Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

To haggle the price at a car dealership

37 replies

LetItGoHome · 27/12/2022 20:41

I plan on buying a second hand car at the weekend from a local car dealership. I have every intention on trying to haggle the price down a bit as i think thats what they expect and they price accordingly. My husband thinks I'm being a bit cringe as its a outdated practice and we should just pay the ticket price.
So whats the consensus on here. AIBU to try and haggle the price down? Has anyone been successful in doing so? Or were you chased off the forecourt :-)

OP posts:

Sparklesocks · 27/12/2022 20:44

I guess it’s worth a go but in my experience second hand cars are pretty expensive at the moment so I’m not sure how successful you’ll be.

Clevs · 27/12/2022 20:46

If they won't budge on the price try asking for extras like a service plan, new mats, a boot liner, a full tank of fuel etc. Sometimes they'd prefer to throw in extras instead of money off.

SkalengeckOrSiegbarste · 27/12/2022 20:46

We definitely haggled with the dealership over the price of the second hand car we bought last month. Got a few hundred off, go for it. What is the worst that could happen? Good luck!

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 27/12/2022 20:47

Definitely worth a go. And great advice from @Clevs about asking for them to throw in something extra if they won't budge on price.

Jus depends on demand really.

Gizlotsmum · 27/12/2022 20:47

Always worth a go, they may not budge, they may throw in extras but if you don’t try they definitely won’t

HouseOfGoldandBones · 27/12/2022 20:47

It will entirely depend how busy they've been & whether they've hit their sales targets or not.
But you certainly won't be chased away for trying.

GrumpyPanda · 27/12/2022 20:48

Are you trading in an old car? That would definitely give you room for maneuver.

Nowaysunshine · 27/12/2022 20:50

Haggle haggle all the way. I'm on the other end of this so to speak in that my hb never pays full price for anything like that - totally against his nature. Recently bought a new car and price went down by £3,500 eventually. He usual tack is to go to a showroom where we've seen a car we like, then he starts on the internet, checking prices all over the country, asking other garages what they'd give us for trade in etc, etc, and always insists on a full spare wheel (yes, I know, that's a bit out there but heigh ho). To be honest after so many years it drives me crazy at times but with my last car I decided what I'd like and left him to it - took over 4 months of his 'homework' so it's a not quick job by any means, BUT we always pay cash (lucky I know, before I get flamed) and as he's an ex salesman he digs his heels in and so far it's always worked. Don't be threatened by the sales guys and hold firm that's my advice. It did take 3 months for car to arrive but patience is the key. Oh and see if they'll chuck in some car mats too - good luck

Pelo22 · 27/12/2022 20:51

It's the end of the month so a good time I work for a dealership
And yes ask for stuff - I got tax, insurance, tank of fuel, transfer of my private plate, first service free etc

Lbnc2021 · 27/12/2022 20:53

I went into a dealership at the end of the month. The salesperson sighed that she was so tired and couldn’t wait to get home. I rubbed my hands together in my head. I got a £7500 car for £4999.

Frabbits · 27/12/2022 20:58

You can try but the days of getting decent discounts on 2nd hand cars are mostly over unless you get very lucky and choose a car which the dealer knows is a stinker and is happy just to get it off the forecourt.

There is still a shortage of cars and high demand.

Original poster

LetItGoHome · 27/12/2022 20:58

I could trade in my old car, but to be honest we have run it in to the ground so we wouldn't get much for it and certainly wouldn't give me any leverage. I will ask if they are interested. If not we buy any car will pay £540 for it!!
We are cash buyers which i am hoping they will view favourably? The price of the car is £13,100. I was thinking of going in at £12.500?

OP posts:

AdoraBell · 27/12/2022 21:00

Definitely haggle and as suggested if they won’t budge then ask for some kind of extras.

Frabbits · 27/12/2022 21:01

LetItGoHome · 27/12/2022 20:58

It's worth a try but don't be surprised if they stick to their guns.

And cash discounts are basically non-existent now. Much more money to be made flogging you finance.

gethaggling · 27/12/2022 21:03

It's definitely worth doing your homework - assuming you're going to test drive a particular vehicle, look at what similar vehicles cost.

Ironically, our local dealer refused to haggle on our previous car; DH had spotted a very similar one for sale through a dealership 50 miles away for £2k less (about 15% of the asking price). The dealer wouldn't budge, so we walked away. Two months later we bought the car we'd test driven that day for yes, you guessed it, £2k less than they'd originally wanted. But we'd allowed ourselves 3 months to replace our old car (before it needed another MOT) so could afford to wait.

tinofbeans · 27/12/2022 21:09

Look at their PCP finance options.. we got 2 years free servicing (off a pre-registered new car) by taking their PCP. One month's payment and we will pay it all off with no financial penalty.. Also see if they will give you a decent amount for your car..
if WBAC will offer £540, could the garage give you £600?
If you have the time, play the game and get valuations from a couple of other garages which would support your request.

And be friendly! People are more likely to give discounts to people they like

Beneficialchampion2 · 27/12/2022 21:10

I haggle everything, even on the high street, it's rare I don't get a discount or freebie. Do t ask don't get, the worst they can say is no.

RedRobin100 · 27/12/2022 21:10

from experience I’d say you’re husband is right. They price to sell, haggling is outdated, but you might be able to blag some extras thrown in, whatever they may be..

servicing / floor mats or whatever

RedRobin100 · 27/12/2022 21:12

To add to above - that’s assuming you are cash buyer. Different and better negotiating ability if you’re looking at their in-house finance options

girlfriend44 · 27/12/2022 21:12

They are already as low as they can price them we were told.
They tend to do deals instead if you take extended warranty and breakdown cover etc. Plus Part exchange of course.

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 27/12/2022 21:13

Good luck with that. I have always been good at haggling. Bought a second hand car in October 2021. No chance, got £100 quid off but its a sellers market at the moment.

earsup · 27/12/2022 21:20

Go much lower.. start at 10k...you can always go up !...flog old car on ebay etc and get a better price than those car buyer places as they knock it down to 50 quid eventually. I haggled for hours over a micra years ago and ended up getting a 0% finance deal for duration of loan and 600 off a 3k car !

iknowwheretheothersockgoes · 27/12/2022 21:23

Is it a branded dealer ( BMW, VW, Audi etc) if yes, going at the beginning of a new quarter is less likely to get you a good deal (IME) going at the end of the Q where they are desperate to hit target has been quite successful for me in the past.

Uninterestedfamily · 27/12/2022 21:23

It's always worth a try. If they can't budge, you havent lost anything.

End of month is good as they may be flexible to meet their sales target.

I got around 5% off last time.

Original poster

LetItGoHome · 27/12/2022 21:26

Its a very mixed response. Think I'm going to swallow my pride and try my luck. I will aways be thinking what if otherwise.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2