Suggestions on negotiating a cheap used car?

[ai42]

I am looking at purchasing a cheap used car from a local dealer.

1. I MUST have this car as it is exactly what I want, as it is somewhat rare. I have considered driving hundreds of miles for this exact make/model/config. As I have a spare turbo engine, tranmission and a whole bunch of parts to make it go fast that I'm itching to use.
2. I have the funds to pay the entire car cost in cash (or equivelants).
3. Window price = 4250, Posted on Craigslist = 3500, Posted on website for $899 down (no specifics otherwise).
4. The car is 10 years old and high mileage so it is not very likely a bank would finance it (dealer is probably self financing but I don't know).
5. This is a small time dealer and it looks like from his limited inventory he deals with pretty cheap cars < $5k.
6. There are a couple small issues, missing fog lights, and tear in seat which I could care less about but could be negotiating points.
7. KBB: Trade-in=1965 Private Party=3120 Retail=4800 (however it is NOT in retail condition)
8. NADA: Low=2200 Mid=3075 High=3725

I guess it goes without saying that I will pretty much buy the car irregardless since I WANT this car for a project car but I want to minimmize what I pay obviously. I know I shouldn't let on how much I want this car. Any suggestions otherwise? I'm thinking when I go over tomorrow to just shoot him a 3k cash offer, but I'm not sure.

 

[acemcmac]

If you have an emotional attachment to it, you are automatically at a disadvantage in the negotiating process.

 

[ViviTheMage]

ask him what hes asking, bring it down couple hundred, state reasons why it should be lowered, such as (it needs a new timing belt, tires, brakes, etc, etc).

small time dealers are pretty easy to talk down.

 

[Ronstang]

Cash talks. Offer a price but have the envelope with the bills in your hand to show him. If your offer is fair I bet you walk out with the car. I walked into a Kawasaki dealer in 1990 to get a new ZX-7. Sticker was $7100 and I had an envelope with $6250 dollars in it. I showed it to the salesman and told him it was all the cash I had and somewhere that day I was buying a ZX-7. He said my offer was too low but he would talk to the sales manager......I walked out with the bike.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Cash talks. Offer a price but have the envelope with the bills in your hand to show him. If your offer is fair I bet you walk out with the car. I walked into a Kawasaki dealer in 1990 to get a new ZX-7. Sticker was $7100 and I had an envelope with $6250 dollars in it. I showed it to the salesman and told him it was all the cash I had and somewhere that day I was buying a ZX-7. He said my offer was too low but he would talk to the sales manager......I walked out with the bike.

:thumbsup:

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Cash talks. Offer a price but have the envelope with the bills in your hand to show him. If your offer is fair I bet you walk out with the car. I walked into a Kawasaki dealer in 1990 to get a new ZX-7. Sticker was $7100 and I had an envelope with $6250 dollars in it. I showed it to the salesman and told him it was all the cash I had and somewhere that day I was buying a ZX-7. He said my offer was too low but he would talk to the sales manager......I walked out with the bike.

I agree. If you can show him cash so that he knows he's walking away from this deal with money in his pocket immediately, that is a whole lot more incentive for him to sell the car cheaper.

 

[ai42]

So $3k cash sound reasonable to what I should walk in with?

 

[VirginiaDonkey]

Look and see how long the car has been on the lot ( usually you can tell by the inspection sticker month) if it has been there for a while, he will be more than willing to deal, and I would start at 2500 and let them counteroffer. If the car has not been sitting for a while (over a month) they may try to hold out for their asking price so I would try for 3K.

3K out the door seems reasonable if the car checks out.

 

[fire400]

interior

paint job

weather dmg

parts: tires, dash board

how clean the car is

oil change, gas, power steering fluid; ... fluids all together, top level?

color fading?

use the oldness to grab attention that the car is old and it needs to be sold, so do not ask, but demand that you get it for a cheaper price, because you are a potential buyer that needs something NOW NOW NOW NOW........ NOW~

 

[wasssup]

Originally posted by: ai42
I am looking at purchasing a cheap used car from a local dealer.

1. I MUST have this car as it is exactly what I want, as it is somewhat rare. I have considered driving hundreds of miles for this exact make/model/config. As I have a spare turbo engine, tranmission and a whole bunch of parts to make it go fast that I'm itching to use.
2. I have the funds to pay the entire car cost in cash (or equivelants).
3. Window price = 4250, Posted on Craigslist = 3500, Posted on website for $899 down (no specifics otherwise).
4. The car is 10 years old and high mileage so it is not very likely a bank would finance it (dealer is probably self financing but I don't know).
5. This is a small time dealer and it looks like from his limited inventory he deals with pretty cheap cars < $5k.
6. There are a couple small issues, missing fog lights, and tear in seat which I could care less about but could be negotiating points.
7. KBB: Trade-in=1965 Private Party=3120 Retail=4800 (however it is NOT in retail condition)
8. NADA: Low=2200 Mid=3075 High=3725

I guess it goes without saying that I will pretty much buy the car irregardless since I WANT this car for a project car but I want to minimmize what I pay obviously. I know I shouldn't let on how much I want this car. Any suggestions otherwise? I'm thinking when I go over tomorrow to just shoot him a 3k cash offer, but I'm not sure.

