How flexible are car dealers' prices?

[jlee]

'96 Tacoma

Edmunds values are $2262 (tradein), $3178 (private party), and $4494 (dealer retail).

KBB is $7950, though...if I were to walk in with $6000 cash, what are my chances?

 

[rudder]

The dealer probably got it for $2000. If you have the cash, find a private party selling a similar vehicle. the dealer probably does not offer any more of a warranty than you would get with someone selling their own vehicle.

 

[flot]

Beleive it or not, it has been my experience that the "internet price" on most car dealer's ads is usually CLOSE to as low as they will go.

I have bought a few used cars, gone in without telling them what the price I saw it listed for was, and had the dealers come out and quote me $1500-3500 higher. One, the "internet price" was $8500, the price written in huge letters on the windshield was $11,990.

Used car dealers hate the internet. They know they have to put a competitive price online, since you'll have easy access to compare 100s of other cars. If you walked into a car dealer and just picked any car off the lot they would totally screw you. (as above, to the tune of a few thousand dollars)

Now having said that - there could still be PLENTY of room to negotiate in that price. With such high mileage, I'd hope so. The important thing is to find comparable vehicles for sale and go in ahead of time with a number in YOUR head that represents what you think the car is actually worth.

Also don't forget that you are in a great market - if you don't find anything that fits exactly what you want in tampa, there is always sarasota, orlando, miami within a few hours drive....

And remember, while a car with 160k miles "doesn't seem too bad" .... once you put 40,000 more miles on it - NOBODY is going to want it - your resale value will drop dramatically...

 

[jlee]

once you put 40,000 more miles on it - NOBODY is going to want it - your resale value will drop dramatically...

I need to find one with 200k, then..I need something cheap

I'm already ~2hrs from Tampa -- Miami is about 5.

I'll keep looking for a private party sale and see what they're going for - there doesn't seem to be too many, though..I'm a little picky (ext cab V6 4x4 5sp)..

 

[shud]

Look for your car on a lot that doesn't sell that car --- and by that I mean first of all look for a Tacoma that a) isn't on a Toyota lot and b) isn't on a Japanese auto lot.

I got a Jetta that was listed at $4800 for $4200 everything included (so basically $3900 or so) just becuase it was a Nissan dealership that wanted to get its trade-ins off the lot. Even $4800 would have been a good deal as the tires and several other things were recently replaced, so I basically got a steal.

 

[wondersteve]

Cash talks .... if not .. walk.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: wondersteve
Cash talks .... if not .. walk.

Yeah...I might give it a shot -- I'd just not rather spend four hours driving for nothing -- but I'll never get it if I don't try.

Time to put my car in Autotrader, I think..I need the cash from that for a truck..lol

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: rudder
The dealer probably got it for $2000. If you have the cash, find a private party selling a similar vehicle. the dealer probably does not offer any more of a warranty than you would get with someone selling their own vehicle.

^^^ bingo ^^^^


never ever buy a car for anywhere near the KBB value. You can buy 10 cars like that on any given day. 20-30% below market value is a good start.


And $7K for a 96 truck with 170K miles is a HORRIBLE RIPOFF

 

[jlee]

And $7K for a 96 truck with 170K miles is a HORRIBLE RIPOFF

I can see you haven't priced Toyota trucks lately..if you find a better deal, please let me know!

What they're asking is below KBB, but way above Edmunds..

 

[dullard]

It is rare that a used car dealer will argue at taking 10% right off the top of the sticker price on the lot. No one here can tell you if the dealer will go any lower. The best advice is to be firm with $6000 if that is what you want to pay.

 

[jlee]

Thanks all -- if my car sells (ie if I have cash), I'll probably drive down with 6k and offer right up front..

 

[Dulanic]

I hate dealerships, one here tries to sell stuff above their original MSRP. The ford dealership here has a Scion xB with 19k on the window.... it's stock and cost 15k new LOL.

I would walk in with a edmunds print out even and see what happens. You never know what they will go to unless you try. But 7K is very high for a vehicle with that many milage. You probably checked it on edmunds without the milage listed, I get closet to 3.7k after milage adjustment on edmunds.

Don't just walk in offering 6K, maybe they would accept what edmunds says, your screwing yourself by not trying to get as low as possible. I have usually gotten 20-40% off what they list a used vehicle. My first used car they wanted $6995, I got it for $6200 and they gave me $1200 for a used car with a blown trans that prob was worth $200 to a junkyard. I didn't tell them it was like that, they didnt ask, they never even asked the condition of it until the end of the sale he asked me could I bring it in, I said trans is blown. He kind of rolled his eyes and said OK well said a tow truck.

