Negoatiating with a dealer on a used car - tips please

Amanda65

rev_henry wrote: »

Shouldn't she be buying her own cars now seeing as how she's old enough to drive and write her old one off?.

She is buying her own car (and for the record bought the last one as well, and paid her own insurance) - but she doesn't post on this site and I do so said I'd ask you lovely people. She is also working every day atm to get some extra cash together as the insurance settlement is unlikely to match what she needs to spend out and as her dad and I are both off work for Xmas we are taking some time to search websites for her - we like to help, being her parents/ We will go with her though when she buys as she is only 18 and hasn't got the first clue about cars beyond it looking good

Thanks for the rest of the advice - will bear it all in mind, although DD and OH went to look at a 106 on Monday, arranged to go back and test drive it Tuesday and the dealer rang 20 mins before they were due there to say that he had sold it ! So it seems that small cars are holding their value and selling fast, probably due to the horrific price of petrol !!!

rev_henry

Amanda65 wrote: »

She is buying her own car (and for the record bought the last one as well, and paid her own insurance) - but she doesn't post on this site and I do so said I'd ask you lovely people. She is also working every day atm to get some extra cash together as the insurance settlement is unlikely to match what she needs to spend out and as her dad and I are both off work for Xmas we are taking some time to search websites for her - we like to help, being her parents/ We will go with her though when she buys as she is only 1 and hasn't got the first clue about cars beyond it looking good

Thanks for the rest of the advice - will bear it all in mind, although DD and OH went to look at a 106 on Monday, arranged to go back and test drive it Tuesday and the dealer rang 20 mins before they were due there to say that he had sold it ! So it seems that small cars are holding their value and selling fast, probably due to the horrific price of petrol !!!

Sorry.
Absolutely you should go with her; its always best not to look at cars alone for all sorts of reasons. Other person will not fall in love with the car and will be more objective (possibly), eases possible pressure put upon you by the dealer etc etc.

Anihilator

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200952349017037/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/renault/model/clio/seller-type/trade_adverts/price-to/2000/radius/30/postcode/kt11eu/page/9?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fusedcars%2Fpostcode%2Fkt11eu%2Fradius%2F30%2Fmake%2Frenault%2Fmodel%2Fclio%2Fseller-type%2Ftrade_adverts%2Fprice-to%2F2000%2Fpage%2F9%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc&logcode=p

The one above could be a cracking buy if you take someone who knows about cars to check for major problems.

Avoid any that have bodykits, custom tints or custom alloys.

rev_henry

Something I was told by a dealer recently when looking for a cheap car; the scrappage scheme is meaning that sub £2k cars are thin on the ground atm - why would you trade in/sell a £500 car when you could get £2k off a new car on scrappage?
Its such a shame I think, all these great cheap cars just being destroyed, and inflating prices for those of us who can't afford new cars.

Amanda65

rev_henry wrote: »

Something I was told by a dealer recently when looking for a cheap car; the scrappage scheme is meaning that sub £2k cars are thin on the ground atm - why would you trade in/sell a £500 car when you could get £2k off a new car on scrappage?
Its such a shame I think, all these great cheap cars just being destroyed, and inflating prices for those of us who can't afford new cars.

I couldn't agree more ! Plenty of perfectly good, roadworthy cars that would be ideal for younger drivers, cheap to insure, and just being crushed for political gain - but I'd better not get started on that particular soapbox !

hothothot_3

but remember that scrappage scheme market only applies to cars over 10 years old. im not sure OP wants a car older than 1999.

rev_henry

Amanda65 wrote: »

I couldn't agree more ! Plenty of perfectly good, roadworthy cars that would be ideal for younger drivers, cheap to insure, and just being crushed for political gain - but I'd better not get started on that particular soapbox !

Amen to that.

mark5

I just made a quick search for my area on Autotrader and £1600 seems to buy a x,y (2000/2001) reg clio with 70-80,000 on the clock from a 2nd hand dealer.
Couldnt find any S reg Clio's to compare price, the older shape clio on a R reg seem to be about £1000.

Amanda65

We have found several Clios (and other small cars) on Autotrader but when phoning they all seem to have been sold - just wish people would remove or mark as sold :mad:

This was all in the few days before Xmas though so am hoping that the next week brings some new cars to the market.

Amanda65

Anihilator wrote: »

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200952349017037/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/renault/model/clio/seller-type/trade_adverts/price-to/2000/radius/30/postcode/kt11eu/page/9?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fusedcars%2Fpostcode%2Fkt11eu%2Fradius%2F30%2Fmake%2Frenault%2Fmodel%2Fclio%2Fseller-type%2Ftrade_adverts%2Fprice-to%2F2000%2Fpage%2F9%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc&logcode=p

The one above could be a cracking buy if you take someone who knows about cars to check for major problems.

Avoid any that have bodykits, custom tints or custom alloys.

Thanks for that - will give it a call tomorrow morning. The dealer seems to have quite few other cars in our price range as well so fingers crossed.

Based on the price quoted - and assuming the car is as described - what do you think a reasonable offer would be ?