Used prices

[B-train]

I've found pricing coming down somewhat, but it'***** or miss. I prefer to look out west in CA. Got a 2008 Denali- not one spec of rust- in April 2021 for $9400. Just takes some looking and haggling.

I usually look around Sacramento and find a good assortment of decent priced vehicles for what they are. Most are higher mileage, but when you factor in the lack of rust and all the problems that come with it, it's worth the trip

 

[Airman68]

I've found pricing coming down somewhat, but it'***** or miss. I prefer to look out west in CA. Got a 2008 Denali- not one spec of rust- in April 2021 for $9400. Just takes some looking and haggling.

I usually look around Sacramento and find a good assortment of decent priced vehicles for what they are. Most are higher mileage, but when you factor in the lack of rust and all the problems that come with it, it's worth the trip

How did you get the vehicle home? Did you look at it first or do it sight unseen? I live in WI and have often wanted to buy a southern rust free but seems like a pain.

 

[TollKeeper]

Just for comparisons sake.. People question why I bought my wrecked Saturn

Im into it for $4000, and she is fully driveable, and fixed. Yea she has a Salvage Title, but I am not worried about that.

Here is the same exact van, same color, options, AWD, with DOUBLE the miles.. For $9000

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/f87826cb-6b94-4463-bc0f-d50654aef1e1/?aff=atempest&CMP=atempest&utm_source=AutoTempest&utm_medium=TRP&utm_campaign=atempest

I will gladly take a few licks, and save $5000

Prices may be coming down, but they are still about double what they should be, IMHO

 

[B-train]

How did you get the vehicle home? Did you look at it first or do it sight unseen? I live in WI and have often wanted to buy a southern rust free but seems like a pain.

I talked to the owner and he gave me what info he could about repairs/maintenance. I then contacted the dealership he had it serviced at and asked for maintenance history - both stories jive.

I bought a 1 way ticket to Sacramento and lined up a 1 way rental car home, just in case (lesson learned from previous purchase). He met me at the airport, test drove it and did a basic inspection in the parking garage. Then.....pointed the nose east and road tripped home in 2.5 days.

I love road trips, had cash set aside, and some PTO to burn. It's been a great truck and has taken me to many cool places so far. The best part is crawling under it and knowing it's not metal fragments clinging together - as clean as a new vehicle. I then did a thorough rust proofing til she was dripping wet with fluid film and that's that.

I have also had good luck in the Oklahoma city area as well (zip code 73072). Bought 2 diffent denalis from private owners. One way rental car for those since it's not too bad of a drive.

All have been with just pictures and conversations.

 

[solli5pack]

Here's another example of how inflated used prices are. 10yr old Tahoe for $23k. And it has a check engine light on! Lol. It is pretty clean with low miles but still. Supposedly it has a sale pending.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/b6f7269c-0490-4fed-b294-5eae5cfcaa72/

 

[vcode]

Here's another example of how inflated used prices are. 10yr old Tahoe for $23k. And it has a check engine light on! Lol. It is pretty clean with low miles but still. Supposedly it has a sale pending.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/b6f7269c-0490-4fed-b294-5eae5cfcaa72/

Maybe if it was rust free from down south.......

 

[j91z28d1]

honestly, I have a buddy that owns a used car dealership.(think all indoor showroom, no haggle on corvettes with 10k miles kinda place) more on the higher end stuff but from what he's telling me there's no sign of the prices falling anytime soon.

few years back, probably like 6 or more now, one big auction company basically bought out every major commercial auction house. they are forced to pay whatever it takes to get cars or their lots go under.. used car dealers have to have turn over because of the way banks force them to fund buying inventor. that's why if they sit to long they go back to the auction.

everyone had gotten addicted to the easy profit margins. it's just not going to go back to how it was without something drastic happening. if you're on the fence about buying something, if its exactly what you've been looking for, go ahead. you might get a lower interest rate in a year or so, on the down side of this, but I honestly don't believe you'll see these big Suv's for 5k clean like a few years ago.

 

[OR VietVet]

I never ever buy from a dealer, used or new. Buy from the individual only. Some have unreal expectations too but cash in hand can sway them way quicker than a stealer.

