grober
MB Master
Unfortunately many "private sellers" are in fact small scale "dealers on the side" . All I am saying is look as hard at the person selling the car as you do at the car itself. 
Tips for buying from an independent dealer
- Thread starter Herishi
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Herishi
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Thanks forth the response guys,its made me look long and hard about the car. And i have since found a better one albeit for more money, of they can come down a bit in price its a bit of a stretch but prob worth it in the end
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Herishi
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http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201504162664085?atmobcid=soc4
This is the one that im looking at now. Only Had 1 previous owner and looks very tidy, going to get more pics and info
Thx
Steve
This is the one that im looking at now. Only Had 1 previous owner and looks very tidy, going to get more pics and info
Thx
Steve
GordonTarling
MB Enthusiast
That one has 7 seats. If you don't need the 7 seats, then there's a lot of storage space under the floor that could be put to better use. Looks OK otherwise, though it could be due a service soon.
gIzzE
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That seems expensive for a car coming up to 9 years old!
For £10k I would want to be in a 58 plate or newer with the newer comand etc.
I sold my 56 plate E320cdi estate with 100k on it for £11k and that was almost 4 years ago now.
I was looking at buying another one before Christmas and you could be in an 80k mile E320cdi estate on a 2009 for £8-9k, and early facelift cars so 56 plates were around the £7k mark.
They seem to be top dollar at the moment.
For £10k I would want to be in a 58 plate or newer with the newer comand etc.
I sold my 56 plate E320cdi estate with 100k on it for £11k and that was almost 4 years ago now.
I was looking at buying another one before Christmas and you could be in an 80k mile E320cdi estate on a 2009 for £8-9k, and early facelift cars so 56 plates were around the £7k mark.
They seem to be top dollar at the moment.
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Herishi
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Not sure why the prices are so high, everyone seems similar priced. Even private sales.
Though i think i would have to offer less than they are asking!
Steve
Though i think i would have to offer less than they are asking!
Steve
gIzzE
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I think used cars in general are very high at the moment.
Mate is looking for a Z4, and stuff that was £5k in the autumn is now £7-8k, and was a few weeks ago when 10ºc still.
I have spent the last few weeks looking for an E320 or E430 estate and before xmas loads at £1000-1500, now one that is not falling apart seems to be closer to £3k.
Might balance out again in a few weeks, however, prices may rise, but they can't go that much higher when you can be in a brand new E Class estate with comand, leather, dab, media, internet, led lights and a few other toys for £239 a month with £1400 deposit.
There comes a point where no matter how against finance you are, buying a car that will be 10 years old with 100k miles on it that is still depreciating at £200 a month makes no sense at all.
Mate is looking for a Z4, and stuff that was £5k in the autumn is now £7-8k, and was a few weeks ago when 10ºc still.
I have spent the last few weeks looking for an E320 or E430 estate and before xmas loads at £1000-1500, now one that is not falling apart seems to be closer to £3k.
Might balance out again in a few weeks, however, prices may rise, but they can't go that much higher when you can be in a brand new E Class estate with comand, leather, dab, media, internet, led lights and a few other toys for £239 a month with £1400 deposit.
There comes a point where no matter how against finance you are, buying a car that will be 10 years old with 100k miles on it that is still depreciating at £200 a month makes no sense at all.
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Herishi
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Well spoke to the dealer today and got all the info I wanted then pointed out that there was an almost identical car at Bristol (about 30miles each way further than Birmingham) for £8k and he was advertising his at £9495 and said I prefer his car but could he meet me half way?
No
didnt want to drop from the asking price at all!
Do dealers really expect to get full asking price?
I would expect that a car advertised at £9495 would expect to sell at £9k max.
Is it just me or was this dealers response a bit strange.
Steve
No
didnt want to drop from the asking price at all!
Do dealers really expect to get full asking price?
I would expect that a car advertised at £9495 would expect to sell at £9k max.
Is it just me or was this dealers response a bit strange.
Steve
jazzyglobe
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Forget it. Move on. There are others out there. Don't rush, and only buy it if you are fully happy and comfortable with the purchase. Remember to check the car over fully.
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Herishi
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Yeah its the first one that has had everything i wanted but the other one i was looking at was only missing the electric tailgate and is £1400 cheaper!
