Tips on Selling an Unloved SUV

With gas prices soaring and the accent on fuel economy, it's a tough assignment

By Candice Novak

Posted: June 23, 2008

Cars sit in the parking lot of used car retailer CarMax June 19, 2008 in Naperville, Illinois. CarMax may face an abundance of depreciated SUVs and trucks, as higher fuel costs have lead buyers to choose smaller cars over larger gas-guzzling vehicles. The used car retailer has reported a 55 percent quarterly profit loss.

Cars sit in the parking lot of used car retailer CarMax in Naperville, Illinois.

Wait for winter: If you can, wait to sell your SUV until winter, when people are more apt to invest in four-wheel drives and bigger vehicles. "There will be an uptick in buyer interest in SUVs as we approach winter," says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director for Kelley Blue Book. Even with gas at $4 a gallon, Nerad says, "hanging on to your current vehicle and riding out the current gas prices could be the most economical answer." If you've got a four-wheel drive, it makes sense to wait, Vander Baan says. Right now, "it's the shock in the run-up of the gas prices" that is keeping people from buying SUVs. "Later in the year, it will have diminished."

Shell doesn't like thinking about filling an SUV tank's with pricey gas until winter, but he concedes "it would definitely be easier" to sell then. Until he finds a buyer for the 4Runner, Shell says, "we're buying water instead of wine."

SUV

Here in New Mexico Suv's are selling as well as they ever have for the same price they always have.

So if anyone wants to sell thier Yukon Denali bring it down.

We see no recession and can afford gas.

B D of NM @ Jul 12, 2008 01:08:47 AM

Tips on Selling an Unloved SUV

Yada, yada, yada, as we say in NY. In the not too distant future your SUV(i.e. Stupid, Ugly, Vehicle) will be in a museum, along with your macho powerboats and other suburban toys. Hate to say it, but it's mostly a phony male weenie, chest-beating deal here. Sure, there are many reasons to own a pickup, or four wheel drive, but most guys just want to impress their adolescent friends, wives, etc. As for the 'safety' issue, that's painfully true, for now. With safer midsize cars on the roads, and fewer SUV's, the roads will be safer for ALL our children, not just your DNA replicas! Time to grow up guys, if you want to drive a REAL Hummer, join the Army..

ChristmasTree of NY @ Jun 24, 2008 15:29:31 PM

Tough vehicle

Having been hit broadside in a Chevy Suburban 3/4 ton by a car doing 60mph while we were waiting to turn and the car was demolished while the Suburban suffered 'Nerf sidebar damage and minor metal work to the door along with the read axle being torn from the frame. We walked away, while the car was demolished/crunched to the front drivers/passenger seat. The Suburban, build like a rock, able to tow our 12,000lb boat, carry 4x8 sheets of plywood and other stuff, used 40% of the time in 4x4 mode in the fields, totally protected us. Any lesser vehicle would have killed us in the accident. It hurts paying $150 to fill up the 37 gallon tank for the 8.1l (502cid) engine, but we used the Suburban for what it was designed to do. Otherwise we would need two or three other vehicles. Btw, our suburban has never seen a soccer game, but it has seen deep and muddy backtrails....

Michael of OH @ Jun 24, 2008 11:39:27 AM

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