Haggling for a used car, what to offer

phughes1979

I'm thinking about getting a new car in the next few months and I'm really stumped what to offer.

I've seen a few in main dealerships and I'm looking at around the £13,000 mark. I've been in just for a quick chat, explaining that I was just doing my initial homework. Straight away the sales person said he would give me £400 of the price in the car window as a good will gesture. Now, I'm not stupid, I wasn't even talking figures at this stage, I was just checking out a few types of car, and I know once negotiations start if he's laid £400 on the table straight away then he'll offer more than this. But how much should I aim to get off the price? 10%?

So, if starting car price is £13k, and I'm looking to get £1,300 off, I obviously need to start a lot lower and work up. Is offering £11K too cheeky? It'll be the first time I've spent as much as this on a car so I'm really a bit clueless where to start.

Clive_Woody

Have a look at Parkers guide for used cars. Find the car you want, then print out the prices and take these with you to the dealership. Prices may vary with mileage and any warranty offered but they should be getting close or walk away, there are plenty of used car dealers out there.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/prices/

2gr82btrue

How do the prices vary with milage. Say if the car has done more milage than 10k per year then how is this adjusted. I know condition of vehiles can vary but the milage for me is confusing. I want to buy a 05/06 picasso and dont want to be ripped off.

Clive_Woody

2gr82btrue wrote: »

How do the prices vary with milage. Say if the car has done more milage than 10k per year then how is this adjusted. I know condition of vehiles can vary but the milage for me is confusing. I want to buy a 05/06 picasso and dont want to be ripped off.

I think you have to pay on the Parkers web site if you start looking at different mileages, try the link below and see how much they suggest as there is no charge at this website for looking at different mileages.

http://www.wisebuyers.co.uk/motoring/used-car-prices/

Crabman

Hi phughes1979 - I'll move this to our Motoring Board. Check out the Buying a New Car article

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

harveybobbles

autotrader.co.uk is the fist place to start for getting an idea of what the car you're looking for is worth.
£13,000 for a Picasso...? I'm hoping it's the new shape!
Try a few of the main car supermarkets rather than the main dealers, you may get a better saving.

meester

2gr82btrue wrote: »

How do the prices vary with milage. Say if the car has done more milage than 10k per year then how is this adjusted. I know condition of vehiles can vary but the milage for me is confusing. I want to buy a 05/06 picasso and dont want to be ripped off.

Well if they are charging you £13k they are ripping you off.

Are you talking about the C4 or Xsara?

aztec21

2gr82btrue wrote: »

How do the prices vary with milage. Say if the car has done more milage than 10k per year then how is this adjusted. I know condition of vehiles can vary but the milage for me is confusing. I want to buy a 05/06 picasso and dont want to be ripped off.

It depends largely on the type of car you by. If you are buying a diesel car the mileage probably isn't going to affect the price as much.

Poppy9

harveybobbles wrote: »

autotrader.co.uk is the fist place to start for getting an idea of what the car you're looking for is worth.
£13,000 for a Picasso...? I'm hoping it's the new shape!
Try a few of the main car supermarkets rather than the main dealers, you may get a better saving.

You are confusing the OP with a second poster.

harveybobbles

It was 8.15 and I was concentrating on a bidding war on ebay...

slangrish

hoping for some advice regarding a used car ive seen at a dealership. its £8k, Chrysler 300c 5.7 V8 '05 94k miles and i wondered if this was a good price or not. According to the link above for this high mileage it should be at £4.9k but i wasnt sure how accurate a guide that was.. also what i should look out for when I go and have a look at it? does anyone have any experience with Chrysler 300cs? any help greatly appreciated, its been a while since i bought a car!