 

[j91z28d1]

I never ever buy from a dealer, used or new. Buy from the individual only. Some have unreal expectations too but cash in hand can sway them way quicker than a stealer.

lot of dealers are buying straight from private these days too. Kelly blue book stepped in to make money off it when the auction prices got driven up. they sell a service where any time you check the price your car would sell for, your phone will roll 2 mins later with a local dealer readying to pay that much.

most people don't have the cash to buy cars. it's driving individual sellers up too.

 

[Trilla_one]

Same thing happening in the real estate rental world. You have to be loaded just to drive a decent vehicle and live in a relatively safe and comfortable home in today's world.

 

[OR VietVet]

Or have a couple incomes in each home or more.

 

[Mean_Green]

How did you get the vehicle home? Did you look at it first or do it sight unseen? I live in WI and have often wanted to buy a southern rust free but seems like a pain.

Had a local stop by and look at it and drive it. Paid $4K sight unseen by me. Used a CC with a 0% interest promo. Dealer didn't tack anything on for that, only their normal documentation fee.. Paid $1,500 to have it hauled across country. No rust anywhere. No major issues I've found so far. Starts easy, runs and drives smooth. Inspections have been good. Bunch of minor headachey type stuff, all small dollar.

 

[dkad260]

Was talking with my neighbor yesterday who is a buyer for Carmax. He says that the large SUVs crossing the auction block are still mostly going "no sale" just like they were a month ago. So even though the prices in the rest of the known universe have gotten better, they're still not as low as they're about to be. Late fall will be an excellent time to buy a car, I predict - especially a luxury SUV.

Doesn't Carmax limit their used car purchases to 5 years old?

Also, they're "no haggle" price is pretty steep.

Sounds like Carmax is pricing their big SUV's right out of their stores....can't imagine what they are asking.

 

[Geotrash]

Doesn't Carmax limit their used car purchases to 5 years old?

Nosiree. They have several vehicles older than 5 years in our area.

Also, they're "no haggle" price is pretty steep.

Agreed. But they give a return guarantee and a small warranty, so that’s worth something. And it’s a truly hassle-free experience.

Sounds like Carmax is pricing their big SUV's right out of their stores....can't imagine what they are asking.

That’s what I’m saying - they’re not buying much, if any, new large SUV stock at the current prices.

 

[lightflyer1]

I bought a 2007 Tahoe with an engine tick for $3k. Everything else was good. Got it home and rebuilt the top end and installed a DOD OBD2 block. Much cheaper than anything else and is pretty good condition at this point. About $2k to rebuild.

 

[lightflyer1]

As an extra, I have had no experience with this year model. Only 1999 and before. Pretty easy engine to work on in my opinion. Got quotes from places that would only do a swap with used or rebuilt. No one wanted to try and fix what was there. Quotes were in the $8k plus range depending on used or rebuilt. Got lucky the cam wasn't trashed. Left it in and redid everything stock OEM. Trying to learn how to scan and see faults and running data was the hardest. Turned out in the end it also needed new injectors. Runs like new now but V8 all the time.

 

[j91z28d1]

As an extra, I have had no experience with this year model. Only 1999 and before. Pretty easy engine to work on in my opinion. Got quotes from places that would only do a swap with used or rebuilt. No one wanted to try and fix what was there. Quotes were in the $8k plus range depending on used or rebuilt. Got lucky the cam wasn't trashed. Left it in and redid everything stock OEM. Trying to learn how to scan and see faults and running data was the hardest. Turned out in the end it also needed new injectors. Runs like new now but V8 all the time.

this is definitely the best way to do it if you can. sadly no shop wants to repair engines anymore. it's much faster and easier for them to throw in a 10k$ engine than take a look at what's broken first.

deals are definitely to be had but you also got lucky. most people with a tick either get it fixed or drive it till it damages everything because it costs more than it's worth once it's ticking to a normal buyer. so they drive till it doesn't go anymore.

enjoy it.

 

[petethepug]

I’d love to know if it’s possible to swap the 6L80 for a newer 10 SP. My milage would love me.

 

[j91z28d1]

I’d love to know if it’s possible to swap the 6L80 for a newer 10 SP. My milage would love me.

aren't they having tons of problems with those 10 speeds? or is that the 8 speeds.

 

[petethepug]

aren't they having tons of problems with those 10 speeds? or is that the 8 speeds.

The 8 speed were the problem child. The 10 got it all ironed out for quicker off the line and better milage.