Are Taylor and Martin 12-String laminate-body guitars worth checking out?

I've had a guitar and a mandolin I haven't been able to sell online, but a music shop expressed interest in a trade. I've always wanted a 12-string (big Gordon Lightfoot fan). The shop has loads of them, mostly brands I'm not too interested in, but they do have a bunch of Taylors and a couple Martins.

The thing is, all the solid-wood 12-strings they have in stock are likely $1K+ over the trade value of my instruments. They do carry several Taylors and a Martin​ in my price range, and these all have laminate back and sides (or "layered", if there's a difference). Are these Taylors and Martins worth checking out?

I wouldn't bother asking if the store was close by, ​but its about 3 hours drive for me.