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Smart Shopper Purchasing Strategies - Questions & Success Stories
3884 messages, Last post on Apr 08, 2009 at 1:08 PM
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Replying to: kiawah (Sep 16, 2008 2:05 pm) It's a yellow 2002 Dodge Neon ES. That means it has a spoiler, so it's a pretty sporty car, and it's good on gas. That's why I want it, of course. And it's in a college town. So I can see why they think they can sell it, and the guy tried explaining that the reason for the higher cost is that it's a "hot car." I said the TMV price takes into account everything a car has on it, even a spoiler and the color. So I then said that if it's such a "hot car," why has it been sitting here as long as these other cars that aren't "hot?" He gave some answer similar to what an earlier poster said, that he hasn't found the "magic" yet and that there is a "rear end for every seat" and someone will be the rear end eventually. As for auction, that's how they bought it (I know this from the report), so I doubt they would want to send it to another auction if they could avoid it.
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Replying to: boomchek (Sep 16, 2008 2:09 pm)
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Replying to: weathermike (Sep 16, 2008 2:19 pm) Only you can decide whether this is worth your time, aggrevation, and money. You have to evaluate how much additional $$ you will have to put into it when you get it and start driving. If you want to pay higher $$, then you should pay to get it checked out by a competent shop (outside of that college town) that there isn't anything wrong with it. That is eliminating your cost of ownership risk, and if you can eliminate the cost of future immediate problems from the equation, then you should be willing to offer more for it. You are in a weak negotiating position, given a perceived 'hot' car, reasonably used car priced for a student (around $5k), in a college town with a couple thousand kids, that they picked up at an auction specifically for this purpose. They are probably willing to keep it for a year if need be, some student will buy it (or a parent will, when their old kid clunker breaks down).
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Replying to: weathermike (Sep 16, 2008 2:20 pm) Keep in mind dealers know approximate values of what cars buy and sell for on trade, and at the auctions, and they're familiar with their local market. However they don't typically go to auctions and pay EXACTLY what a guide tells them to pay. They pay an average, sometimes less, sometimes more. But it's not going to be EXACTLY what a guide says because there's no 2 used cars that are alike, ever. Plus a lot of small used car dealers keep cars around forever, it's like they don't care if they move them or not. This lot could be one of them lots. |
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Replying to: kiawah (Sep 16, 2008 2:28 pm) If they don't call back in a few days, I may give them a final (improved) offer contingent upon good findings from a mechanic that can check it out on a lift. Does that seem reasonable enough? But regarding your last point, "reasonably priced" in my book is not "around" something. It is what the car is worth, plus fair profit from the dealer. And according to TMV, that is $4,200.
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Replying to: weathermike (Sep 16, 2008 2:19 pm) 1. It's a NEON! Far from a "hot" car in fact, quite the opposite. 2. It's yellow 3. It a Neon with over 100,000 miles! I'm sure they are wishing they had never bought it in the first place but they can hold off as much as they want to. It doesn't matter what they paid for it and it doesn't matter what your Internet printouts say. If you really like it this much you may want to just buy it. Otherwise, I would move on. Lots of cheap Neons out there!
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Replying to: weathermike (Sep 16, 2008 1:52 pm) No, but telling the salesman it's not your fault they overpaid, mentioning high mileage, bringing out Edmunds TMV material, you appreciate their need and right to make a profit, the financing stuff, etc.... those are all things that show you are desperate to buy, which is fine. Any reason you give, that the price should be lower, can be countered by a good salesman. Showing you are an informed buyer should be good enough. I think it was gg who said the more you talk the more you end up paying (doesn't apply to me though) . You did good in walking. Find another car, this one sounds overpriced.
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Replying to: jipster (Sep 16, 2008 4:58 pm) |
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Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 16, 2008 3:30 pm) 2. It's yellow Those are items which could make it a "hot" car in a "college town". I'd drive to the nearest non-college town and buy it for a grand less. Another thing to consider (weathermike) , paying Edmunds TMV (dealer retail) would be a big mistake. I think you should try for at least Edmunds private party value.. or slighty below that. Remember TMV is just the average price Neons are selling for, which means you should be able to do much better than TMV. |
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Replying to: jipster (Sep 16, 2008 5:31 pm) |
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