Getting a discount on a car advice please

jp1181

I'm looking to buy a new car, have nothing to part exchange or anything.
I want to buy a second-hand fiesta for around £3000 (not much more if possible).
I keep seeing good models for about £3500-4000. I wonder if anyone can give me some advice on getting a sizable discount (£500 or so), whether this is likely (especially in the 'current climate' -don't you just love that term...)
And the best way to go about it.

I am in no rush to buy the car so can, er, 'play hardball' with the salesmen, as it were.

ta!

nomoneytoday

Have a look around the car, show the salesman you are serious and then make your offer. Leave your number and walk if they say no.
They will either call and negotiate, or leave it

Lemonade_Pockets

Best way to do it is be well informed to start with. Have a look around on autotrader etc to see what the going rate is.

If the going rate is £4k you are probably not going to get one for £3k.

A dealer is most likely to give u discount if he knows you can buy the same car elsewhere for less. So somehow you need to let him know that you can!

If the above doesn't apply. Make sure he knows you are serious about buying in the near future. Offer a firm price to purchase there and then, if there isn't any budging leave it and ask them to call if they change their mind. Keep it nice and sweet arguing or falling out won't get you anywhere.
Sunday just before month end is probably the best time to get a 1 off deal as they chase sales targets.

But the "current climate" isn't going to make them more inclined to take silly offers.

mark5

One problem you will encounter is that the market for your price range is still quite strong £500-4000 (Cars ppl buy because they need a car). Small cars like fiestas in decent condition, average miles, pas etc will always sell.
If its up for £4000 i would have thought its bottom price would be £3600 if your very lucky.

justjohn

Don not pay book price, Pay the trade dealer price. There are alot of cars sitting around for a while on dealers books.

Niggin

How do you know the dealer trade price?

Lemonade_Pockets

You don't. You can guess, just like you don't know what the stocking policy is.

While i don't disagree it is sometimes possible to buy at "trade" price. Thinking this is generally possible is misleading. Dealers are not a charity. They will have to sell cars for more than they brought them for. So obtaining a car from a dealer for the paid for it (trade price) is difficult.

jack_spratt_2

I think the main thing is to take your time !! only do the deal if it feels right !!compare the vehicle price with others of the same year and spec and use that as a bargaining tool if the dealer is more expensive.
Ask how long he has had it in stock ??If a long time he will more keen to do a deal.
Let them know that you are a serious buyer and do not be scared just to make an offer and walk away if they will not match it.
Last thing when you are getting close to a deal try to get the next service thrown in free of charge to clinch the sale
At the end of the day the dealer will want to make a profit but while it is on the forecourt he is making nothing and is in fact costing him money in interest loans to the bank

Apologises to Lemonade Pockets as I did not read his post fully and have just repeated some of the things he has said so its shows it must have been good advice