Deciding between selling or trading in

[LUV45ACP]

I have a 2014 XLT 4X4 with 145K miles, the heavy duty tow package, and 3.73 gears. Red with gold trim and tan leather. It has everything but a sunroof and CD changer. The body is in great shape, with a new front bumper cover and grill (thanks to a doe in February). Replaced the O2 sensors, with spacers on the upstream side, in March. Off-road tires with about 70% tread. I would drive it anywhere. I don’t want to sell it, but it is 25 miles one way to work and I need something more economical. How much do you think?

 

[GlennSullivan]

I think it depends on options, overall mechanical and physical condition and if the deer incident shows up on Carfax or not. 145K is on the high side for mileage as there are a lot of 13s and 14s for sale with less miles and many are Limited's. If it is in really nice condition, with good options, you might be able to get somewhere in the 12 - 14 range, but that is a guess without seeing it. Obviously you will get more selling privately, but will you get enough more to offset the sales tax difference? The dealer won't resell a 2014 vehicle with 145K miles, they will wholesale or auction it, so their price to you will prolly be in the 8 - 9 range.

 

[LUV45ACP]

Those are the thoughts running around in my head right now. The truck is in great shape, and I hate to part with it, but it all comes down to gas mileage. I’m spending between three and four hundred dollars a month for gas.

Thank you taking the time to give me such a cogent response!

 

[Jamo]

I have a '14 EL LTD, and I would hate to part with it as well. I'm just over 100K and have no plans to sell. I think I would look into a smaller hybrid with gas/electric drivetrain for work, and keep the Expedition for real travel. I'm not comfortable driving those tiny little shitboxes, but I think there are better, as in bigger, hybrid options. Just my thoughts. Good luck...

 

[chuck s]

Do all the math and see what makes sense. $350/mo x 12 = $4200/yr for fuel now. Do you think you can cut it in half -- to maybe $2100/year? Will take 10 years to breakeven on a $20,000 net cost vehicle. (Price minus trade or sale.)

-- Chuck

 

[DJ04]

Sell, trade in, or keep spending $$ on it? I have a 2nd gen, very high mileage but from a real maintenance fanatic; however all sorts of charging system gremlins have surfaced. Do you think Ford electrical systems are somehow programmed to just fail after so many years? I think about "tiny little shitboxes" from time to time, but the idea does not thrill me too much. I also think that the math of the previous post makes a lot of sense.

 

[AntonnSantos78]

I was in the same spot with my 2013 Expedition. I kept it for family trips and grabbed a used Camry Hybrid for the commute, fuel dropped from £280 to £140 a month and the hybrid paid for itself in under two years. Private sale beat the trade by about £2.5k, but it took photos, an inspection, and a couple weeks of viewings. For commuting I bought a used Camry Hybrid and kept the truck. Fuel dropped by over half, insurance barely moved. The trade-in tax break didn’t beat the private-sale premium. I also padded the down payment by clearing old tech. In the UK I used a comparison site to sell my phone, it pulled quotes from multiple recyclers with free tracked postage and paid same day.

 

[chuck s]

I'll bet @LUV45ACP made his decision two years ago -- and hasn't been back here since (!) but...

Trade-ins are a shell game with the dealer hiding the pea. High dollar trade-in = low discount on "selling price" and vice versa. Dealer makes out either way. Dealers typically send your trade-in to auction 'cuz they don't want a used car, especially an 11-year old one like the original post, on their lot.

Only time this might make sense is if your state only charges sales tax on the discounted price.

-- Chuck