4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Joojoo]

Hi

 

Bit of a strange one but hopefully someone on the allknowing forum can answer me

 

Does anyone know what sort of markup main Car Dealers put on used cars? Basically I've seen a lovely Toyota at the local Toyota dealers and I'm wondering how much realistically I can knock them down by. The car has only been there for a week and was traded in against a brand new one. I know it is a higher price than it should be for what it is - 6 years old but in immaculate condition and with only 40,000 miles on the clock. It's currently £700 more than the Parkers Guide price for main dealers so I would hope to be able to knock it down by at least £500. Can't help thinking that they've probably given the poor man who traded it in, next to nothing.

 

Crikey this car buying lark is stressful. I've never bought one "on my own" before and it's really scary. I don't think I can really go far wrong with a very reputable local main dealer but it's still very daunting all the same.

 

Wish me luck :lol:

Edited May 23, 2009 by Guest

[jackiepoppies]

Hi Jue,

OH says what model is it 'cos if it's something like a land Cruiser you could knock them down a fair bit. However, if it's a small, economical car then you won't get a lot off as they are at a premium. Once upon a time Toyota wouldn't have anything in their showrooms over 3 years old. They would have traded them out!

 

Anyway best of luck and I would ALWAYS haggle

 

Jx

[Blackrocksrock]

Go all out and offer £1000 at least lower than they asked and you can go up to £700 lower than the asking price - haggle a lot as he would have got less for the car than parkers i would think. What model is it? I love my Toyota - I have the old style Yaris an 03 plate but in great condition and genuine 53,000 miles as I got it at 44 and not done much at all with it.

[Joojoo]

Hi

 

It's an Avensis 1.8 VV-i T3-X 03 plate (May 2003). It's on at £5995 with 40,000 on the clock, 1 owner from new (elderly gentleman) and full service history. It comes with 12 month Toyota warranty and RAC cover for 12 months. Got to check the tax and mot dates. I was thinking about trying them at £5000 and seeing what they say. I'm going to stop at £5,500 as that would be over the odds for it. The Parkers Guide says to expect to pay £5300 at a main dealer, but that's with 60,000 on the clock so allowing for only having 40,000 on it that's probably worth another £200.

 

It is an absolutely lovely car. I took it for a test drive the other day and am totally smitten with it now. Talk about luxury compared to my battered old vectra

[stoice]

As well as trying to beat them down on price another route could be for them to throw some goodies in. Scotch guard, car matts, Tax etc. Also go round the car with a fine tooth comb and get them to remove any little chips and dings it may have. I also found a lot of dealers would try to 'fleece' us lady drivers. I got so fed up it I got my OH involved and they spoke to him (I didn't mind though - he drives a really hard bargain so the dealer had to work hard!) In the end I'd come down in price enough to afford loss gap insurance, got free mats, 6 months MOT, no chips and a valeted car. Nice one

[Joojoo]

You did well Stoice It's a nightmare isn't it how "lady drivers" are treated. I'm quite good with cars and know quite a lot which usually makes them change a patronising tone if they have one. To be fair the salesman that I dealt with was very good and not at all like that but we talked money yet I just hate haggling I could take my brother with me as he's very very good at driving a hard bargain but I'm terrified he will lose me the car altogether!

[Snowy]

Go for it Joo. You have nothing to lose and you won't lose the car - you'll just find out eventually how much they are prepared to sell it for! Make them an offer, they'll tell you it's too low and tell you what they will accept. Either accept that on condition they throw in the extras, or try another haggle. I think they expect it now - I've done it with every car I've bought!

[Space Chick]

Have you tried the this is my final offer line and walking away. I did that with my new car, you need to hold your nerve though. However, I got EXACTLY the deal I wanted. It took a day or two of making the salesman sweat though!

 

What you have to remember is that its a buyers market, every day its on the news that car sales are down. I told my salesman that he could have a sale and have a happy weekend or he could not have a sale! It seemed to work

[Joojoo]

Thanks everyone

 

Right this is where I'm at - I went over the car with a fine toothed comb. Both headlamp units need replacing - one has a small amount of water in it and the other has condensation. There are a few tiny little paint chips from chippings bouncing up but hardly anything to worry about. Everything else seems in order. It has got a full MOT and I've seen the last service receipt which they did last week when the car was brought in. It had a full (major) service, had a tensioner replaced on the cam chain, 3 new tyres (the other is very new anyway) and 3 new wiper blades.

 

I mentioned the above niggles and they have agreed to do them all - headlamp units and chips. I offered £5400 but he said a definite no. Said he was willing to meet me halfway at £5700, but I would have to tax the car. The s"Ooops, word censored!" yard have offered me £90 for my car and I've got two brand new tyres (only done 120 miles) that I had taken off earlier today to sell separately - they cost me £130 two weeks ago before the blasted alternator went so I'm definitely not giving them to the s"Ooops, word censored!" yard. The salesman from the showroom has now offered me £170 for my car as it is and said they would tax the new car for this. So although it would be costing me £5700 it is theoretically only £5530 plus the tax. I did try asking for mats but they said they were at their limit and couldn't offer any more.

