You will be lucky to get kbb trade in value. I've experienced this first hand, in April I sold my wifes Volvo V40 for $13,500. kbb value was around $16,000 and this wasn't a rushed sale since I needed as much folding as possible to put down on my 03 Wagon (which I got for $21,900 NEW). The ahole has fallen out of the used car market. Sorry.

 

My understaning of all of your points about the prices of 03s is this. We are basically now in the 04 model year. 04 WRXs are on the lot. Therefore, dealers are getting rid of the remaining 03s for the prices you guys have quoted. Once those are gone, I guess, my price won't seem so high, at least in theory. Also, I wouldn't say that KBB is high. Thanks for the comments, naturally I am not in any hurry to part with my car, another reason I can ask for 21,000. So, No hard feelings

CRYA

 

Yup, not being in a rush definitely helps. So that may work in your favor. Plus, you do have some fairly high-dollar options so that raises the price too.

That said, KBB is most definitely on the high side when compared to other "industry standard" books, such as nada.com and edmunds.com. Always has been.

Just for kicks, I plugged in the same car, options, mileage, condition, etc. into all three price calculators and this is what I got. (Remember, this is just for comparison's sake.)

Nada.com
Trade-in: 18,575
Private Party: None
Dealer retail: 21,100

Edmunds.com
Trade-in: 18,385
Private Party: 19,625
Dealer retail: 21,755

KBB.com
Trade-in: 19,950
Private Party: 22,085--ouch
Dealer retail: None

Go figure. Don't get me wrong, as a seller, I'd use KBB to TRY and get a higher price, but as a buyer I would print up Edmunds. My wife and I bought a pristine, low mileage '99 323i a few months ago. Blue book price = $28K. I paid $19K. The market simply won't bear the blue book price.

Again, good luck and have a great day.

~Chris

 

Hey thanks, I forgot about NADA. And Edmunds is *only 1500 lower than KBB. I though you guys were talking serious money, like I am off my a few thousand. Anyway, if anyone bites, I'll go from there.

 

Why has my post for car for sale turned into a bunch of people just telling me I am wrong, the price is too high etc.? Holly Crap, you guys realize you are just driving prices down for your own cars when and if you decide to sell them? NADA, KBB and the others do research to find out what cars are selling at, whatever, however it works. It is not like they are just pulling numbers out of a hat and saying this is what it is worth. Furthermore, I am inclined to think that maybe, just maybe, those groups know a little bit more about the value of cars and what used cars are selling at than the people who feel the need to say, "I bought my 03 new for that."
Having said that, I never expected to get 21 for my car. See, those of you who have ever done ANY business know this, you start out high and work your way down. I am not poor, I don't need the money now, I am not buying a house, I did not just get married, or whatever other crappy excuse people use for selling their car. So, yes, the price is too high, the market is down, and 03s are selling for not much more. This does not make it wrong, stupid, crazy of me to ask 21. It was just a starting out point. The price will come down, and the best part is, I know I can count on all of you to reply, "I bought my 03 for that."