5 USED CARS SELLING OVER MSRP (Big Ripoff!) Kevin Hunter

Five used cars are selling over MSRP. The worst buys right now. If you're buying a used car right now and you're not really careful, you could be paying more than brand new. I'm talking about over MSRP. And dealerships are counting on you not noticing that fact. Today I'm exposing five used vehicles currently selling at dealerships across the country over MSRP. These aren't rare This should never be happening. A used car is supposed to depreciate. That's basic economics. But right now, dealers are flipping that upside down. Why? Because buyers are still reacting to car purchases emotionally. Low inventory headlines. Fear of missing out. This one won't last kind of pressure from the dealer. And that's exactly where they win. Let's break down At number one, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, a reliable vehicle? Yes, it's a great car. Fuel efficient? Absolutely. But right now, completely overpriced. Way too expensive. And that's at used. Used models one to two years old are being listed at or above original MSRP. That means someone drove it, put miles on it, and the price went up instead of down. That's not a market phenomena. That's a dealer trap. At number two, Toyota Tacoma. This truck has always held value, but right now it's totally out of control. Used Tacomas, especially low mileage ones, are being priced like brand new inventory. As my father used to say about deals like this, they sure are proud of their products. Sometimes the prices are higher than brand new. Dealers will tell you they're hard to find. No, they're hard to find at a fair price is what the situation is. At number three, Honda CRV Hybrid. Another solid vehicle, but completely distorted pricing. You'll see lightly used units priced within a few hundred dollars of new or worse, even more. At that point, you're paying a premium for someone else's depreciation. At number four is a surprise, Ford Maverick. This one's driven by hype, low price entry point, fuel efficiency, and viral demand. Dealers ran with it. Used Mavericks are getting marked up like they're rare collector items. Well, they're not. They're mass-produced trucks with artificial scarcity. What's even crazier about this vehicle making the list is it is a good vehicle, but certainly not bulletproof. What the data says, predicted reliability above average versus most new vehicles, real world trend, reasonably reliable overall with improvements in newer model years. Consumer sentiment, 4.5 stars out of five for the average owner rating, but reliability is often cited as a weaker point versus styling and value. At number five, the Kia Telluride. A great SUV, no argument there, but the pricing, completely disconnected from reality. Used models, sometimes two to three years old, still selling at or above original sticker price. That's not value retention. That's dealer-controlled pricing psychology. Reliability is strong with a few asterisks. What the data shows, newer model scoring 85 out of 100 reliability according to JD Power. Many owners report 150,000, 200,000 miles with proper maintenance. Kia as a brand now ranks above average in reliability overall, but early years had recalls and minor issues. Real world translation, this is not the old Kia anymore. This is a legitimately competitive SUV, but it's definitely not Toyota level. Let me say this clearly. If a used car costs the same as new, you're not getting a good deal. You're not even getting close to a fair deal. You're getting a deal that's rotten at its core. You are absorbing someone else's usage with zero financial upside for you. And the dealer, they won twice. They screwed over the person that traded this in, and now they want to screw you too. Because most buyers make this mistake, they argue about small fees, dock fees, add-ons, while completely ignoring the inflated base price. Here's how you beat this. If you think you must have one of these vehicles, you don't negotiate the pieces. You control the entire deal. Just one number. I'm only discussing the out-the-door price, you say. That forces everything, markups, fees, add-ons into one number that they can't hide. And if the OTD price on a used vehicle is anywhere near a new one, you walk. No emotion, no pressure. Just say, no thanks. Because the second you justify it, you have already lost it. Follow the homework, guys, so dealers can't rip you off. And if you want us to handle the entire deal for you, we do all the work so you don't have to. If you're on one of these vehicles we've mentioned today, you really ought to consider having us handle the deal for you.