buy used vehicle

In most larger metro areas, dealers buy cars for wholesale value. Easiest way to estimate wholesale value, go to kbb.com, calculate trade in value for good condition car, and take 75% of that price. That will be wholesale.

Most any dealer wants to sell vehicles - go in with cash (or check, whatever) and talk to a salesmen and tell him you have the cash - then he knows you aren't wasting his time. That's when you dicker, or just make the offer you want -- otherwise, why would he care?

Too many folks go in and dicker, another dealer dicker, another dealer dicker - and you and the dealers all waste a lot of time and effort. With the information available in the websites, you should know exactly what you should pay and go in with that in mind. Don't waste anyone's time - it works both ways - you want a deal, the dealer wants a sale. Dealers now know that most buyers are pretty savvy with value ... if you're close, you get a sale, if not, why waste even more time. IF you're not close, a dealer won't dicker down to your price anyway.

mkirsch wrote:
Yeah, they "don't dicker." As in, you pay the ridiculous inflated price on the window sticker, period. Any dealer is a no-dicker dealer if you go in and tell them you want to pay sticker price.

You're absolutely right about that! I remember looking at Saturn pricing when they were popular and still in business. Their dealer mark up was the same as any other manufacturer. Their no dicker policy benefitted the dealer, not the consumer. I'd rather dicker!

I just bought a pre owned car for a daily driver. I looked at Car Max. Their prices were nothing to write home about. I bought a CPO from a dealer instead. I did my homework on several cars on the lot before going there. Their price was fair to start, but I countered with a lower offer, which they accepted. I got the car below nada, kbb and edmunds. I should have gone lower, but got a good price.

Yeah, they "don't dicker." As in, you pay the ridiculous inflated price on the window sticker, period. Any dealer is a no-dicker dealer if you go in and tell them you want to pay sticker price.

Most used cars have a fairly high mark up in them. Go to KBB and Edmund's and see what they value the car at. Then research Cars.com and Autotrader and get an idea of what they are selling for.

When I negotiate I start at the trade in value and go up from there. I just purchased an 04 Oldsmobile Silhouette for my parents. Dealer listed at $5500 and I paid $3200 otd. It's amazing how quick a dealer will agree to a price when you place a stack of hundreds on there desk.

If you're looking hard at a used car, I'd go carmax as well. I haven't bought, but I've looked. I have to say it's a great general experience and they really don't dicker around too much. Reminded me of Saturn before they tried to get greedy with me when they came out with the Sky Redline.

I just purchased a car from CarMax, yesterday. 2015 Ford Explorer to be used as a toad to replace the Saturn Vue. What an excellent unexpected experience. I found the car on their internet search page, called and asked if I could inspect it. Since it was in Sacramento I had to pay $149 for them to ship it down, but I was under no obligation to purchase, and before they shipped it I saw 35 detailed pictures, had the car fax sheet, and any other information I wanted. When I got to Burbank to inspect I was ready for the sales pitch. No pitch. Here's the car, clean, ready to test drive, this is what it costs, this is the payment options, take it or leave it...and would like some water or anything. We were out with our car in 2 hours, home in time for the baseball game. And we can return it within 5 days if we find anything we don't like about it. Wow.

Have you checked the Craigslist for the surrounding areas? Just checked ours and there are a few late model Subaru's for sale for decent prices.