Discussion
I'll keep it short.
What are the PHer's best ideas/tips on haggling in a private or dealer situation. I mean realistically I've seen a few cars that are in the upper range of my budget (talking 6k rather than 5.5k) which may not seem like a lot but still would rather keep it down, is it viable to try and haggle that off or not even worth trying. Some of you may remember the damned ex who bought the exact car I wanted (Literally snatched it from under my nose) so I've had to have a rethink and really explore the market. And now looking a MR2 mk3 preferably a 2004 onwards, preferably with a hardtop...which is pushing the price up.
Probably a bit of a N00b question but having bought two cars and sold one I'm no expert and any advice would be greatly received!
What are the PHer's best ideas/tips on haggling in a private or dealer situation. I mean realistically I've seen a few cars that are in the upper range of my budget (talking 6k rather than 5.5k) which may not seem like a lot but still would rather keep it down, is it viable to try and haggle that off or not even worth trying. Some of you may remember the damned ex who bought the exact car I wanted (Literally snatched it from under my nose) so I've had to have a rethink and really explore the market. And now looking a MR2 mk3 preferably a 2004 onwards, preferably with a hardtop...which is pushing the price up.
Probably a bit of a N00b question but having bought two cars and sold one I'm no expert and any advice would be greatly received!
Jonboy_t said:
ETA - Just seen profile pic - please don't have balls, you're fine as you are....
Seriously, I'm surprised you can't get a discount on any car... Edited by Jonboy_t on Monday 23 August 22:15
Use your charm!
You can definitely have a £500 discount on my Z3
Edited by rottie102 on Monday 23 August 22:22
Jonboy_t said:
Have some balls
This is the problem being female! Hah but seriously this is why I'm asking is it a bit naive to even attempt it and then risk being completely ripped off for looking like I don't have a clue.Plotloss said:
There's not a lot of margin in a forecourt car at £6K
You can however only ask.
Cash not as attractive as you might consider.
And yes I did think that, realistically trying to weigh up waiting a few more months and having a healthier budget to play with, which isn't something I really want to do but is possible or just going out there armed with what I've got and hope for the best.You can however only ask.
Cash not as attractive as you might consider.
champ54321 said:
£500 off a £6000 car is not that unreasonable in my opinion.
Here's me hoping!rottie102 said:
Jonboy_t said:
ETA - Just seen profile pic - please don't have balls, you're fine as you are....
Seriously, I'm surprised you can't get a discount on any car... Edited by Jonboy_t on Monday 23 August 22:15
Use your charm!
You can definitely have a £500 discount on my Z3
Edited by rottie102 on Monday 23 August 22:22
Get the car reg and bang it into the we buy any car website. Start at that but as previously stated don't even start if you don't really want it.
If you really really want it, the buyer will sell it to you (used to be in car sales, lol) But if you really really want it and it's a private sale you'ed be amazed how peeps cave in when they see you are enthuisiastic about their car.
Or you could grow a real brass neck and lop £1500 of it and meet in the middle, you would still end up with between £500 & £750 off the car which is probably what it's worth.
Good luck
If you really really want it, the buyer will sell it to you (used to be in car sales, lol) But if you really really want it and it's a private sale you'ed be amazed how peeps cave in when they see you are enthuisiastic about their car.
Or you could grow a real brass neck and lop £1500 of it and meet in the middle, you would still end up with between £500 & £750 off the car which is probably what it's worth.
Good luck
MR2s and the like are summer cars. Wait until December and you'll end up paying £500 less without the haggle.
Have you got anything to trade in? If so it's the cost to change that is important. If not then all you can do is ask.
Don't jsut ask what his best price is, arrange to see the car when it's not too busy, chat to the bloke, use your charm, don't slag the car off but do understand what condition it is really in, then once you've got him charmed, make an honest offer. People buy and sell to and from people, make the bloke your friend and he's far more likely to cut you a deal when you tell him what you'd like to pay.
Have you got anything to trade in? If so it's the cost to change that is important. If not then all you can do is ask.
