Fetch top bucks when you trade in your car

By Megan Malugani

You're so over your old car by the time you're ready to trade her in for a new one. But pay your past love some respect and fix her up before you go your separate ways. That way, you'll not only be parting on good terms, but you'll make her attractive to the folks who decide how much she's worth in a trade-in.

"It's the shiny new penny that always gets the most attention," says Mike Knutson, a sales manager for Clements (1000 12th
St. SW, 289-0491). Folks who work on car lots are just as swayed by the outward appearance of a vehicle as your
typical car buyer, he says, so spending some bucks to get your vehicle detailed can make a huge difference in how much money you can fetch for your old set of wheels.

"There are telltale signs that can tell us used-car guys whether or not a vehicle has been taken care of," he says. "Is it polished? Is it cleaned? Has it had maintenance? Have scrapes and scratches been taken care of? The more detailed a car is when it comes into the dealership, the less we have to spend in reconditioning costs."

It's also important that a vehicle is "mechanically sound," Knutson says. "We test all the power windows, power locks,
and make sure the air conditioning is in working order when it is 95 degrees and the heater works when it is 95 below."
Finally, if your 'check engine' light is on and you know the reason is something minor—like you need a new gas cap—get it fixed! "If the consumer knows there will be a minimal cost to get that 'check engine' light
off, it will pay dividends for them to get it taken care of."

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