 

They asked if I would like to speak to the man who traded it in as they have full transparency about all vehicles that they sell, so I said yes and they phoned him and let me speak to him for as long as I wanted to. I heard them make the call from another office so know that it was the genuine previous owner. He said that he loved the car and only traded it in as he wanted a new one as the old one was now 6 years old. Bless him he sounded about 80. Said he had previously owned a Mercedes and that the Avensis put the Merc to shame. Said that if I did buy it I would be getting a very good car and would love it. He had only ever had to put new tyres on it and have it serviced. He even said he would look out for me about the town and flash the lights if he sees me which made me smile Trust my luck - I always seem to have pensioners waving at me never younger eligible men :lol:

 

So dilemma time. Do I buy it at £5700 or try my luck and see if I can hold my nerve for a bit more off it? I could try it and then if they haven't come down in a couple of days say ok I'm prepared to offer £5700 but to be honest I've more or less got what I wanted and was prepared to pay and am a bit wary of someone else going in over the weekend.

 

What do you think?

[Blackrocksrock]

I would go back and say that £5600 has to be the top limit and bluff my way into it - they will take it I know they will.

Good luck

[Space Chick]

I'd try for £5500, there and then.

 

However, if you are looking at a few hundred quid for your car have you thought about the bangers and cash scheme, as you could get £2000 off a new car.

 

Just a thought? Oh maybe you could use that fact as a bargaining chip for the garage you are dealing with to get the deal you want on the car you've seen. Don't know much about car prices, but could you get a similar sized car brand new for £5500 plus £2000 bangers trade in?

[Joojoo]

Sadly the bangers for cash scheme wouldn't work for me. I'm not a fan of small ish cars, some of which you could get for £6,000/£7,000 with the £2,000 off for the s"Ooops, word censored!"page scheme. The car I'm after is £17,000 new. I'd even thought if I could sell mine to someone who is looking to buy a new car so they could get the £2000 off, but the Government have got that sewn up - you have to have owned the s"Ooops, word censored!"ped vehicle for 12 months so no luck there.

 

I know £100 doesn't sound much but it all helps. I am really tempted to go for £5600 and just try to hold my nerve for a few days. I'll have no flipping finger nails left though

[AJuff]

I'd hold out for £100 as you work hard enough to earn it!!! Keep your nerve and hold out until after the weekend. Sales people always want sales!

 

I saved £150 on a piano recently as my local piano dealer would not price match, he had already come down by £2,200!!! I refused his offer as I knew I could get the same piano elsewhere for £150 cheaper.

 

Why would you pay more?

[Joojoo]

I am going to give it a try. With the headlamps needing to be replaced they have asked me if I can wait 28 days then they can be replaced under warranty otherwise they will need to spend £300 on them. I have agreed as so long as they are done I'm not bothered about having to wait a few weeks and they will let me have it in writing that they will do them, BUT given that I'm saving them quite a bit of money it won't hurt them to drop it a bit more will it?

[Blackrocksrock]

Gp for it girl - you know you want to and I am sure you will get it for £5600

[Joojoo]

Feeling very pleased with myself Managed to knock them down by another £100 and get a full tank of petrol thrown in. I pick it up on 1st June

 

Thanks very much for all your help and encouragement

[Egluntyne]

Well done. I used to have an Avensis Verso and absolutely loved it.

 

I'm sure you will be very pleased with it.

[Joojoo]

Thanks Egluntine. It's nice to hear from someone that's owned one. I spoke to the previous owner yesterday and he said it's a lovely car and he's just bought a brand new one. It was absolutely lovely to drive

[Space Chick]

Fantastic Glad you got the deal you wanted JooJoo

[Blackrocksrock]

yay knew you could do it - well done on a great deal - enjoy your car - i have the baby one!!

[Joojoo]

I'm so pleased. I can't wait now. 9 days to go I'm going to be really impatient especially as I've got next week off work. My old Vectra will be heading off to the great car park in the sky during the week and I'm driving around in my ex's Mazda MX5 which has been great especially today when the sun has been out and I've had the roof off. Really looking forward to getting mine though. Everyone I've spoken to has said you can't go far wrong with a Toyota so fingers crossed I've got a good one too.

[Snowy]

Yay!! Well done Jue! Bet you can't wait! I love getting a new (or nearly new) car!

[missuscluck]

Hi Jue. Well done you. It sounds like a really nice car. Glad you got what you wanted and knocked em down too

 

I ordered mine today too. After much nail biting/haggling and deciding which flippin one to buy??? I have bought a new Nissan Note. They offered me a really good price for my Mini plus we are using the s"Ooops, word censored!"page scheme as we have an old Citroen AX leaving me with not a great deal to find for the difference.

So a nice sensible family car for me no more Mini racing. I really needed a bigger car. My sons size 13 feet wouldnt fit in the back anymore

[Joojoo]

Ooh well done you too Sounds like you had a very good deal. Sadly I couldn't afford a new one to take advantage of the s"Ooops, word censored!"page scheme. Have you still got your old Mini? Hope so at least then you've still got something you can have some fun in.

 

x

[bruce]

As well as trying to beat them down on price another route could be for them to throw some goodies in. Scotch guard, car matts, Tax etc. Also go round the car with a fine tooth comb and get them to remove any little chips and dings it may have. I also found a lot of dealers would try to 'fleece' us lady drivers. I got so fed up it I got my OH involved and they spoke to him (I didn't mind though - he drives a really hard bargain so the dealer had to work hard!) In the end I'd come down in price enough to afford loss gap insurance, got free mats, 6 months MOT, no chips and a valeted car. Nice one

 

 

I find an effective method is to figure out how much you think it is worth ( use Parkers guide price) then deduct 10%

go in there and having given them a big smile say I am very interested in

the car but I have only got this much to spend! This tactic works! but takes a bit of face !they are having a tough time right now. Dont be distracted if they try to offer you a different car. leave your telephone number, as often they have to check with the boss. good l luck Bruce