Hi everyone,
In the market for a used car and have no previous experience on negotiating used cars (bought last car at fixed price). What is the process when I walk into the dealership? How long am I able to test drive the cars for?
Does anyone have any tips on how much I might be able to get off on a used car that's listed at 18—23k?
Thanks
Yeah, you've got no chance of getting a good price currently. You'll get maybe $1-2k off, but wouldn't expect much more
Dam going to have a look at a car tomorrow, listed at 11k, I'll be lucky if I can get 1000 off that price and i'll be happy
Walk away at least twice from the price. Let them know you are looking at other similar vehicles.
The end of month, or EOFY is also a good time. Targets/bonuses are to be made etc.
In house warranties are usually useless, given cars these days have 5 to 7 years manufacturer's warranty.
If someone walked away from the price twice and then came back, all that tells me as a salesperson is that the person is hooked and will end up paying full price when they realise I'm not going to budge.
Maybe. I said no to an offer twice and went back to the dealer a third time, mostly because I wanted the model of car, and he'd taken the time to talk me through it and do the test drive, so I wanted him to get the sale.
In the end I rang up a competing dealership and got the deal I wanted so my sale went to them.
@BewareOfThe Dog
I think you are confusing Traditional New car buying tactics with Used Car buying tactics.
As Stratbargain says, using this tactic isnt the right play for a used car purchase, which is what the OP is asking for.
Negotiate? Depends on he vehicle what the dealer is willing to discount. If it’s been there for a while or has a good margin you might get more discount. If it’s the first day on the lot or has a slim margin you won’t get much. Also depends on what other similar vehicles are priced at - don’t pay more than market price.
What’s the process? I’d like to inspect and test drive that car. Look over it, decide if you want to test drive. Walk away or negotiate. Ignore any additional warranty, they don’t cover much and typically lock you into a service agreement to maintain it. Pay deposit, pick up car after full payment.
How long can you test drive? It’s up to the dealer. Sometimes you can get 24hrs. I’ve never done more than about 30min.
How much off $18-23k car? Your piece of string is twice the length of half of it. Pay what you are comfortable with, if the discount isn’t enough find another car there are millions of them.
Pretty much , figure out the price you want to pay and go a bit lower… so, let's say you think 10k is legitimately a good price on a 13k car… Tell the salesmen, 'I am ready to sign the contract at 9.4k right now' (and you actually are)… He will then 'speak to his manager' which means that while you and your partner are waiting in the office, the salesmen will walk to his managers office and they both will be listening in via the desk-phone to what you guys are saying, so make sure you and your wife talk to each other about how that is the absolute max' you will pay etc etc.
The salesmen will then come back and try to squeeze more juice out of you, so then go to 10k to make it a deal.
Also, be confident in the price you are asking for. You don't have to be rude or nasty, just don't be shy or act like you are embarrassed. I have purchased a handful of cars on behalf of friends from dealerships and always got terrific deals without wasting their time.
I do have an awful story to share that makes me cringe… One of my friends ordered a highly-customised Jeep with quirky additions and when it arrived 4 months later he decided the day prior to delivery he didn't want it. I had to go in and cancel the sale of this monstrosity, unpleasant experience all-round but the bigger loss would have been going ahead.
Thanks, will be going to look at a car tomorrow listed at 10888 drive away. Would like to pay around 9-9.5k (redbook prices) but dealer might not budge on the discount as they would need to make some profit too. What initial offer would you put out there to get this price? I'm worried if I lowball too much that might sour the negotiations (want to buy this car).
10k
If you want to pay 9-9.5 then you start with $9. You don’t have to be a douche about it, that’s when the negotiation goes south. The salesman should be usd to that sort of offer.
I think an offer of about 1k below what you want to pay is what you should be asking for.
Don't worry about the dealer and their profit, they have that part covered. Be confident in your asking price, in yourself, and good luck.
So.. how did it go OP?
took the car for a test drive and found there were too many problems with the cart (interior rust, service overdue and funky smell within the car) so decided not to purchase the car. seemed like it was sold a few hours after I had left the dealership will take a look at a few other cars before deciding to purchase.
Dodged a bullet there.
Unfortunately with the new car shortage due to chips and manufacturing plants still playing catchup, used cars are still in demand.
If it's an SUV/4WD/Ute you're going to have a hard time haggling at all unfortunately. In the past i've eyeballed the car, offered something that i'd be comfortable with paying through Carsales/marketplace/gumtree, this ensures that you're not just wasting their time and that they're happy to deal in your price range.
All i can suggest is not going in feeling that you have to walk away with that one car. As soon as they know that you don't have alternatives then you lose your leverage.
Drive the car, stare down the dodgy second-hand car salesman and if he doesn't give you the price you want then walk.
Most likely though they'll let you walk unless it's a really smelly car that's been sitting on the lot for a while.