I Would Buy a 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, But The Toyota Dealer Is Telling Me My 2018 Mercedes-Benz E300 Is Only Worth $9K

So since 2002 I have bought I believe it was eight Toyotas. I know that sounds like a lot but one of them was brand new and I drove it for 16 and a half years. Had a few accidents and upgraded to larger vehicles a couple of times but I have only had one issue with the dealership that I have dealt with. I had a salesman that decided flirting with me was the best way to get the sale even though I had already bought five cars from the dealership by that time. I was buying a car there regardless. The loan he put me in was a bit predatory and when that car ended up getting totaled the sales manager reassigned me to a different sales agent. I always say it's a good idea when buying a car if you don't trust something you either leave or you get the sales manager involved. Because if they've done it to you the sales agent will do it to somebody else and the sales manager does not want that sort of thing tanking sales for everyone.

I would not deal with that Toyota dealer even if they gave me a good value or if I sold it privately!!! Your next step is to go to a reputable HONDA dealer... I believe their C-RV or H-RV had a better overall rating for value than the RAV-4.
See what they will give you for your trade!
BE WILLING TO WALK AWAY---
Or if you are so dead set on the RAV-4 . GO TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER.

"...she wants something reliable and less expensive to maintain." So will everyone else shopping at a Toyota dealership. They made their offer because a Mercedes will be on a Toyota lot for a long time.

Just sell the Mercedes and then buy the Rav4.

Keep your E300, these are actually quite reliable. They get pretty good gas mileage, they are safe, it's going to be a lot quieter than the Rav 4 Hybrid. You're not going to get a deal on the RAV4, if you can even get one at all. If you are heartset on getting rid of your Mercedes wait until the new RAV4 model comes out later in the year and get a better deal on the last generation. Sell your car privately or take it to CarMax or Carvana.

Someone so naive as Selma shouldn't be a school teacher. She acts like a child herself, intimidated by a Toyota dealer.... doesn't know the basics of car values or simple economics. Who can'r figure out that a car dealer will not give you the full value for a car? Please don't teach kids or they will grow up without some very critical life skills.

This is one financially impaired person I hope she isn't teaching personal finance in school. She owns a Mercedes which isn't known to be the most cost effective way to get from point A to point B. Now she wants to spend more than half her annual on a car which is pretty stupid in my estimation. She needs to listen to Dave Ramsey otherwise she'll be broke the rest of her life.

Sell it to CAR MAX, best offers as far as money. We sold our 2021 Tacoma TRD 4X4 OFFROAD in February 2024. We owed $ 30, 000. CAR MAX paid us $ 34,500. It had 33,000. Miles. All maintenance performed @ Dealer as per maintenance schedule.

It is great that you understand the resale value of your vehicle. This dealer is trying to take advantage of you. I suggest that you let the dealer know that you are aware of the market, trade-in, and resale values of your vehicle, and you are disappointed they are trying to rip you off. Because of their unfair business practices you will sell your vehicle elsewhere, and purchase from a different dealership.

Sell it herself. She still won't get much more but if she can get another couple thousand, it might make a difference. Her problem is the e series is nice but not real in demand on the used market, especially that is if a car. She made the mistake of thinking because it's a Benz it would hold it's value.

Must dealers are going to low-ball private salers. I went to do a trade in for my 2015 Jeep Wrangler a few years back - KKB $ 23,500K -24,500. Dealer offer $16,345, I left.I posted it online for sale and
2 other dealers offered me $23, 300 and 23,345. - Sold it to the highest bidder and I got a free Uber back home. A year ago I traded in a Kia Optima 2017/ EX premium package to CarMax - offer matched the KKB $9,300- easier trade ever and was left with over $6000 in equity after their paid off the car. I would try CarMax or posted online as a private saler

Keep the car you have.
Yes maintenance is higher
But consider you will have car payments
And the new car will depreciate faster than your old car which is already depreciated.
The new car will cost more on the long run

They offered her 9k on a 7k car. Sounds to me like a gift.

Understand that the dealer is not the Toyota corporation. Toyota doesn’t set trade in values. You will almost always do better selling privately. Having said that I am on my second RAV4 Hybrid with zero repairs so far and astounding mpg.

