how do you haggle car prices

[Skyvalhunter]

There was an article in the latest North American Hunter mag about this. Saying buy at the end of the month, etc.

[Westside88]

Great tips guys thanks . Definitely going to be pre approved from my bank + cash + a paid off trade in. Found a 2012 F350 last night with every option available for $44000 , a lot of the research I found said that truck was probably traded in for between  $37000-$39000. Realistically how much would they budge? I was thinking if I got them below $40000 I would be doing good. What about buying in Oregon and living in Washington. I know I will have to pay sales tax when I register it in Washington, but is there a way to add that in to a loan ?

Depending on what the trade in is and how much it's worth, you can often do better just selling it outright and leaving it out of the equation. Especially when it's paid for. As far as sales tax I'd talk to the place you plan to finance. I believe you sign a one pay contract when you buy that basically just states they'll be paid by your lender within a certain number of days.

[Rick]

  Why not tell them my credit limit or trade in until after the price is set?

Because they're like cops. They'll use anything you say against you.

They'll try to work credit limits and trades into the deal in a way that works for them.

[runamuk]

I hate car shopping...despise it.... I know what I want and what I can afford and I dont budge...even if it means I am stuck walking....my ex used to get talked into stuff costly stuff....

My friends with means always walked in with cash in hand and walked out with what they wanted .... and often for a very good deal.

[mountainman]

Locally, with the Town auto group (who I have done alot of work for in the past, bought many vehicles, maybe 8-10 over the years) and who I make friends with and refer anyone looking for a new/used vehicle...I tell them my offer, always accepted, and most of the time they volunterally offer half off most vehicles!! Since being close to the program, I know what kind of markup they have and usually they want to move more by the end of the month, so that is when I shop! Great customer service and great guys also!!

 " most of the time they volunterally offer half off most vehicles"

What in the world are you doing to get this kind of deal?

Wouldnt you like to know! Lol

[mkcj]

I don't Haggle, I buy from Dave Smith!

[jackelope]

"DO NOT USE KBB, ONLY NADA."

Dealers don't look at either. They use current day to day auction prices from Mannheim and the like.

[mountainman]

You would be in the know...so true!

[idahohuntr]

Missed this one by a day...bought my wife a new Acadia yesterday 

Like others have noted...I did a ton of research on the internet, test drove a few locally, determined what I believed was a good price on the car she wanted and started looking for dealers within a few hundred miles that had that car with color/options she wanted...made offers too a few of them letting them know I would buy immediately for the right price....but also let them know I did not need to buy right now and I had offers in at other dealerships.  Took about 2 days of a few phone calls each day...one thing I did not like was a few dealerships flat refused to put anything about offer details in writing (via email)...which bugged me.  Like I was going to drive 300 miles to work out a price based on a mutual understanding of a phone call 

[Skillet]

Sometimes companies are selling below their MAP agreement w/ the vendor and can't post up the price.  If it's something you want, always worth a call.

[Swannytheswan]

one thing I did not like was a few dealerships flat refused to put anything about offer details in writing (via email)...which bugged me.

Like going to a website and seeing "Call for pricing".  I'm sorry but if you can't tell me what the asking price is I can't figure out how the phone works.  Happens all the time with manufacturing equipment and engineering software too   I will never ever do business with companies that don't post their asking price.  I don't care how bad I want the product or service!

I tried to buy a truck from a dealership and they wouldn't even give me a price ever all they would say was "how much can you afford a month?" I tried and tried to get them to give me a price they wouldn't do it. I ended up getting frusterated and walked out. They called me later that day as soon as I pick up the phone I said "If you don' t have a price I'm hanging up and they said we don't have a price the bank sets that I said well have the bank call me if you don't know what the price is than why am I talking to you" and hung up

[JLS]

one thing I did not like was a few dealerships flat refused to put anything about offer details in writing (via email)...which bugged me.

Like going to a website and seeing "Call for pricing".  I'm sorry but if you can't tell me what the asking price is I can't figure out how the phone works.  Happens all the time with manufacturing equipment and engineering software too   I will never ever do business with companies that don't post their asking price.  I don't care how bad I want the product or service!

I tried to buy a truck from a dealership and they wouldn't even give me a price ever all they would say was "how much can you afford a month?" I tried and tried to get them to give me a price they wouldn't do it. I ended up getting frusterated and walked out. They called me later that day as soon as I pick up the phone I said "If you don' t have a price I'm hanging up and they said we don't have a price the bank sets that I said well have the bank call me if you don't know what the price is than why am I talking to you" and hung up

They are banking on you not being smart enough to think ahead as to how much you'll be paying over the life of the loan.  Most folks are only worried about their monthly payment, never realizing that they are paying a LOT of money out over a 72 month loan.  Then, two years later they can't figure out why they are upside down in their vehicle.

