Buying a Used Car - Negotiation on Price with Dealer

Joe_Horner

I'm NOT a trader but I still can't believe people look for advice on ways to maximise their "profit" by screwing others over like this. Actually, that's not true - I CAN believe it and think it's a terrible reflection of the society we live in!

In this case, it's likely that the person who suffers most from the fault being undeclared is the next owner. How will the OP feel when the car he upgrades to turns out to have had a similar trick played with it and he has endless hassle with breakdowns, returning the car for repairs, being without a car while it's sorted and so on?

motorguy

GolfBravo wrote: »

Yes, I think you both are right - I forgot it's 2012 and not 2007.

Sadly i'm only back in this game this past two years so i dont even have the money made in the good times to fall back on!!

cwcw

Um....... WOW.......!?! Who would have thought asking a harmless question about price negotiation could provoke such an out pouring of mass sympathy towards second hand car dealers, always renowned for their untouchable moral scruples. Anyone would think I was some world famous banking fraudster as opposed to a mild mannered bloke who hasn't ever even had a parking ticket.

I wish I'd never mentioned that it has a couple of intermittent niggles, I only did so to pre-empt questions of "why not sell it privately and get more money?". Now I feel like a naughty school boy summoned to the head master's office.

However, in light of this resounding moral lecture and dressing down, I will be sure to point them out to the dealer (major car supermarket with in-house mechanics), as well as drawing their attention to the 2,000 miles left in the tyres, the brake pads being slightly worn, the scratch in the paintwork on the door, the 1mm chip on the windscreen and the slightly off centre tracking. I'm sure they were expecting a pristine Ferrari as their trade in, but sadly will have to make do with a 7 year old run around, and I wonder how much of my "up to £4,000" I will be left with after pointing out every little fault I know about? And they're just the ones I've noticed, I'll be sure to let them keep it for a few days and make sure they've found everything wrong, sod the full dealer service history, below average miles and otherwise good condition.

In reality, used car dealers accept trade-ins knowing they will have some niggles. Many have in-house mechanics to deal with them. I've traded in 3 cars before and not once have they even bothered test driving them. The next buyer would not suffer because (a) they would test drive it and notice the niggles if the garage did not spot them already and fix them, and (b) they would have a warranty with the garage. (C) they are buying a 7 year old car, it's not going to be perfect.

I would not lie about the car's condition. If they asked anything I would answer honestly, but I'm hardly likely to point out every niggle it has wrong with it when I'm trading in to a professionally trained salesman looking to screw me down as far as he can. I live in the real world.

I'm moving house at the moment and look around many people's houses. Where are all you ultra-honest people when I need you? Must have done over 20 viewings now and not once has any homeowner highlighted a single negative point, but I've seen plenty, e.g. damp stains, cracks etc. If this forum was a fair representation of reality, I'd probably have bought at a 50% discount by now.

PS. Thanks GolfBravo for the only real constructive advice.

[Deleted User]

Well said CWCW!
The trade in price will be bottom book anyway.

s_b

Deleted_User wrote: »

Well said CWCW!
The trade in price will be bottom book anyway.

thanks for that
so OP would take bottom book would he/she?
nice:)
i lost a car today by bidding over book by £600 so if i could get all chop ins at bottom book then this time next year i can be a millionaire:beer:

[Deleted User]

s_b wrote: »

thanks for that
so OP would take bottom book would he/she?
nice:)
i lost a car today by bidding over book by £600 so if i could get all chop ins at bottom book then this time next year i can be a millionaire:beer:

He who dares wins, Rodders.

s_b

Deleted_User wrote: »

He who dares wins, Rodders.

good point:)
wife always says have a nice day at work dear
i always say i wont

done it for years

mikey72

Wear and tear.
Traders expect a few wear and tear on used cars, so it shouldn't be an issue with them.

s_b wrote: »

i do wonder about you i really do
you have it explained by myself and others yet you live in a la la land of a car worth less than 10% of its original worth should have no wear and be perfect
no wonder this country is in a mess with people with your thinking
and you know what im having a de ja vous saying these words to you
if it wasnt for the fact you give new members on here false hope i wouldnt even bother covering old ground

pgilc1 wrote: »

Mikey, just clarify how you expect an 11 year old, 135K fuel pump to perform AS NEW, and how ANYONE can reasonably be expected to warrant every single moving part in an 11 year old 135K mile car for a period of six months?

Can you not see how idiotic your post was RE: 'a fuel pump should last longer than 2 months' - given it had lasted 11 years?

Pugwash69

When I traded in a bike once, I told them it had a sticky throttle cable and worn chain, but they barely gave a shrug. They will get replacement parts at trade price, have their own mechanic fit them and pass the cost onto the next buyer.

Tell the dealer what the faults are and if it's a problem, go somewhere else.

Gordon_Hose

Most used car dealerd wouldn't think twice about passing on a lemon. I don't see why it should be different the other way around.

They don't like it up 'em, Mr Mainwaring!