it? What are the SL Versas going for these days, when I bought mine it would have cost about $1,500 more for the SL model.

Anyway I am just looking for opinions on this idea.

Thanks!

not a good idea. Some of the worst economic decisions I have made have been over cars. Once paid off, drive it into the ground and do not go back into debt again. Save the money that you would spend otherwise by putting it away and watch it grow. Might even save enough that way to pay for a kid's College degree down the road by doing so. Then you can retire early etc etc! That may seem like thinking far down the road, but believe me, you get there fast.

[RobsPages]

not a good idea.

I'm with fjwagner on this one. Keep the car, drive it till the wheels fall off. If you really want that "lets see what this baby can do" thrill, put a couple hundred in upgrades into it every once in a while.

If you paid off an 08 now you either had a honey of a down payment or a jumbo monthly payment - just think of what you can buy in 4 -5 years if you put that away every month.

Putting the amount you were paying monthly for your V in an ING savings account or into a CD, bonds, a mattress, anything but another purchase will payoff HUGE down the line.

[jrw1621]

...and get a White Hatch SL w/ smart key and CVT transmission.

Lets say you loose a few grand off the purchase price of the S and you spend a few more grand on a SL. This quickly becomes a $4-5K transaction.

What do you really hope to gain?

1. CVT? It is still an automatic and the differences are so small that the average consumer would not even notice the differenceNo-gain.

2. Smart-Key, Bluetooth, steeringwheel radio controls, disc changer?The whole key thing is not that cool and it is really expensive to replace. As for the other choices, just buy a better radio or a retired SL radioCheaper to buy replacement parts.

3. SL factory alloys?There are better choices out there.

4. Better seats?You could buy some seats out of a wrecked SL if that is really what you need.

The S is paid, now is the time to enjoy it! Save the money and do not go into debt if you can avoid it.

Congrats on having it paid off quickly. That is quite the luxury, having no car payment.

[DejaWiz]

Keep it and start upgrading.

Some things to consider:-New wheels.-Lowering springs.-New exhaust.-CAI setup.-OEM fog light kit.-OEM or Stillen rear spoiler.-New front grille.-Stillen front lip and rear valance.-OEM side sills.-New audio system (check out Pioneer's FH-P800BT and TS-D1720C, get a good amp and a small sub for the hatch).

It's paid off..... now have even more fun with it!

[monkeybear]

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking that maybe if I played my cards right I could do the whole thing for 3k or so. Really I just regret getting the sedan and getting it in black. I would consider getting a S model white hatchback if I could do it for under 2k but I am not sure if that is likely.

2k would be worth it to me to have a car that stays clean longer than 5 minutes and has the hatchback. Going from the S to SL was more of a "why not" kinda decision. If that brings things to 4-5k then I agree that its not at all worth it. The KBB gives me about 14k for a car that I paid 14,600 OTD for. I was thinking that I would like to get 12,500 for my car and get another one off the lot for 14,600 OTD.

[DejaWiz]

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking that maybe if I played my cards right I could do the whole thing for 3k or so. Really I just regret getting the sedan and getting it in black. I would consider getting a S model white hatchback if I could do it for under 2k but I am not sure if that is likely.

2k would be worth it to me to have a car that stays clean longer than 5 minutes and has the hatchback. Going from the S to SL was more of a "why not" kinda decision. If that brings things to 4-5k then I agree that its not at all worth it. The KBB gives me about 14k for a car that I paid 14,600 OTD for. I was thinking that I would like to get 12,500 for my car and get another one off the lot for 14,600 OTD.

Well, if the numbers can be worked up to your liking, then trading in your sedan for the hatch might not be a bad idea. Used 4cyl econo cars are a super hot commodity right now, so you have a big plus there, and another since it's completely paid off. You can put pressure on the same dealer with the whole repeat buyer angle, as well.

[hiimjered]

I have the SL HB, and I love it. I'm addicted to the intellikey, in fact I keep forgetting to pull out the keys when I drive the wife's car. I also really like the steering wheel controls and blue tooth. It is amazing how much you get used to something like that.

I decided to the this car because I wanted the CVT, and as long as I was getting the SL, I figured I might as well add on the convenience package.

As for switching, it really comes down to what it's worth for you. You might be able to get a really good deal on an 08 when they clear the lots for the 09s, or you might be able to catch a great incentive deal. Figure out how much money the features you are looking at are worth to you, then talk to a few dealers and see what they can do. I feel that the features I have are worth 3-4 grand to me, but that is really an individual thing.

[DejaWiz]

I have the SL HB, and I love it. I'm addicted to the intellikey, in fact I keep forgetting to pull out the keys when I drive the wife's car.

Hehehe I do the exact same thing in my wife's '05 Altima.... I pull the remote out of my pocket to unlock it, and go to start the car only to find out I've stuck the key back in my pocket before sitting.

[srellim234]

Here's a recurrent theme. I do the same thing with my Buick.

Excellent advice here.