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So; I have always got my Dad to buy my cars,he has a neck of brass and a dog collar and the couple of times I went in with him I had to leave the dealership as I was squirming so badly. I am now in the unfortunate position of having to do it myself. So; Audi A3, lots of them about with similar milage and FSH for £5k, how cheeky can I be?
The worst they can do is say no . . .
Offer what you want, they can only say no! As always, state your offer and be prepared to walk away. They can sense weakness.
Depends if dealer or private. Dealers are less and less inclined these days to come down on price.
I've had a few in recent months with cars at £3500 and they wouldn't even drop £200. I walked...
Private or dealership? I feel you can always be a bit cheekier with your offer with a dealer, but always be prepared to walk away and let them sweat.
I’ve had a few in recent months with cars at £3500 and they wouldn’t even drop £200. I walked…
Everything is now internet driven.
It's easy to search for a car and find the cheapest price on similar models. If they want people to come to view them they have to price as low as possible, hence no or very little room to drop prices further.
If a dealer, then there's the old trick of asking for extras which cost them less than you would pay, rather than a cash discount.
Mats, roof bars, service, MOT voucher etc.
Yeah, just spoken to somebody much more knowledgeable about cars than me who pointed out that everybody wanted exactly the same car as me. So hopes of car and new set of wheels have retreated a wee bit.
Other way of looking at it - £5k car should be worth £5k. Look at a few and offer £4950 for the best one, taking into account convenience/cost of travel etc. That way you should get what you pay for.
And if there are lots of them about, make an offer you think is fair and, if they say no, move on to the next vehicle. If, after 10 refusals to accept your offer, you will have to accept you went too low and offer more.
If you can be bothered.
As above there's no set answer it depends how good the deal is. How much you get off isn't really relevant at all. If it's the same price as another but 20k less miles and they won't move at all on price it's still a better deal than the other if they'll drop 300 quid.
Same with part ex values etc, some people get really confused about what matters - it doesn't matter if they offer 20p for your car vs 2000 if their car is 4000 less than another.
Do some research, see what similar cars on forecourts are priced at. Go online and check used car guides. Then you should know if the car is realistically priced or over valued. Then you have something to go on. Recently Been through this buying a car for my parents.
it depends how good the deal is. How much you get off isn’t really relevant at all.
+1 you might be able to haggle, but too many people watch Mark Brewer and assume that's "negotiation". Work out what you've got that puts you in a strong er position to haggle and work with that. If you've got the asking price in cash, they want that, so haggle for extras. If there's finance on offer, work out if they're on commission** for that, then cancel it.
*then vote Brexit on the assumption that Boris will just stonewall Barnier until the EU gives in on everything like Brewer haggling £100 off some old grannies immaculate Mini Cooper she's
already under valued.
** if it's 10% interest then probably, if it's 0% assume they'd rather have the cash and haggle away that 10%.
Used car sales from dealers have changed, movement on price is minimal. They're priced at a price that will attract buyers so there's less margin in it now. If you're fussy about spec and there aren't many cars that meet your requirements, I'd be happy with just paying the asking price
Similar for private, though probably have more chance of getting a discount
If you’ve got the asking price in cash, they want that, so haggle for extras. If there’s finance on offer, work out if they’re on commission** for that, then cancel it.
I went the other way last time and it forced his hand early on.
They really don't want cash.
Car had a window price that got me in the door......I'd not have gone to Edinburgh if it wasn't already a keen price. He tried all the upsell and I said no to all. He asked how I'd like to pay and I said I'm open to ideas but I don't want to rent it or have balloon payments at the end.
He went away - came back with some numbers 0 deposit X per month for y years
(Where X was small and Y was large )
I did some mental arithmetic and said urm that's c.12% interest.
How about 2k down and remainder over 3 years. What's the best you can do on that? at 12 % interest I'll pay cash today and take it away.
He came back at less than 2% and the deal was done. He will have got less commission I'm sure but it was more than cash would have got him .... Barclays have been on the hard sell with unsecured loans since....
Guess I didn't have my Sunday best on and was looking at low rent French move might have counted to how "affordable" I looked.
As above dealers have changed the only negotiation is really on how to going to be paying - unless it's som3tbjng unusual that's been on his forecourt a long time
Set a price, tell them that is what you will pay. Then walk away. If the price is reasonable, and you are reasonable, and decent seller will oblige. If you do not ask, you do not get. If you ask, then you may still not get.
gobuchul
Everything is now internet driven.
It’s easy to search for a car and find the cheapest price on similar models. If they want people to come to view them they have to price as low as possible, hence no or very little room to drop prices further.
Hence the new trick of a low sticker price then a hidden £149 admin fee not revealed until late in the process. Tosspots.
Hence the new trick of a low sticker price then a hidden £149 admin fee not revealed until late in the process. Tosspots.
can be as late in the process as they want. if its not on the window and/or advertised they can stick their car up their arse.
plenty cars out there.
Show cash/solvency in some way and walk away. Often sellers can't stand to see the opportunity evaporate. If they are common then just keep doing it, trade one off against the other etc etc.
Once you succeed you will get addicted to being a hard nosed scumbag and will do deals on everything.
Oh yeah, forgot about the admin fee, that's cunning, and bloody annoying
It's usually clear, and written down in some relatively small print
As someone who occasionally buys cars to 'flip' generally I list at the return I want plus 10%
Over the moon if they pay asking.