Can you make an offer on second hand cars or is the price the price?

[MrsFogi]

Dumb question I'm sure but this is going to be the first time I've ever bought a car so I don't want to get taken for a ride + of course would like to get the best price possible. So, if you go to a dealership and buy a second-hand car are the prices the real prices or can you expect to haggle a certain percentage off (if so, any ideas what percentage). + any tips on haggling would be most appreciated.

get out that car magazine and see how much the value is

its a toss up between money in their pockets immediately and getting more money

you can but try I suppose (although with the bigger dealerships its more likely they'll stand firm) ..

I'd recommend Network Q 2nd hand cars .. what I did was shop around, find the make and model I wanted then I popped into a network Q dealer and said find me this kind of car, this kind of spec (electric windows, remote central locking etc) and this budget .. the budget was the cheapest I'd found in any other dealer .. they found me the car within 24 hours and it had all the back-up of their guarantee

HTH

definitely haggle!!!

Yes, haggle. Find out what the book price is for the car, use the Glass or Parkers guides. Go to the garage with a clear idea of what you want, and if you find the car you want don't be shy of asking the garage if they'll knock a few hundred off the price or throw in some extras like tax, new tyres etc. If they won't come down or throw in extras don't be afraid to walk away.

Haggle esp. if NOT part-exchanging.

One tip though get RAC or AA to do a full inspection, it is about £100+

We have them for each 2nd hand car and we are very pleased that we did as several years ago we went to buy a volvo from main dealer and the SRS{airbag} light was on and when asked dealer he said it was electrical tweek that was needed. Anyway we had RAC and they said it had been in bad accident and the engine was not in right place. All the front was damaged,

when asked dealer they admitted it was one of their ownnndriver who had driven into a stationary lorry while delivering a customers own car back to him after a service.

Good luck I always do the deal NOT DH btw

Definately haggle - a lot - I always used to be of the opinion that they wouldn't accept an offer but now buying cars (or anything) with dp he knocks a huge % off the price and normally gets what he wants - I'd be too embarrassed. Examples: car advertised for £1000, he got it for £780. Car advertised for £5000, he got it for £4000 - seriously (and that was from a main dealer).

I got a Network Q car too and they were doing 3 years 0% finance that weekend (but only if you borrowed less than 50% I think).

MrsF, have a good read of Honest John - it's a real bloke, you can email him with questions. He also has a column in the Telegraph . You can see what other people have asked about and what he considers fair prices.

Thanks, I'll get going on my research re prices to be ready for the haggling (I think I'll do it rather than dh as he seems to get annoyed with car salesmen a bit too quickly!)