Hi guys

I thought I would just share this with you on trade in values - once again - I bought 3.0 multi A4 in November 2003 - new with all the bells and whistles - sat nav, sun roof, cell prep, pdc, sport suspension etc.

Total cost 385k - I have been offered a trade in value of 240K and have only done 33 000 km - car is still in mint condition.

This is pathetic or am I losing the plot ?

Cheers

Hi there,

As a matter of interest the tradein value on this vehicle (without factory extras) as at January 2005 is R240400.
Looking at the tradin values some of the other get offered this might not be to bad.

Just my 2c
Regards
Denis

A80-Denis

All do respect Denis but 140,000 down your purcahse price in less than 5-6 months is criminal.
I think the dealers are unable to drop new car price to match the real worldwide cost / values of the vehicles therefor they sell at the 'old'inflated prices to please banks / share holders but once the car is sold it is your problem I mean when I was in the states one can get a 1.8T A4 for around $28,900 ok add a few hundred in tax and registration & delivery but that is still around R60k down on our prices....huge difference considering the fact that guys that drive the A4 there makes in excess of $5000 a month whereas here anyone making R10,000 or more can get financing based on the residual and 10 % deposit.
That is besides the point even though I find it silly to buy a new car and try to dispose of it / trade it in before at least 18 months it is still a crime for the auto dealers to offer these trade-ins.
Again one man's missfortune is another ones luck as my A4 is with R50,000 worth extras new and I bought it 12 months old 25k less than list.
Listen and learn.

Hi there,

You will get no arguments from me, the motortrade is indeed a win , lose situation for almost anyone trying to sell/trade a car nowadays.
Can only hope it gets better soon.

Cheers

A80-Denis

I think the bigest problem at the moment is the pressue on the motor trade to reduce prices and of course the [person to loose out will be the person whom already has a car... hence the fact that car proces have not really increases this year and the abandance of fwp's and the like have appeared for every car...... then problem is cars are over priced and if they drop the price everyone suffers.. the solutions dont buy a new car...

dealers use the "excuse" of "protecting" buyers when refusing to lower their prices. in a true free market economy prices go up and down driven by inflation/markets/exchange rates etc. In computing, the prices have had to come down. No-one protects the computer industry, so why protect the motor industry, and no they are not protecting jobs either.
In short this is nothing more than greed. The manufacturers know that they have the consumer tied to a nice big barrel, and yep, our shorts are round our knees while these bastards commit sodomy.

Ultimately government is to blame for having too much protective legislation (perhaps from bullying tactics from the manufacturers?). I realise they are trying to grow the local industry, but at what expense to the economy. Are a few thousand jobs worth forking out billions extra by the consumer that would have been better spent elsewhere?

Just think if government removed the restrictive import laws. yes, a few thousand jobs would be lost pretty soon. however the consumer would have more money to spend on things like holidays or other consumer goods. those people that lost their jobs in the motor industry would more than likely find alternative employment in another sector. not to mention the extra jobs created by a less restrictive and protectionist economy.