It is like a balloon, want to squeeze the trade in side (what they are giving you for your trade in) of the balloon big, well then you get the small end (how much they take off the new truck) on the buy side.

Want the buy side bigger, then the trade size gets smaller.

 

Now there is a man who understands how "the game" is played...

 

my trucks sticker was 46k.. i paid 33k... i have been back and forth thinking about selling it lately.

with my mods and everything i wouldn't take less than 26-27k.

think about that.. 16 months old... a 46k (sticker) truck plus all the stuff i done to mine for 27k... someone would be happy i think. Do i think i can get 27k on a trade in? prolly not.. but i bet i could sell it on autotrader or ebay for 27k

maybe you can try those two options

 

I used to keep my trucks for at least ten years as well. But then I started twoing a race car and trailer around, so I needed something bigger than a Dakota. So I got into the Ram line. I would have kept my 2006, 2500 except I sold the race car and trailer. Then they came out with the new Ram and the new suspension in the 1500. I guess I lucked out, because I bought mine while they stopped making the Heavy Duty trucks like the 2500 for a while. So a lot of the contractors were looking for new plow trucks and my 2500 had only 30K on the odometer. So I wheeled and dealed and got an excellent trade in. My truck was in MINT shape as well which certainly helped, plus it had a cap and a killer sound system in it. I took a nice clean demo off the lot and got $4K off for that. Had 1500 miles on it. I got the employee pricing deal and the Chrysler loyalty check that I got in the mail for $1500.00. So my truck was like $42k, minus the $23,000 trade, minus the $1500,00, minus the $4,000 employee pricing, plus I got in on the 48 months for 0% financing....So not too bad for a brand new truck...
I almost have it paid off as I have been making extra payments, so I might trade up for a Laramie now...in a couple years....

 

So your deal on the demo truck with 1,500 miles was

Sticker 42,000
Minus 1,500 loyalty
Minus 4,000 employee pricing

Equals 36,500 for the demo truck


Other buyers were getting 12,500 off a zero miles truck retailing for 42,000
so essentially that 7,000 difference in discounts was used to juice your trade in allowance from 16,000 to 23,000

 

If I could've gotten that much discounted off a new truck I would've bought a new one. Trucks like what you guys have would maybe go for 35k cheapest over here in Jacksonville, NC. You just don't see those kinds of deals here. Saddens me.

 

Dealer here will put a HUGE price of $29,995 on the windows of QC Hemi 4x4s for that last week of the month sales push every month around here. He'll also have that one RCSB 4x2 bare bones one that he advertises for like $15k sitting there too.

It's all supply and demand, if they know some schmuck will walk in and drop $35k on a truck with a stupid high inflated $42k on the sticker, they ain't gonna sell it for less.

But back to the original topic, if you can buy a NEW LOADED QC Hemi 4x4 for under $30k, then them offering $20k for a year old one in trade ain't that bad. If you paid $30k 'ish for it, then 33% depreciation the first year is about right, sadly...

 

All I can say is go to another Dodge dealership and see what they will give you. I get to buy mine with a green sheet so they really try and stick it to me on the trade ins. I have had good luck just going to different dealerships and see who wants my business the most.

 

I thought about going to a diesel about a month ago and got a trade-in quote. My truck is a 2010 Hemi Sport 4x4 Crew, loaded with the exception of sunroof and ram boxes. It had 8000 miles on it when they valued it and they were willing to give me $30k for it. It stickered at 45k and I paid $36k.... I've seen two very similar trucks with more miles than mine sell locally for 32 & 33K.

 

I was fortunate enough to bargain the dealer down 2500.00 and get 1500 for a trade in, (truck was worth just that)With the 600 dollars I put down, which was gift money, I walked out of the dealer with a brandy new (to me) truck. they wanted 23 k to start. after eveything was ironed out they sold it for 17,5oo k Turns out it was tradedin for the cost of an avenger. about 14 k. They made money from me, but not much, imo.