Hey everyone, I want to get some advice from you on how much you think I could get for my 2003 LS8 Ultimate with the Sport Package. It has every option including Navigation and rear back-up sensors. I know the market is extremely soft right now and that's why I want some insight. The car is flawless and has no paint scratches, dents or swirl marks. The interior is also flawless with no discoloration of any parts or on the seats. The car has a little over 25,000 miles on it and it runs perfect. I was thinking I could probably get anywhere from $17,500 to even $20,000 simply because of the condition and low miles. I have checked the NADA Guide and also KBB but please let me know what you think. Any advice or tips would be helpful. Thanks.
Considering selling my '03 LS8
- Thread starter King03LS8
- Start date
02V8Sport
Dedicated LVC Member
Sorry but 06's are going for $18-20K around here and are still under factory warranty.
03 you are looking to getting $13-14 if you sell out right.
I forgot to add that I extended the factory warranty from Ford that is fully transferrable. No deductible.
Nada states clean retail value is about $18,900.
NYC LS8
Dedicated LVC Member
Be prepared to take it in the pooper!! I've been looking at other cars myself and these cars - regardless of mileage - ain't worth jack!!
Man, that is a shame. Back in '06 is was HARD to find the LS I wanted now you see every 16-18 year old driving an LS trying to mod it out, put spinners on it and make it look like crap, it makes me sick. The car, to me, has lost its pristine.
I sold my 03 last june. It was a V8 Premium sport (THX NAV etc). I had Magnaflow mufflers and tips, K&N intake, Eibach Springs and a full 2004 LSE body kit.
I advertised on craigslist and sold it for $17.5K
car had 44K miles.
I advertised on craigslist and sold it for $17.5K
car had 44K miles.
owlman
Dedicated LVC Member
Why are you selling? Just curious
glanga
Dedicated LVC Member
I got 14k for mine in December, pretty much same options and year as yours with a few more miles.
aaronearles
Well-Known LVC Member
Location makes a big difference too, I was looking at trading mine in for something a little cheaper, had my eye on a Jag X-Type to save about $100/mo. but its not worth it to trade in the LS ($11k) or sit on it and sell for what I owe. I did however have an offer for my 03 V8 with 40,000 miles about 6 months ago for $16k, but Michigan economy sucks and people use it for an excuse for everything.
NYC LS8
Dedicated LVC Member
This is where I'm at right now.
Do I take the beatin' on the difference between what I owe and what I can get on a trade for it for something that I WANT with more power and pay a little more than I currently do a month? Or do I just sit on the car and deal with the fact that I'm screwed?
Then there's always the torching the car thing. lol
cammerfe
Dedicated LVC Member
Trade it or keep it?
There's only two ways of owning a car. One is to trade it every other year and look at it only as transportation, and the other is to keep it forever and do as you please to make it yours. Since I'm driving an '02 Sport with 112K miles, obviously I've decided to do the second.
The four litre Jag engine with necessary internal mods is going together as we speak, and the spray is installed and the turbos ready to go on at the correct time. The car holds two land speed records. What other daily driver can claim the same cachet?
KS
There's only two ways of owning a car. One is to trade it every other year and look at it only as transportation, and the other is to keep it forever and do as you please to make it yours. Since I'm driving an '02 Sport with 112K miles, obviously I've decided to do the second.
The four litre Jag engine with necessary internal mods is going together as we speak, and the spray is installed and the turbos ready to go on at the correct time. The car holds two land speed records. What other daily driver can claim the same cachet?
KS
Several reasons....don't get me wrong, I love the car, its fun, reliable (mine at least) and they are rare around here but with the rising cost of gas, filling it with premium can hurt the wallet especially if gas does become $4.00 a gallon. My car note on it is not too bad but I'd definitely like something lower. I have an '04 TL that will be sold by the end of the week to save some more money there. Essentially, I'm looking for something new, more efficient and cheaper so I can work on other things that I want.
glanga
Dedicated LVC Member
What do you owe
I don't know, but I've seen you claim it about a billion times
Get that vehicle up and running already! I've been waiting to see the finished product/review/videos!
That's irrelavant.
glanga
Dedicated LVC Member
Your monthly payment is really that high on it though that you want to sell it for that much money? Are you trying to sell it just to pay off what you owe, or to make a profit from it too?
