Do you haggle when buying a used car?

[Birdster]

Just a quick question. I've always haggled when buying a used car. Come in low and let them come down and meet you. I'd rather it not be like this and only once have I had a simple buy where a local trader showed me the paperwork that he traded something in for. (Was trade price to be fair and maybe he did get it for less? I'll never know, but the deal was good for me). I said I wanted it for a runabout. Lets not mess about and I took it off of his hands for trade price. He wanted it gone. I wanted the car.

Had an interesting one today. Went to get an MX5. Girlfriend wanted one and to be honest I fancied one. Cheap and fun and I had a drive and liked it. Had a drive with roof up etc as well to make sure that I felt comfortable. I even moved money into my account for a deposit as I was pretty sure that I wanted it before I left. Offered 10K for an 11.5K car and not even interested. Dealer ended the meeting. Which made me smile.

Shame really as I'll end up travelling up from London as there are similar spec cars a lot cheaper. Also had mixed brand of tyres on the front and back. So I asked about these being changed. Got the not unless below 3mm. Asked about Tax and where we go from there? Nothing.

So what examples have people got of how much they have got off. I was expecting to pay £10500 to be fair and I'd want matching tyres.

Car in question

http://www.mazdausedcarlocator.co.uk/used-mazda/22...

Other example. This is even a Sport Tech for £10000. Not fussed about the warranty as I can buy one.

http://www.mazdausedcarlocator.co.uk/used-mazda/27...

Similar car. Newer with less miles for the same price.

http://www.mazdausedcarlocator.co.uk/used-mazda/25...

Another with 8000 less miles. So I don't feel that I'm expecting that much in way of movement.

Or are MX5's selling because it's summer and people impulse buy and don't worry. Or do dealers want people who don't notice the mixed tyres etc.

These are all MK3.5's. Can get MK3's a lot cheaper. Going to have a look at some others the weekend.

Edited by Birdster on Friday 13th July 15:54

[Birdster]

I wasn't expecting to pay 10K. That was the offer. Great if they accepted, although it's unlikely. I'm aware of that. However I was expecting some movement since I've linked to other cars that on first glance are better value. I had already done my homework on price online so knew that these other cars were available. If they need the same work such as two new tyres and tax then they are cheaper. If they don't, then that's a bonus. Only problem is that the other cars are further away and I wanted one this weekend. So I will travel for them if the saving is sufficent and I have to go up North next week anyway.


I don't expect perfection. Had some slight marks, as you would expect on a three year old car. Nothing obvious, just upon closer inspection you'd notice swirl marks and two tiny stone chips. I didn't even mention these.

When was told no on price I moved onto Tax and tyres and it wasn't even discussed. I hardly think I'm expecting much asking what they'll do about tyres and tax. It was pretty much left as that's our price as is take it an leave it which I have.

When I went to look at the car before hand and booked the test drive I had given it a good going over. I expect they want people to come in who don't notice the tyres etc and ask when it is due a service. I think the no trade in and a cash purchase is just not attractive to them.

Appears that I am off the mark on this one then. Will travel to view the cheaper one me thinks and maybe find that I'm better off, or not.

Edited by Birdster on Friday 13th July 17:39

[Birdster]

POORCARDEALER said:

You will find many dealers (Evans Halshaw in particular for one) advertise cars at odd exact prices, they 99/100 wont move on those prices which they claim to be cheapest in the area etc etc.....they will try and get you to pay more with add ons etc....So if a car is cheap to start with, then its cheap, there is nothing macho about missing a cheap car that you want becuase you cant get £200 off...

Thanks. Nothing macho at all. I based my offer on them not going that low and then bringing my price up so we met in the middle. This lowering of the price was to cover the tyres and getting the car prepped by a detailer. Or them not really moving on price, but servicing the car and putting four matching tyres on the car.

Worn Bridgstones on the front and some budgets on the back is not what I expected. If the car was mint and had four decent branded tyres on and was taxed I wouldn't have even offered anything I would have taken it. I really was taken with the MX5. WhenI see it like that it just says to me. "Put the cheapest tyres on so we can sell it legally".

[Birdster]

Mazda main dealer.

I want to take the car over to Wales when we get it (visit a friend and enjoy the road) and budget tyres just don't do it for me. I was told it would be serviced once sold so that was fair enough.

It was pretty much this is our price take it, or leave it. He asked me where I was at and I said 10K. Why ask the question? I guess he did think we were time wasting, but all he could have done was come back with his best offer. His loss and my loss I guess. Another life experience.

I have a feeling it was a bit of he thought I wasn't serious. Well why would I make a visit on Monday to sit in the soft tops and hard tops. Head hits the roof in the hard top. See what fitted in the boot and then ask for a test drive at a later date if I wasn't interested?

[Birdster]

SubaruSteve said:

Some dealers (including me) often price their cars at reasonable levels above the cheapest available to avoid having to deal with the likes of you. Price is only one aspect of a car purchase. For many people convenience, proximity, after sales/service are higher on the list than price. The trouble with people who only want the cheapest/ will travel miles to save £50 etc is you only see them once. The other type of person becomes a valued regular customer with benefits for both parties, something I am guessing you will not yet have experienced.


As far a haggling is concerned I wish it wasn't part of what we do but the general public are very difficult to sway away from tradition.

I know you wasn't quoting me, so not sure if it includes me. However I was just expecting the car to be priced the same as others on the same site. Not more for less, or the same for more miles. Of course as a buyer I want the best deal. I'm hardly going to pay his price and then pay to change the tyres to match am I?

Accept that I am in the minority and I'm not looking for discount for discounts sake.


I'm not looking to slag dealers off, or buyers who haggle. Just a general idea of if it is done.

Edited by Birdster on Friday 13th July 18:08

Edited by Birdster on Friday 13th July 18:11

[Birdster]

ajb85 said:

I would happily give the OP his marching orders. I am an independent trader who buys, preps and sells cars. I undertake everything from start to finish. This takes a bit a of graft for what seemingly isn't a great deal of profit at the end. I work out of a unit, behind a row of houses, away from the main road, therefore the general awareness of who I am and where I am is none existent. The only way to get the phone ringing is to source good, desirable cars, describe and photograph them well and price them keenly on the web.

People appoint to come and see my cars because A. They like the car and, B. They like the price.

Obviously the circumstances are completely different for a private just wanting shut of their car, but in this day and age it's very difficult for a trader to be greedy and command strong money for their cars, if they want to keep busy and stay in business. If a punter spends an hour with me, driving my car that I've spent time and money to prepare and valet, uses my fuel, then returns after a test drive and, with no real justification whatsoever, decides to try their hand at literally kicking me in the nuts then I too would get the hump! It's just not on. People are trying to make an honest living and are having the p*ss taken. God help the OP if he crosses my path!

Edited by ajb85 on Friday 13th July 19:04

Nice.

If you look at my posts properly you'd see that IMO the car wasn't worth the asking price. So you'd sell a car with mismatched tyres and then expect the buyer not to want discount, or not want the tyres changed to match on a rear wheel drive car.

As I said if the car was perfect I'd have taken it.


I'm an IT consultant. Someone asks me to do a job. I quote. They either accept, or don't. Sometimes they counter offer. Depending on how my schedule is looking I may accept a lower offer. I don't see much difference with a used car to be honest.

I have to make a living. I don't moan if my contract is not extended, or if the market is bad I get offered less than I want.