How low can I haggle this? (yet another car thread weee)

[Ksandra]

So my lease runs up next month on my bug, and I've been talking with a sales person at my dealership to try to switch to buying a used car. Was looking at the Rabbit or a wagon. My conditions were that I wanted a non-silver 4 door automatic. Which is a fucking pain in the ass to get in a rabbit apparently.


Anyway he emails me this certified pre-owned car today:

Here are a few pictures of a 2007 4 Dr Rabbit in white with grey interior I can get you if you wanted. This is a one owner very low miles as you can see 21k miles and still has a ton of bumper to bumper warranty left up to 75k Miles because it will be certified. The car has a very clean carfax and never been in snow or bad weather...

This is also has heated seats and a 6 disc CD in dash changer with free sirius satellite radio for 3 months....

this is one that is mint and would be worth spending a little more for. I could get you payments with no money down around $290 a month maybe lower depending on your credit...

Will be around $15,500 and a payment around $290 OAC and that includes all it needs to sit like new.....Tires, brakes, all services so when you drive off you need to do nothing and like I said we are adding the certified warranty in also.......Best deal I have seen yet because its such low miles and if we were to buy it for the lot it would be a higher price because we could get it....this is your price only...

I can get it if you like.........Let me know












Now I know how to haggle a bit (my Dad is a fucking pro), and I know dealers usually set prices is about a $2k profit for them above blue book and you can usually get a car for about $600 over KBB. (I don't know if that's changed with the economy) I have been trying to "convince" the guy I want a car for about $12,500. I can afford the car at this price (the rabbit's I mean) but it's easier to be like "well it's a little high, can you bring it to X?"

The only thing is this is something he's getting through the VW inventory, so it's not currently at the dealership, so I'm not sure how that affects the pricing/haggling.


KBB site for the rabbit:

http://www.kbb.com/used-cars/volkswa...&mileage=21140

Looking at that in theory I should be able to get it for about $13,500~

I think though maybe I should just say give it to me for $14k flat and he's done. (with a test drive obviously) That gives me a $1,500 downgrade, but still should give him like a $1k profit so hopefully it's tempting.


Any advice is appreciated, as I'd like to get the most for mah money.

[archibaldcrane]

For 3 grand more (than $14,000 can't you get a brand new automatic Golf?

http://www.truecar.com/Volkswagen/Go...?zipcode=90004

[Ksandra]

For 3 grand more (than $14,000 can't you get a brand new automatic Golf?

http://www.truecar.com/Volkswagen/Go...?zipcode=90004

I don't want to pay for 3k more imo.

My current monthly has been $300 a month and I don't want to go over what I've already been paying. Plus we just got married two months ago, so it means I have next to nothing to put down on a car.

[edit] on top of that, what you showed is a 2d, 4d adds another like $700 to the price.

[archibaldcrane]

How about 3k less? Does Grey work (not silver) - 2007 4 door Rabbit with 13,400 miles for $11,495.

(salvage title, but you're poor, this is a car for a poor person)

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

[Ksandra]

Does Grey work

no,

and I want the rabbit in the op I just wanna get a good deal out of it -.-;

[archibaldcrane]

Market sucks for used cars, prices are inflated to shit because the economy sucks and noone is buying new. Go there in person, test drive the car, lowball the dealer (12.5k), when he balks, walk out, wait for him to call - just like any other car sale. What advice are you looking for?

[Dantrag]

Offer 13.5 and see what he comes back with?

[Ksandra]

Market sucks for used cars, prices are inflated to shit because the economy sucks and noone is buying new. Go there in person, test drive the car, lowball the dealer (12.5k), when he balks, walk out, wait for him to call - just like any other car sale. What advice are you looking for?

you are being cranky for no reason, D:

I wanted to know how low I could haggle it for considering the current market before I could get it for $13,500 easy, but I haven't had to haggle since the economy went bad so I wanted to make sure if that is realistic nowadays.


I don't even know why you are calling me poor either, did you even read the op? I can afford to even go above what I'm paying, I just don't want to if I don't have to. It's not about being poor it's about me deciding where I want my money to go.

[archibaldcrane]

Basically it sounds like you're already on the wrong track - you're in love with one particular car on the advice of your salesperson alone, that you haven't even seen yet, and you're going through just one salesperson - it doesn't even sound like he has this car on his lot right now, he's going to probably get it shipped from another dealer, you should first try to find out where it's located.

[Ksandra]

Basically it sounds like you're already on the wrong track - you're in love with one particular car and you're going through just one salesperson - it doesn't even sound like he has this car on his lot right now, he's going to probably get it shipped from another dealer, you should first try to find out where it's located.

The only thing is this is something he's getting through the VW inventory, so it's not currently at the dealership, so I'm not sure how that affects the pricing/haggling.

Archi, take a breather and read the whole OP before responding again.

[archibaldcrane]

Don't go through him. He'll be getting it from another dealer who will be taking a cut, and then he'll be taking another cut - deal with someone at the dealership the car is actually located at.

