Car Shopping Advice

jjsjr

Legendary Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
May 27, 2008
Posts
5,904
Media
37
Likes
2,353
Points
583
Location
Wilmington (Delaware, United States)
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
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. :confused:

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. :confused:
 

b.c.

Worshipped Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Nov 7, 2005
Posts
20,540
Media
0
Likes
21,784
Points
468
Location
at home
Verification
View
Gender
Male
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. :confused:

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. :confused:

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".
 
Last edited:

lucky8

Expert Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2006
Posts
3,623
Media
0
Likes
193
Points
193
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
I'd try to talk them down as low as you can, dealerships are desperate as hell right now...the ball is in the consumer's court for once
 

jason_els

<img border="0" src="/images/badges/gold_member.gi
Joined
Dec 16, 2004
Posts
10,228
Media
0
Likes
163
Points
193
Location
Warwick, NY, USA
Sexuality
90% Gay, 10% Straight
Gender
Male
Maybe not. Used car values have plummeted over the past year because of the economic issues, and manufacturer incentive to buy new. Blue Book may just not have caught up to this trend yet.

The Wranglers have good reliability but horrible milage and only appeal to a narrow, if devoted, market. I could see that being a big factor in its drop in used price. If you like the Carfax report on it, then it can be a good buy for you thought at that price point, you could get a small number of new car models that might prove more practical-- particularly if the parent company's future isn't up in the air. No matter what happens to Chrysler, Jeep will survive so I don't worry about this. I just want to see you get the most bang for the buck. If you're in love with Jeeps though, then none of that matters in which case, any other choice is moot.
 

uncutblond34

Expert Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2005
Posts
463
Media
11
Likes
140
Points
263
Location
Knoxville, Tennessee, US
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
jj, May I offer some advice ? Having been in the car and RV sales business I may be able to help. The BEST thing you can do is arrange your own financing through your bank, credit union, etc. Let THEM tell YOU what they will load on the Jeep. Most times, your interest rate and load terms will be better. If you're planning on paying cash, seek their council as to its book value. The dealer has to make "some" profit, but do not need to take you to the cleaners to do it. DO insist on a Carfax report, and be sure to buy from a legitimate dealer who "certifies" their used vehicles, and offer some amount of free warranty.. say 30 days or more. Hope this may lead you to the Jeep of your dreams...LOL
 

RamIt

Experimental Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2007
Posts
293
Media
0
Likes
18
Points
163
Sexuality
No Response
Gender
Male
The blue book on trucks and suvs is way high, beyond market value. Dealers dont even use blue book in most cases, they use something else you need a license to access, I forget the name of it. So forget blue book, and if they bring it up, tell them to forget it too.

The best strategy I have heard of is the "out of town" method. Tell the salesperson you are visiting family or friends in town, and you live a ways away. Tell them you are only in town for the weekend or so, and give them an offer below what you think is fair. Tell them that if they accept, to call you back within the day, otherwise you are back home near other dealers.

Salesmen like to corner you into making a quick decision, this is just switching shoes.
 

b.c.

Worshipped Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Nov 7, 2005
Posts
20,540
Media
0
Likes
21,784
Points
468
Location
at home
Verification
View
Gender
Male
The blue book on trucks and suvs is way high, beyond market value. Dealers dont even use blue book in most cases, they use something else you need a license to access, I forget the name of it. So forget blue book, and if they bring it up, tell them to forget it too.

The best strategy I have heard of is the "out of town" method. Tell the salesperson you are visiting family or friends in town, and you live a ways away. Tell them you are only in town for the weekend or so, and give them an offer below what you think is fair. Tell them that if they accept, to call you back within the day, otherwise you are back home near other dealers.

Salesmen like to corner you into making a quick decision, this is just switching shoes.

You're speaking of the NADA (Nat. Automobile Dealer's Asso.) Price Guide for New and Used Cars. Uncutblonde is correct in saying best way to finance is via your own credit union or bank because they will tell you pretty much what the car should be worth and in fact won't finance it if it's over priced. And yes the dealer has to make some profit on it. Bottom line is that they're not likely to let it go for less than what it cost them. The cost to them may not only include what they gave the person who traded it in, but the cost of whatever repairs (body/fender/cosmetic) and maintainance (engine) they did to make it saleable, if any.
 

jjsjr

Legendary Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
May 27, 2008
Posts
5,904
Media
37
Likes
2,353
Points
583
Location
Wilmington (Delaware, United States)
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
According to Carfax, it was registered once... in East Hampton, NY. No issues, no other owners... we think that the former owner ditched it due to the recession and didn't want to be paying insurance on a "toy car" possibly used only at the beach. The Blue Book says it should be 18, but I think I can talk it lower than what the dealer told me (15,900).

I'm not business savvy, which is why this concerns me.
 

vince

Legendary Member
Joined
May 13, 2007
Posts
8,271
Media
1
Likes
1,677
Points
333
Location
Canada
Sexuality
69% Straight, 31% Gay
Gender
Male
Don't become emotionally attached to the car. Be prepared to walk away from it and do so if the dealer tries any tricks as mentioned by the posters above. You are in the the driver's seat here (no pun intended). Chances are they really want to sell the car and they won't let you walk. Don't let them emotional blackmail you! If they try to make you feel cheap or stupid or like you are just a tire kicker... walk away. Be tough!
 

Rikter8

Expert Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2005
Posts
4,353
Media
1
Likes
128
Points
283
Location
Ann Arbor (Michigan, United States)
Sexuality
90% Gay, 10% Straight
Gender
Male
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. :confused:

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. :confused:

EH?? Ok... I just got a note from a fellow member that I should chime in this...but it's already ancient - you probably already bought it.

So this Wrangler has around 12K miles, and the dealer starting price was $19,000. (What's with the $21,000 - out the door price??)
Now they want $15,000 for it?

An 06 Wrangler shouldn't be that expensive. Did you comparison shop through Cars.com or similar?

Most dealers need to move inventory - which means cutting prices low.
They probably picked that Jeep up for around $8-10K on either trade in or auction. So, they can actually drop a bit lower OR - for that price, make sure you get a bumper to bumper extended warranty.

It's a buyers market. Use it to your advantage. If they want full price, walk.