Negotiating on 2nd hand cars

[tyranical]

Do you think that it is unreasonable to go to a dealer (not franchise or manufacturer) and show them an advert of an identical car with 20k less miles and a year newer 20 miles away and see if they'll knock off a decent amount? (for that kind of difference i'd want 300 minimum?) or is that being a bit cheeky?

Theres a nice car for my girlfriend just down the road which has popped up today but we were planning to go see one on the otherside of liverpool (which is a pain to get to) tomorrow. Purely for the ease of getting it from literally a mile down the road and local for any problems (hopefully there will be none).

I thought it was worth having a go at knocking the bloke down but i've never actually done any car negotiating myself before my dad's always done it so not sure how to go about it really.

[kamilb1998]

I'd say it worth a try, after all the worst thing he can say is 'no'.

[skene]

If I was him and you showed me another advert asking for money off, I'd tell you to fk off any buy the other one. Just seems cheeky to me. HTH

[Oldandslow]

It's not cheeky. It's all part of the game. He names a price, you name a lower one. You haggle for a bit and hopefully both end up happy. If you show him the ad for the other car he might just say go buy that one then.

[parapaul]

Depends on the sticker price to begin with... If it's only a £1k car, then £300 is unrealistic

Of course, he might just tell you to fk off, but there's no harm in asking

[tyranical]

its a 3500 car, both up for 3500.

One is a 55 plate on 64k miles
one is a 56 plate on 41k miles

Same colours and options, those are the only differences between them.

Higher mileage isn't really a problem to me because my girlfriend will only be doing a few thousand a year in it anyway.

[kamilb1998]

parapaul said:

Depends on the sticker price to begin with... If it's only a £1k car, then £300 is unrealistic

Of course, he might just tell you to fk off, but there's no harm in asking

A couple of years back when my mum was buying her 99T Volvo V40, it was advertised for £1,500 and we managed to bring it down to £1,100. And the car is still going strong today, we've covered around 50,000 miles in it - around the UK and on holidays around Europe.

[waterwonder]

Yes do it however don't make it the first sentance you say to him.

Build up some rapport check the car over etc. Then something along the lines of "i've seen another one similar for x if you do it for x I'll buy it now"

Worst he can do is say no.

Make sure the other car isn't suspiciously cheap cat d etc etc. What you're asking has to be sensible otherwise he'll just think you're an idiot and tell you to do one.

I'm assuming it's a him but it could be a she ;-)

[davepoth]

What does Parker's say? figure out whether one is suspiciously cheap, or one is too expensive. The expensive dealer will be expecting a haggle, I'm guessing that he isn't too bothered about holding stock for a while if he can get a better profit on it. The cheap dealer is either trying to get rid of it, or knows there's something wrong with it, or is just pricing properly.

[paintman]

Old trade customer of mine says a lot of people do that, esp with downloads of ads. Has got fed up with it & now treats them as tyrekickers.
His invariable response is 'Best go & buy it from them then'.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Go for it, it does't hurt to bid hard.

I got 40% off my Jag Sovereign, 32% off my Range Rover, 30% off my Golf and 30% off my recently sold Jag XJ Sport just by asking.

I would keep the advert up my sleeve though. Bid the seller hard first and see what they say. Go in at £2700 and say you have the cash etc. See how the seller reacts.

If there is no joy then show them the advert.

[jas xjr]

is the other car trade or private?

[markmullen]

davepoth said:

What does Parker's say? figure out whether one is suspiciously cheap, or one is too expensive. The expensive dealer will be expecting a haggle, I'm guessing that he isn't too bothered about holding stock for a while if he can get a better profit on it. The cheap dealer is either trying to get rid of it, or knows there's something wrong with it, or is just pricing properly.

Save your £3 or whatever Parkers is these days and buy half a gallon of juice for your new motor, its ste and the trade will laugh when you quote it.

[whoami]

markmullen said:

davepoth said:

What does Parker's say? figure out whether one is suspiciously cheap, or one is too expensive. The expensive dealer will be expecting a haggle, I'm guessing that he isn't too bothered about holding stock for a while if he can get a better profit on it. The cheap dealer is either trying to get rid of it, or knows there's something wrong with it, or is just pricing properly.

Save your £3 or whatever Parkers is these days and buy half a gallon of juice for your new motor, its ste and the trade will laugh when you quote it.

But then again, the "trade" just use whatever figures suit them.

[markmullen]

I'm always surprised by adults who find the concept that a dealer will try to buy a car for as little as possible and sell it for as much as possible difficult to understand, or surprising.

Take the advert to the dealer, he might have a deal at that price, or close to it, or he might not and you might have to go buy the car across town, either way he'll not be offended and you'll have only lost 20 minutes of your life trying.

[BarnatosGhost]

If you stroll in and pay the asking price, he'll think you're a mug. He'll love you, but won't respect you in the morning.

It is your duty to do a bit of haggling, if only for your self-respect!

The dealer is ready to drop his price, the only question is whether your top price is higher than his bottom price. Use the advert to find out. No harm done.

[paddyhasneeds]

Keep the advert in your back pocket and simply state what you're prepared to pay.

I can pull out two adverts of "identical" cars at different prices but I'd probably only consider buying one of them.

[whoami]

markmullen said:

I'm always surprised by adults who find the concept that a dealer will try to buy a car for as little as possible and sell it for as much as possible difficult to understand, or surprising.

So why do dealers feign surprise when the punter tries to do the opposite?

[va1o]

I'd just go and buy the lower mileage 56-plate one if its within budget.

[tyranical]

Neither are within budget , budget is 3200 so going with the intention of getting money off to whichever we see.

We have decided to just go and have a look at the one further away tomorrow as its the better buy overall and 20 miles isn't far.