Having Second Thoughts About Trading In
 

When I first bought my FR-S I didn't know how to drive a manual, and went with the automatic. Now that I've learned how, I realize how much I'm missing out on, and started thinking about trading it in. I bought the car new, and know that I'm going to be losing some cash by trading, but to me it's worth it. Or at least that's what I thought at first.

While looking around I found a 2014 automatic in Portland for $18k with 3,400 miles. My FR-S is a 2013 and has 4,400 miles. Is that all the more that it is worth? Or is this one marked pretty low? If I'm having to dish out $6k or so just to get a manual it may not be worth it. Most of the others I saw were asking around $22-24k with 10,000 miles or more.

Any advice/knowledge would be very helpful. Thanks

UPDATE: Upon further investigation, the FR-S has a Reconstructed Title. Which makes most of my initial post absolutely pointless. Any advice on the trading in process in general would still be appreciated.

I don't know that I'd want an MT with someone else's 18k miles on it. Not if that someone drives theirs like i drive mine. Unless you are ok with some earlier than expected repairs; namely clutch, brakes, tires etc.

You make a good point. I'm almost tempted to spend a little more for a 2015, but then I would kick myself even harder for not getting a manual in the first place.

I would post up all over to see if anyone wants to trade their manual for your automatic. I know it's unlikely but you never know!

If it helps you any. Theres about a $100-200/6mo insurance difference between the frs and brz. The brz being the cheaper one. Over years you drive it, that can work out to be quite a sum. I would get a quote.

If frs is still being sold strictly at MSRP, then I managed to get a 2015 brz for less than the frs. yay for hids+nav

When I was shopping, I was expecting to find a '13 low miles for roughly 21k. my brz is roughly 27k otd so swallowing 6k depreciation is going to be tough but insurance difference and other benefits of a brz premium base model may make it easier.

I hate this term but #yolo.

BRZ seems to be holding value a little better.
At this point, I'd just wait and see what they put out for 2016 - you might be able to step into a better powerplant in that and make the depreciation hit feel less painful.

I have actually found some very good deals on the BRZ, but I already had a "plan" for my FR-S. One that wouldn't work for the BRZ. It's not that I couldn't make a new plan, but I think I've already locked myself into the FR-S. I can't say a BRZ isn't tempting though.

I thought about that, but isn't the successor/second gen supposed to come out in 2017? There could also be a power update to the 2016, but either way I don't think I could wait that long for a manual.

But the car you want and enjoy what you planned. All cars will depreciate :) have fun driving. I love my FRS.

Supposed to is a big word. None of us really knew when it's going to come out and the sales are still pretty good with no real competition in sight just yet. I personally think there won't be any major adjustments anytime soon just so they can recoup development costs. Just look at the frame of a corolla. It's been the same frame for how long now. Ten years?

you always put a manual transmission in your car ya know. i dont know how much that would cost but it can be done.