[Closed] Buying a car- haggling tips?

find faults with it, offer the £8500, then start walking away

Offer them £8500 for it ?

Walk away if they don't accept, leave your phone number.

If there's anything wrong with it at all, then beat them down. Scuffed alloy, scratch, worn tyres, tax expiring soon etc.

Go with cash, get it out as you offer the 8500, you'll be amazed what power the sight of folding has!

This is assuming it's a private sale, if it's a dealer, you probably haven't got a lot of bargaining power.

If you were buying from me and started at 8500 I'd be offering to meet in the middle at 8700. So either make it clear that this is your final offer or start at 8250 to get talked up.

Offer them 8k. Then you've got room to move so they feel like they've made some ground.

Or you get it for 8k

As Steve H and Jambo. Shoot for the moon, hit the stars! go in low and talk up to your max if need be.

Never bought a car that wasn't old/cheap and from a private seller so will be a different experience...

Starting at £8000 ish sounds like a plan and then just have to hold out at 8.5k

Don't seem too keen and maybe drop into the conversation that you have looked at some other very similar good cars. Also if you have any doubts, walk away. Plenty more cars out there.

Go with cash, get it out as you offer the 8500, you'll be amazed what power the sight of folding has!

The power to get the money laundering squad involved. The last time I bought a car from a dealer (Arnold Clark)they had a limit in the amount of cash they could take - pretty sure it was less than that.

Don't say "what's your best price?"

It shows you are an amateur.

I just ask if they'll accept what I'm prepared to pay up front. If they won't then I'll just look for something else.

Back-up plan is my dad offers to pay the difference as he is fed up of driving me around to look at cars 😆

dealer wont get too excited about cash, private seller would though

cash is just a pain for dealers

Don't take your wife to look at it if she's likely to constantly proclaim how wonderful it is. You won't get anything off it doing that.

What car is it you're looking to buy [b]wiggles[/b]? As for that amount of cash second hand i hope it's something fun!

Offer £8K to £8.2 and leave number then walk.

Low mileage? Plenty about so just keep checking.

if there is ever a pause in the conversation when haggling. do not speak.

the next person to speak loses

- its amazing how much people get uncomfortable by silence

The seller will not be expecting £8,900 - as above offer £8-ish to start with assuming car is as described. Be prepared to walk away and say you have another car to see later that day.

What mileage are you referring to?

It's the opposite of fun... Practical 🙄

It's a 60 plate berlingo XTR with 12k miles
The cheap tax and insurance make it much better value than it seems... Still ugly as **** though

Don't seem too keen and maybe drop into the conversation that you have looked at some other very similar good cars.

I'm not sure if this works unless you are very good at it. A professional salesman will see this many many times each day.

Say look I quite like the car but I've only got 8000 in my budget, if he says no leave your number and leave.

It's really not complicated. Car dealers are not usually good salesmen to be honest, they just don't budge and nor should you, lots of used cars out there.

Recently bought a car that was on forecourt at 8k.
Traded in my old car which I had previously had valued at 2.5k
Mine had a few faults and was dying.
Dealer asked me what I wanted to get me into new car.
I said I had my car and 4k cash, that's all I had and don't waste your time going back and forwards to your boss with offers etc cos that is all I've got
Came back after 10 mins and accepted.
Was gutted, was expecting at least a bit of sport.
Both happy with the deal though.
I spoke to him after transaction had gone through and the car I bought was a part ex that they had had in less than a week. Asked him what they do with my car, and they said they just trade em in themselves.
I don't know what dealers margins are , but they would have made money on my old one, and on the one they sold me.
Later saw it advertised up country for 5.5 k . Good luck with that lol
As others have said, go in low and hope for the best. It's their job to sell you that car, not yours to buy it

cash is not king anymore. its a pain in the arsee because the dealer has to bank it which usually means a trip to the bank. always offer less than you are willing to pay. you can always get talked up a bit that way but don't make it easy for them to talk you up. and don't forget to get them to throw in 12 months tax and a tank of fuel.

What would Toni say?
[img] [/img]

Don't take your wife to look at it if she's likely to constantly proclaim how wonderful it is. You won't get anything off it doing that.

Unless shes fit and wearing a bikini. That might help.

The power to get the money laundering squad involved. The last time I bought a car from a dealer (Arnold Clark)they had a limit in the amount of cash they could take - pretty sure it was less than that.

Note the bit I said about private sale. 😉

Go in around £8000 and do not exceed your limit. Don't let on what your limit is.

Let us know how you fared

Best of luck

After three trips back and forth to his boss he will come back and say "8600 that our best offer and you don't want to lose the deal for a couple of hundred quid do you?" And you say
" neither do you £8300 is my final offer here's my debit card/ cash deposit ( put on the desk) and do we have a deal ?"
He says " let me speak to my Manager " as he walks off let him get to the office and then follow him and give him your phone number on a piece of paper and say" here's my number I've got to go , let me know if we can agree my deal "
And walk out..........

Bet you get a call or don't get out the car park

Be courteous and polite but firm

When was it last serviced?
How long is the tax?
How long is the MOT?
What brand are the tyres?
Any scratches on the bumpers or chips in the windscreen?

There you go OP 🙂

Never ever over pay. Better to walk away. Dont feel like a timewaster. Ive sold loads of cars privately and jnow its a haggle

Get a mate that is vaguely mechanically aware to go see it about an hour before you, he tells them it's got this and that wrong with it and it'll cost £2.5k so sort it.

