Conference terri::cars_uk

    Make noises like the sucking in of air when you look at the car, shake
    your head gently from side to side and make like you can live with the
    car, but not that you are ecstatic about it. Wait 'till you are
    approached, you'll be asked what the problem is and explain that the
    price is too rich for you. Let the salesperson tell you a new lower
    number and if it's not low enough for you, start to walk away.
    
    I got the price of the car I bought last october down from �3850 to
    �3200 using that technique. Took about 5 minutes. 
    
    I guess a punter on the lot is better than nobody on the lot.....

You know the car is the one you want; he doesn't.

Do as .1 said,  but I'd go for "not really the colour I wanted, and
it has (or hasn't) got the alloy wheels I wanted, and the stereo
doesn't have coding on it, or it doesn't remove easily.

List the spec, and say that it hasn't got what you want, and has the
things you aren't bothered about....

Good luck; I would hav thought in today's market you could do some
good haggling - it depends on how brave and assertive you are.
If you are timid, consider taking someone else along more moral
support.

And always be prepared to walk away if the price doesn't come down to
what you are prepared to pay. After all, it's only a car...

Peter.

It's not so easy getting a deal in Scotland as it is in the south of England.
However, it can be done - the way I worked it was just to be downright brazen
about it.  "I'm prepared to pay #7200 for it, OK?"  The dealer is working on
some sort of margin between 10 and 15% for second-hand cars, unless he made a 
bundle selling the guy who had it before a new car (wher he can make even more 
profits) in which case he may be pricing it near to cost.

It works the other way round too - price HIGH to sell, and come down.  Both 
parties end up with a deal they can live with.  (Heck, you should have seen
what I got for my E-type!)

Brian

�You know the car is the one you want; he doesn't.
    
    That depends on how many times you've been seen looking at it ...
    
    J.R.

    
    Don't forget to tell him about your 'friend' who will be selling his
    car in a couple of months, which is just the right colour..... :-)

    
    re some back --
    
    "margin of 10-15%". Arthur Daley would be out of business. Evidence of
    my own eyes watching traders at auction suggests nearer 30-80%.
    Occasional uplift over 100% on forecourt. 
    
    Depends on model appeal/scarcity/purchase price. Buying cheap not necc =
    sell cheap!
    
    Do not appear over-interested, but also do not appear as a time-waster.
    The trade likes a firm cash offer -- of any sort. They know then there
    is serious business, & will haggle instantly. I wouldn't offer anything
    over 75% as an opening bid for cash. Waving the readies in front of
    them concentrates the mind wonderfully. A copy of Glasses in your hand
    helps a fair bit as well..........
    
    I'd steer clear of all the other options you have. Just stick to the
    car in hand, & go for it. If at first you don't suceed -- there's
    nearly always another. Even if you have just found the only known survivor
    of the Wotzitcalled Mk.1 in immaculate condition, most of the above
    applies. Merely means you will eventually (eg 30 mins later) settle on
    a price higher than your opening if you want it that much.
    
    More fun haggling than driving .... but I enjoy souks as well!
    
    

    Re. 6
    
    Absolutely agree.
    
    I've seen my father-in-law use a modified version of this approach.
    He decides what he is prepared to pay, offers the salesman that amount
    and if the guy says no simply walks away.
    
    Pa-in-laws beliefs are as follows;
    
    1. There is ALWAYS another car of the same colour, spec. etc. available
       if you are prepared to look for it
    2. His offer is what he thinks is a fair offer based on book price
       guide, mileage etc. etc. after taking a close look at the car.
    
    I've seen him buy 4 cars using this approach and 3 out or 4 times it
    worked.
    
    Best of Luck
    
    Rich
    

	I have a good friend who works a husband and wife team approach with 
	one keen and the other not-so.  He's also prepared to walk away.  With
	me this doesn't seem to work - you can always tell I want something.
	I once went with him to look over a car, it was exactly what he wanted
	(except the price).  He took with him a check list and worked his way
	through it (mechanical and body checks).  The dealer came out and
	they started haggling.  The dealer wouldn't drop the price enough so
	my friend (and I) just walked away.  We got to the edge of the 
	forecourt before the dealer caught us up.  He wanted the car, but 
	believed that there would be another one turn up somewhere else.
	He was also pretty good at dealing with scrapyard owners...but that's	
	another story

	Dave

out of interest WHAT car is it?

...art

	Can you find another - vaugley similar at a lower price (even if it's 
	one you don't want).

	Phone up where the other car is, and get the price and the salesmans 
	name.
	
	If you can, actually go to the other garage, get the business card, 
	and write the price/car and squiggles on the back.

	Use this as info - "well, such and such has offered me x". (bringing 
	the other business card out of your wallet at this time really helps).

	Garages tend to know salemens names and car prices (or they'd never
	be in business!)

	Good luck,
	Heather	

    
.9�out of interest WHAT car is it?

    Richard has fallen in love with a Honda Accord Aero Deck 2.0 EXi.
    
    
    Ian.

    
    You need my girlfriend, she nevers pays for anything full price,
    (always going to carboots, sales, auctions, etc),
    
    Recently we spend two weekends looking for a car for a friend.
    Eventually we found the car, it was what we wanted great condition (for a
    Y reg), fairly priced.  Did my friend buy it no, did I no!, we sent my
    girl friend in, I couldnt believe it she offered him 20% less than he
    wanted, (the cheek of it), his face droped, so she asked him what he
    thought he'd get for it, split the difference, and offered him that (he
    was weaking), and then to clinch it they wafted over a �1000 cash under
    his nose.
    
    We then drove the car home.
    
    The moral is 
    1/ Haggle
    2/ Walk away
    3/ Haggle
    (4/ Walk away for real if you dont get what you want)
    
    They need the money more than you need that particular car from them.
    
    :J                                                   

    
    Re: .7 Total agreement (Off you go to have a look at .7)
    
    OK now you're back. This works better nearer to the end of the month
    and even more so at the end of their fiscal year.
    
    Chris