I dealt with this exact same issue in my car search last year - the only people who would negotiate at all were at the dealer who actually owned the car - I had like 6 different dealers trying to sell me the same car (by getting it shipped) but none of them would give me any shot at negotiating except for the one who actually owned it. Find out who that is.

[Tyche]

Archi is right. With used cars, it's nigh impossible to know how low you can haggle, because, unlike new cars, you can't figure out the bottom dollar. Buying new, you can calculate the factory to dealer incentives and rebates, and figure out the true dealer cost, offer ~2% over dealer cost, and walk out. IIRC, Archi used this to profit off a new car. It's a lot of work, but if you aren't flipping and you're keeping, it's absolutely worth it. Buying used, you're simply stabbing in the dark.

[archibaldcrane]

Plus, you gave this salesperson your parameters, he knows he has you by the balls if inventory is slim - start fresh with someone who doesn't know they've got you trapped.

[jinkazama]

Go there in person, test drive the car, lowball the dealer (12.5k), when he balks, walk out, wait for him to call - just like any other car sale. What advice are you looking for?

Thats exactly what I did... except I drove across the street to another dealership, the guy called me back as soon as i pulled into the other dealership but by then I had already spotted a car I liked better.. too bad it turned out being a piece

[Dantrag]

Archi is right. With used cars, it's nigh impossible to know how low you can haggle, because, unlike new cars, you can't figure out the bottom dollar. Buying new, you can calculate the factory to dealer incentives and rebates, and figure out the true dealer cost, offer ~2% over dealer cost, and walk out. IIRC, Archi used this to profit off a new car. It's a lot of work, but if you aren't flipping and you're keeping, it's absolutely worth it. Buying used, you're simply stabbing in the dark.

Sorry to hijack, but what's the best way to go about this? For a new car that is.

[Ksandra]

Archi is right. With used cars, it's nigh impossible to know how low you can haggle, because, unlike new cars, you can't figure out the bottom dollar. Buying new, you can calculate the factory to dealer incentives and rebates, and figure out the true dealer cost, offer ~2% over dealer cost, and walk out. IIRC, Archi used this to profit off a new car. It's a lot of work, but if you aren't flipping and you're keeping, it's absolutely worth it. Buying used, you're simply stabbing in the dark.

well obviously I don't know at cost, but that really doesn't put you completely in the dark. from the research I did it seems like I said that usually the cost of the car is 2k above what they bought it for, and that usually they're willing to go as low as a $600 profit, so that's where to kinda start. But as I said the research I did was a little outdated so wanted to see if they will still take for $600.

As a good haggler you really have to put your foot down on shit, so I'd like to know as much as possible so I don't shoot myself in the foot at the same time.

Don't go through him. He'll be getting it from another dealer who will be taking a cut, and then he'll be taking another cut - deal with someone at the dealership the car is actually located it.

I dealt with this exact same issue in my car search last year - the only people who would negotiate at all were at the dealer who actually owned the car - I had like 6 different dealers trying to sell me the same car (by getting it shipped) but none of them would give me any shot at negotiating except for the one who actually owned it. Find out who that is.

This is kinda the info I'm looking for. I dunno if I'll be able to find out the dealer, I'll have to try and see if I can't figure it out of the vw website.

[Korietsu]

I have to go with archi on this one. I'd also suggest not buying a VW at this point. For the same price, you can get a decent car that's easier and cheaper to work on because it's not made with a backwards ass electrical system.

[archibaldcrane]

It looks a lot like this one:

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

This says black interior but it's the right mileage, CD changer, heated seats, etc. - it's in Hartford, CT. I don't know if they ship that far for sales like this. Check to see if the photos are the same.

[wyrmtung]

I love how his letter reads. You and only you are getting a great deal on a car. (yeah, right) IMO, any amazing deal that you can get at a dealership is a deal that you can also get at another dealership. Don't believe his lies.

I would definitely ask for the lowest price you feel is not insulting. It's a buyer's market and there are dozens of car dealers that you can go to if he doesn't want to play ball with your terms.

[Ksandra]

I have to go with archi on this one. I'd also suggest not buying a VW at this point. For the same price, you can get a decent car that's easier and cheaper to work on because it's not made with a backwards ass electrical system.

What is a good/safe hatchback/wagon that's in the same price range?

I am not against not getting a VW. I wanted to for 2 reasons: I figured I'd might have a better incentive because I've had a car through them previously, and because of this I also know they are a trusted dealership since I've already worked with them. And I care about safety/long-lasting than anything else. The Rabbit's have awesome reviews for not falling apart, and are extremely safe.

So if there's something else that is a strong/well-made/safe car for the same price lemme know.

It looks a lot like this one:

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

This says black interior but it's the right mileage, CD changer, heated seats, etc. - it's in Hartford, CT. I don't know if they ship that far for sales like this. Check to see if the photos are the same.

I hope it's not because I can imagine you're right that it would be a no haggle deal.


[edit] I asked him for the vin/carfax report, so I can find out when he gives me thoughs.