The best thing you can do is get pre approved for financing, figure out what you are willing to pay total and stick to it.  I too refuse to play the game of "what you do want your payment to be".  I tell them you don't worry about my payment, you worry about giving me a fair deal.

[pianoman9701]

I've gotten pretty good at it. You're negotiating on two things usually - the price of the car you're buying and the price of the one you're trading in. Always try to start looking around the 15th of the month. At that meeting, tell the salesperson for what you're looking - type of car, options, mileage, warranty, etc. Select two or three vehicles that you would actually buy. Take test drives and get car faxes on them. Then ask him what you can get for trade-in on your old car. Go home and hit the internet, searching for like autos online from other local car companies. Also search online to find favorable prices for your trade-in. Look up the Blue Book values for both.

Go back around the 22nd and let the salesman know that you've seen some other vehicles at dealership B that interest you and are cheaper and tell him what they are. Also tell him about nicer vehicles that cost the same as his options. Let him give you a new price and leave without discussing the trade-in.

Call back around the 28th (unless it's February), and set an appointment for the last day of the month. He'll ask if you can come in sooner and you're too busy. On the last day of the month, go in and talk to him. Ask him how good the month has been, in sort of a caring matter-of-fact way. Especially if it's February or March, he'll let you know it's been slow. Then switch to talking about price of the car(s) you want. Make sure you're prepared to sign or pay that day. Tell him you want his absolutely rock bottom price. If the price is good enough, that you're prepared to buy it today. He'll give you the best price. Counter offer 5-10% less (5% on new cars, 10% on used). He'll either accept or counter-offer again. If you like the deal, take it. Now, it's time to work on the trade-in.

You know what the bluebook value of your car is. If it's a piece of junk on it's last legs, you don't have much with which to negotiate. However, if it runs OK and looks pretty good, you have some wiggle room. Add up any options or upgrades you've done. The offer they originally made for trade is usually below the low bluebook figure. Add the value of options and upgrades to the low bluebook value of the car and another 5-10% and ask for that. He'll counter-offer and you'll come back halfway in between. Stick to it. Don't threaten. Make him go back for more and he usually will.

[TheHunt]

Interesting thread...

I purchased a loss leader car (KIA Spectra) for my daughter for $7,400 in 2004.  It was a horrible little car but it was good enough no air condition, felt for carpet... 

I did my homework for cost.  I also found out who was on the selling board for that month.  As others have said the sales people get a bonus for selling.  Well, I find out who is at the top or someone within two sales and find them out.  I ask them if they want to sell this car for this amount to get closer to the leader board.  It is a yes or now.  AND it is also at the end of the month.  The guy was good and was jerking us around so I ordered pizza which came to the sales floor and my wife and I ate it in front of him.  When he asked for a slice I said make the deal and the rest of the pizza is yours.  He made the deal and it was done... 

BUT it sounds like you are looking for used truck.  All the content in this thread is pretty accurate for used.  Do your homework.  Do not be afraid to shake hands, hand the sales person a card with your number and the price you are looking to buy it and walk away.  I keep my rigs for a long time so I most always buy new.  But doing your homework (NADA, KBB, Edmunds.com, consumer reports, etc.) will provide you the information to make an informative bid as well as points to look where the truck is having difficulty.  i.e. Dodge front end steering.   

[Taco280AI]

Look online, often they'll have "Internet pricing" which will be thousands off the window price when you get there. Can make it simple and smooth. Play dealerships against each other, even if they're really not. My last purchase I was using USAA's car buying service, but happened to find the exact truck I wanted at a nearby dealership. Went in, told them I'm working with the other dealer and USAA estimates a discount of $X,XXX. Hadn't received the price quote yet, but said if they can make a good offer I'll just buy it from them. After all the discounts I got a new $35,000 Tacoma for $31,000. Didn't even test drive it.

Three purchases ago I had to work for it. Sleazy dealership, wanted like $2500 over sticker and showed papers saying why. Advertising, detailing, and on and on and on. Said I had no idea what any of it was and I wanted to look at the sticker. Had looked up invoice prices using Edmunds or something and had an idea what they paid for it, offered a price. They said we can do that, but we'll give you less for your trade. Said no, I'll give you this for your car and want this for my trade. Went back and forth with different offers, said no. Got to the point where they said they just couldn't do it, so thanked them and started walking out. Then they're like well wait and we'll see what we can do. They did it.

If you walk on a lot and they don't know what you want, just say you're browsing around and hadn't really thought about buying. Give them a vague idea of what you want, even if you know exactly which vehicle on your lot you want. Say you want options your vehicle doesn't have, a different color, then when walking by just inquire about the one you know you want. Show a little interest and they'll try to land you on it even though you've known the whole time you want it. If they know you want it they'll hold on to as much profit as they can get. If they think you're settling for it and not crazy for this particular one, more likely to give on the price.

Go towards the evening on a day with bad weather. Less customers, more eager to make a sale.