Totally get where you’re coming from. Those price-checker sites can be all over the place, especially with classics like a ‘68 Mustang. I’ve noticed the same thing—sometimes they’ll spit out a number that makes zero sense for what’s actually happening in your area. Like, I had a buddy try to sell his old Camaro and the site said it was worth way less than what people were actually offering him at local meets. Guess it just doesn’t factor in how much folks in certain towns love those cars.
Here’s how I usually handle it: I’ll check the site for a ballpark, but then I’ll poke around on local classifieds, see what similar cars are actually selling for nearby. If you can, talk to people at car shows or even mechanics—they usually know what’s hot locally. And yeah, those “good” or “excellent” labels are so vague... a 50-year-old car with a fresh engine and custom paint is a whole different animal than one that’s just been sitting.
Honestly, trust your gut and your local market more than whatever number pops up online. Those sites are just one tool—not gospel.
I’ve always wondered about this too, especially since I’m not into classics but just regular family cars. Like, I checked one of those sites before trading in our old minivan, and the number it gave us was way off from what the dealer actually offered. Not even close. I get that rare or classic cars are a whole different thing, but even with everyday cars, it feels like those online estimates don’t really match up with what’s happening in my area.
Do you think those sites are better for newer cars, or is it just kind of hit-or-miss across the board? I mean, sometimes I’ll see a car listed for way more than the “value” online, but it still sells. Makes me wonder if there’s some trick to reading between the lines on those price-checkers, or if they’re just not keeping up with how fast prices change these days...
Are those price-checker sites actually reliable?
Honestly, I’ve never had much luck with those price-checker sites either. Tried using one before trading in our family sedan and the number was almost laughable compared to what the dealer threw at us. I get that they’re supposed to give you a ballpark, but it feels like they’re playing in a whole different stadium sometimes. Maybe they work better for cars that are just a year or two old, but with anything older or that’s got some “character” (aka, kid crumbs fused into the upholstery), it seems pretty hit-or-miss.
And yeah, I’ve seen the same thing—cars listed online for way more than their supposed “book value,” but people still snap them up. I guess the market’s just moving faster than those sites can keep up? Or maybe it really is all about location and timing. Around here, minivans are gold because everyone’s hauling kids and gear, so maybe the sites don’t factor that in enough. At this point, I treat those estimates like weather forecasts—sometimes close, sometimes totally off, and never something I’d bet money on.
- Yeah, I hear you. Those price-checker sites are almost useless for anything outside the most generic models.
- Tried them with my last trade-in (German luxury coupe, not exactly common) and the estimate was laughably low—dealer offered way more.
- They seem to ignore stuff like rare options, local demand, or even just how clean a car is.
- Honestly, if you’ve got something unique or high-end, those sites are just a rough starting point... nothing more. Wouldn’t trust them to set a real price.
Yeah, those sites are pretty hit or miss, especially with anything that’s not a base model. I tried one for my old WRX and it didn’t even factor in the upgraded brakes or safety features I’d added. Local market makes a huge difference too—sometimes they’re just way off.
