Quick Question:

[lein]

I remember a while back someone had a link to some sort of database where users could submit the price they paid for a new vehicle. I tried searching/googling/binging but have had no luck.

To make this post less boring, this is what I'm currently looking at:

2007-2008 Maxima (have an offer for 17.9k for an 07 3.5SE, cloth, with 27k miles)
2007 g35
2007-Current Altima
2010 Fusion
2007-Current Camry

Looking to spend 15-20K (though I have a little breathing room, though the less, the better), but I want something that is fun to drive. Didn't like the Accord, love the g35, Maxima is decent, Altima is good, and Camry was OK. Liked the Fusion a lot, though just some uneasiness actually pulling the trigger. Not really a quality issue - more about the depreciation hit and am not sure if I want a brand new car (well, who doesn't want a brand new car, just not sure if it's right for me ). The Malibu doesn't really appeal to me, and haven't actually looked at the Mazda 6 or Chrysler's offerings. Anything else I should look at? Feel free to chime in and offer your opinions, votes of confidence (or the opposite), suggesstions, thoughts, etc.

 

[radioouman]

Just a quick note: I bought a 2005 Honda in December of last year. They dealer had it pretty well discounted, but I still knocked him down another $1000. I went back and looked at the listing on his website, and he showed it as sold, but showed it sold for $3000 more than I paid for it.

 

[Chunkee]

2007 g35 for 15-20k, please tell me where...

 

[vi edit]

It's virtually impossible to give an accurate representation on used vehicles. There's just too many variables.

Unless you have an "in" with the dealer or caught the person walking out the door who traded it in, you have no idea what that dealer paid for that car and how much money he has invested back into it.

And from there, every dealer has their own level of markup.

Best bet is to look up the fair value trade in of the vehicles you are interested in to get a baseline of what a dealer *likely* paid for the car. If you can somehow get access to recent auction transactions that's even better. From there you factor in the condition, any stuff the dealer has done (new tires, service work, ect) and then compare it to his asking price.

Go $500 over that difference and start from there. He'll laugh, scream, huff and puff and say he can't go that low. Then just walk out and leave your phone number for when he calls back with a counter.