They don't have lousy resale value,  they have no value at all.  Recycled
into anchors works pretty good though........
Dale

So my mother-in-law just needs to keep her 1987 Dodge Aries another 10
years and she'll be sitting with some cash?  It still runs great.  Maybe
it will last!

'Till they are over 30 years old.

Chryslers generally have lousie resale value

The logic in AZ is that sales taxes were already paid on the car being
traded and the car will be taxed again when it is sold.

Not in Maryland.  Taxes are owed on the full retail listed price (even
if you negotiated a lower price, you pay taxes on the sticker price!)
Bum deal that it is!

Your trade isn't what they want to sit on their used car lot.  That
means they would send it to the wholesale auction.  They can probably
buy a vehicle like yours at auction for little more than the $3000 offered.

Trading in a vehicle is almost always a losing deal.  People do so for
convenience and take the loss.  Sell it yourself.

In some states trade ins will save on taxes.  In AZ for instance taxes
are paid on the difference between the new cars price and the trade in
amount.  On an expensive trade in the savings might make up for the
lower trade in amount.

I am trying to trade my 2001 GC in on a Toyota Sienna.
The dealers will give me a decent discount without a trade in, but will only
give me $3000 for my GC.
The guides say it is worth $5,000 to $6,000.  I am calling it fair condition
because it has some scuffs etc.

Any explanation for this?
I don't want to beat my head against the wall if it is only worth $3000