really weird

formerlyGDaisy09 · May 2014

Yesterday I got a letter from the car dealership where I get the oil in my car changed offering to buy my car from me. I drive a 2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited with 25K miles on it, apparently there is a demand for 2011s and the dealer is looking to build their inventory.

this was a hand written note, and the dealer says "i don't think you'll be disappointed with our agressive offer"

Now, I LOVE my car, and I guess I'm just not sure how we would ever come-out ahead here. I would only consider this if we're going to end-up with a better car and the same or lower car loan, or the same car and a lower loan...to me either secnario sounds like the car dealership looses money, and I guess I don't see them offering anything where they come out behind.

Has this ever happened to anyone? I'm going to call tomorrow just because I'm super curious.

Xstatic3333 · May 2014

This happens to me a lot! It did with my old car, a 2007 Prius, and does with my new car, a 2012 Fit, too. In all cases, I think they are banking on you being someone who is fine with always having a car payment. Mine said my monthly payments (only $140 because of a good insurance settlement on the last car) would stay the same. That's all fine and good, but this car will be paid off in 2.5 years. My suspicion is that if I took their offer, I'd have a newer vehicle but be on the hook for 5 or 6 years. My goal is to pay this off and then amass a substantial down payment (or full payment) for the next car, so I'm not really interested.

That said, if you're looking at downscaling your car to free up funds for debt or savings, it could work to hear their offer. I'd get a few offers though before committing to any. I wouldn't do it just to upgrade your car.

HoneyBee973 · May 2014

We get those letters all the time for my husbands car, 2008 Toyota Yaris, I always just toss them out.

Let us know how it all works out for you.

Wulfgar · May 2014

I have a 2010 Kia Soul that everyone "wants" it is standard so I know that the demand really isn't there for my model. I also tend to buy new vehicles so I can drive them 10 to 12 years until I have over 200k miles on them and they are ready to be retired. Some of mine tend to look hand written but they have fonts for the computer that does this.

Good luck, but if you don't have a down payment for a replacement vehicle I would not close the deal.

formerlyGDaisy09 · May 2014

Thanks guys...My guess it that it won't work out...I really love my car, and therefor wouldn't be willing to trade-down, I also like the dent we've made in the loan on it this year, so I wouldn't be willing to take on a longer loan.

I guess I'd never heard of this happening before. My last car was nothing super special, but was a standard (sometimes sought-after and slowly disappearing feature), and this never happened. This particular dealer also doesn't know that I was in a fender-bender in this car in February, so it's probably not as desierable as they think it is.

daisy662 · May 2014

This is a marketing gimmick. Everyone else they sold cars to got the same letter.

formerlyGDaisy09 · May 2014

we didn't buy the car from them. however we've used them for oil changes. I guess I thought if it was a gimmick I would have seen it (or seen it at my parents) in the past.

mana8503 · May 2014

I get those letters all the time, from where I bought it, where I got the inspection, etc. The dealer usually calls me every 6 months with their "aggressive offers". They even call about my car I totalled 5 years ago.

No thanks. I plan to run this baby in the ground.

vlagrl29 · May 2014

DH gets them all the time for his 2003 Honda Element because they don't make them anymore.

jessica490 · May 2014

We get those letters as well, but I'm not going to give up my paid-for car to take on payments again. We just toss them out unles of course we were looking to buy another car

maple2 · May 2014

We got one in the same way you did, from a repair/maintenance place we brought the car one time. We are not people who are interested in driving the latest model, so there really wasn't any incentive for us to do the trade in. Maybe if they would have given us enough to cover the replacement of our car with something equivalent and some extra spending money, but I can't imagine how that would ever be possible.

jtmh2012 · May 2014

Basically the dealer is trying to make money on you twice. They make you an offer on your old vechicle, however, this offer isn't the true value of the vehicle as they then need to turn around and sell it at a profit. So they're going to make a profit by reselling your old vehicle. Then, you need a replacement car now right? So you're going to go buy another car either used/new. They're going to make a profit on that sale too.

What do you get out of the deal? A new to you vehicle and another car payment.

KatieCutie05 · May 2014

Thats a sales pitch! they want your moneyyyy. don't fall for it. I still get them for cars we don't even own anymore. "we want your trade!"... aka "we want your money!" The dealer ALWAYS comes out ahead... if they didn't they wouldn't be offering it to you.

beetee123 · May 2014

I've only ever seen this work out once. The dealership my dad bought his car from actually offered him more than what he paid for his car because it was in demand. I think it only worked out that way because it is a pick up truck, and he bought it when gas prices were high and everyone was trading their trucks in.

short+sassy · May 2014

Xstatic3333 said:

This happens to me a lot! It did with my old car, a 2007 Prius, and does with my new car, a 2012 Fit, too. In all cases, I think they are banking on you being someone who is fine with always having a car payment. Mine said my monthly payments (only $140 because of a good insurance settlement on the last car) would stay the same. That's all fine and good, but this car will be paid off in 2.5 years. My suspicion is that if I took their offer, I'd have a newer vehicle but be on the hook for 5 or 6 years. My goal is to pay this off and then amass a substantial down payment (or full payment) for the next car, so I'm not really interested. That said, if you're looking at downscaling your car to free up funds for debt or savings, it could work to hear their offer. I'd get a few offers though before committing to any. I wouldn't do it just to upgrade your car.

This is almost exactly how this particular marketing gimmick works.

Most companies that offer home loans do the same thing. My friend had like 3 or 4 years of mortgage payments left on his house and his bank was constantly sending him offers that, on the surface, looked insanely good. Way lower interest rate, mortgage payment that was just a fraction of what he currently paid (of course! the house is almost paid off). But, when you read the fine print, the refinance was for a 10 year period...not the 3-4 years he had left.

brij2006 · May 2014

jtmh2012 said:

Basically the dealer is trying to make money on you twice. They make you an offer on your old vechicle, however, this offer isn't the true value of the vehicle as they then need to turn around and sell it at a profit. So they're going to make a profit by reselling your old vehicle. Then, you need a replacement car now right? So you're going to go buy another car either used/new. They're going to make a profit on that sale too.

What do you get out of the deal? A new to you vehicle and another car payment.

This exactly.

They send those letters to everyone and tell them that they "need" their car. They really don't. They just want to sell you a newer/more expensive vehicle, and then turn around and sell your car. 2 sales = more profit and you in a bigger or longer period payment.

Very rarely are they going to give you a good deal on trading down in value.

Talynted · May 2014

Not weird! I've worked for a few dealerships. They want to buy newer model cars back because they have less wear and tear, less miles, less rust (if you're a northerner). It is totally legit. This makes the previously owned newer model year cars more desirable to the public who are in the market for a used vehicle.

really weird

Re: really weird

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