ok... I found this 2006 Jeep Wrangler... in great shape, extremely low mileage (12, 000 something miles)... It started at 19, 000 (technically 21K, but that was unheard of) and the dealer is offering 15, 900 for it. The Blue Book claims it should be 18, 000.... should I continue bartering it lower? It's a pretty good deal already.
Please help.... I really want it and I intend on buying it regardless of the price, but what would you do? I want to strike the deal before the weekend.
You are possibly being (what they call in this business) "lowballed". Meaning after some discussion over the price they let you walk outta there thinking you can go back in and get the car at the 15,900 price they told you just before you left. When you go back, if it's still there, they'll come up with some bullshit reason why it no longer can sell for that much.
If they can't close you at the price they want, they'll switch tactics, trying to talk monthly notes (instead of overall price) or maybe they'll try to switch you to another car that's worth less to them for the same price you want to pay on the first.
If the car is really worth its blue book price they'll probably try to stick pretty close to it, unless a) they suckered someone by giving them too little on the trade in, or b) there's something seriously wrong with it.
Best get a Carfax (you can get one online, and some dealerships will get one for you...don't accept a preprinted one as the real deal) and/or let a mechanic check it out.
Also beware if you're financing thru the dealership. The so-called "buyer's order" ain't worth the paper it's printed on, and many a customer went in to sign the official contract (finance statement) only to discover (or worst still, NOT notice) they were buying the car for more than what the buyer's order said. If caught at it they'll say the salesman forget to figure in "Polyglycoating" (a real add-on that literally amounted to a 250.00 wax job) or "dealer prep charges" (i.e. they wash the car) or that the car had "quasimodo digital stereo".
You get only a
little better protection if the car is a "certified used car" because they claim (at least) they'll cover more for longer. But dealers also try to get more for those and the extra you pay in some cases may not be worth the coverage.
Good luck. And watch those "skaters".