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r/askcarsales•
SporkPlug

Trading in a car with body damage?

I'm looking to buy a new car in a few months and I'd like to trade in my current car. It's a 2010 VW Jetta S with ~156,000 miles on it, and it needs a new hood (a metal pipe slammed into the hood on the highway several years ago and left a giant dent, and I was told that it would probably have to be replaced). My question is, would this torpedo my trade-in value? Should I get this fixed before I trade it in? Is this something that would be cheaper for the dealership to fix than it would be for me to get fixed?

It's in great condition otherwise, it's fully paid off and I've been on top of maintenance so it still drives like the day I got it.

Posted May 5, 2017, 4:56 PM UTC

26
TheRealMeatloafCanadian Ford Finance Manager, Eh•

I have a feeling your trade is worth right around $1000-2000 in good condition anyways, so factor the cost of a used hood + paint and install and subtract that from the trade value and there you are.

2
rodion_kjdPorsche Sales and Leasing•

At the end of the day a dealership is going to be able to do a hood and paint for less than you. In other words I feel like it would cost you more to fix it than the deduction in trade value.

2
Nokcihc•

^ Absolutely this. Unless you have a way to fix it for really cheap, you may as well just trade it as is. You have to pay for labor, the dealership "doesn't".

1
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1
AntiquecollectorSubaru Sales•

That vehicle is not worth fixing

1
NKh-•

Fix the hood cheap sell on Craigslist

1