thejtk

Anybody know when NADA updates their pricing? They haven't seem to have done it for a while (unlike everyone else) and right now they're a lot more than anyone else:

KBB:
Values for a 1998 Lexus LS 400 Sedan 4D with 68,000 miles in ZIP Code 80026 on 08/24/2008
Vehicle Condition: Fair Good Excellent
View Retail Value: N/A N/A 15,550
Private Party Value: 10,835 11,865 12,635

NADA (I've been watching prices for almost a year now and, unlike the others, this hasn't changed):
Low Retail Clean Retail Value High Retail
Base Price $10,150 $12,225 $13,400
Mileage - 68,000 miles $3,425 $3,425 $3,425
TOTAL PRICE $14,225 $16,300 $17,475

Edmunds:
Step 5 Review Edmunds.com Pricing Report
1998 Lexus LS 400 4dr STD Sedan1998 Lexus LS 400 4 Dr Sedan True Market Value Pricing
Trade-In Private Party Dealer Retail
National Base Price $7,157 $8,323 $9,749
Mileage Adjustment
68,000 miles $1,353 $1,353 $1,353
Condition Adjustment
Outstanding $874 $972 $1,164
Total $9,669 $10,988 $12,727

Consumer Guide:
Good Average Poor
$12,200-13,500 $11,000-12,200 $6,800-7,600

While most people and dealers are listing their cars for the current market value of 10-13k, I keep running into stalwarts who want NADA prices and say KBB isn't good enough.

thejtk

Nobody has an opinion/observation about this price differential?

Cloud9

iTrader: (2)

The differences among the pricing guides were there for a long time. Most people go by KBB. You can go further and just take the average of all the guides to get your selling or buying price.

thejtk

For as long as I can remember, the KBB was always the highest so all the dealers used it. Now the NADA is the highest (by such a large margin) it makes me think that they haven't updated pricing recently. I actually had a dealer the other day tell me that the NADA is the standard and he won't go down to KBB prices (with the kind of disdain that spitting on the ground would express).
It just annoys me because it's hard to haggle when even one of the books is so far from reality. I shouldn't have to get a private seller down to the KBB excellent price. Maybe if it was only a grand or two like it normally is I wouldn't complain, but a $4000 difference for an excellent rated car?

Cloud9

iTrader: (2)

Well consider the source...a dealer will always follow whatever source quotes the highest price. I would have done the same if I was in his shoes (I have a dealer's license).
Either way, look at autotrader or craigslist to find similar cars in your area, in similar condition to get a good idea of the selling price. Or you can always go high and bring the price down step by step and see at what price you will trigger interest from potential buyers.