Monthly payments aren't high at all, have a great interest rate and of course with selling anything you always want to make a profit or have I missed something?
glanga
Dedicated LVC Member
You just said you want to find something with a lower note than what you have. But if this one isn't bad then I guess it's just gas that is hurting you?
I am mainly wondering whether you expect to sell it privately or is that what you want through trade-in?
I am mainly wondering whether you expect to sell it privately or is that what you want through trade-in?
A lower note is always a plus, gas is a pain in the ass but not too bad right now but if it does get higher then the LS would hurt the wallet a bit more. I am going to try and sell it privately, any dealer will give me nothing near what it is worth especially the condition the car is in. Carmax will write you a check even if you don't buy their cars, thats an option.
glanga
Dedicated LVC Member
Carmax probably would be a good option if the car is in as good condition as you say it is.
Any dealer you go to, especially and Acura dealer will give you only what the Lincoln dealerships would give them for it. I'd go to a Lincoln dealer and feign interest in a car they have there just to find out what you can expect for your car from any other dealer. The most I was offered was 14k and that was with a bit more miles than yours had, but I was only looking to trade it in on 16-20,000 Wranglers, not an Acura. The more the car your looking at is worth, the more money you'll get on trade in since they have the room to work with you.
If it were me, I would try and sell it privately for a few hundred less than KBB/NADA. If there are no bites then just go to a dealer and find a trade in deal. Just remember everyday you wait is another day the car depreciates.
Just my 2 cents.
Any dealer you go to, especially and Acura dealer will give you only what the Lincoln dealerships would give them for it. I'd go to a Lincoln dealer and feign interest in a car they have there just to find out what you can expect for your car from any other dealer. The most I was offered was 14k and that was with a bit more miles than yours had, but I was only looking to trade it in on 16-20,000 Wranglers, not an Acura. The more the car your looking at is worth, the more money you'll get on trade in since they have the room to work with you.
If it were me, I would try and sell it privately for a few hundred less than KBB/NADA. If there are no bites then just go to a dealer and find a trade in deal. Just remember everyday you wait is another day the car depreciates.
Just my 2 cents.
I appreciate your help. Going to Lincoln though would probably be a bust since I don't want a Ford, Mercury or another Lincoln. I guess I could look and see what they have on their lot but we only have 1 Lincoln dealership in Austin and they are bastards. I am more interested in Accords, Maximas, Altimas and possibly a mid-size SUV with the best fuel economy available.
The general concept is true. I've never made a profit on a vehicle that was not a collectible. Collectibles seem to be the only ones you can turn a profit on, since every other vehicle depreciates. And we all know just how well the LS holds its value...
glanga
Dedicated LVC Member
Im not saying go to the Lincoln Dealership to sell your car.
If you go to a local new car dealership, say Acura, the Acura dealership will call the local Lincoln dealers to see what the Lincoln dealers will offer them (the Acura dealer) for your LS if you were to trade your car into the Acura dealer. The Acura dealer will do this before they would go and sell your LS at auction since that is more time and money.
So I'm saying go to the Lincoln dealer and just fake interest in another car on their lot, say an 08 MKZ, that way you can find out what your car is really worth to a Lincoln dealership which is what really matters if you were to trade your car in. The Lincoln dealer won't give you a trade-in value unless you fake interest in one of their cars. The Acura dealer won't hold onto your car, they will sell it to the Lincoln dealer. So find out how much, first hand, the Lincoln dealers would pay for your car on trade-in.
It helps to do this since if you go to the Acura dealer, they can't BS on what the real trade in value of your car is. You know first hand, from the Lincoln dealer, what your Lincoln LS is worth.
If you go to a local new car dealership, say Acura, the Acura dealership will call the local Lincoln dealers to see what the Lincoln dealers will offer them (the Acura dealer) for your LS if you were to trade your car into the Acura dealer. The Acura dealer will do this before they would go and sell your LS at auction since that is more time and money.
So I'm saying go to the Lincoln dealer and just fake interest in another car on their lot, say an 08 MKZ, that way you can find out what your car is really worth to a Lincoln dealership which is what really matters if you were to trade your car in. The Lincoln dealer won't give you a trade-in value unless you fake interest in one of their cars. The Acura dealer won't hold onto your car, they will sell it to the Lincoln dealer. So find out how much, first hand, the Lincoln dealers would pay for your car on trade-in.
It helps to do this since if you go to the Acura dealer, they can't BS on what the real trade in value of your car is. You know first hand, from the Lincoln dealer, what your Lincoln LS is worth.