About Used Cars

If you’re in the market for a used car, you might want to get yourself a Hyundai Elantra. Choose any Elantra manufactured from 2003 to 2008 and you’ll probably be a happy camper.

According to Edmunds.com, the Hyundai Elantra was awarded the annual Used Car Best Bet award. Because of their safety, reliability and availability Hyundai Elantras along with 14 other select few vehicles were given the prestigious award.

Edmunds provides a listing other top performers by category. If you’re looking for a Minivan, you’re pretty safe choosing a Honda Odyssey manufactured in the years 2003-2008. However if your more of a pick up truck type of driver, the compact Toyota Tacoma (2003-2008) or the large Ford F-150 (2003-2008) are winners.

Here’s Edmunds listing of the 2010 Used Car Best Bet awards:

Searching for a used car can sometimes be a crap shoot, but selecting a vehicle from the list above may help to stack the odds in your favor. For more information on how Edmunds chooses its winners and more details about each winner, visit their website.

Setting a fair car price is key when it comes to private car sales. Although you may not t have all of the tools that a dealership might have when it comes to surveying the market and setting a fair price, you do have Edmunds. Edmunds has a host of online tools that will help you set a fair price for your car in preparation for a private sale. Here’s how to set a fair car price for selling your car.

1. Go over to the Edmunds website and access the “Appraise a Car” link. You’ll find it by clicking on Used Cars and then right beneath the Used Cars text you’ll find Appraise a Car.
2. Click on a series of links. First you’ll have to click on the link for the make of your car, then link for the year of the car and finally the link for your car’s model. At this point, Edmunds will give you a car price for a private sale, but this price isn’t the one you want. You want a fair car price that’s tailored specifically for your car. So, you need to continue the car appraisal process.




3. Enter details about your car. Since you’re selling the car click the “Sell” option and enter the car color, mileage and check off all optional equipment that applies. The more information you enter, the more accurate your pricing will be.
4. Tell Edmunds the condition of your car. Select the option that bests describes your car’s interior, exterior and mechanical soundness. Most used cars fall into the average category, but if your car is in exceptional shape, select “outstanding.”
5. Confirm your zip code and get your pricing report.

Make sure to print a copy of the report and keep a copy in the glove compartment. This way potential buyers can see what the car is actually worth before you start the negotiating process.

Most people run to the Kelley Blue Book when they’re looking to purchase a car. They don’t realize how valuable the Blue Book is when it comes to selling a car. It can help you to determine whether you’re getting a good deal on a trade in at a dealership or you’re being taken for a ride. Here’s how to use the Kelley Blue Book to help determine a car’s trade in value.

1. Go to the Kelley Blue Book website and locate the car’s year, make and model under the Used Car section of the page. You can locate the car by using their category search function or you can insert the year, make and model directly. Don’t forget to enter your zip code so that the trade in value will be specific for your area of the country.
2. Click the “Trade-In Value” link. After inserting the car’s year make and model, Kelley Blue Book wants you to select the valuation method. Since you’re looking for the trade-in value of the car, click the appropriate link.
3. Choose the car’s trim. Trim is another word for further defining the vehicle. For example, a 2001 Ford Windstar has 6 different trim selections such as Cargo, LX, SE Sport, SE, SEL and Limited. Make sure to select the correct trim. Kelley Blue Book’s trade in value is based on the vehicle specifics. If you put in the wrong specifics, you won’t get an accurate trade in value.
4. Enter the mileage and ancillary features. Kelley Blue Book checks off the standard equipment and it’s up to you to check off the added non standard features. It’s your chance to increase the value of the car by listing special features such as video systems, dual power seats or sun roof.
5. Select the vehicle’s condition. Hopefully the vehicle is in excellent shape. Although, according to Kelley Blue Book, only 5% of used cars fall into the excellent category. More likely the vehicle is in good condition, although there are two other alternatives, fair and poor. Be honest. You want an accurate trade in value.



6. Print the trade in value. After selecting the vehicle’s condition, Kelley Blue Book will display the trade in value. Print it out and use it just in case a dealer tries to lowball your vehicle’s value.

Tip

Consider selling the car privately if you find the Kelley Blue Book trade in value is too low. Most often sellers get more through a private sale than through a dealer trade in.