negotiating the price of a used car

karenmaryobrien

My old daewoo matiz finally conked it and am now looking to buy a good reliable small car. (thinking Toyota yaris or Aygo/Peugot 107).

I've been doing a bit of online window shopping (carzone.ie, cbg.ie, autotrader.ie) noticing that prices are still quite high in Ireland even though everyone talks about getting good deals in the current climate. E.g. lowest price 2004 Toyota Yaris I found was advertised at 6,000 euro.. is that not a bit much? I've even emailed some of the dealers to see if their prices are negotiable - most dealers have indicated that they'll negotiate .. slightly... but the price won't come down as far as I'd hope.

Someone told me recently they'd try and get the dealer to knock at least 20% off the price of the car before they'd buy it. Basically, I'm wondering, what people's experiences have been with bargaining for a used car, before I venture out into the 'real' world and visit some car dealers. E.g. a car with a price tag of 6,000 how much would you try and bargain down to?

Anan1

It all depends on how the car's priced to start with. Focus on the actual price as opposed to the discount off the asking.

cvisser

in my opinion, there is no 2 used cars the same, and its not just the car u are buying, its the warranty, back up service, repitable dealer with a good reputation, i'm a firm believer in gut instinct, if u feel the car, dealer, warranty, the salesperson are all good, then that's when u sit down and bash out a price,(dont forget the test-drive) you have to like the people your buying of! There is a thread here from people who have bought cars of Sales-People in Certain garages and sharing there buying experience weather it was good or bad and that would be a good place to start of. There is a good choice of cars out there @ the minute, There very few bad cars out there, just choose rite and dont jump on the first car u see, and as allways BUYER BEWARE.

Henry Ford III

Anan1 wrote: »

It all depends on how the car's priced to start with. Focus on the actual price as opposed to the discount off the asking.

I agree. Do your homework. The aim is to strive for value, not discount.

Example 1. Car is priced at €10k. Buyer gets it for €8k and thinks it's a bargain.

Example 2. Same car is priced at €7950. Seller won't let it go for less than €7500. Buyer walk away unhappy with the discount being offered.

duffman08

Every car in the world is unique. Its has been treated differently, driven differently and looked after differently.
Especially with older used vehicles.
there has to be some sort of value on buying from a local reputable dealer whom are offering a warranty with the vehicle,after sales service, maybe a courtesy car when your own is being serviced.
Look at the asking price of the vehicle in respect to its age, milegage and condition both outside and inside.

For Example you couldnt expect to get 06 Focus Priced at €10000 for €8000 when its in imaculate condition, one owner from new. A full service History from the Local Ford Garage, its fully serviced, valeted and has a 6 months warranty.


Maybe you'd could buy from the uk and bring it in for less than €8000,
what kinda history does this car have & is it documented?
if anything goes wrong with the car some tuesday eveing on the way home form picking up the kids from school, who sorts the problem?

Tigger

duffman08 wrote: »

if anything goes wrong with the car some tuesday eveing on the way home form picking up the kids from school, who sorts the problem?

the aa

cars here are over priced work out what it will cost you for the same car in a dealre in the uk including vrt etc and add €500
then offer that
if you don't get it go elsewhere

Saab Ed

karenmaryobrien wrote: »

My old daewoo matiz finally conked it and am now looking to buy a good reliable small car. (thinking Toyota yaris or Aygo/Peugot 107).

I've been doing a bit of online window shopping (carzone.ie, cbg.ie, autotrader.ie) noticing that prices are still quite high in Ireland even though everyone talks about getting good deals in the current climate. E.g. lowest price 2004 Toyota Yaris I found was advertised at 6,000 euro.. is that not a bit much? I've even emailed some of the dealers to see if their prices are negotiable - most dealers have indicated that they'll negotiate .. slightly... but the price won't come down as far as I'd hope.

Someone told me recently they'd try and get the dealer to knock at least 20% off the price of the car before they'd buy it. Basically, I'm wondering, what people's experiences have been with bargaining for a used car, before I venture out into the 'real' world and visit some car dealers. E.g. a car with a price tag of 6,000 how much would you try and bargain down to?