My next used car I paid $8800 or so, they originally wanted $12500.

There is always room to bring it down, they want to see if they can grab a sucker at the price they list it at, then are willing to go down quite a bit if someone comes along.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: wondersteve
Cash talks .... if not .. walk.

Yep, just walk in there. Drive it and then make your offer. If they say no just get up and head for the door. I bet they'll stop you before you get to your car. If not, just keep on going.

Don't tell them how far you drove or anything. If they ask tell them you have an aunt who lives in the area and you're down there all the time. Don't make it seem like you really want the truck or that you went out of your way to get there.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: wondersteve
Cash talks .... if not .. walk.

Yep, just walk in there. Drive it and then make your offer. If they say no just get up and head for the door. I bet they'll stop you before you get to your car. If not, just keep on going.

Don't tell them how far you drove or anything. If they ask tell them you have an aunt who lives in the area and you're down there all the time. Don't make it seem like you really want the truck or that you went out of your way to get there.

Yup never start with what you want to pay either. I literally sat there at the dealership for 6 hours, and the price kept going down and down and down. Dont make a offer they will take, make a offer you dont think they will, and go from there. Your making yourself too easy a target on pricing here. As someone else said they might have paid $2k maybe $2.5k, They will probably sell it to you for the edmunds listing, they would rather do that then sell it at an auction for $1k and lose money. The market for a vehicle with that many miles is rather small, they know their odds of selling it are low.

 

[MagicConch]

I usually average a little under 5% above invoice (and 10%below MSRP) on new cars except on high demand cars like the Lexus Hybrid, etc. I am not a fantastic negotiator though so you may get more (and used cars use blue book values I guess vs. invoice prices). Also different manufacturers vary on invoice vs actual dealer costs (adv fee, etc).

 

[jlee]

I actually do have have someone I want to visit down in that area..kinda convenient

ou probably checked it on edmunds without the milage listed, I get closet to 3.7k after milage adjustment on edmunds.

I listed 168k -- are you sure you checked with 4wd V6 and extended cab options?

Thanks alot everyone -- if my car sells and I have the cash, I'll offer low and see what happens.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
I actually do have have someone I want to visit down in that area..kinda convenient

ou probably checked it on edmunds without the milage listed, I get closet to 3.7k after milage adjustment on edmunds.

I listed 168k -- are you sure you checked with 4wd V6 and extended cab options?

Thanks alot everyone -- if my car sells and I have the cash, I'll offer low and see what happens.

I might have checked a diff one, it is closer to $4.3k for me and I did check AM/FM/CD and AC. Still I would print out the edmunds thing and use it as a negotiating tool. Don't just take no as an answer. Youve check edmunds some, check out their used car bying tips, especially the negotiating part.

 

[flot]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
I might have checked a diff one, it is closer to $4.3k for me and I did check AM/FM/CD and AC. Still I would print out the edmunds thing and use it as a negotiating tool. Don't just take no as an answer. Youve check edmunds some, check out their used car bying tips, especially the negotiating part.

And of course, no matter what you do - don't bother making the trip to see the car in person without getting the vin # first and running it through carfax.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

1. Edmunds will not sell you a car
2. NADA left hand book is a good goal price.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: wondersteve
Cash talks .... if not .. Tell the salesman to get fvcked.

Fixed


Ausm

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
1. Edmunds will not sell you a car
2. NADA left hand book is a good goal price.

NADA is $7500 to $9000..

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
1. Edmunds will not sell you a car
2. NADA left hand book is a good goal price.

NADA is $7500 to $9000..

What is NADA trade (left hand book)?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
1. Edmunds will not sell you a car
2. NADA left hand book is a good goal price.

NADA is $7500 to $9000..

What is NADA trade (left hand book)?

What's left hand blue book?

KBB dealer trade-in value in 'good' condition is $4170. Excellent condition is $4650.

 

[teckmaster]

I did a stint as a car salesman last year and have found working in the industry to be very helpful. New car prices for the most part, aren't that far above invoice prices for one. Used cars are marked up usually, between 3k and 4k.

As far as the new car prices go, a 20k vehicle probably has an invoice to the dealer for 18.5k. Now a vehicle that has a sticker of 40k probably only cost the dealer about 36k.

 

[gsaldivar]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
I'll never get it if I don't try.

You answered your own question.