Here's an interesting observation from an SVT/Ford salesperson:

Ford Credit sets up lease residuals on every Ford vehicle based on what they truly believe the vehicle will wholesale for at the end of the lease. The two year lease residual on a new Lightning is 53% of MSRP. On a $32,000 MSRP that's only about $17,000 after it's 2 years old.

Now, I know that L's hold their value better than this, but the best resale value in the Ford family is the Super Duties which typically have 2 year lease residuals of about 60%. If an L had this kind of residual based on roughly $32K MSRP, the wholesale value in 2 years is still only about $19,000.

Vehicles depreciate in value - fact. Even special vehicles depreciate - fact.

In the Seattle area, we have an 8.6% sales tax rate. Your $21,100 trade value becomes $22,915 in your wallet. And didn't you say you can have the '01 L for $1100 less than MSRP? Hell, that's like you're getting $24,110 for your '99 L and paying flat MSRP for the '01 L after taxes are figured in. If your '99 L was $32,000 new, then your resale figure is like 75% !!! That's actually pretty good.

Now, selling it privately will yield you more money (maybe), but it should since you are the one doing the work to advertise it, prep it, and entertain people on test drives, etc. FYI, we just sold a beautiful used 2000 L with only 4,000 miles on it for $27,950. '99's should be less.

Good luck either way!

 

I booked it out from a dealership's viewpoint and they should have been around $25,000-25,900. but the area also dictates the price. If you are in an area that does not demand a 25,900 price, it will be lower and can be a lot lower.