Best way to haggle?

[Scottishlad]

Hi folks!

I'm looking to get my next car (Audi S3) and i'm having a bit of trouble finding one for the right price. I have around £14k and the one i'm looking at it is advertised at £15.5k.

I'm just wondering what is the best way to go about this without coming across as a knob. I have emailed people previously with an offer where they usually don't even reply. The car is 200 miles away so I wouldn't be able to do it in person.


Cheers

[thinfourth2]

Heres an educational video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n3LL338aGA

[va1o]

Its unlikely you'll get a £15,500 used car down to £14,000 in my experience, unless its really overpriced.

[deaglecat]

Simple. Go in with the frame of mind that you don't really want the car ... but would buy it TODAY if the price was right.

Too many people try to price shop between cars at different dealers/seller without really being committed to do a DEAL. You will never get the best price until you convince the seller that you are a credible buyer.

+ walk away and find another if the car... or the deal ... does not suit.

[jj333]

deaglecat said:

walk away and find another if the car... or the deal ... does not suit.

This. But I've never been able to do it, and I definitely couldn't being 200 miles from home

[Deva Link]

deaglecat said:

Simple. Go in..

That bit's key - you can't really do this remotely.

Is the car for sale private or trader or at an Audi dealer?

Unless it's an Aud dealer it's a whole can of worms buying a car at that distance.

[Shaw Tarse]

Do you ask "What's your best price?" ?

[ewan221]

Like you living in Scotland buying cars usually involves quite a bit of travelling,so like to always establish some sort of ballpark figure before setting off I would not though jump in with both feet initially with first email or phone call

Give the seller a phone or email and ask if he is negotiable on price and basically take it from there.

Dont do what Im getting a lot of at the moment send an email asking what Id take for cash for quick sale or todays favourite - "Have cash to buy car this weekend whats your best price" I do respond inviting them to make me an offer but I suspect a lot of sellers would just ignore

Edited by ewan221 on Saturday 9th July 13:15

[Kong]

When I first ring the seller I always ask if theres a possibility to deal on the price, we don't talk numbers but just to get an idea if the asking price is fixed. Some sellers, particularly private ones won't budge a penny.

Personally I don't like to take the piss, when I sell a car myself I really hate people making silly offers.

I reckon on a 15.5k car from a dealer you should realistically be able to get £500 off the list price. But you still have to haggle for it and even then they might not be willing.

[Deva Link]

Kong said:

I reckon on a 15.5k car from a dealer you should realistically be able to get £500 off the list price.

You can't really say that based solely on the actual price. The key thing is how does the price compare to similar cars? If it's there or thereabouts then they probably won't move much. If it miles out then eventually they'll realise they have to accept an offer.

[deaglecat]

Don't let the seller know that you have/are travelling 200 miles to see the car...

[Scottishlad]

Well there seems to be a lot of them on pistonheads that don't seem to sell. A lot of them are overpriced imo. Here is the pistonheads add

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2974039.htm

I know £14k might be a bit cheeky but, worth a try!

P.S Thanks for all the help so far !

Edited by Scottishlad on Saturday 9th July 13:28

[va1o]

There are a few on AT for £14k and under

[paddyhasneeds]

Have you offered them £14k without having seen it?

Or have you said "I'm interested in seeing the car but my budget is £14k and I don't want to waste both of our time if you're not prepared to accept that?"

[sim16v]

Offering over the phone or e-mail, i'd just think you were another dreamer/timewaster.

If you are serious, i would just say come and talk to me face to face, but realistically, i think you'll struggle to get a £15.5k car down to £14k.


Just wait a couple of months, the cars you are looking at will have dropped a bit in that time.