Question:  2004 Toyota Corolla LE
buying from a private party
Auto transmission, around 52k miles on the vehicle.

Queen of the Road:  Hi there! Let’s see what wholesale Toyota Corolla prices we have here…

For a 2004 Toyota Corolla LE with 52,000 miles, wholesale prices range from $10,000 (being in above average condition) to $8,600 (being in average condition) and $7,300 (being in below average condition). Keep in mind that the numbers above are the wholesale prices. A dealership will usually aim to sell it for +12%-14% more than wholesale, so their estimated retail prices could range from $8,300 to $11,200.

Once you you settle on a price for this car, check carfax and do plenty of research on the history of the vehicle. You can even bring a mechanic for a brief inspection. Best of luck and keep us posted on how the bargaining goes!  Don’t forget to tell your friends and family about our free personal service.

This Is An Update To A Previous Question

Follow Up Comment: I’m looking at a 2004 Toyota Sienna CE 7 seater 65000 miles from a used car dealership. They want 10990. How much would I be looking at private party? Thanks in advance!

It’s a FWD. I’m also looking at the 8 passenger version with similar miles but dealer is asking $12000. Zip is 08701.Thanks.

Queen of the Road: Alrighty, let’s see if $10,990 is a fair price.

For a 2004 Toyota Sienna FWD CE with 65,000 miles, prices range from $11,200 (being in above average condition) to $9,600 (being in average condition) and $7,900 (being in below average condition). Keep in mind that the numbers above are the wholesale prices. A dealership will usually aim to sell it for +12%-14% more than wholesale, so their estimated retail prices could range from $9k to $12.5k.

Looks like the offering price is a fair one. Just to be safer than sorry, please check the Carfax history on that particular car and perhaps being a mechanic to do a brief inspection. If you were to purchase from a private seller, a fair mark up would be +5%-10%.

Question From YZJ: I’m looking at a 2004 Toyota Sienna CE 7 seater 65000 miles from a used car dealership. They want 10990. How much would I be looking at private party? Thanks in advance!

Queen of the Road: I’d be happy to look into that for you. Is the Sienna an AWD or FWD?

Question: I appreciate your response.

I was thinking along the same line. Another dealer said, he can get the same vehicle with 40K miles for 15 K. I’m still skeptical.

I’m also looking at:

2004 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN LX AUTO 4Cyl - 38K Miles
and
2004 Camry SE 4dr 4Cyl - 40K Miles
What is the price range I can expect?
Thanks in advance.

Queen of the Road: Sure thing! Anything to help.

If that other dealer can get you the same car with 40k miles for $15, that’s a pretty good deal. Was it salvaged? He’s quoting wholesale prices. You’re right, it does sound fishy.

For a 2004 Honda Accord 4C LX with 38,000 miles, prices range from $13,300 (being in above average condition) to $11,600 (being in average condition) and $10,000 (being in below average condition). Keep in mind that the numbers above are the wholesale prices. A dealership will usually aim to sell it for +12%-14% more than wholesale, so their estimated retail prices could range from $11,200 to $14,700.

For a 2004 Toyota Camry SE with 40,000 miles, prices range from $12,800 (being in above average condition) to $11,200 (being in average condition) and $9,600 (being in below average condition). Keep in mind that the numbers above are the wholesale prices. A dealership will usually aim to sell it for +12%-14% more than wholesale, so their estimated retail prices could range from $10,700 to $14,300.

Let us know if you or your friends/family need any advice or have any further questions. Goodluck!

Question:

Year: 2004
Make: Toyota Prius
Model: 2WD
Trim: Package #6 (BI) includes: Rear Intermittant Wiper, Smart Entry System, driver & passenger side & curtain airbags, Carpet floor mats & cargo mat, 50 state emissions, Cargo net,
Mileage: 18,661
VIN: JTDKB20UX40047009
Buying or Selling? Buying from a dealership

MuscleCarGuy:

For a 2004 Toyota Prius with 18,661 miles, prices range from $16,050 (being in above average condition) to $14,300 (being in average condition) and $12,600 (being in below average condition).

Keep in mind that the numbers above are the wholesale prices. A dealership will usually aim to sell it for +12%-14% more than wholesale, so their estimated retail prices could range from $14.1 to $18.3k.

I did some research on this car for you and I found it listed on Autotrader.com. I also checked the Carfax report for it. I thought it was kind of strange a 2004 Toyota Prius with only 18K miles. On the Carfax report it says that this car was serviced on 10/06/2006 at Sunshine Toyota of Springfield, MI and it had 22,370 miles. Now we both now that the actual mileage for this car is not only 18K miles.

You should ask the dealer that is selling this Prius what is the actual mileage on this car. The dealer is asking $18,995 for this Prius, and it is too much for a car that you don’t know what the real mileage is.

On the first 31 months this Prius was driven for 22,370 miles, which is an average of 721.61 miles per month. Let’s say that the previous owner kept the same average until now. This car should probably have something around 34,637 miles.

Now with the new numbers, let’s see what the wholesale price is for the same Prius with the estimated mileage.

