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Negotiating price on new or used car?

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The biggest trick I use is using their available CarFax (or similar service). Check out the date that it says that the dealer offered it for sale. If you're within a few weeks, they likely haven't dropped the price yet.

If it's 2+ months out it is likely already close to their lowest price. So, if it is within a few weeks, haggle that lower price, if it is 2+ months out just shoot for $500 off. Used dealers have a calculated figure they go by that a car costs them $x/day or $x/wk and they will sell below THEIR cost if they think the length of time for the next interested person will outweigh your offer.

To put it simply, used car dealers (and heck probably even new) base their business model largely off of turnaround time. This goes for your trade in value too.
 
Update to what I just posted. The dealer Im working with in regards to the 2011 mazda3... won't even budge $.01 lolllll. Looks like I'm telling them thanks, but no thanks.
 
z1ggy said:
Update to what I just posted. The dealer Im working with in regards to the 2011 mazda3... won't even budge $.01 lolllll. Looks like I'm telling them thanks, but no thanks.
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Had that happen on the last car I bought. Car had been on the lot 5 mo though and it was already well below market average. I could see the price drop about $5k over that time from first list at least.
 
Midwayman said:
Had that happen on the last car I bought. Car had been on the lot 5 mo though and it was already well below market average. I could see the price drop about $5k over that time from first list at least.
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This car has been for sale since June 5. I know there's room to go down. My current car was on the lot for almost 5 months before I bought it, and they even went down like $500.

I know margins are tight, but I think it's BS this is a dealer than won't budge unless you walk away from the deal. Even then, maybe they don't care because they have a large enough consumer base.

I fvcked up and told them I had $800 cash to give. Origianlly I said that I'd give 800 if they gave me 800 and he called back and offered me better financing or something. Yeah because charging myself more interest to get smaller payments is totally the best thing to do. :rollseyes:

Now I can't offer any less than $800 cash to them. Maybe I'll get them to give me like $400 or something. That's their dealer fee.
 
z1ggy said:
This car has been for sale since June 5. I know there's room to go down. My current car was on the lot for almost 5 months before I bought it, and they even went down like $500.

I know margins are tight, but I think it's BS this is a dealer than won't budge unless you walk away from the deal. Even then, maybe they don't care because they have a large enough consumer base.

I fvcked up and told them I had $800 cash to give. Origianlly I said that I'd give 800 if they gave me 800 and he called back and offered me better financing or something. Yeah because charging myself more interest to get smaller payments is totally the best thing to do. :rollseyes:

Now I can't offer any less than $800 cash to them. Maybe I'll get them to give me like $400 or something. That's their dealer fee.
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I walked out on a dealer once that didn't give me what I wanted for my trade in. They called me back the next day and matched my request as long as I came in and put a down payment.

Sucked for them because, although I came back and bought the car, it wasn't before I checked out another car elsewhere. I said up my trade in another $500 and knock off another ~$400 on the car I'm buying and I'll buy from you.

They complied.
 
Tweak155 said:
I walked out on a dealer once that didn't give me what I wanted for my trade in. They called me back the next day and matched my request as long as I came in and put a down payment.

Sucked for them because, although I came back and bought the car, it wasn't before I checked out another car elsewhere. I said up my trade in another $500 and knock off another ~$400 on the car I'm buying and I'll buy from you.

They complied.
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How much $$$ was the car you were buying? The car Im looking at is listed for $15447. They won't go from "we won't budge at all" to "yeah sure, $900 off sounds fine".

I'm going to call them back and say that I'll put $800 down if they can knock off $600. Give me 300 more for my car, and knock $300 off the sticker of the used car. If they won't do that.. then I'll tell them to call me back if they change their mind.

I freaking hate buying cars.
 
What do you guys think of a used car that averaged 30,000 miles per year? I'm looking at a two-year old car that has 60,000! D: The price is very attractive.
 
Mermaidman said:
What do you guys think of a used car that averaged 30,000 miles per year? I'm looking at a two-year old car that has 60,000! D: The price is very attractive.
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Depends on the car, how well it was maintained, and how the miles were put on it.

Long highway miles with regular oil changes will put very little wear and tear on the drive train. In-town driving adding up to 30K/year (eg delivery) puts a LOT more wear and tear on the drive train. Also add brake and suspension wear on top of that.
 
I find that high mileage cars can be a great deal, with a caveat. Engines are not the issue concerning miles- the rest of the car is. Most engines (even American ones) can easily go 200k miles. The problem is the interior will look trashed, or the headlights will fade/cloud over, etc. Personally I think if you can look past the aesthetics you will find amazing deals.
 
Mermaidman said:
What do you guys think of a used car that averaged 30,000 miles per year? I'm looking at a two-year old car that has 60,000! D: The price is very attractive.
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Paint is probably trashed in front from all the highway miles for the age. Suspension will probably require replacement. So long as you have reciepts for oil and transmission services I wouldn't worry too much, but make sure you get something off for the fact that it has almost no warranty, if any.
 
On a 2-yr old car, you can negotiate for a service contract/extended warranty, something I generally DON'T recommend, but with 2 years/60k miles, it might be cheap and cheap insurance for 4 years....doesn't hurt to consider.
 
z1ggy said:
How much $$$ was the car you were buying? The car Im looking at is listed for $15447. They won't go from "we won't budge at all" to "yeah sure, $900 off sounds fine".

I'm going to call them back and say that I'll put $800 down if they can knock off $600. Give me 300 more for my car, and knock $300 off the sticker of the used car. If they won't do that.. then I'll tell them to call me back if they change their mind.

I freaking hate buying cars.
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It was listed around 23800 and I got it for 21900 and talked my trade in up $1k. I'd call and give them your terms, worst they say is no.
 
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