Negotiating at a dealership

C

Cherokeekid88

NAXJA Forum User
Location
North Carolina
So after my wife and I had a fiasco with trying to buy a car from a private seller....we have decided to go the dealership route....I feel Dealers don't have any emotional attatchment to the car and only care about the sale..... So here is my question.

Lets say, I find a slightly used car that I want and they are asking 14,900.
What do you guys think I could actually get the car for?
I have pretty much set a strict budget at about 13k.... will go as high as 13.5k if that includes everything out the door and not a penny more.
 
I'd still refuse to go to a dealer. You can buy the same car for several thousand less from a private seller. You just have to look it over well.

Just because one private seller was a bad egg doesn't mean you have to pay more for the same car.

To answer your question, I'd barter with the dealer just like anyone else. If they can't meet your needs then walk away.
 
Make an offer and work up from there... Buying from a dealership isn't that bad especially for a newer used vehicle. You have a lot more wiggle room with a dealer than a private seller. Don't let them push you, stick to your budget and if they can't get you under it just say no. A lot of times they will lop off more to make the sale

The last dealer I bought from I talked them into paying off my ragged out trade and they took another 1k of the truck I bought. I got my first oil change for free and they redid all the leather on te driver seat for free. Plus the option of the warranty is nice even if I didn't buy it.

Be smart, common sense and if there's something you like don't get emotional, just walk away and find another
 
....and just because you buy from a dealer doesn't mean you won't end up with a POS. I haven't bought a car from a dealership in over 10 years mainly due to the BS add-ons like "documentation fees". I mean really, does it cost $500 (or more) to send someone down to the tag office to transfer a title and get your tag?? Add to that all the other crap they'll try to sell you on like extended warranties and you'll be much worse off in the end.

Private sales are a much better bargain for buyers, but yes you do have to deal with a flaky seller now and then but they're not nearly as common as flaky buyers so you've got the advantage. Look the car over well, flog the hell out of it on the test drive and enjoy the savings!

Sorry I couldn't help you more haha :laugh:
 
shortxjdoug said:
Make an offer and work up from there... Buying from a dealership isn't that bad especially for a newer used vehicle. You have a lot more wiggle room with a dealer than a private seller. Don't let them push you, stick to your budget and if they can't get you under it just say no. A lot of times they will lop off more to make the sale

The last dealer I bought from I talked them into paying off my ragged out trade and they took another 1k of the truck I bought. I got my first oil change for free and they redid all the leather on te driver seat for free. Plus the option of the warranty is nice even if I didn't buy it.

Be smart, common sense and if there's something you like don't get emotional, just walk away and find another
Click to expand...

This. When I bought my car last year I got a damn good deal because I did my homework ahead of time and walked in prepared. What you can ask also has a lot to do with what it is, if its "rare" or not...etc. Some dealers don't know the high end model from the low end while some know exactly what they have and are less willing to haggle.

If you're doing a loan, I'd suggest having the loan paperwork already drawn up in the maximum amount you're willing to spend. This way all they have to do is provide the vehicle info to the loan company should you work out a deal. That's what I did with my car. I researched who had the best rates and financed through my bank. I literally walked in with the pre approval letter showing how much they approved me for, the contact info for the loan officer, and the loan number. All the dealer had to do was call and confirm the deal as well as get the final price. Of course, all this is dependant on you.not financing with the dealer.

Tell them what you want and how much you're willing to pay. I'd they say no then get up and walk out.

Make sure you know what your out the door price is. A lot of dealers will sell you the car for the price you want, but then surprise you've got an extra $500-700 in tax, tag, title and "admin fees".
 
going to look at a car on Saturday and really think it would be a good buy if I can get it for the price I want.
We will see, Im gonna go in with my chest poked out a bit and try to get a deal made.
 
Easiest thing to do is come in with a kbb statement for the car and say this is what I'm willing to pay. Unless your asking thousands less than what the car is actually worth they should work with you. And walk out if they can't.
 
Rule #1 when negotiating, be ready to walk away. Especially at a dealership, these are professional sales people. Sit there too long and they know they have you and will continue to try and wear you down. That is their job.

