Used car prices

[SilverSparkle]

Hi, i'm looking to but a used car for a max of £2000. Do you think i stand a good chance of being able to get some off the price especially with the way the car market is at the moment?

I'm not normally brave enough to ask but woondered if i should bite the bullet and try and haggle??

Sorry, I know this answer is late but yes, I think you do need to haggle.

We are looking to change cars (can't get my Mum and the car seats in mine which is causing problems). Went to look at a Zafira the other day that was priced at £5990. I'd looked at Autotrader previously to see similar cars were going for locally and a bit further a field as cars are expensive down here.

I asked him what the best price he could do was as we were going to buy a car in Bristol when we went to stay with my brother next week (we weren't and the poor DCs got excited so won't repeat that one !) but would rather buy locally but his price is 1k more than the Zafiras up in Bristol.

He said the price was a good one ( I pointed out it is the same as a number locally) but could go down to £5350. I think that he'd have done another £100 to close the deal.

That was my first go so I was quite pleased but I think I could probably do a bit better. Have decided against a Zafira and am getting something else but will be approaching several garages to try to get the best price before committing to anything.

I'm quite sure that they are expecting people to haggle so definitely give it a go. I'd be looking at cars priced up to about 2.5k and give it a go, but I'm not very experienced in this sort of thing so might be talking rubbish ! Good luck.

check here

to see what the car is worth.

Yes haggle, they will be happy for any sales at moment... and dotn forget part ex!

Tell them you have watched don't get done get dom and you also want a free tank of petrol and 6 months road licence.

DEalers are just happy to get the vehilces off the forecourt at the mo and money in the bank.

We bought one for £3300 recently; we didn't haggle because it was a good price anyway but the dealer included 3 months warranty, 6 months tax, a service, 2 new tyres, new brakes, all dodgy paintwork touched up (it had been keyed on one door) & a new key - there was only one & it's expensive getting a 2nd one because the car has to go in too, & they would have got a new MOT if it was less than 6 months to go. (No petrol though)

So maybe not so much leeway on the price, esp at that level, but all the service items cost them less than they would cost you.

Parkers will give you a guideline price for nothing (although you have to specify model details & precise year each time)

(The average mileage (50,000) price for ours is given as £3,885; ours has done approx 80,000)

Always haggle! After all they can only say no

Never seem to interested or excited by a car. Act as if it's ok-ish but it's a bit of a bind and you have frever to carry on looking of the price isn't right. Before you ask for their 'best price' point things out like 'Well, I was rather looking for something with electric windows/sunroof/wing mirrors but what's you rbet price anyway?'

Ask to see the service histort even of you don;t understand what you are looking at. If you act like you know your stuff chances are they will actually point stuff out to you that they think you will pick up on anyway and give you more ammo to haggle ie the service history shows it's had a new such and such in the last year and actually this isnt an advantage as it may show the car was mistreated by the previous owner to need a new part - you may find the dealer dicusses this with you without you even needing to bring it up as you look through the service history nodding and raising your eyebrows at what to you may be goobledogook.

If you have a set price in mind and the car you are looking at comes close but even when the dealer drops the price it's still above budget - walk away - if they want to make that sale and can possibly drop more they will follow you and re negotaite rather than lose a sale (esp. in current car market)

And finally, always ask for a years tax and a full tank of fuel as past of the deal. If they have dropped the price loads you may only get 6 months tax or just a tank of petrol but every little extra counts

Am taking notes from all you experienced hagglers, I clearly have a long long way to go - expect a thread from me begging for help in the New Year when I get serious about buying one after talking about needing to change mine since DS was born 5 years ago !