Haggling price of a used car... share your experiences..

[illuminateTHE...]

So when haggling do you guys try use the 'give me a discount' 'mates rate' lines, or do you actually go out of your way to find little defects and then demand a reduction in a subtle aggressive 'im going to walk away' kinda tone.


I would like to hear some of you're exp... if you've succeeded at haggling or failed miserably.
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Theory: PASSED Module 1: PASSED Module 2: PASSED 12/2012!!!

yzf r125 [SOLD] sv650 [CURRENT]

[Polarbear]

never ever sell car, bike, woman to a mate unless it is strictly understood that there are no returns.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[bridgedino]

Gee I'm happy to pay the ticket price, its all the crap they try to add on afterwards that I hate...Evan Halshaw Kirkcaldy beware

Extended mechanical warranty
Wheel / tyre insurance
Paintwork protection
Breakdown cover
Hpi check
Service Plan
MOT plan
Gap insurance
Their 7 days 'free insurance'

The list goes on...

Avoiding all that shite is the hard part

[Ollie1995]

When I bought my mini a few years ago, they wanted £900. I said I'll give you £650, they said ok. I own a mini.
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XR 125, DT125 LC, Greeves Scottish, RS200, XS400, GPX600r

Theory Passed - 18/7/13 MOD1 Booked - 24/9/13

[johnsmith222]

[Nexus Icon]

It's a lot harder than it used to be with traders but still easy with private sellers.

With traders I would aim for getting more for the money than the car for less. Haggle for tax, fresh MOT, free next service (if they're a garage too), tank of fuel, full valet and any small paint repairs - things like that. You'll have more success than getting them to budge on price.

Also check their website if you happen to stumble across a car on a forecourt. Their Internet prices are often cheaper.

With private sellers just bang the price down then haggle up until you find common ground.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[JP7]

As someone who used to sell cars from a prestige brand for a living, if you want to haggle I'd advise the following (if buying at a dealer):

1) Be realistic... if you come out with a really stupid offer then the salesman will not take you seriously.

2) Commit to a deal... asking for a deal then wanting to go away and think about it won't get you the best price. Be prepared to put your money where your mouth is and actually buy the car. The salesman will try and close the deal by saying "If I can do this, will you buy it?" If you tell him yes and mean it, he will try his hardest to do the deal.

3) Take the finance... The phrase "I'm a cash buyer" doesn't wash any more. Dealers hate cash. Finance companies pay dealers good commission, which means they can often do better deals if you borrow the money. Low rates, deposit contributions, cashback and extra discounts can all be had. And if you really want to pay cash, take finance for the best deal and settle it later.

4) Do your homework... The dealer will usually check their prices against similar cars at other dealers. If you want their car but have seen similar cars cheaper elsewhere, show the salesman the details and ask him to match/beat. Similarly, if theirs is among the cheapest out there, don't expect a huge discount.

5) Be a serious buyer... Don't walk in, point at a car and ask for a test drive. They'll think you're a test pilot. Walk in and explain that you've seen this car they're advertising and can they show it to you... then let the salesman offer you a drive.

If you're buying privately, most of the same rules apply. Look serious, make a reasonable offer, check the price of the car you want against other similar ones advertised. Any work that needs doing can be used as a haggling tool... tyres, dents, services due, etc.

Hope that helps!

[fozzym]

You don't need to point out faults in fact it could well get the sellers back up and that doesn't bode well for a discount.

Just say things like " I like the car/bike but I'd have to do a few bits to get it how I like"........"would you take X for it" Pause........Cash....pause.......

If you have a top amount you want to pay and thats below the asking price, start lower than you want to pay and then if you have to say "I'm willing to offer X" say thats all you have to spend,say its cash and you'll take it away today.... the seller will either take it or let you go.

When making an offer ALWAYS offer an exact amount NEVER say something like this " I can go to about x amount" or "I'd pay up to x amount" Not being specific tells the seller they can try and get more from you.

Above all be nice, people are more likely to knock money off if they like you.

[Rogerborg]

You could try "Hang on, that's a car. I was looking for a bike, since I just posted about it in the General Bike Chat section of a bike forum."
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[wodge]

If you are trading in with a dealer the only figure that matters is the "cost to change". It doesn't matter who is knocking pounds off what, as long as you get the right end price.

Don't be afraid to tell the truth, if your budget is two grand, tell em your budget is two grand, why be evasive?

Say "NO" in a loud voice whenever they mention "gap insurance" or try to sell you any other crap, the local main Ford dealer lost a deal and future trade with me because they tried to bill me for the fuel already in the tank..

Do your research and buy a copy of what car.

or, if your doing it all on the cheap read up at.
https://www.bangernomics.com

Wodge
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nolidge iz pouwur.
Yamaha RXS100 RS100

[Linux]

Car up for sale, £1500.

Pull out £1000 in £20's

Stick your other hand out and say "£1000 and I'll shake your hand"

Drive home.

Or if they say "sorry mate can't go that low", laugh it off and say it was worth a try.

