Classic Car Trader

Before you start

Before you start, determine, of course, what kind of car you want. Using the make, model and year, use the Kelley blue book to determine what the market value of the car is, depending on its condition. This will give you a base figure to work with when it comes to deciding what you should pay for a car.

Next, decide what you are going to use the car for. If you're going to use the car every day just for transportation, you probably don't need one in mint condition, and you'll be able to pay less. In addition, if part of the reason you're buying the car is so that you can work on it and bring it back to its original condition and restore it, that's another reason you won't need a perfect car. If you simply collect cars or you just want one that's in mint condition and you don't have any intention of trying to fix it up yourself, then you'll pay significantly more for a "good" to "mint condition" car.

Know what the problem areas are going to be

Just about every make, model and year of car has specific problems particular to it. In other words, there's just about no car model out there that gets away scot-free. So research the car model you want and make sure you know what problems you should be expecting. This will help you determine not just how expensive a car is going to be to buy, but how expensive it will be to keep. Again, this isn't necessarily going to be something you're particularly worried about if you want the car for itself as a showpiece and not for daily use, but it's still something you should know. It also may affect how much you pay for the car.

Classic car trader clubs

There are lots of clubs available based upon specific classic cars for people who have owned the type of vehicle you want. Joining one of these clubs (many of which exist online now) will help you know what you can buy and what you should stay away from.

Once you find the car you think you want

Remember that just as with any type of car purchase, previous owners can "pretty up" cars so that they look much better than they really are. Have a car appraiser look at the car before you buy. They'll probably be able to tell you whether or not the car's been in an accident, whether the engine is in good shape, whether the transmission is shot, and so on. If any of these things are true, this will lessen the value of the vehicle and therefore the price you pay. And of course, you may not want the vehicle at all once you find these things out.

Pull a used vehicle history report

You should be able to pull a used vehicle history report using the car's vehicle identification number to determine whether or not anything is wrong with it other than what you have been told. It will also tell you whether or not the car has been stolen (which happens sometimes) and how many people have owned it previously.

Knowing your way around the classic car trader environment will help you get the perfect classic car you want, based upon what you want to use it for. You shouldn't have to pay more for the car you want than it's worth; armed with a few simple facts, you won't have to.

Firefox Custom Car at Firefox Rock Festival

The Firefox customized car was detailed and debuted at the Mozilla 24 "Firefox Rock Festival" in Tokyo on Sept. 15th.
It will go on to compete in the largest all Japan custom car show in Nagoya later in September.

Kelley Blue Book recommends maybe not selling your SUV right now

Photo by Joguldi. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

We all know that sales and values of large vehicles are slumping - just ask Nissan about their Titan pickup. But if you're driving an SUV today and really hate watching the pump rack up all those dollars each time you get gas, Kelley Blue Book researchers have some advice for you: don't sell. Sound like a bad tip? Here's the reasoning, digested from a KBB press release (available after the jump):

Even though SUV and truck values have dropped about eight percent since September (an eight percent drop usually takes between 12 and 18 months), KBB thinks that these large vehicles are "nearing their minimum price points." When winter comes, KBB expects an "uptick in buyer interest in SUVs." Therefore, keep biting the bullet at the pump and, "Don't let emotions make your decision."

Of course, the value of this advice varies depending on what large ride you've got, whether or not you really need a vehicle of that size and how much you drive. Does it make sense for you?


Press Release:

Don't Sell Your SUV; Kelley Blue Book Data Reveals Costs May Outweigh Gains

IRVINE, Calif., May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Increasing gas prices have encouraged consumers to trade-in their SUVs for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, but it is important to examine the big picture before making a final decision. According to Kelley Blue Book (http://www.kbb.com/), the leading provider of new- and used-vehicle information, the SUV market has dropped more than 8 percent since September of last year. Kelley Blue Book data reveals depreciation between three to five thousand dollars in SUVs during the past six months. While depreciation is common, eight percent is generally seen over 12 to 18 months, not six to eight. Mid-size SUVs have dropped seven percent, while large SUVs have declined 8 percent. In addition, full-size trucks have depreciated eight percent along with the entire market.

"While it might be tempting to trade-in your big SUV after spending $100 to fill its gas tank, it is important you take everything into consideration before you decide to change vehicles or you may end up spending thousands of dollars to save hundreds," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. "Large SUVs and SUVs with four-wheel drive are nearing their minimum price points so we expect depreciation will slow, and we anticipate there will be an uptick in buyer interest in SUVs as we approach winter, contingent on regional factors and gas prices. Hanging onto your current vehicle and riding out the current gas prices could be the most economical answer."

Don't let emotions make your decision -- you might be troubled by your current gasoline costs, but costs associated with acquiring, operating and insuring a new vehicle will most likely outweigh them. Below are a few suggestions in determining whether to sell your SUV

* Is your SUV paid off? If not, be aware that you might be "upside down" on your current auto loan, owing more than it's worth
* Do the math -- look at the monthly payments for your alternative vehicle, check your credit and research all financing options
* Calculate monthly gas mileage for alternative used and new vehicles. Miles-per-gallon information and fuel-tank capacities are available on http://www.kbb.com/
* Choose wisely -- make the decision that best fits your needs without tiring your purse strings

About Kelley Blue Book (http://www.kbb.com/sitemap)

Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource(R), has provided vehicle buyers and sellers with the new and used vehicle information they need to accomplish their goals with confidence. The company's top-rated Web site, kbb.com, provides the most up-to-date pricing and values, including the New Car Blue Book(R) Value, which reveals what people actually are paying for new cars. The company also reports vehicle pricing and values via products and services, including software products and the famous Blue Book(R) Official Guide. Kbb.com is rated the No. 1 automotive information site by Nielsen//NetRatings and the most visited auto site by J.D. Power and Associates nine years in a row. No other medium reaches more in-market vehicle shoppers than kbb.com; nearly one in every three American car buyers performs their research on kbb.com.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]