Just curious...what car are we talking about? I would've said 240sx, but that's not turbo'd here...

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: wasssup

Originally posted by: ai42
I am looking at purchasing a cheap used car from a local dealer.

1. I MUST have this car as it is exactly what I want, as it is somewhat rare. I have considered driving hundreds of miles for this exact make/model/config. As I have a spare turbo engine, tranmission and a whole bunch of parts to make it go fast that I'm itching to use.
2. I have the funds to pay the entire car cost in cash (or equivelants).
3. Window price = 4250, Posted on Craigslist = 3500, Posted on website for $899 down (no specifics otherwise).
4. The car is 10 years old and high mileage so it is not very likely a bank would finance it (dealer is probably self financing but I don't know).
5. This is a small time dealer and it looks like from his limited inventory he deals with pretty cheap cars < $5k.
6. There are a couple small issues, missing fog lights, and tear in seat which I could care less about but could be negotiating points.
7. KBB: Trade-in=1965 Private Party=3120 Retail=4800 (however it is NOT in retail condition)
8. NADA: Low=2200 Mid=3075 High=3725

I guess it goes without saying that I will pretty much buy the car irregardless since I WANT this car for a project car but I want to minimmize what I pay obviously. I know I shouldn't let on how much I want this car. Any suggestions otherwise? I'm thinking when I go over tomorrow to just shoot him a 3k cash offer, but I'm not sure.

Just curious...what car are we talking about? I would've said 240sx, but that's not turbo'd here...

Can't think of too many 10 year old turbo cars that are that cheap. I'm going to guess a DSM.

 

[ai42]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf

Originally posted by: wasssup

Originally posted by: ai42
I am looking at purchasing a cheap used car from a local dealer.

1. I MUST have this car as it is exactly what I want, as it is somewhat rare. I have considered driving hundreds of miles for this exact make/model/config. As I have a spare turbo engine, tranmission and a whole bunch of parts to make it go fast that I'm itching to use.
2. I have the funds to pay the entire car cost in cash (or equivelants).
3. Window price = 4250, Posted on Craigslist = 3500, Posted on website for $899 down (no specifics otherwise).
4. The car is 10 years old and high mileage so it is not very likely a bank would finance it (dealer is probably self financing but I don't know).
5. This is a small time dealer and it looks like from his limited inventory he deals with pretty cheap cars < $5k.
6. There are a couple small issues, missing fog lights, and tear in seat which I could care less about but could be negotiating points.
7. KBB: Trade-in=1965 Private Party=3120 Retail=4800 (however it is NOT in retail condition)
8. NADA: Low=2200 Mid=3075 High=3725

I guess it goes without saying that I will pretty much buy the car irregardless since I WANT this car for a project car but I want to minimmize what I pay obviously. I know I shouldn't let on how much I want this car. Any suggestions otherwise? I'm thinking when I go over tomorrow to just shoot him a 3k cash offer, but I'm not sure.

Just curious...what car are we talking about? I would've said 240sx, but that's not turbo'd here...

Can't think of too many 10 year old turbo cars that are that cheap. I'm going to guess a DSM.

Subaru Impreza LX 2 door. It isn't factory turbo but I HAVE a turbo engine and 95% of the parts I need to swap the entire driveline.

I don't consider 240SXs or most DSMs too rare. The only thing I can think of that is pretty rare along those lines is a GSX. But older Subarus in general are hard to find in Texas since we don't get snow/ice. Certainly since the WRX in 2002 they are all over the place but the old GC6/8 GM6/8 bodystyles are rare around here.

As far as the car being around a long time I don't think that is the case. I checked the picture file properties on his website (he posted the unedited pics from his digital camera) and the pics were taken last week. In fact I went through and checked all the cars on his site and it appears he only has 1 car that has been there for more than a month.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Most used "older" car dealers will finance at about 20-30% down of the intended selling price.
The offered price will be about twice what they paid for it.

Find out what the "black book" price is on the vehicle and start with an offer of $300-$500 over that amount.

The dealers need to turn over cars; that is their profit. A vehicle sitting on their lot costs them lost opportunity $$.


/benifits of having an interest in a user car business.

 

[ai42]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Most used "older" car dealers will finance at about 20-30% down of the intended selling price.
The offered price will be about twice what they paid for it.

Find out what the "black book" price is on the vehicle and start with an offer of $300-$500 over that amount.

The dealers need to turn over cars; that is their profit. A vehicle sitting on their lot costs them lost opportunity $$.


/benifits of having an interest in a user car business.

How or where would I determine the "Black book" value?

 

[superHARD]

stand up and act like your going to walk out. If they stop you you did good. If not go to next place and don't completly walk out. There are lots of places to buy cars. haggle and haggle until you get the price you want...

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: superHARD
stand up and act like your going to walk out. If they stop you you did good. If not go to next place and don't completly walk out. There are lots of places to buy cars. haggle and haggle until you get the price you want...

haha yea!

 

[lokiju]

Step one

Don't buy from a dealer if you want a cheap car.