Buying used sub...need negotiating advice

[Kingfisher]

I'm looking at an 04, 35th anniv. edition that is priced well below all the kelley blue book figures, $8700 w/83k miles. If i go look at this car today, where do you start negotiating when the price is lower than book value??

[johnceggleston]

I'm looking at an 04, 35th anniv. edition that is priced well below all the kelley blue book figures, $8700 w/83k miles. If i go look at this car today, where do you start negotiating when the price is lower than book value??

 

kbb is a seller's blue book.

look it up at www.edmunds.com that would be my target price. but to get it for that you have to start lower.

 

if you are hooked on the car then you are going to pay more for it. but if it meets your criteria and you want a deal you can't be emotionally involved. you have to be willing to walk away. you can always go back. lots of cars will do the job you need it to do. but in my humble opinion, cars are tools to do a job, not investments or status symbols. but that didn't keep me from wanting and buying an outback instead of a dumb ol' plain jane legacy.

 

having said that, the price and miles combined are not a terrible deal, in my opinion. a little more than i would want to pay but not terrible.

 

there is a timing belt in the near future, 105k miles or months, next year? so you can use that, and anything else that is not perfect.

 

look on ebay or craigslist and find similar cars for the price you want or less.

 

good luck.

Edited October 9, 2010 by johnceggleston

[The Chad]

I don't know if you'd be comfortable with this, and it may not be a good idea depending on your location or who the seller is, but cash is an excellent negotiating tool if you've got it.

 

With cash, you could tell them you'll hand them the cash today for however much you want to spend. There's someting about he idea of thousands of dollars of actual cash in the seller's hand is a great motivator for the seller to sell for less.

 

I'd bought one car that way, and a friend of mine actually takesthe cash along when he goes to look at a car, and that seals the deal. I don't recommend physically carrying the cash to look at the car, works for my friend that buys and sells but it's not safe!

[WRX2FFU]

I don't know if you'd be comfortable with this, and it may not be a good idea depending on your location or who the seller is, but cash is an excellent negotiating tool if you've got it.

 

With cash, you could tell them you'll hand them the cash today for however much you want to spend. There's someting about he idea of thousands of dollars of actual cash in the seller's hand is a great motivator for the seller to sell for less.

 

I'd bought one car that way, and a friend of mine actually takesthe cash along when he goes to look at a car, and that seals the deal. I don't recommend physically carrying the cash to look at the car, works for my friend that buys and sells but it's not safe!

 

I did that with my truck. Got a 10k truck for $7500. I would have paid 10k...

 

I just looked it over, drove it. I knew what it was worth. I had 9k cash with me. When it came time I took out $7500, showed it to him and said this is all i can offer, will you take it?

 

Him and his wife looked at the money, then eachother, made weird faces.

 

Then I drove away with the truck...

[idosubaru]

good advice - cash is king with private sellers.

 

if it's a dealer it'll depend. some like cash some don't. they have pre-canned lines and explanations for making sure you don't feel to powerful with green stuff like (off the top of my head): "......we would prefer to maintain relationships with loyal buyers who will consider our loan options." or flat out "we make less money when people pay cash over our financing products....."

[WRX2FFU]

^Right about the dealers. Most bigger ones could care less.

 

The biggest key like said above. Be willing to walk away if your offer is not accepted. I usually pick a price I am willing to pay, and don't budge.

 

If you don't get it i guess it was not meant to be.

[markjw]

Make sure they,wheather dealer or private sale, have all the keys and fobs that are suppose to come with the vehicle. Modern keys and fobs can be dealer specific and can be Spendy. After the deal is done,and the contract signed,you'll kick yourself if they hand you one single key.

[Rooster2]

All the cash talk on previous responses is spot right on. When I sell or buy a used car from a private seller, I always use cash. I never consider taking a personal check from a buyer, no matter how honest or trustworthy they seem. It is never worth the hassle of dealing with a bad check. I take either a check, or a bank counter check, which I know the bank guarantees the money is set aside at the bank to cover the check amount.

 

When I am on the buying side of the ledger, I often will carry two wads of money when making an offer. One pocket has what I consider what I will pay for the vehicle on the low side. If appropriate, I offer that wad of money first to make it look like that is maybe all I have, and I kinda act that way too. The other pocket maybe has a thousand or so for extra bargaining should I want to do that.

 

It is very important not to flash a wad of money around anywhere, particularly if there are a bunch of people around. You don't want to look like someone that would be inviting to be robbed.