Please dont get insulted by this but if you are a women its simple ( I here by dismiss all nah sayers in advance to my advice )
Find a sales MAN , wear a short skirt, play dumb and what ever price he gives you then look forlorn and dissapointed and just keep asking can he do better because you just dont have that much. When you think you have hit the target price then ask him to give you a moment and walk away to make a call. Come back and agree to the deal on the basis of a full tank, full service and atleast a 12 month warranty.

DO NOT bring your husband/boyfriend/father/brother or any close/blood relation/loving partner to the negotation table until after the deal is done.
These men tend to suffer from the " I'm gonna get her a great deal " syndrome which only ends in him tyring to get a deal that cant be got, the salesman getting pissed off and the female not getting the car she wants. If after the deal is done by all means bring someone to check the car and talk the deal over with. If you are not happy then just walk away.

This is the Gospel of Saab Ed...:D

RLJ

karenmaryobrien wrote: »

getting good deals in the current climate. ........most dealers have indicated that they'll negotiate .. slightly... but the price won't come down as far as I'd hope.

Agree see little evidence of dealers giving much discount and they always have some story about why they shouldn't and why it is better than a car that made more. Very tiring this car shopping. Drove a 00 reg Mazda 323 the other day and he would not come down from 2,700. Yesterday it was a peugeot 206 and it was 2650 and the only way he would come down is if I traded which meant he was still getting the same amount essentially. Methinks the dealers are holding out for the fool who is born every minute , recession or not

crocro

karenmaryobrien wrote: »

E.g. lowest price 2004 Toyota Yaris I found was advertised at 6,000 euro.. is that not a bit much?

It's probably about right. Small cars depreciate more slowly than larger and this is a functional car for a recession not a boom time status symbol.

I've even emailed some of the dealers to see if their prices are negotiable - most dealers have indicated that they'll negotiate .. slightly... but the price won't come down as far as I'd hope.

There is no negotiation by email or phone. They have to see you in person.

Someone told me recently they'd try and get the dealer to knock at least 20% off the price of the car before they'd buy it. Basically, I'm wondering, what people's experiences have been with bargaining for a used car, before I venture out into the 'real' world and visit some car dealers. E.g. a car with a price tag of 6,000 how much would you try and bargain down to?

In this case, 5,500. If you look at carzone then the cheapest cars are often 5-10% above market value while the others are just dreaming and not worth contacting.

jaybee747

I think you need to be a little cheeky in making offers on the car you want, I bought a 2nd hand car after 3 months of searching, i had one in mind with all the trimings and was detemined to get it but at a good price. I went into dealers all over Dublin and basically offered 2,3 and 4 grand below asking price. I'd say about 30% of dealers got back to me and agreed the price.
I was out every weekend on every forcourt looking until i found the one i wanted. There is no harm in offering a few grand lower than asking price ,whats the worse that can happen, you get a No, so all you do is head to the next dealer.
If you want to get a car for 6k look at those around 7k / 7.5k and offer them 6,like wise with cars marked up 6k,offer 1k /1.5k below asking.

-Chris-

Saab Ed wrote: »

Please dont get insulted by this but if you are a women its simple ( I here by dismiss all nah sayers in advance to my advice )
Find a sales MAN , wear a short skirt, play dumb and what ever price he gives you then look forlorn and dissapointed and just keep asking can he do better...

Now I'm insulted by this!! :D

It doesn't matter if you come in wearing dungarees, a full suit of armor or are stark bloody naked, I'm going to do my best to minimise any discount given because it affects me in the pocket (and because it's my job - sell the car profitably at a price the customer's happy with).

I, like all red blooded males, appreciate a short skirt, but if you want a good deal, you'd better be prepared to do the work!

Saab Ed

AudiChris wrote: »

Now I'm insulted by this!! :D

It doesn't matter if you come in wearing dungarees, a full suit of armor or are stark bloody naked, I'm going to do my best to minimise any discount given because it affects me in the pocket (and because it's my job - sell the car profitably at a price the customer's happy with).

I, like all red blooded males, appreciate a short skirt, but if you want a good deal, you'd better be prepared to do the work!

