Is There a Tool or Way to Automatically Track Car Prices?

Optimist Prime on 24/01/2022 - 17:24
Last edited 24/01/2022 - 21:39 by 1 other user

I'm interested in track the price of cars across time.

My use case is, I'm not looking for a car right now, but I might look for one in the next 6-12 months and I thought it might be cool to track prices now until I'm ready to buy and have historical data to look over to understand what a good/fair price is for a certain car.

Maybe this tool already exists or you know of a way to do this and care to share. Or maybe Carsales/FB etc have this tool, but I haven't seen it, and you can point it out to me?

Worst case, I'm happy to do it manually in a spreadsheet, but ideally, I could just automate it or use a tool to track it for me.

Cheers

EDIT: USED CARS only…..sorry for forgetting this key piece of information and thanks to those that have chimed in already. :)

Automotive

Comments

bobbified on 24/01/2022 - 17:28

Even if you do have a tool to track prices, they'll just be RRPs which don't really change too much. I guess during these times, most would be selling close to or at RRP because of supply issues.

What would be handy is if there was somewhere you could see the prices that people are actually paying, but there isn't.
Hybroid on 24/01/2022 - 17:44

+1

RedBook might be your best bet for market values. Log them over time if it's of interest to you.

e.g. https://www.redbook.com.au/cars/results?q=%28Make%3D%5BToyot…
spackbace on 24/01/2022 - 18:05

Cars are only going up in price, they're not fluctuating like you might think they are

If you want negotiated prices, Whirlpool forums have them setup for each model

but I might look for one in the next 6-12 months

Just bear in mind that you should order now for the car you want to drive in 6-12 months. If you wait 6-12 months to order, it'll be another 6-12 months before you can drive it out the door
meowsers on 24/01/2022 - 18:16

It's called Glass's Guide but you have to pay for it. We use it for residual values and to know when to offload our company shitboxes.

https://www.glassguide.com.au/pricing-valuations/how-can-i-t…
apsilon on 24/01/2022 - 19:42

+3

Historical prices are irrelevant, they're just the prices you missed out on.
- Brodo Faggins on 25/01/2022 - 21:56
  
  +1
  
  I agree with this comment. Imagine talking to a seller and suggesting if you can reduce their price purely based on prices you saw this time last year for similar model / KMs. Oh btw you've got an Excel spreadsheet to prove that it was sold at that price last year.
  
  My bet is that with the supply shortage + increase demand for used cars + people less reluctant to travel on public transport due to Rona + people offloading their cars since they no longer drive to work - that the prices will actually increase in 6-12 months time
[Deactivated] on 24/01/2022 - 19:53

it's hard as car prices are dictated by individual dealerships, the manufacturers have an RRP but dealers don't have to follow this.
Nugs on 24/01/2022 - 20:07

Is OP talking new? Makes no mention of it but does include reference to FB
.
- Optimist Prime on 24/01/2022 - 21:40
  
  Gah, you are correct. Used cars only. Just trying to figure out how best to track prices.
pegaxs on 24/01/2022 - 20:45

+1

There is a megathread over on Whingepool that users submit what they "say" they paid for their latest purchase, but I think that only covers new cars.
Euphemistic on 24/01/2022 - 21:02

New or used? New car prices are, like spaxkbace said above, only increasing and discounting is not going to be a thing until supply returns to more normal levels. With waiting lists up to 12 months for some models you’ll be buying before that supply returns. For used cars, it’s a bit random, but related to new car prices and supply so up, up, up. Occasionally you can pick up a bargain, but need to be ready to buy immediately.

Do what most of us who are looking at cars do. Open up carsales, gumtree etc way too often and look at the listings.
- Optimist Prime on 24/01/2022 - 21:39
  
  Gah, a key point I left out was that it would be a second-hand car. Not interested in buying new.
  
  Yeah, My carsales, gumtree, FB fu is good, but time consuming and I'm not yet documenting a record of prices.
  - Euphemistic on 25/01/2022 - 05:22
    
    +1
    
    Why document? I guess when shopping for cars I generally narrow it down to under 5 models so it’s not hard to keep a mental record.
    - Optimist Prime on 25/01/2022 - 12:11
      
      Because I don't have the time/headspace to do just that. With work, kids, pandemics etc, I just can't handle it.
      - spackbace on 25/01/2022 - 13:29
        
        @Optimist Prime: There's no point 'documenting' used car prices. They'll vary based on condition and kms, with no 2 cars being alike
      - Euphemistic on 25/01/2022 - 15:06
        
        +1
        
        @Optimist Prime: In that case, forget about buying a car for 6-12 months. Start searching when you are 6 weeks out.
        
        Used car prices are best considered a snapshot in time. Eg over the weekend I looked at one particular model. Ranged from $7500-$12k. In 6 months it will probably be a little lower but not considerably. In the meantime I might find one in poor condition for $6k or ‘one Sunday, lady driver’ for $14k. Doesn’t make much difference to the average.
        
        Optimist Prime on 25/01/2022 - 15:43
        
        @Euphemistic: I see your point and it makes sense.
        
        I was just hoping for a quick way to compare like vehicles based on price, Kms etc to make it a bit easier on me, as I'll be looking at a few sites and also auctions to get a sense of value.
        
        It's not about a bargain more just knowing what is fair and reasonable given my lack of automotive value knowledge.
        
        All good tho. If I pursue a car, I'll either go manual or just set a budget and aim for best version for that budget.

Is There a Tool or Way to Automatically Track Car Prices?

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