Walk home.
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Two wheels are all I need.

[0l0dom0l0]

[metalangel]

I had a dealer undervalue my trade in, make me sit through a 20 minute spiel of extra services and then they piled on service charges which they then were 'negotiating' away. When I pointed out that even with all the favours he was allegedly doing me we were still higher than the sticker price, the dealer walked away!
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Previous: 2002 Honda CB500 (sold), 2007 Suzuki SV650SK6 (crashed), 2005 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer (sold). Currently bikeless
"A faired bike will get you 10x more clunge than a unfaired one." -Marlboro Matt

[scobie140]

Just recently thought about trading the mrs car in and getting her a newer one but got pissed off with the dealers and said stuff it. I'm picky when it comes to buying cars so don't accept anything faulty and always research the common faults of whatever it is i'm going to buy. one dealer missed on a sale with us when the belts were screaming and a tyre was damaged, I said fix them and she'll take it but he got all ratty and said "its a used car what do you expect?" so we walked. The last guy didn't realise I could see his computer screen when valuing her car using the glass index and was trying to make a £2k mark up on her car alone plus what ever profit from the car we were going to buy. he wouldn't budge on price and said times were hard, all after a few min earlier pointing to a board on the wall showing how well they are doing selling cars this month. buy private if you want to haggle, it'll be cheaper and you won't have to deal with annoying salesman.

[Drake]

i just tell em to fuck off. if they want to pay fuck all, they get fuck all
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was: derbi senda, aprilia sx125, nsr250 mc16, cagiva mito, cb600 hornet now: mk1 bandit, KR1S, landrover series 3 light weight 2.5 petrol, 5speed box

[Scotsman37]

Study up on the going rate for cars via Gumtree, Ebay and Autotrader in regards to the price of them with current mileage, condition of vehicle and age of it then compare it to the one offer. So, after that then you can see after checking it out if their price is fair or not and, if not, then start pointing out the problems to the seller and advise that you've seen a better vehicle on offer for the same, but you can always dangle the fact you can pay cash that day otherwise just walk away from it because you don't want to pay over the odds.

Their loss not yours!

[andyscooter]

or do what happened to a friend of a friend

advertise car for £4200

someone comes to look at car

agree price

person give cash in small value notes 10s and 5s

get told there is £4000 there

take word for it

count cash later and find you sold car for £3000 instead

then realise that you havnt got any details of buyer and they have v5 aswell signed by said person
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Pie-Roe]

[cg125erinit]

[andyscooter]

[stevo as b4]

I agree that with buying from a dealer, it's the package and extra's that you need to try and angle for, not the bottom line cash price. Cheap rate finance or a 50/50 deal over 2year's is a good thing to have.

Never buy a car that's nearly 3years old, wait until it's passed it's first MOT and has no advisories.

As other's have said, if you go to a dealer, don't start looking at 3-4 totally different model's and thinking I like that one, oh actually I like that even more etc. If it's say a Black Golf Gti you want then tell them exactly what car and spec your after. if it's a used car, then find out about the car first, and go in and say I'm interested in the '07plate' Black Golf you've got for example. it show's you know what you want and that your looking for something that they actually have and probably want to shift.

With private sales, then you never normally pay the asking price, but I've seen some mint car's that you would feel bad for making a low offer on. Normally with most private stuff for sale the owner want's to sell before they get a big bill or it costs them money on a big service etc. You can with most modern car's pick faults quite easily, as few people these days look after their car any better than a household appliance.

If it's dirty inside and has kerbed alloys etc, you could for a low offer get a bit of bargain that a few quid spent and a bloody good clean would make near mint again, but more often than not of the seller's scraped all the alloys, and the interior is a mess then what else have they neglected maybe?


lastly if it's something very special or rare and it's a stunning car then, make the right impression with the seller. If they think your a mature owner that's going to look after their pride and joy, they might well be glad to sell it to you and maybe for less than they want, as they think the car has gone to a good home etc. So if an old boy is selling a one owner from new spotless old Nissan 200SX or something, don't turn up with your mate in loud lairy modded car and get out wearing your driftworks T-shirt!

[Hetzer]

[stevo as b4]

I was going to comment on this as I could not believe that the poster was actually saying he walked out of a deal with less cash than he knew he had taken in.

Was waiting for someone who would comment along the lines that if a seller would dare try to scam you like this, that you'd take it out of their face and a bit more besides!

Do people actually let themselves get knowingly fucked out out of their own money for scum like that? Id risk just about anything to get my own money back from scamming cunts like that, and wouldn't everyone do the same surely?

[cg125erinit]

All very manly but in the real world what can you do? Call the roz? No proof of any wrong doing except the bit where they say you beat up their dog/dad/wife/tiddlers and swear blind to the fact. They wouldn't turn up anyway unless you 999'd it at which point they'd probably try and arrest you for wasting their time.

Its a very hard scam to bust and getting rough is a hiding to nowt. You cant prove anything except that you are in someone else's home seemingly behaving like you're off your meds.

Live n learn.