For a 2004 Toyota Prius with 34,637 miles, prices range from $15,500 (being in above average condition) to $13,750 (being in average condition) and $12,000 (being in below average condition).

With the numbers above and knowing that a dealership will usually aim to sell it for +12%-14% more than wholesale, we can estimate that this car should be around $13.4 to $17.6.

Let us know if you have any further questions. Good Luck!!!

Link for the Add on Autotrader.com

Link For the Carfax Report.

This Is An Update Response To A Previous Question

FOLLOW UP COMMENT:   My brother came very close to closing a deal on that ‘03 4 cyl. XLE Camry, but I told him that the difference between what I thought he should pay (about 14.5K out the door) and what the dealer’s “final offer” was (about 15.3K OTD) was too big.

We went to another dealer, about 15 miles away, where we saw an ‘03 XLE V6. We saw it as an Internet special, and the price was a bit lower (asking about $15K) than other comparable cars. I was skeptical (I called it a “Murder Car”), but I figured we could take a look.

Well, it turned out to be a very nice car! A V6, with moonroof, and traction and stability control (MAJOR plusses!) It did have 54K miles instead of 40K, but that was still quite reasonable, and it was still a certified vehicle. And maybe it was just our minds playing tricks on us, but we both thought this car felt slightly more comfortable than the 4 cyl.

We bargained hard. (Actually I bargained hard, because my brother didn’t want to go through the hassle.) And we closed the deal! Final cost: $14,775 OTD. The base price for the car came out to $13579. Less money than the 4 cyl, and a significantly nicer car, even though the mileage is a bit higher! I thought we could bargain even more (I was shooting for 14.5K OTD), but my brother was tired of the haggling, and didnt want to blow the deal over a few dollars. The clincher was the 3.9% financing, which they gave my brother, even though his credit score fell a few points below their threshhold. (I thought that was a nice gesture.)

So, thanks in part to your advice, my brother got a very nice car to replace his ticking time bomb at a fair price. Thanks so much for your help! Take care, and keep the great car advice coming!

Queen of the Road: Congrats!!! Hard work pays off.  Like I said before, your brother is very lucky to have a sibling who researches car prices and bargains his car deals for him.

Question:  OK, gang, I hope some people experienced with used Camry prices can help my out. My brother has a ‘98 Grand Prix which is literally on the verge of a meltdown. He wants to get another car. He was planning to get another Grand Prix, but after talking to me and several other people, he is now debating between a Camry and an Accord.

I went car shopping with him a few days ago, and wow, Camrys and Accords are a decent chunk of change, even used. (I have an ‘04 Accord EX V6 myself, and love it.)

So, we found a car that has potential. It’s an ‘03 Camry XLE 4 Cylinder. 40K miles, very good shape, certified vehicle. The dealer wanted 15.5K for it. My brother offered 13.5K. They came down to just under 14.5K, and we left. The dealer called my brother today, saying they had a “counter offer”, but didn’t leave a specific number.

Would 14K be a reasonable price for this car? I was really hoping to help him get an ‘04 V6 vehicle for that price, but based on the prices and availability we’ve seen for both Camrys and Accords, that no longer seems realistic. (He’s trying to stay under 15K.) Thanks for any info. He needs a car quick.

Queen of the Road: First of all, he’s very lucky to have you as a brother. Well, I am glad you asked us. $14k is too high for a used Camry, but reasonable for a ‘04 V6.

For a 2003 Toyota Camry 4C sedan XLE with 40,000 miles, prices can range from $12,000 (being in above average condition) to $10,600 (being in average condition) and $9,300 (being below average condition). You can bargain down to $13k.

All the figures above are estimated prices that a dealer paid. So keep in mind that those numbers are all wholesale prices. A dealership will usually aim to sell it for at least 12%-14% more than wholesale. In terms of estimated retail prices, it can range from $10,400 to $13,300 depending on the car’s condition. Check carfax and do plenty of research on the vehicle. You can even bring a mechanic for a brief inspection. Don’t let the salesmen sense your desperation to buy ASAP.

It’s possible to consider that 2004 V6, but you’ll have to work really hard bargaining. For a 2004 Toyota Camry V6 XLE with 40k miles, prices can range from $16,300 (being in above average condition) to $14,500 (being in average condition) and $12,600 (being below average condition).

Question: Looking for:

Buying-
Year: 2003 (or 2004)
Make: Toyota Camry
Model/Trim: LE/4 cylinder/Automatic/Sedan
Mileage: 50,000
Seller’s price: (dont have one yet, just want a baseline)

Plan to buy from a dealer, so I guess certification should be added to your price, plus sales commission, taxes, etc.

MuscleCarGuy:

For a 2003 Toyota Camry LE 4 cylinder with 50,000 miles, prices range from $10,850 (being in above average condition) to $9,650 (average condition) and $8,400 (being below average condition).

For a 2004 Toyota Camry LE 4 cylinder with 50,000 miles, prices range from $11,700 (being in above average condition) to $10,150 (average condition) and $8,650 (being below average condition).

Just keep in mind that these are wholesale prices and that is what the dealers are paying for them. Good Luck!!!