Negotiating the price of a used vehicle at a MB dealership

[lostinvegas]

Its all a bit silly really, I always assume I can get a grand off a car that's 10k or more. If no one negotiated it would be accepted that you could not get any money off a car purchase. The big question is how desperate are they to sell?

I agree with what someone else said, leave your details and your max offer and walk away, I bet they phone you back. They will always try and get the max price preying on the fact you like the car, but if you walk away the ball is then in their court to make the sale happen and your back in the driving seat. You can then say you have seen a great Audi you like which is in your price range and the Merc would have to be the right price in order for you to buy it.

Chris

 

[Noodle-Pulp]

Dealers hate cash (unless they're just about to go bust and need it to pay wages - apparently some people got *very* good deals at certain VW dealerships last year).

If you pay cash there's no chance to gain extra profit for the dealership and commission for the salesperson from the finance company.

I meant it in the sense that I demonstrated that I was willing and able to do the deal right there on the day, as opposed to having to go away and possibly consider finance.

 

[James Rothwell]

If that CLS owes him £18k you've got no chance.
If he could do it for £17k he would have never let you walk.

I'd like to think that (depending on how long it's been in stock) that I could get some fuel, some tax and £500 off.

Me personally I always work by the rule of you should always take the first profit be it £200 or £2000.

 

[wemorgan]

I could get some fuel, some tax and £500 off.

Is there any benefit in asking for fuel-tax over a simple further discount?Since the dealer will buy these at the same rate as the customer would.

How about asking for servicing and tyres?

 

[Chippychap]

S'pose if you ask for upgrades, better audio etc it costs them less than it would cost us to buy.
It really IS a game between the two of you. If you've lain on the bonnet for an hour licking the paint then he guesses you are keen on the car.
Leaving your details with the salesman is good cos every time he is desperate for a sale he has a definite sale in his wallet.
You could also ask another salesman/sales manager in case THEY are desperate for a sale.
Best of luck.

 

[James Rothwell]

Is there any benefit in asking for fuel-tax over a simple further discount?Since the dealer will buy these at the same rate as the customer would.

How about asking for servicing and tyres?

Sometimes some dealers have their own fuel store and the salesman can do a sneaky and put the cost of the petrol against another vehicle thus won't affect his commission. But the RFL makes no odds.

I would have thought that if the car is due or nearly due a service they would service it for you as a matter of course. I tend to service/re-mot all used cars that I sell even if it's been done a few months ago especially if it's done by someone else as I know the car is all okay then.

 

[BTB 500]

IIRC if you buy an Approved Used M-B you get it serviced for free if it's due within a certain period after purchase (3 months?).

 

[jonm]

IIRC if you buy an Approved Used M-B you get it serviced for free if it's due within a certain period after purchase (3 months?).

Thought it was within 3000 miles rather than 3 months?

 

[BTB 500]

Thought it was within 3000 miles rather than 3 months?

I'd be surprised ... my SL only does about 3000 miles a year!

 

[A-AvantGarde]

IIRC if you buy an Approved Used M-B you get it serviced for free if it's due within a certain period after purchase (3 months?).

Possibly, although I believe the thinking typically was if the service would be due within 3 months or 3000 miles then the dealer would do the service prior to 'delivery'.

 

[Billy610]

It's not just the MB dealers that are at it. There seems to be a lot of this about. I recently seen a low miles well spec'd '05 plate SLK350 at a fair £18500 ono, when I phoned it was sold. A week later it is for sale by a local (to the seller) dealer (Classic Cars of Wirral) at £21000! I know it's the same car as I remember the odd registation number FEZ****
I called him and tried to do a deal thinking a grand on top of what he paid would buy it. No, the best he could do was a discount of £250! as I was a cash buyer with no trade in. Just over 1% off, fnar, needless to say I declined.
I can only hope he goes bust ;-)
I reckon he paid at max £18k, it would appear he wants £2750 profit for moving a car to his pitch. I was told some **** and bull story about how the boss's wife loves the car and she will probably keep it but we might be persuaded to sell at a near the £21k asking price. Hence the paltry discount.
So I'm still looking if anyone knows where a well spec'd 350 SLK is for sale.

 

[Tan]

One dealer told me that they can give me full tank of fuel as he will put that on his company fuel card, so does not really form part of price / profit/ commission of the deal on the car.

 

[Rory]

I reckon he paid at max £18k, it would appear he wants £2750 profit for moving a car to his pitch.

To be fair, there's a bit more to it than that.

Not the least of it is that the car could have (or develop) some fault, possibly expensive, and he'd have pay for it to be fixed.

 

[Alps]

sytner was the group i bought mine from, they budged by a grand but no more!

 

[Billy610]

To be fair, there's a bit more to it than that.

Not the least of it is that the car could have (or develop) some fault, possibly expensive, and he'd have pay for it to be fixed.

The deal I offered him was: I come down from Glasgow, see the car, if it's all ok, go to the local LloydsTSB draw out funds, pay and drive away never to be seen again. No warranty, same as a private deal.

For a laugh I put the reg into Webuyanycar who are offering £15815.

 

[vibesg]

The car I was buying was a CLS. Extra's included Command, Parktronic and a glass sunroof. Even so, the car is 4 1/2 years old and I've never paid the asking price before so I don't intend to do it now (although I have to admit I am hoping the dealer will ring back as I do really want the car - I just hope that as the year end looms nearer they start to get desparate for a sale)

The only unusual option on the CLS is the Glass Sunroof which I like. If you are not precious about the sunroof I'd say look elsewhere. Not all Mercedes dealers are the same. I tried my local dealer (Stratstone) twice last year when I was shopping for an SL. They were not keen to deal. On my second visit they turned their nose up at my CLK which I knew was in fine fettle. They poked and preened and made me feel like my car was a wrong un.
I tried a different dealer (jct600) 150 miles away and I named my part ex price for my CLK and a further discount on the SL which was much better specced that the earlier Stratstone car. Needless to say I was happy with the deal. I also found that different dealers within the same group may have a different approach.
I also found that good product knowledge worked in my favour. I knew the servicing schedule on the SL and refused to be fobbed off with an oil and filter change. I insisted on the plugs being changed as I knew the SL had 12 spark plugs.
Good luck with the CLS.

 

[crockers]

The deal I offered him was: I come down from Glasgow, see the car, if it's all ok, go to the local LloydsTSB draw out funds, pay and drive away never to be seen again. No warranty, same as a private deal.

For a laugh I put the reg into Webuyanycar who are offering £15815.

I wonder if on the drive home the engine blew up you would stick to that. By law he has to offer a warranty.

 

[Billy610]

I wonder if on the drive home the engine blew up you would stick to that. By law he has to offer a warranty.

Wonder no more my friend. If the engine went that would be down to me. Unlike most car dealers I am a man of my word, and if the deal was done as I described that would be that.

I am a time served mechanic with over 30 years experience and now lecture motor vehicle studies in the local college. I am sure I would be able to tell if the low (15000) miles V6 of Mercedes was going to pop in the next 180 miles! That is my own personal warranty

I'm not at all au fait with the law regarding guarantees. So does that mean I am not able to decline a warranty and accept a deal signed sold as seen, no warranty given or implied?

 

[jaymanek]

A dealer cannot sell you a car of any significant value without warranty.

 

[Billy610]

A dealer cannot sell you a car of any significant value without warranty.

Is that law? and if it is, what or who decides what a significant value is?

As an individual £18k is a significant amount to me, but on the other hand, if Roman Abramovich was on the forecourt. . . . .

Please don't take this as being a smart ass, I genuinely want to know.