Negotiating on a used car deal

PierremontQuaker03

We are now in the best window to buy a car in my opinion, dealers are wanting to clear as much stock as possible by the end of March. . If you don't ask you don't get. On WBAC, even if you are open and honest, they usually offer 80% of what the on line initial valuation says as on physical inspection they usually find further faults.

AdrianC

Something as generic as a piled-high ex-rental yr old 4k mile Astra will be listed at the minimum. If you don't want it at that price, there'll be a queue behind you.

noclaf

PierremontQuaker03 said:

We are now in the best window to buy a car in my opinion, dealers are wanting to clear as much stock as possible by the end of March. . If you don't ask you don't get. On WBAC, even if you are open and honest, they usually offer 80% of what the on line initial valuation says as on physical inspection they usually find further faults.

I just bought a car that's under 3 yrs old used approved from a main dealer... they would not budge on price but threw in 'free delivery' as they use an external company to deliver cars. I tried to haggle a few times..bit of back and forth but ultimately they weren't interested.

Flight3287462

I bought a new (pre-reg Dec 2020) in jan 2021 for her indoors no trade in (still have that problem to deal with) and I squeaked a couple of hundred off.   Having said that prices in March are significantly higher than they were in January.  I got 26% off list price and now the best I could would be about 15-16%.

SteveJW

Annie1960 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Also,  EH have a £95 admin fee to check that the car is not stolen, no outstanding finance etc. But as they have owned it since new this seems unnecessary, but it's still compulsory.

Negotiate on the admin fee, they have moved on this previously

They are a little bit underhand with this HPI check

Sell them a car and they carry out an HPI check and charge for this

Buy a car and they carry out an HPI check and charge you for this

So one HPI check and two people are charged for this

4 or 5 years ag a dealer / friend told me a HPI check cost them around £12.50

burlingtonfl6

noclaf said:

PierremontQuaker03 said:

We are now in the best window to buy a car in my opinion, dealers are wanting to clear as much stock as possible by the end of March. . If you don't ask you don't get. On WBAC, even if you are open and honest, they usually offer 80% of what the on line initial valuation says as on physical inspection they usually find further faults.

I just bought a car that's under 3 yrs old used approved from a main dealer... they would not budge on price but threw in 'free delivery' as they use an external company to deliver cars. I tried to haggle a few times..bit of back and forth but ultimately they weren't interested.

My ex used to work for BMW.
They were lucky to make any money off most of their range. It all came down to meeting targets and getting a bonus from BMW UK.

Grumpy_chap

Hopefully the OP has now purchased their car and looking forward to taking delivery
Please let us know how it goes, OP.

Annie1960

Grumpy_chap said:

These cars are at rock bottom and, frankly, nil room for negotiation.
I called one of the dealers for the sake of interest, and this is what I was told (enquired against the one advertised at £10,490 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202002127247704 ).  That one is sold, but the dealer has three others he can offer me today at the same price:

• Mileage 4-6k, white, silver, black choices
• 69 plate 2020, so will be offered with the balance of 3-year manufacturer's warranty - the service to maintain the warranty is included as part of the pre-sale inspection
• Some have floor mats, so you get them.  Some don't have floor mats, so you don't get them.
• VED is extra £150
• Full tank of fuel not offered.
• Click and collect or delivery at £1.20/mile (transporter or driven delivery).  There are others on here that can advise about whether the consumer rights are better if collected or delivered, relating to the distance selling regulations.

Taking the OP's trade-in value (after allowing for the clutch) £1,775 deducted from the car price £10,490 + VED £150 gives a cost to change £8,865. 
In terms of negotiation, the best I think you'd be able to push for is £8,800 for a deal there and then and ready to pay the deposit on credit card. 
If you tried to push for a big discount, I think you would simply get a very firm "NO" and the conversation would end.

Interesting. They've not mentioned a delivery charge, although they did ask if I would like to collect or delivery.
At present there is a 7 day full refund policy if I don't like it, as obviously test drives are not possible.

AdrianC

Annie1960 said:
...obviously test drives are not possible.

There's absolutely nothing forbidding them.

Grumpy_chap

Hi OP - how did you get on?
When do you get your new car?