Dealer or private purchase

[crankedup]

Scanning through the ad’s for our next used car purchasers striking that so many private sales are pitched at the same price dealers. For me this is an put off, it means I have to haggle really hard to get the car down to price it should be to start with. Private sale = no warranty no come back, no vehicle prep’.
Most of my previous car buys have been down the private route but it’s very noticeable now how over priced many are. Just chancers?

[catman]

Yes, I've noticed that too. Some people are just not realistic. Either that, or they're preparing for the pretend 'old out yer 'and crew offering 50% of asking price.

[ZX10R NIN]

Prices are solid at the moment, you don't have to buy private if you don't like the price but if it's the car you want then go for it also depending on where you buy the car from you may only get a 3 month warranty.

[crankedup]

Thanks for replies.
There is just something inside of me that instantly rejects a car being sold privately at dealership
price. However, if I do spot what I think may be the car for me, except the price, I’m going to end up offering what could be a disappointing sum to the seller. That then usually puts the sale / purchase at the wrong start point. Oh well, good job plenty of choice out there.

[bennno]

I bought a 2015 Mercedes SL privately last weekend, called and had a polite conversation, said I’d buy it subject to it being as described and if he’d take 2.5k off 27k asking price as it was too expensive compared to dealer prices. He went away to consider, then accepted. Think we both got an ok deal.

[CeramicMX5ND2]

I would find the car that suits you best, whether it be at a dealer or a private sale. Then compare then numbers and if it is at a very similar price and spec to those at dealerships, try and negotiate.. The owner you are negotiating with will tell you quite a bit about the car you are looking at..!

[Mr Tidy]

I wouldn't be too worried about dealer prep.

Many dealer adverts I've seen suggest they don't do much, and the "warranty" they offer can be hard work in the event there is a problem with the car once you have driven away!

I prefer to buy privately whereever possible as that way you get to assess the previous owner and how they treated the car, plus you are more likely to get more service history/invoices now most dealers won't pass them on.

Plus you can haggle - most dealers just stick to their asking price regardless.

[griffter]

I don’t think paying more at a dealer will necessarily get you a better prepared or backed-up car (it might but it’s no guarantee). Where did they get it from and why was it disposed of that way? Can you even find out?
I’d prefer to meet the current owner, suss out them and their driving habits, see where and how the car’s been kept etc.
If two equivalent cars are being sold, one privately and one trade, isn’t the higher trade price effectively just the dealer’s margin? It depends on the warranty and prep of course, but if the car was a good ‘un, a few months down the line you’re in the same position with either.
I think the main value of trade cars is part exchange and straightforward test drives.

[ScoobyChris]

crankedup said:

Most of my previous car buys have been down the private route but it’s very noticeable now how over priced many are. Just chancers?

I think they want the most money they can get from the car and it's much harder to raise the price if there's lots of interest than lower it if there's no interest. If there's no rush (or perhaps desire ) to sell, why not advertise high - I know when we were looking for a car last summer the ones we were after were selling very quickly.

Chris

[crankedup]

Interesting replies giving food for thought, thank you.