Need your help - please post the price you paid for your Camry

[gregf2000]

Hi,

I'm trying to create an online database of real prices people have paid for their new cars. My hope is that this will be useful for car buyers. Usually, people post how much they paid in message forums, but it's hard to compare and keep track of the prices.

So if you purchased a Camry in the last year or so, please submit the price you paid. I will really appreciate it.

You can post it here:
http://www.realcartips.com

[wireless]

How do you verify any accuracy. I could say I paid $1000 less than I actually did. Wouldn't be a useful database, would it?

[njerald]

The different model years, models, options, accessories, price increases and rebates render such a database useless.

Bottom line: if you pay over $300 over invoice, you've got money to burn.

[gregf2000]

Originally Posted by wireless

How do you verify any accuracy. I could say I paid $1000 less than I actually did. Wouldn't be a useful database, would it?

Obviously some of the data submitted will not be accurate, but if enough people submit, there will be enough prices to get an idea of what people are paying. The main way of ranking the prices will be "savings as % of MSRP".

That way, if someone purchases a more expensive car due to options, you can still compare it to other cars by the percentage savings off MSRP.

I also have a system in place to flag alerts on posts that seem to be way off.

All in all, the database will be one tool people can use. When I purchased a car a couple years ago, i got totally ripped off. I had NO idea what a good deal was, so this is my way of trying to fix that problem.

[OddJack]

Hi there guy... This at first may look like a good and useful idea. But may be not. Not because people may give you wrong data or that do not consider all the options and add-ons on the car but because before long your hard accumulated data will be obsolete. The cars depreciate and noone would be interested in what the car was worth a year ago or two years ago. It is NOW value that matters, right? So, you would have to then go back and factor in the depreciation but then this is what sites like edmunds.com have been doing for long time. I personally use edmunds to determine the money I will pay for a car, little more or less. All the financial institutions have formulas on how much a car dpereciate in first year, second year and third year and so on.... if I remember right the most percent of depreciation is on the third year...

[scjrod]

Here you go Greg. Hope it helps. You should go on the kelly blue book website. Their numbers are pretty accurate. They say what most people are paying for the car. This price excludes taxes and fee's. My car was $21,571 w/ tints and floor mats. Pics below bit blurry but you can make out. This was my first car and I did all the talking myself. Went to like 4 dealerships. So I think I did good on the price. I know I could have dropped possibly another 1000. Dealers wanted to make me pay 23+ without fee's in the beginning. You really have to go and do your homework ahead of time. I guess this is what your trying to do, best place is kelly blue book though I think for current value because of what the other guys above me said.

Camry SE 2007 bought June 07 w/ Tints and Floor Mats


Pricing. Paid deposit for them to ship the car in since at the time Blue Ribbon Metallic for an SE was very hard to come by.

[njerald]

You paid a lot more than I would have but I've done it quite a few more times.

[scjrod]

The other issue with the camry and why it is hard to get a great deal. At least last year, it was like the best selling car. Which also meant the dealerships were more restrictive on giving huge price breaks. I do know that the guy took the invoice price in the computer and only added the price of tints to that. The invoice price at the time was around 21k. I know they probably get it for cheaper but even kelly blue book said about that much I remember.

[vntperformance]

^Wow, you def paid more then me.

I paid: $21,645.32 OTD after $1k rebate. (Includes Free Floor Mats)

Mine: 08 SE/4cyl/Auto
Options:

• Aluminum wheel (all season) (AS)
• 50 state emissions (FE)
• Color-keyed rear lip spoiler (RF)
• JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with satellite radio capability [8], MP3/WMA playback capability, auxiliary audio jack, hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth® [9] wireless technology, eight speakers in six locations and FM diversity reception (EJ)
• Moonroof Package-includes power tilt/slide moonroof with sliding sunshade, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors and rear personal reading lights (SR)
• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) [14] with Traction Control (TRAC) (VS)

[wireless]

Originally Posted by gregf2000

All in all, the database will be one tool people can use. When I purchased a car a couple years ago, i got totally ripped off. I had NO idea what a good deal was, so this is my way of trying to fix that problem.

Ever heard of www.Edmunds.com or Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com)? There are plenty of free online resources that already have this information.

BTW: There will be a tremendous fluctuation throughout a model year based on seasonal buying patterns and inventory/availability. I paid $600 over invoice on one of the first Blue Ribbon SE V6's sold in Mid-Atlantic (April 2006) simply by using online research consisting of the web sites references above and dealer inquiries.

[gregf2000]

Originally Posted by wireless

Ever heard of www.Edmunds.com or Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com)? There are plenty of free online resources that already have this information.

BTW: There will be a tremendous fluctuation throughout a model year based on seasonal buying patterns and inventory/availability. I paid $600 over invoice on one of the first Blue Ribbon SE V6's sold in Mid-Atlantic (April 2006) simply by using online research consisting of the web sites references above and dealer inquiries.

Edmunds has a True Market Value tool. But this is an average and do you really want an average deal? I did some research and the TMV is around 5.5% off MSRP. On KBB, their "real transaction" price is worthless. They list it as around 2% off MSRP.

If you do well, you can get 10-15% off MSRP on a Camry. There is even a dealership at http://www.fitzmall.com that offers no haggle pricing on Camrys and their prices come out to around 11-13% off MSRP.

So, you can rely on edmunds or KBB if you want to know what "average" deals are but I think a real price database which lists individual prices paid is much more useful.

[wireless]

Originally Posted by gregf2000

Edmunds has a True Market Value tool. But this is an average and do you really want an average deal? I did some research and the TMV is around 5.5% off MSRP. On KBB, their "real transaction" price is worthless. They list it as around 2% off MSRP.

If you do well, you can get 10-15% off MSRP on a Camry. There is even a dealership at http://www.fitzmall.com that offers no haggle pricing on Camrys and their prices come out to around 11-13% off MSRP.

So, you can rely on edmunds or KBB if you want to know what "average" deals are but I think a real price database which lists individual prices paid is much more useful.

No single source is perfect, which is why I included that I used dealer information. Coincidentally, I bought mine from Fitzmall for right around 12% off MSRP. This was when 'noone' was dealing since the car just hit their lots.

[krouchchocolate]

I paid 22,072 drive out price for my I4 camry LE.

Tint
Floor mats

[njerald]

Originally Posted by krouchchocolate

I paid 22,072 drive out price for my I4 camry LE.

That info is about as informative as this whole thread.............

[Tobeit]

Originally Posted by njerald

That info is about as informative as this whole thread.............

Here is my "contribution": I paid probably more than most of you!