paying good/correct price for a used car?

newfoundglory

How do you know if you are paying the right price for a car?

I've looked at parkers and wisebuyers which give you some indication about prices... some with useful mileage adjustment.

Many of the prices i've seen on autotrader dont seem to match up well with these websites (for example some private sellers charging full main dealer retail prices or even more!)... independent dealers which charge main dealer or retail prices... or some cars (like VW) with high mileage and age which are more than £1000 over the "correct" price.

The difference between retail price and private average/good price can be almost £1000

Exactly how should you base an offer for a car? If i've seen a car I want priced at 4 grand at an independent dealer, but I know its not worth more than £3,600 (ie this this would be the absolute maximum and figures would suggest start below this!).

Exactly how open are independent and main dealers to offers?

MX5huggy

Glass's Guide is the only one you can really use for more than an indication, but you have to pay. you can get px value for Glass's from Vauxhall http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vaux/pages/financeAndServices/valueYourCar/index.jsp

Also try what car online

Some dealers build in haggling room others fix there prices you can only know by asking.

Inactive

Any car is only worth what somebody is prepared to pay for it, Parkers / Glasses etc are only guides.

Just offer what you want to pay for a vehicle, seller says yes or no, if no, you move on, but give him/her your phone number.

It is amazing how flexible some dealers are after you walk away.:)