How to negotiate on used car price?

all_greek_to_me

I'm ashamed to say that I'm fairly hopeless when it comes to haggling and would really appreciate your help.

I've found a secondhand car that I like (VW Polo BlueMotion 2, 08 reg, 18k miles, £9987), but am at a bit of a loss to know how to approach the negotiations. I've got an old, knackered Vauxhall to part-exchange, for which the garage has offered me £650 (bringing the cost of the Polo down to £9337). That seems reasonable enough, but I don't want/can't afford to spend more than £9k.

The salesman pushed me to commit yesterday, but I said I needed to think about it and had other cars to see, so walked away. But I am very keen on the car, and they're quite hard to come by, so I'd like to close the deal early next week.

I don't need finance and could pay by cash, cheque, debit or credit card (though the limit on my Tesco Visa is "only" £6800). The salesman said that if payment was made by debit and credit card, he might be able to waive the 1% cc fee.

So, do I start negotiations at less than £9k (£8750? £8850), in the expectation that I'll be forced up? Or do put all my cards on the table and say that I can't spend more than £9k? Is it worth offering to pay cash? (And does that mean physical cash, as in notes, or does a cheque qualify?) Top tips, please.

Oh, and one last question: the ageing Vauxhall was only taxed in November. Do I factor that into negotiations or can I ask for the disc back, for a refund?

Thanks,
all_greek_to_me

Chippy_Minton_2

The dics is yours sotake it out, you'll also be paying again to tax the new car. Can you find any others nearby that are close to the 9k mark to show the salesman?

If there are none under or at 9k and he knows you want one why should he budge on his price?

mark5

I dont think a garage would be happy taking £9000 cash because of money laundering laws most now prefer to have a paper trail of where the cash come from, debit card for example.

mark5

I just found the Bluemotion in question on Autotrader if you exclude Motorpoint and Imperial cars who have 7 listed with no pics and are probably imports, its the 4th cheapest in the country for that Generation Bluemotion!

Edit, In that age/millage catagory also.

Chippy_Minton_2

Their paper trail would be the sales invoice wouldn't it?

Proc

In this instance just be striaght up with him.

"Look, I'm not going to flirt with you. I've got £9,000. Nothing more. If you will let me take this for £9,000 we'll get the deal done now. How do you feel about that?"

If he says no, or tries a higher price just say "Okay, no worries. Here's my number, give me a call if you change your mind".

all_greek_to_me

Thanks, all. Someone else is probably going to beat me to the (obviously good value) car now, aren't they ?

So, be prepared to pay the full price and opt for combination of debit and credit card (if fee free), to get Tesco Clubcard points - is that about right?

all_greek_to_me

Chippy_Minton_2

all_greek_to_me wrote: »

So, be prepared to pay the full price and opt for combination of debit and credit card (if fee free), to get Tesco Clubcard points - is that about right?

No, you go upto your 9k limit and no more.

Anihilator

I would be very surprised if he can waive the fee on cards. Especially if he drops his price.

As above I would go in tell him you have 9k cash that you can access there and then to conclude the sale and not a penny more. If he hesistates apologise but tell him you cant deal, leave your details and leave. I will bet before 5pm you have a phone call doing the deal. They will just bump the trade in value to accomodate lower VAT and hence keep their margin.

Greatgimp

Anihilator wrote: »

I would be very surprised if he can waive the fee on cards. Especially if he drops his price.

As above I would go in tell him you have 9k cash that you can access there and then to conclude the sale and not a penny more. If he hesistates apologise but tell him you cant deal, leave your details and leave. I will bet before 5pm you have a phone call doing the deal. They will just bump the trade in value to accomodate lower VAT and hence keep their margin.

For what it's worth, I think you're right.

Inactive

Anihilator wrote: »

I would be very surprised if he can waive the fee on cards. Especially if he drops his price.

.

Debit Cards attract hardly any fee for the seller, Credit Cards attract a percentage fee, so they should be dealt with differently.

The OP has done the best thing by walking away, the ball is in the court of the dealer now.