You probably saw in my other thread I was looking for a car and decided on a 350z. Well I've been looking and have found a few cars worth looking into a bit more. This will be my first major purchase ever, and definitely my first car purchase. So basically I need help with how to negotiate with these people

I'll have a decent sized down payment hopefully (~$5k) and financing shouldn't be a problem, so what kind of offers should I be making? I found one for 13,900 after they dropped the price from around 15k. My Dad told me to offer 13k out the door on it, but the salesman said no way. Is he just being a typical salesman or is that kind of offer truely unreasonable?

Long story short, as far as pricing goes, how do I go about getting the best deal possible? Dealer vs private party, is buying from a dealer generally safer as far as vehicle history and condition go? (*and when I say dealer, I mean a large full size dealer, not joes car lot)

 

Work them against each other. Thats what I did when I bought my Dmax. Bluebook value means nothing. Pretty much you need to figure they gave the previous owner blue book trade in value -10%. Also NEVER make a deal the first time you sit down with them. I have only bought one vehicle the first time I sat down and I threatened to leave. I only made the deal because the vehicle we were trading in had a transmission that could die at any second and they were giving me more than I was expecting on the trade in.

Talk to a couple credit unions, they usually have the best rates, I wouldnt use the dealer credit.

If they were asking 15 I bet you can get it for 13 out the door. It may take you a while to find one for a good deal. I searched for months to find my Dmax. To give you some perspective of how much wiggle room the dealer truly has my Dmax had a bluebook value of 33K and I got it for 26K out the door. So I really bought the truck for about 24K.

Work them against each other and dont let them intimidate you.

 

Know what you want to spend, then know what payment you want! My opinion is never go over 60 months ever! Your payments will never net you any equity unless it's paid off. Also know your credit, if you have good credit then fight the rate with them too.

Make a offer that you think is reasonable, if they won't work with you then walk away! Most dealers will work it out if they want to make a sale. Just use your own judgement, they have to make a few dollars to keep the doors open. If they get to the total out the door price then they send ya to the finance office! Do not tell them what you want in a payment range cause then they will jack up your rate! Tell them to work the deal and give the best rate and you can haggle them on the rate! To get the best deal don't compare the deal to another deal a dealer is working for you. Just make them do the best they can do! I'll add more if I can think of it, I sold cars for 8 years and have bought numerous cars from dealers......

 

When you have your ducks in a row like you do, play hard ball with them....while they are full commission, they don't want to lose a reasonable sell either. I always let them know that I am ready to drive off with the car, I have money in hand, good credit etc... If you don't want to come out of pocket for the sales tax, have that negotiated in the price. Just be firm and act like you will walk the **** out, make an off you know is a little low, and make them meet you in the middle. I always feel better about buying from a dealer than an individual myself.

 

Chris knows his stuff

 

Why wouldnt you work them against each other? Its always worked for me because the dealer knows you can walk out and go somewhere else for cheaper. Ive sat in the salesmans chair before and called another dealer

 

Last 2 trucks I bought, I had other printouts from other dealers of better prices, and that worked like a charm. And you can generally get a lower price from an individual, just takes a little more leg work getting it financed.

 

You can but some dealers will argue about the truck having the same options and things like that! I'm not sayin it won't work I guess. I just always go in after doing my research and know what it's gonna take! Make your mind up before you go in and always ask for more than you want!
If you like the car from either place then work them, walk out, and make them call you and beg for your business! Let them know you have options, but let's say (round numbers) you find one for 15 and one for 14, you play them against eachother knowing if you get to 13 you will buy! You go to dealer 1 (15), and say work the deal, he hits you for 13,500, the dealer two knows he has to beat 13,500 to win........ But what if he would have sold it to you for 12,800? You played yourself at that point! So that's why I recommend working each deal and make them work hard to sale you!

 

Thanks for the advice so far guys. I just gotta work on my confidence level in there. I've been in retail sales for a while now, but I still feel like I'm getting screwed around and get nervous when you're talking big money like on a car. Now I've just got to find a coupe that is as nice as the Convertible I found. I really didn't want a convertible but it's very clean and the price is very very reasonable.

 

Hold off for the hard top Scott