5 Star kick in the rear

[schexy1]

I had been comtemplating trading my MRT because I got laidoff a few months ago. I thought it would be a good idea get something a little cheaper before my buyout and unemployment money ran out. Well anyway, yesterday I made up my mind to get rid of the Magnum for a Caliber.

Omen #1: The windshield needs replacing (6th one in 3 years). The glass place had agreed to waive my deductible last week. When I go to schedule the repair they said they wouldn't honor the waiver. I get upset and leave thinking that I will go to another place today.

Omen #2: About 10:30 PM my door bell rings. Someone visiting my neighbor backed into my car pushing in the corner of the bumper to the tune of $800. Now I have a cracked windshield and a damaged bumper.

Omen #3: I go to the dealer to get an estimate on the repairs and get approached by a vulture, I mean salesman. They are being trained to look for potential customers in the service and bodyshop areas now. Anyway I figure why not talk to him, I was planning on it any way. I explain my situation about the job and the repairs and what I want to do after I get them done. He tells me that they understand my situation and if I get the repairs done there they can make it work out in my favor on a trade. I'm thinking cool, they will do the repairs at cost and put the difference into the trade and I will get a sweeter deal.

NOT! they say 11K for my 05 Mag RT. I had been checking the value and it should have been about 17 - 18K. They tell me the windshield and the bumper brought the value down. I said what happened to you doing the repairs and making it work in my favor? Their response, "Oh, if we do the repairs we will give you 13K if you buy a Caliber SE for 20K and 15k if you buy a Charger SXT for 30K". Then the real insult came. A used 07 Avenger for $395 a month for 5 years with a 15K down payment.

I think something or someone is try to tell me I need to keep the magnum and search harder for a job.

[MagnumRT05]

The Caliber is one heckova car. Even the lower model ones are great. I had the chance to drive the CSRT4 tuned and its a beast! I just loved the ride in the lower model ones alot better though. The seats are alot more comfortable. Either way, you cant go wrong. I love Magnums alot so itd be a tough choice for me, but its just a car in the end. I wouldnt give up a job I like (not saying you like/dont like your job) just to pay for a car, but thats just how I am.

[bubbamagnum]

Man, I have been checking the values on our Maggies on KBB for the past few months and I swear the value has been going down each week!!
Seems like I remember that just months after I bought my car I could have traded it dealer price and would almost get what I bought it new for??
Good thing I am going to keep it.

[schexy1]

I didn't quit, I got laid off in September. Eventually my severance and unemployment will run out. I won't be able to make payments with the jobs I will be forced to take after my unemployment payments runs out. I htought it would be a good idea to trade the Magnum for a Caliber and not have a car payment.

I figured if I got 17K for the magnum I could pay it off and buy a lower end caliber for cash. I would be about 2K upside down on the magnum and get a Caliber for about 15K. That would eat up my severance pay but I would be payment free.

I just think it is an insult to be offered 11K for my car when they have a used one for 21K on the lot right now.

[WIMP]

I'd try to sell it outright, then find a low miles, off-lease small car to drive 'till a better job comes along. Good luck job hunting!

[Warlock]

I didn't quit, I got laid off in September. Eventually my severance and unemployment will run out. I won't be able to make payments with the jobs I will be forced to take after my unemployment payments runs out. I htought it would be a good idea to trade the Magnum for a Caliber and not have a car payment.

I figured if I got 17K for the magnum I could pay it off and buy a lower end caliber for cash. I would be about 2K upside down on the magnum and get a Caliber for about 15K. That would eat up my severance pay but I would be payment free.

I just think it is an insult to be offered 11K for my car when they have a used one for 21K on the lot right now.

what is it you do for work?

[dodgeboy]

If you must trade it in (instead of selling it outright to a private buyer), hit up several dealers for trade in prices. They'll be likely to give you more if you're serious about buying a new car from their dealer. I hit 6 dealers before finding a satisfactory trade-in value for my '05 300C when buying my '06 SRT8. Estimates ranged by $8500 between the highest and lowest offers I got. It's definitely worth shopping around. Obviously some games are played between lowering the price of the new car, or raising the price of your trade-in...

Dave

[schexy1]

what is it you do for work?

I was my business groups IT department. I was mainly responsible for the servers, databases and web applications, but I also handled all of the network, software and hardware issues.

[Pigman 440]

Is relocating to find work in your field out of the question?? Works for some,maybe get you one of the job searchers to see what is out there??

[schexy1]

Relocating is not an options for me. Most employers see my qualifications and think I won't work for the money they are offering. I was told by one person that I didn't get an offer because they thought I would turn it down.

[NAS T MAG]

I'm only responding to a portion of your first post. I hope others might heed this advice and call their insurance agents ASAP.

1. Make sure you have zero deductible comprehensive coverage. I have State Farm and it costs about $80 a year. I have replaced the windshield, at least once, in every car I've owned for the last 20 years. Just last week a stain on the passenger seat was covered with no deductible.

2. The person who backed into you is responsible for the expense to fix it. Your insurance company should authorize the repair and will then go after that person to collect.

In my opinion, you need to have your car looking great to get the best deal when selling it or trading it. I always have mine detailed before selling or trading and it's always been worth it.

Good luck.

[R/Tdrvr]

and 15k if you buy a Charger SXT for 30K".

30 grand for an SXT!?! Jeez, someone needs to put down their crack pipe. The Dodge web site has the MSRP starting at just over 22K.

I only paid 28K for my R/T brand new.

[schexy1]

I'm only responding to a portion of your first post. I hope others might heed this advice and call their insurance agents ASAP.

1. Make sure you have zero deductible comprehensive coverage. I have State Farm and it costs about $80 a year. I have replaced the windshield, at least once, in every car I've owned for the last 20 years. Just last week a stain on the passenger seat was covered with no deductible.

2. The person who backed into you is responsible for the expense to fix it. Your insurance company should authorize the repair and will then go after that person to collect.

In my opinion, you need to have your car looking great to get the best deal when selling it or trading it. I always have mine detailed before selling or trading and it's always been worth it.

Good luck.

Sorry if my post seemed like I am looking for sympathy because I am not. My situation is called "life".

I am just amazed at how different this experience is from when I purchased the car from them. They oofered me more than my trade was worth and was well bellow the sticker. Now it is just the opposite. I know sales can't be that good that they are willing to turn away a sale from someone who has purchased thre vehicles from them already.

Even with the damage one of the ford dealerships offered me alot more and below sticker on a cheap Focus. Problem is I don't want a Ford.

[Super T]

11k sounds really low! Try another dealership for sure.

And on a side note, for the sake of curiosity I have to ask, how in god's name are you blowing windshields every 6 months?

[schexy1]

I think this car is allergic to windshields.

Dealership broke the first one try to find the mysterious pop. Then they broke the second one trying to reposition it because car started pulling to right.

Third one shattered by a lugnut from a semi on other side of freeway. I would be blind if I didn't wear glasses.

Fourth one broke while I was trying to figure out how to take off the dash trim.

Two months after being installed, the fifth one just cracked. I was told it was a cheap windshield from Mexico used by discount glass shop. Of course they claimed it was a rock.

Sixth one started to crack the day after I had a star fixed by one of those poeple who troll the carwashes. I couldn't prove he did it, but he kept telling me how he had a shop and mobile unit to replace windshields.

I probably would have had to replace it more but I drove the car for months before replacing 4, 5 and 6.