does it matter how dirty an automobile is when you take it for a trade in?

Answer 1

Duh

Answer 2

At our dealership in the early 90s, we had a guy trade his Toyota pickup in on a Ford Powerstroke. We always gave the guy a hard time, since his Toyota was always really dirty, covered in mud, as if he'd been playing off-road. We really wanted his truck and gave him top dollar - it was an extended cab 4x4, in Wyoming, with fairly low mileage.

After we took it in, our detail guy freaked out and ran into my office - seems the mud was covering up some major scrapes, scratches, and other paint damage, and it cost us $2250 to repaint and repair the truck.....

After that, any vehicle that came in with dirt on it got washed off before it was evaluated for trade.

Having a dirty car, whether directly true in your case or not, shows most people that you don't take car of it, and would likely neglect maintenance, too - one goes hand in hand with the next.

Let me ask you - would you buy a filthy car and pay all the money?

Answer 3

Yeah, it certainly does! Think about it! If you were looking for a car and it was a toilet, would you make a premium offer on it? Of course not! When the sales manager appraises your trade-in they are checking the mechanical condition as well as how much they're going to need to spend to put it in saleable condition. If it's dirty, he's going to have to pay to have it cleaned and detailed and that's going to be reflected in the appraisal.

I used to sell cars and a good cleaning and a quick detailing job was typically worth $250.00 on the trade-in value of a late model car.

Answer 4

Only if you care how much you get for the trade.

Answer 5

Only as far a it looks. A good dealer will look past the dirt and focus on the mechanics and other things first.

Answer 6

Doesn't matter,but you will get more for trade if it looks nice

Answer 7

Sure does...It would also tell me you don't take care of it so there could be something else wrong with it.

Answer 8

It would help you if its clean !