I moved to Texas in August of 2008, but I'm a Bay Area native and lived over 85% of my life there before moving (and have spent 6 months there since moving to Texas). Prices for both of the cars you listed are way too high. Look at the Kelley Blue Book website (kbb.com). Kelley Blue Book divides the price into 'Private Party' and 'Trade-In' categories. Private Party Excellent Condition is the highest price they list and the highest price is known in the car business as 'Retail Book'. If a dealer insists on a price above retail book in order to make a deal, walk away. The Kelley Blue Book website allows you to plug in a zip code to make the price zip code specific. I used the only San Francisco zip code I could think of off the top of my head (94123), and used the specific mileage you quoted for each car. I assumed an automatic transmission for each car. The highest price (private party, excellent condition) for the 2011 2 door hatchback for 94123 zip code is $11,404 and the highest price for the 2010 4 door hatchback for 94123 zip code is $11,410 dollars.
I would buy a new Yaris. Yarisworld member Absolutely Red 12 paid $15,840 out the door (final cost) in the Los Angeles area for his 2012 Base L 5 speed (he posted this on another thread). The 2012 and 2013 base models have a few of the previously optional features as standard equipment. I have driven my 5 speed manual Yaris all over San Francisco with no problem. The 2013 base model is, I believe, $255 more than the 2012.....and according to the website I just looked at the sales tax is currently 1/4% higher in L.A. (1/4 % on $15,000 is only $37.50). You will pay at least $15,351 including Tax and License for either of the 2010 or the 2011 you quoted. If you take Absolutely Red 12's final $15,840, add $255 for the 2013 price increase and add the extra Tax and License (for that extra $255) of $24.61 and then subtract $37.50 for the 1/4% tax difference between S.F and L.A. (per the website I found) that brings the total for a 2013 L 5speed 2 door hatch to $16,082.11 ----- only 731.11 more than the cars you are looking at and you get a brand new 2013 with likely under 100 miles on it. You can add the power window feature for a low price by following instructions on Yarisworld.. A dealer in California sold Absolutely Red 12 his car for that price, so some dealer will sell you a base 2013 for an out the door price of 16,082.11 (round it to 16,080 to make it easier). If a nearby dealer won't do it, look at inventory (on the internet) in Stockton, Fairfield, Merced, Sacramento, etc.....get a commitment for that amount...then add in the cost for a friend to drive with you to that location....add that on to the $16,080...and go back to the local dealer and tell them what you found and you'll add the cost of going out to that dealer and add that to your offer to them instead. I can't imagine that the closer dealer would say no. If they do, just go to the other dealer who agreed to the $16,080.
You didn't mention financing, so I didn't assume any. If you have to finance, pretend you are paying cash until you get an out the door price...then use your own financing (or theirs IF it is cheaper). DO NOT reveal you are not paying cash until after you get an out the door price. Tell them you changed your mind (it is none of their business why).
As you look, if you are finding 2012 inventory and not any 2013, there is no reason to pay any more than $15,802.50 out the door (the $15,840 Absolutely Red 12 paid minus the approximate tax difference of $37.50)....and that would be only approximately 451.50 more than the used cars you quoted in your post.
Good Luck!
11-13-2012, 09:03 PM
Yeah baby!!
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