Buying a used car from the dealer. Need advice on price.

[ShelbyMotorspts]

Need to purchase a good used car for my wife. We have no particular model or make in mind but plan on going to our local auto mall to find something nice.

So basically we will be purchasing a used car from probably the Ford, Chevy or Toyota dealers used car lot and am wondering what would be a safe ballpark discount to negotiate off their asking price.

Yes I understand each car and/or dealer is different but isn't there a ballpark percentage that can be taken off the asking price right away. For some reason I'm thinking that 10-15% is a good place to start.


I'm not looking for the lowest price in history but just want to reduce the game playing by coming up with a fair percentage to be taken off the asking price.

Does 10-15% sound like a reasonable discount to you guys on a used car?

[Raudermaster]

It depends. I mean, Chevy, Ford, and Toyota have their own, different pricing. A Toyota could be $17k, a Chevy could be $15k, and a Ford could be $12k, so it would be a toss up. Granted, if any one of them were $12k, you wouldn't get them down that much, as that car seems to be low priced anyway. However though, if you find a car that's about $18k, you will most likely be able to talk them down.

[ShelbyMotorspts]

My goal is to find 3 or 4 cars that are acceptable to her and instead of spending hours negotiating I want to just make an offer and if they say no we move on to the next car/dealer.

For example let's say we find a Ford Taurus, a Chev Monte Carlo, a Toyota Camry on the various dealer used car lots that are acceptable. I'm not interested in spending hours researching what each of these different cars sell for but just want to make a fair offer and move on to the next car/dealer if it's refused.

For some reason I want to say that someone told me before that at a minimum 15% should always come off the dealers used car asking price.

Fortunately we'll be buying the car in full so I wont have to play the salesmans game of "what payments are you looking for?"

[Donny Carlson]

Try browsing the web sites of the dealers (or Automax or Driver's Way) to narrow down your choices. Then when you go, you'll have specific cars to seek out and look at. Also, you can arrive prepared with used car quotes from Blue Book or NADA, plus Carfax information on the car.

[RoyLPita]

If you go for a Ford, GM or Chrylser, I can get you a report.

[Black_Noise]

trust me i test drive cars for fun when i have the time, and afterwards they usually want to discuss price (which you have to do to come back and test drive there again sometime) and i know, if your buying outright with no trade its easyer, they can screw you on the price of your trade, so now all they have is the car they are selling, they will come down one grand at least on anything over 10k and usually with enough bs ing they will throw in the tax title liscence, even if you have to tell them thats what it will take to make it happen and they say no, leave, they will call u in a day or two, or stop back in and go with that same price you left negotiating with, they will take it

[younga1]

Try the classified section here!!!

[chrish]

It depends. I mean, Chevy, Ford, and Toyota have their own, different pricing. A Toyota could be $17k, a Chevy could be $15k, and a Ford could be $12k, so it would be a toss up. Granted, if any one of them were $12k, you wouldn't get them down that much, as that car seems to be low priced anyway. However though, if you find a car that's about $18k, you will most likely be able to talk them down.

you've lost me......

[BigGuyBigCar]

Shelby -

I've read (somewhere) that average drop from asking is 8%. So makes sense to some homework first on what going asking price is, then offer -15% and be ready to walk. If they counter 8%, offer 12%.

Keep in mind that Kelley, Edmunds and NADA won't match, so don't get suckered by them referring to the one that is always the highest (Kelley?).

[ShelbyMotorspts]

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Every dealer has CarFax, NADA books, KB Books so of course I'll ask for those to be brought out when needed.

Remember dealers now make their most profit from used cars and the service department.

[GAMike]

Shelby:
There are things that influence the listed price for a car.....

Was the car a trade or an auction buy
How long has it been on the lot
Color
How many like cars in the general vicinity
Condition
Mileage

Compile this info. prior to and during your visit to the dealer. Find someone you are comfortable working with, and try to work things out.

For your typical 2000-2004 passenger car a typical dealer will try to acquire the vehicle, at 4-6k under what they initially price the car at on their lot... this way they can invest in reconditioning and still make $$ after any negotiation. The key is, the longer the car sits, the lower the asking price becomes. This will also effect how much the delaer will negotiate too.

In the end dealers I worked for wanted to make at least $2000 per used vehicle sold or more (This is after "packing" certain fee's into the vehicle to insure its not a looser).

Buying a vehicle at the end of the month when the weather is bad, at the end of a long day is your best bet for a deal though........ Get off work early, eat, rest and hit your marks 1-1 1/2 hours before closing...Make a friend with the sales person, know what you want & are willing to pay, and you probably will be ok. Salespeople love an easy sale at the end of a month. (Also be preapproved or show up with cashiers check..They will know your serious then for sure).

Good luck! let us know how you fare.

Best regards,