Used car Bargaining strategies.

Stolly

Stolly

Stolly

Soldato
Joined
11 Mar 2004
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I'm about to embark on buying a used car, but i'm totally clueless as to how to go about haggling money off. I'm pretty sure that just paying the price on the windscreen isn't good enough though :)

How do i go about it ? What's the best opening gambit ?
 
The price on the windscreen is but just a part of the deal.

I'll always try and focus on price to change, and then any other bits I want thrown in (Tax/MOT/Breakdown Cover/Warranty/Car Mats/Full Tank of Fuel/Service/Tyres Whatever)

Just be honest. If your really serious about buying the car having some cash with you to show as a deposit that your not a time waster. This has always helped me get a good deal. Calling up in advance and getting the name of a salesman so he/she knows your coming seems to assist me as well. Building a rapport with the guy behind the counter means you can try and help yourself out there.
 
Just dont get too excited about the car you are looking at, view it dispassionately and go in at a price you are comfortable paying.

I tend to find dealers who ask silly money for cars............ tend not to sell a lot of cars.
 
The only bargaining power you have is the cost of other cars available then some cheekiness. If it's a dealer take every additional extra, gap insurance additional warranty etc then get the base price of the car down then cancel all the extras the next day, you have a cooling off period.

If it's a private sale know what the car is worth on the market then just play hard ball, at the moment people need cash so being a bit cheeky is par for the course
 
Thanks for the tips chaps....i'll be paying cash, any value in asking what his cash price is ie what he'll take off the sticker price ?
 
Stolly said:
Thanks for the tips chaps....i'll be paying cash, any value in asking what his cash price is ie what he'll take off the sticker price ?
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Depends.

Most will just point at the sticker, that will work at independant second hand dealers where you are talking to the guy who owns the cars and decides the margins.

With a branded dealership, you might get a bit of luck towards the end of the month if things are going slow.
 
Surely this depends almost entirely on what the car is, how much it is compared to other cars that are similar and what if anything is wrong with it :confused:

No good us recommending you take 200 quid off because it has 2 tyres on 2mm if it doesnt.
 
I heard when making offers to user odd numbers like 1835, 9770 etc. Meant to come across like you've put thought into the amount and your max budget and that's all you can offer

Not sure if it works though
 
Oxide™ said:
I heard when making offers to user odd numbers like 1835, 9770 etc. Meant to come across like you've put thought into the amount and your max budget and that's all you can offer

Not sure if it works though
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I cant see that working to be honest, if you have got 1835, in all honesty you have also got 1900 quid havent you.
 
It can be worth checking out Parker's to see what a car of a given age should be worth. At least then you have some idea of whether the marked price is above or below what's expected.
 
The best tip I ever got with negotiating is don't start if you're not prepared to walk away. As mentioned by a previous poster, enter into negotiations dispassionately.
 
Some areas to work on:
- The price of similar spec cars via say Autotrader. Make sure that you've actually done the research though. Pointless trying to compare different spec cars and you'll quickly have the rug pulled from under you by any clued up salesman
- Check the car you're considering buying in detail, ie. it's obvious condition (mileage, paintwork, tyres, oil condition on the dipstick, any knocks, panel gap mis-alignment etc), then also consider when it next needs servicing, how much that will cost etc. That can sometimes open up an area of negotiation
- As already stated, be prepared to walk away and say no
- Lastly, and this is a personal opinion, buy from someone you actually like. I remember reading years ago that it's good to do business with people you LIKE doing business with. If they're offhand and don't give a stuff when selling you a car, imagine what they'll be like if it comes to after sales care and similar. Additionally, my experiences are that the people most likely to shaft you by covering up dodgy histories about their car and also typically the least pleasant people when you first meet them. Finding someone who's actually a NICE person to deal with is NOT impossible.
 
None of these tips are worth jack ****, its all down to the person on the day.

Just choose a maximum budget and then start a few hundred quid below it. As BigT said the best advice is know when to walk away, dont fall in love with a car, there are plenty more out there.
 
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