ALWAYS separate the sell old car & buy new car transactions. If you don’t, the dealership will reach into their bag of tricks to squeeze more dollars out for themselves on the trade-in side of the deal.

Anonymous wrote:Strategy is:

Negotiate price of new car first. Then deduct trade in. If dealer doesn’t give you 18k, sell to carmax.

That’s exactly what I do. They match about 50% of the time.

Strategy is:

Negotiate price of new car first. Then deduct trade in. If dealer doesn’t give you 18k, sell to carmax.

Most dealers will match Carmax, which seems a lot easier.

Anonymous wrote:A $3k difference and you have to ask?? A fool and his money are often parted, I guess.

Well I know I need to get the $3k difference, but is there any benefit to having the dealer discount that for the final price of new car, or will I likely get a better deal doing the transactions separately?

A $3k difference and you have to ask?? A fool and his money are often parted, I guess.

Go with carmax.

Will I get a better deal trading in my car with the purchase of a new car, or sell separately at Carmax. Dealer offered $15 k vs $18k at Carmax. Do I come back with $18k at dealer, or will they match that but make up the money elsewhere? First time buying a brand new car, so not sure of the best strategy.