Don't jsut ask what his best price is, arrange to see the car when it's not too busy, chat to the bloke, use your charm, don't slag the car off but do understand what condition it is really in, then once you've got him charmed, make an honest offer. People buy and sell to and from people, make the bloke your friend and he's far more likely to cut you a deal when you tell him what you'd like to pay.
We'll always give our best price if the customer is willing to place a deposit there and then, once you've test driven the car and are 100% happy with it make an offer with the seller clearly knowing you'll buy the car if they can do the deal you want. Use any little concerns you have with the car and if there's any issues with it i.e, scratches & scrapes or if it has a tape player and you'd want to fit a cd player etc to justify your offer. As others have said be nice, if you're nice to the salesman we will to a certain extent try harder to get the deal you want.
As others have also stated, wait a few months as drop tops will always be worth less in winter and dealers more likely to take a short margin to shift the stock.
Mostly just remember Del Boys words, "he who dares Rodders, he who dares my son"
Good luck
Aaron
As others have also stated, wait a few months as drop tops will always be worth less in winter and dealers more likely to take a short margin to shift the stock.
Mostly just remember Del Boys words, "he who dares Rodders, he who dares my son"
Good luck
Aaron
When negotiating I always try and follow these rules:-
Having inspected and driven the car determine the maximum price you would pay for it, in it's current condition.
Make a note of the things you're not happy about with the car, and then make a low offer based upon that.
Having made your first offer you generally get a feel as to whether you're going to get the car for the walkaway price or below what you set in step 1 in which case happy days, or whether you're going to go above that price, but only in return for extras, or faults that you have already pointed out in step 2 being fixed.
The art in the negotiation is finding things that have value to you but don't cost the dealer anywhere near that. At main dealers servicing is a classic example, I.e. A free service maybe worth £400 to you, but it probably costs the dealer half that. Likewise repairing something like a scuffed alloy, and so on.
Finally as a buyer never up your offer in either scenario without something in return, because as soon as you do that the salesman will skilfully just keep getting young move up. A phrase you might want to use would be 'I maybe willing to up my offer from x to y if you are able to give me z'
Hope this helps, and let us know how you get on.
Having inspected and driven the car determine the maximum price you would pay for it, in it's current condition.
Make a note of the things you're not happy about with the car, and then make a low offer based upon that.
Having made your first offer you generally get a feel as to whether you're going to get the car for the walkaway price or below what you set in step 1 in which case happy days, or whether you're going to go above that price, but only in return for extras, or faults that you have already pointed out in step 2 being fixed.
The art in the negotiation is finding things that have value to you but don't cost the dealer anywhere near that. At main dealers servicing is a classic example, I.e. A free service maybe worth £400 to you, but it probably costs the dealer half that. Likewise repairing something like a scuffed alloy, and so on.
Finally as a buyer never up your offer in either scenario without something in return, because as soon as you do that the salesman will skilfully just keep getting young move up. A phrase you might want to use would be 'I maybe willing to up my offer from x to y if you are able to give me z'
Hope this helps, and let us know how you get on.
I recently saw a car at a dealer in the right colour, spec that I wanted but slightly up on the miles. It was up for £18k. I viewed it a couple of times and there were a few things that I would want sorting as a condition of sale (service / fresh MOT / a couple of scuffs doing etc) and then some minor things that I knew I could get done afterwards (a couple of minor car park dings etc) but use them to my advantage.
The mood was all very friendly and I offered £16k with the caveats above and said that I was willing to put a deposit down that day. We shook on the deal and the cars now on my drive
My advice is know what you're prepared to pay and walk away if necessary
The mood was all very friendly and I offered £16k with the caveats above and said that I was willing to put a deposit down that day. We shook on the deal and the cars now on my drive
My advice is know what you're prepared to pay and walk away if necessary
There is always a margin to haggle a few hundred quid off the advert price, but if you are going hit them with a stiff counter offer then be prepared to justify it. Be realistic, if it is a good car the seller would be mad to entertain unnecessarily silly offers. If they jump at them, be weary of why they want the sale.
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