Outrageous vehicle costs.

[MillerThyme]

Originally Posted by Ben Edward

I think if you already found a vehicle that you really like and is +$2 or -$2 of your budget,just go ahead and purchase it. Purchasing from the south may be tedious and if you include shipping cost the price may eventually come to equalize with that of buying one from around.

True to some extent; however, it really depends on the vehicle. For example, was seriously looking at a WRX and always wanted one since graduating high school back in 2002. A good used one up here is any where from $3-9k over blue book. Recently looking at a 2003 model in decent shape and it book at $3.5k, and they are asking $9k. I can go down south and pick one up for around $4-5k.

Same can be said with trucks. Recently eyeing an Avalanche with an asking price of $16k that is in great shape with roughly 110k miles, but its KBB price is only $8.5k - that is a huge mark up and could easily find a lower mile Avalanche down south for around blue book.

Could easily take a week and drive up with out losing any pay.

[Arktikos]

Whenever I've looked at Craigslist, it seems to me that vehicles are fairly priced in Alaska. For some models, they're even cheaper than down south prices.

If you're married to the idea of a fairly uncommon vehicle in mint condition, then it may be necessary to travel south.

[Crossfire600]

In the general words of our Anchorage Toyota dealer. We have no competition so just be glad we are giving you the price we are.

Nice huh? If I could have driven one up from outside I would have.

[riceme]

Originally Posted by Crossfire600

In the general words of our Anchorage Toyota dealer. We have no competition so just be glad we are giving you the price we are.

Nice huh? If I could have driven one up from outside I would have.

Wow. This is why I always joke (but not so much joking) that dealerships are against my religion. It was kind of a fluke that I found my current truck at Affordable, and it was actually really reasonable... We don't need to rehash the used truck market in Fairbanks.

[Dakster]

And I would have walked away from that dealer.

First, KBB is way over priced to begin with. When you go to trade in they use something called the black book - which is what the dealers supposedly can get a vehicle at a legit car auction for. However, they cannot look at the vehicle at the auction like they can your trade in. So as long as you don't have any issues it's worth more. Yes, they can car fax an auction vehicle and they typically drive them up to auction, but it isn't the same as a test drive and being able to crawl all around the vehicle. However, there are no real auctions in Alaska, so they would have to go to one down in the L48. (at least I sure haven't found a real auction up here)

As a retail consumer getting something for KBB trade in is a fair or good deal as you won't get that price if you were to trade in.

However, in AK private party seems to thrive on KBB... As long as I know the rules going into the game, I can play it so at least it's fair. I have no issues walking out of a deal or dealership and no issues saying, welp I won't get that make vehicle. Enough people do it and the dealer will fail.

BTW, I had a 2001 WRX Wagon... Too bad we got rid of it. It was a fun car to drive, even though I had to get an automatic since my wife can't drive a manual.

[Haolejohn]

Our used car market is KBB plus $2500ish...give or take.

[Music_Man]

Originally Posted by riceme

It's probably six and one half dozen

Did you mean It's probably six of one and a half of a dozen of another?

[Dakster]

Retail KBB + $2500? I need to start a car business....

kidding...