Other Bright Colors have Varying Results
You can’t control what an automaker does, but their decisions may impact the future value of your car. Consider the Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal, which damaged VW’s reputation and impacted the value of all diesel vehicles. And if you want to go back even further in the car timeline, consider the Ford Pinto of the 1970s. If you were trying to sell a Pinto now, you’d probably have a hard time giving it away, given the cars’ tendency toward spontaneous explosion.
If gas prices are high and you’re selling a hybrid, you’re in luck. If your vehicle’s value is strongly affected by fuel prices but you’re eager to sell, you’re going to just have to deal with what the market will bear. And if gas is cheap, it might be time to get rid of your massive gas-guzzling SUV before prices spike again. If you have a little leeway with timing, pay attention to news reports, watch for spikes or drops in oil prices, and try to time your sale when it’s most favorable to you.
If you’re trying to sell your car or trade it in, you might be surprised by how much (or how little) everybody else thinks it worth. Of course, things like the car’s mileage, the time of the year and the economy will always factor in, but truth is, there are other things you might not even consider that can tank the car’s price, too. A few of these factors you might be able to fix on your own, and others, well, they’re just out of your control.
Whether you’re selling your car or trading it in, you’ll have an advantage if your tires are in good condition and, more importantly, if they all match. If you’re trading your car in rather than selling it outright, the dealership may just deduct the cost of four new tires from your estimated trade-in value. A mishmash of tire brands or tires of different ages could suggest to some buyers that you cared for the car haphazardly, even if you replaced a tire quickly after a blowout. If you’re a steadfast believer in the manual transmission, congratulations, you’re among the last of a dying breed. If you’re serious about getting top dollar for your car, consider buying four new tires when they’re on sale.
There also are some electric car models of otherwise common cars (like the Mini Cooper and Volkswagen Golf) that have been sold exclusively in California for years. These days, you can get a windshield replaced pretty inexpensively, and in some states your insurance (bangkok.thaibounty.com) will cover it without you paying a deductible. If you move across the country to an area without adequate electric charging infrastructure, potential buyers might not be interested. Some shoppers might assume replacing a cracked windshield is out of their budget, so if yours needs to be replaced, get it done before you list your car for sale. In some cases, you just have to wait for the right buyer to come along.
In short, whether the automaker does something unscrupulous, or it turns out there’s a big problem with the car itself, your car’s value may suffer the consequences. If a car model or a brand is discontinued, it’s likely because there was low demand to begin with, and that would translate to lower demand for those used cars. The Toyota FJ Cruiser was discontinued in 2014 and is an often-cited example of this phenomenon. However, some brands and models actually increase in popularity and value after they’re taken off the market.