Ah yer all talk now but admit it , you're as easy as the rest of us
You aint fooling anybody . More to the point its the second paragraph thats of most importance. Nothing worse than a father trying to buy a car for his daughter who ends up making a tool of himself. I dont know about you but if I get one trying to be the man then I end up just digging in twice as hard. If the daughter really wants the car she usually comes back on her own a day later and bingo you have her. And twice as easy thanks to her dad

yop

AudiChris - I dont know where you work so you might not want to reveal this, BUT in this currently climate are salesmen more eager to put in a sale and therefore what percentage would a normal job "hope" to get off an advertised price in a garage?

Say a 10k car, realistically what do you think a person who is persistent could get it for!

-Chris-

yop wrote: »

AudiChris - I dont know where you work so you might not want to reveal this, BUT in this currently climate are salesmen more eager to put in a sale and therefore what percentage would a normal job "hope" to get off an advertised price in a garage?

Say a 10k car, realistically what do you think a person who is persistent could get it for!

It all comes down to this:

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I agree. Do your homework. The aim is to strive for value, not discount.

Example 1. Car is priced at €10k. Buyer gets it for €8k and thinks it's a bargain.

Example 2. Same car is priced at €7950. Seller won't let it go for less than €7500. Buyer walk away unhappy with the discount being offered.

Don't look at the discount you're getting, look at how the discounted price compares to the discounted prices in other garages for similar cars. To get that information, you're going to have to do the legwork and visit a few garages!
Secondly, if you're trading in, don't look at the value they're offering for your trade-in, it's much better to look at the cost-to-change (how much money do they want from you with your car).

yop

AudiChris wrote: »

It all comes down to this:




Don't look at the discount you're getting, look at how the discounted price compares to the discounted prices in other garages for similar cars. To get that information, you're going to have to do the legwork and visit a few garages!
Secondly, if you're trading in, don't look at the value they're offering for your trade-in, it's much better to look at the cost-to-change (how much money do they want from you with your car).

LOL a salesman response!

I know what you are saying, my wifes needs to change her motor, the car with the same mileage in the main dealer is 5.5k and the car they have which she likes is there for 9k.
But of course I am not going to go in there with 4k and the car and get the new car. I presume the "wash out" is more than 10%. So what do you think I could bargain that car for. I know its a piece of string.
He car private is going for about 4.5-5k.

I would appreciate a rough idea, I know u cant take into account details when have not seen the car!

Anan1

yop wrote: »

I would appreciate a rough idea, I know u cant take into account details when have not seen the car!

Honestly, it's completely impossible to say without knowing the real values of the two cars involved. Like you say, it's a piece of string question.

robio

A friend of my working in one of the larger garages said no matter what the asking price is, knock 20% off. He's involved with sales.
I suppose if the car is only 5k they wont go as far as 20%

indenial

I have been looking at buying in the last few weeks. I got a price list about 2 weeks ago from my local garage when I just started out looking. I just went on internet to see if a car I liked was still there and 500 euros had been knocked off the asking price. When I checked the rest of the cars similar discounts were offered. Prices will fall further methinks.

Saab Ed

robio wrote: »

A friend of my working in one of the larger garages said no matter what the asking price is, knock 20% off. He's involved with sales.
I suppose if the car is only 5k they wont go as far as 20%

Thats the stuff. He's going to be there for a long time . I'd love to have him working for me , he's gonna make someone a fortune . Thats the attitude in a rack em, stack em and pack em dealer. Better cars always fetch better prices so if he has to start giving it away before he even starts ,well!

tommygun999

First off your looking in all the wrong places. Carzone, Cbg and Autotrader the the most overpriced places to look for a car. Inflated dealer and private prices. Look at your local classified ads, Donedeal.ie, Gumtree.ie, ebay.ie and adverts.ie. Car prices will continue to fall, month on month, there's no getting away from that. Dont be giving your money away to a seller, your the one who will be losing money when you go to sell it on so don't be to soft.

eman66

Is it ok if I ask a question here?

What would be a good price to trade in something like this:

http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2920198

for this:

http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=2910629

L-M

Around 12k I think.