They don't have to give you Blu book. Mercedes aren't selling right now so sell it private party if you want more money out of it

Try to seek privately first. I don’t know what’s happened to Toyota but their customer service is going downhill.
We had a long and slight headache ordering/buying a new 4Runner in 2018 but it was manageable. Fast forward to a couple of months ago to when we began the process for a 2025 Grand Highlander Hybrid. I never want to buy from them again and am warning others.
The car was supposedly ready to pickup at least four times, each time something was wrong. We ordered the XP package but rims were still factory, all-weather cargo mat was missing, our sales rep was saying we couldn’t install a roof rack after being told we could when buying, no roadside kit… I mean it’s baffling at how absent our sales rep was. Once the black wheels were installed, we were told the originals were put back or already on another car and we had to have them hunted down and returned (we paid to upgrade from the original, so legally they were/are ours… either give them back or subtract from the sale price). Both of the keyless fobs died within a month, the lug nut covers weren’t installed and were missing, and to add salt to the wound, they were demanding a $5K dealer fee because of the “high demand” for the car. Meanwhile, two surrounding Toyota Dealerships didn’t have a dealer markup fee. We also found out we were lied to when we purchased an “interior insurance package” for our 4Runner because it barely covered any damage, natural wear and tear or accidental. We didn’t receive the complete contract for it when we bought and signed for the car and are heavily debating a lawsuit.
Buying a car used to be a fun experience, stressful but fun because it was something new and different. Our experience ruined it all and I really do not want anything to do with them anymore… at least our dealership. You’d think being a car salesperson would be a fairly easy position, study up and learn about the cars, make a checklist or spreadsheet of clients wants/needs and come to the table with what’s available and verify what was ordered once product is “ready”. How is it that hard?

Go to Honda dealer and try to get a good deal on a crv hybrid. This is a very good car too. The honda gets a better write-up in Consumer Reports than the rav4. Both good cars but I would rather have the honda any day. When i have looked at Toyota's i have found the salesman there rather arrogant.They act like they are doing you a favor to talk to you. So f...k.that crap. Stick to your guns and get the deal you want. You don't like what you hear? Move on. Be nice but be firm on the deal you want. If they want your business they will meet your terms. There are plenty of dealers out there. And don't be intimidated. Your the one spending the $$$ And don't let them sell you any stupid add on warranties, add ons or anything else. Go with a friend or a family member. You think you got a good deal. Don't sign anything. Go home and sleep on it. And bring calculater to make sure you can afford the monthly payments. Good luck. Someone will give you good deal.

Use keysavvy if you sell privately. They take care of the money and title so you don't have to.

I sold my last car on Facebook Marketplace and used keysavvy.com for the transaction. Cost me about$ 300 in fees but sold $6,000 more than dealers would pay.

Good miles for a 2018, but most new car dealers have a tuff time with high mile high line cars and will more likely send it to the auction. Hard to get financed and most people who have their own financing won't purchase a 90k mile car. Retail it yourself or find a used car dealer that would be willing to run it thru the auction for you for a fee. Then you will know the real value. Just my opinion after 35 years in the car business.

As a retired 25 yr. salesman I had issues with greed and customers disrespect. Dealerships have overhead and should earn, not make a profit.. Only go to dealership alone if you are repeating with a previous salesman. A first time dealership visit feel the atmosphere and view it's operations. Study prices new, trade-in values if you have a trade. Today all information is available per internet..return with a partner. Negotiate new car from bottom price NOT top (MRSP) price. Make the trade your last price deal..
*If being disrespected talked to professionally..walk out !

Sell your car privatly and drive to the toyota delearship in St George UT.
I lived in Las Vegas and tried to get a fair price on a Honda civic and Toyota Corolla for over a month. Drove to st George and made the deal i was looking for in 15 minuets and was out of there in an hour. It's a completely different mentality from the Vegas Criminals with their bait and switch - trying to force you into a lease when you want to purchase.

Try CarMax. They buy independent of selling you a car.

In December, I sold my 2014 E350 4matic with 105,000 miles, in good - but not excellent condition, for $8,000 to a used luxury car dealer in Duluth, GA. Same day, no hassle. This was not a trade-in. This car was completely re-modeled in 2017. So how could a 2018 not be worth much more in Hawaii??? Nope, find another dealer, probably get what you want from a luxury car dealer selling certified pre-owned cars.

Walk away. Find a luxury/cert preowned dealer. Get a much better price. That’s a beautiful car. The 2018 E300 4matic is a beautiful car, 4 wheel drive, yep, u can do better. As to the RAV4, my ex-wife bought a new one in 2014, uses it daily, lots of miles, never a peep. She loves it. Can’t force her to sell it.

Sell it to carmax or carvana. They'll take any piece of crap in. Out of warranty German cars are junk. KBB this, Edmunds that. You forget the dealer takes all of the risk with it. Once service dept says its leaking oil like crazy and how much it will cost to fix, it'll end up at the auction, then on a crappy independent lot where they'll buy here pay here it over and over again

This is why most people who know cars don't recommend luxury brands. All the electrical issues aside, they depreciate harder