Know the fair value of the vehicle. If the car you want would sell all day for $14k and they are asking $14,900, then good luck walking out with it for $13k to $13,500, especially if it is a popular or desired car.

Know the fair price and be comfortable willing to pay that price. Then go in asking the price that would make you ecstatic. Negotiate from there. If they are not even willing to negotiate close to the fair price, leave your info with the sales guy and walk. If there is only a few hundred seperating the deal, come end of month the sales person will call knowing he has a for sure sale on the table to make his sales numbers.
 
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Trying to figure out my strategy....Im not usually good with negotiating things....But the car I am wanting, they are asking 14.5k and I want to be able to get it for a MAX of 13.8k out the door. Possible?
 
Went in to talk to them about a 2013 Mazda 3 i sport. Couldn't come to a deal...they wanted more than I was willing to spend. I walked out and gave them my number if they changed their mind.....Haven't heard anything and I think I really want the car...
So now I am playing around with the idea of seeing if they can get me lower interest rate instead of going through my Credit union (which I didn't want to have to do, since I am already pre approved) and try and get my payments per month at where Im comfortable...but I am just not sure....
 
the 2012 and 2013's are all around the same price... my main thing is getting a car with low miles and still under warranty.
If I can get a 2013 for around the same price maybe a little more, Im going with the 2013
 
Which dealership are you looking at? Maybe try shopping around other dealers within a couple hour drive?

I actually came up to Greensboro when I bought the Focus last year. Got a better deal up there.

You wouldn't happen to be a Costco member would you? Or you wouldn't happen to have the 2nd card in your name that a family member may have given you?

If yes, I highly suggest you look at their auto program. That's how I bought the Focus and got it at dealer invoice, plus any and all incentives they had going on top of that. Good way to save a good chunk of change since you're looking new(er). I wound up saving close to $3000 before any other incentives, just by going through that program. It's a no haggle deal, so it's like buying something from Carmax. Once you see the price, that's what it will be plus tax, tag and title.
 
No Costco membership from anyone in my family or that I know of. Sounds like a deal and a half though....We are pretty much dead set on a Mazda 3 but we want a 2013 with the skyactiv if we can help it.
We have looked at Modern Nissan in Winston and Parks Mazda in High Point...there is another Mazda 3 at Bob King Mazda in Winston but have heard bad things about them as a dealership...but I dunno.
Looking into dealerships out in Gastonia as well as virginia...but then again...don't want to drive all the way up there to have to wheel and deal and not come out with keys in my hands.
 
If you want the creature comforts, go for it.

On previous cars, I'd get the lower end model to save some money then look for ways to add in the factory goodies myself later on. Then I wised up and just bought something with all the stuff I wanted on it already.

20K is nothing on a new car, I wouldn't worry about those miles...
 
UNCC_99XJ said:
If you want the creature comforts, go for it.

On previous cars, I'd get the lower end model to save some money then look for ways to add in the factory goodies myself later on. Then I wised up and just bought something with all the stuff I wanted on it already.

20K is nothing on a new car, I wouldn't worry about those miles...
Click to expand...

Only thing I hate is that I don't have much room left on the warranty.

Example: 2013 mazda 3 we were looking at was priced at 14995. Was an i sport...so it wasn't the base and it had 4900 miles on it. 3 year/36k mi warranty bumper to bumper. 7 year/100k powertrain warranty and the ncomes with a 12mo/12,000 mi extended warranty...now I like that.

if I get something thats older and more miles.....

Example: 2011 mazda 3 with 22k mi. only has 3 months left on 3 year/36k mi warranty and is only about $500 cheaper than the newer one I am looking at....

I like the idea of having added features but then I look at it like its just one more thing that can go wrong with it.....
 
WAZZUXJ said:
Rule #1 when negotiating, be ready to walk away. Especially at a dealership, these are professional sales people. .
Click to expand...
this is the key. Once walked out 5 times and actually had my kids in the trade in an buckled up before they believed me. Also go pre-approved or with a cashiers check, or cash.
 
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