Edmunds Used Cars

How to use Edmunds used car pricing guides and information when buying

As with any tool it is just that a tool, when you are estimating a vehicles value don't get too caught up in how on the price the guide is.

Let’s first make sure that there are no major issues with the make and model of the vehicle or vehicles you are looking at.

When I was first buying I did not know about 1993 -1994 BMW 7 series car had a problem with the engine blocks. The aluminum metal mixture they used was not able to withstand the heat when it burned US refined gas.

The USA refineries had a different process to refine the oil than European Countries did, the method that was used to refine it made it burned hotter. As a result the engine blocks were warped and had to be replaced. This nearly bankrupted BMW-US at the time.

I did not do my research on the car before hand and bought one at the auction. There were several dealers there that later told me of the problem and avoided the car unless they knew for sure that the engine was replaced. After that I made sure to do my research on any car type that I bought.

The internet and websites like Edmunds is great for this kind of information. You are going to find a problems with every car type eventually, but the thing you are looking for is it one person complaining because they got a bad car or is it a problem multiple people have.

Now when it comes to price the guides are good but to find out real time what people are willing to pay I use ebaymotors as a more accurate gauge. I have found that while a guide may say one price the market says another. Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

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