You roll up afterwards, say you like it but have others to look at and offer £1k less than the asking price, with any luck they'll be glad to "offload" it 😉

Like large main dealer with a workshop full of mechanics will fall for that

[quoteHe says " let me speak to my Manager " as he walks off let him get to the office and then follow him and give him your phone number on a piece of paper and say" here's my number I've got to go , let me know if we can agree my deal "
And walk out..........

Hmm, that could work two ways. Ive had three clients in the showroom at the same time wanting to buy the same car. The deal is very much dependent on how long the car has been in stock, if its been more than 30 days you are likely to get a good deal, its also very dependent on how well the month is going for the dealer, which you wont really know. But i would ask them how long they have had it.

But apart from anything else, be prepared to compromise, if the car is really nice and you really want it, dont loose out over a couple of hundred quid. Especially when it,s gonna give you years of service and cost you many thousands to buy.

I know it's been on their website for at least about 2 weeks but only just got the cash, they have 3 others for sale as well but all 10k+ more miles on them

So hopefully I will be able to get decent deal, only just 3 years old so should have new MOT and try to get tax in on the deal

I have to do this for a living, so without wishing to get in to an argument about my advice, take it or leave it, without sounding harsh it makes no odds to me.

1, keep it friendly.
2, do not keep putting your finger on that chip you just found, its a used car, if you want a car without a single stone chip then buy a new one.
3, try & keep the conversation going, don't try & play hardball, it works both ways.
4, please please please do not try & squeeze the hell out of the deal, asking for fuel/mats/flaps or any other thing still costs the dealer money, its the same as taking money off the car unless you can ask them to swap stuff like wheels/tyres or mats from another car they have in stock as that is doable, probably.
5, go in as near to the end of the month as possible, if they haven't hit their targets you could get lucky, but if they have your stuffed.
6,7,8 & 9, have I mentioned keep it freindly, even if it doesn't work out there maybe another car at the same dealer so don't burn your bridges.

HTH
Cheers.

I've (reluctantly) worked in a sales environment before so I know getting angry doesn't get you anywhere

smile, introduce yourself, hello im Simon,shake hands,tell the man/lady what youre intrested in,ask whats the best price youve got on the car,ask for some fuel to drive away with,and a new MOT.

When i bought my last van, i got a fullservice,road tax 6 months 2 weeks insurance,delivery from about 40 miles away, the salesmen had a good laugh, and 2 bottles of wine for the sale, and i paid for it on my switch card, much to the amusement of the other customers who where offering cash and got refused.

Two of the reasons car sales staff dont accept cash is the risk of theft, and cost of paying in cash into the bank.

Maintain eye contact at all times, try not to blink. Stand very close and touch the dealer as often as possible on the forearm and if he's receptive the face. Tell him he's beautiful, flattery goes a long way.

Then hit him with your price. If he agrees shake his hand, if not resort to screaming, rocking, crying and incontinence.

Take an angry tiger with you.

when I bought a car recently I did the haggling with the dealer via live chat. Just told them what I could afford for the car I was after and asked if they could they meet it. Much easier to keep your nerve when not face to face.
Of course I kept it friendly but straight to the point. When they got close enough I went to the dealer, checked the car over and shook on it. It just felt easier to do it that way so that I didn't waste their time or mine.

Oh, number 10, don't, just please don't try & get brave via email, or "live chat", just don't, did you get that OK?

You will end up splitting the difference , the dealer will drop a few quid. thing is you have to play the game.
People who buy things off me get short shrift if they start to tell me about things that are wrong the short and sharp answer is "I know that, that's why its so cheap". Ask them if something is perfect and then find it isn't to get money off that way.
Important thing is that there will be another.

worked for me!

11. Ignore the bleatings of a car salesman. :0)

There's lots of good advice above but from the other side of the fence to 2unfit one of my roles is buying vehicles - new and second hand. Don't go for the unrealistic haggle and don't try to second guess. Fuel and mats are not what you are after so secure the car first then go for a cheeky little what about xyz. But to get there you need to make the other party feel like they have gained something.

Haggling, nah. When asked what have you got to spend tell them what you would like to spend, and then silently look at the car. The salesperson will feel compelled to talk and most likely refuse your non
too generous musings. So tell them what the absolute maximum is you are willing to spend and be willing to walk away - though I find a hanging silence after money is mentioned works really well particularly if you are all matey prior to it.

Well i bought one!

They had 4 all same spec same age etc
So had a look round and one was clearly looked after more than the others, 3 years old, 3 main dealer services 30k miles, test drive was fine, so going to pick it up Friday:)

Was 8400 with 12 months tax, 11 months mot.

Well done, did you get your deal?
🙂

How much did you pay in the end?

😀

£8400 but wasn't the one I originally went looking for

nm that what was the window price?

Your being coy now, did you get a deal?

PS, just say yes & it was marked up at £10k, every one will be a winner 🙂

paid the window price but with the tax, service etc chucked in

Couldn't really argue much as couldn't find one anywhere else cheaper

Please say you gave it a go, dealers like sport too 😉

I "gave it a go" buying the S Max last month.

The salesman said [i]"It is priced to sell. This is the best deal you'll get.

It will be gone by this time next week.

Take it or leave it."[/i]

Eventually I managed to get 6 months tax.

He had a point though, It was a good price to begin with.

Gave it a go, but like harry they basically said you won't find one this cheap anywhere else, which was pretty much true so happy with the price I paid even if there was a lot less haggling than I expected

Fair enough, TBF the way people buy things, & indeed the way people sell things these days has moved on, as a seller if you price high then you won't get any calls, so you price accordingly but that means you don't have room to give discounts. When people realise this then we will have less threads like this, but I guess it will be a few years before this filters through, just as it took retailers a few years to realise that you have to be competitive to be in the market.

Cheers & enjoy the purchase.