Just seemed really bizarre behaviour for a dealer
Thx
Steve
Just seemed really bizarre behaviour for a dealer
Thx
Steve
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Why do you find it bizarre that a dealer, who makes his living from taking a profit on a car, wants to maximise that profit?
Perhaps if you turn up and show that you are serious he may be willing to consider an offer?
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Herishi
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I wanted to agree a price before driving 150miles each way and wouldnt travel all that way without an agreed price
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I wouldn't drive 150 miles on the off-chance that the dealer would be willing to change his mind about accepting an offer either...
All asking prices are pie in the sky until somebody actually pays them. So are Glass's Guide, Parkers et al. Ebay is a better guide to what people are actually willing to pay, albeit almost exclusively for (ostensibly) non-trade sales.
If it doesn't sell, he will eventually drop his price, but plainly he's not in need of cashflow at the moment.
I have an electric tailgate on mine; it's not all that wonderful, and I wouldn't pay much extra just to have one.
All asking prices are pie in the sky until somebody actually pays them. So are Glass's Guide, Parkers et al. Ebay is a better guide to what people are actually willing to pay, albeit almost exclusively for (ostensibly) non-trade sales.
If it doesn't sell, he will eventually drop his price, but plainly he's not in need of cashflow at the moment.
I have an electric tailgate on mine; it's not all that wonderful, and I wouldn't pay much extra just to have one.
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John Hannon
New Member
How can you decide what a car is worth before you see it?
If it's not as described you can use that as a bargaining tool
Regards all
John
If it's not as described you can use that as a bargaining tool
Regards all
John
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Herishi
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He said he was busy building a new showroom. I would have thought he would be eager to move what is a fairly high value used car.
But the search continues
But the search continues
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On the description in the ad, and what other similar cars are priced at?
John Hannon
New Member
I've bought two cars in the last few weeks......the differences are amazing......I've seen FMDSH comprising of nothing more than one stamp from a main dealer and not one invoice to others that have every receipt for every expenditure from day 1.......I've seen "flawless" cars with body work that looks like it followed a spreader for 10 laps of the M25, I've seen alloys that have got closer to the kerb than I have got to the Mrs in years, tyres that were bald compared to others that had four new tyres on, some with scored discs......others with fairly new discs and pads with plenty of meat on.......the list could go on.
At the end of the day you pay your money and take your chance......the cheapest is often the cheapest for a good reason
Regards all
John
At the end of the day you pay your money and take your chance......the cheapest is often the cheapest for a good reason
Regards all
John
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Herishi
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For the matter of discussing the price i assumed that the dealer was tell the truth 100% and the car was perfect.
If it wasnt thats a different matter but if he was being accurate then we can make a fair assessment on the price, in this case i think from looking at others £9k would be a fair price and one would assume the advertised price of 9495 was to allow for some negotiation.
If he had said "ok if you turn up with £9k its yours" i would have been happy, i get a bit off of the price and he get what is prob a min£2k profit from what he gave trade in.
If it wasnt thats a different matter but if he was being accurate then we can make a fair assessment on the price, in this case i think from looking at others £9k would be a fair price and one would assume the advertised price of 9495 was to allow for some negotiation.
If he had said "ok if you turn up with £9k its yours" i would have been happy, i get a bit off of the price and he get what is prob a min£2k profit from what he gave trade in.
W211 estates fetch well over "book value" and dealers pay well over to get them.
They are in strong demand.
No experienced dealer will agree to knock the price down on the phone. To them, You start talking price on the phone, you aren't really serious.. You will only get a decent deal when you are stood in front of the car.
Ever watched wheeler dealers? Mike never even talks money before he gets there.
Also be realistic, most dealers work on profits in the hundreds not thousands. The bigger the dealer the more overheads they have to cover.
If one of our cars is advertised at 9490, it would be rare for us to let it go for anything less than 9250.
2k profit? Only in the dealers dreams. Only low volume classic car dealers make profits per car in the thousands ...
They are in strong demand.
No experienced dealer will agree to knock the price down on the phone. To them, You start talking price on the phone, you aren't really serious.. You will only get a decent deal when you are stood in front of the car.
Ever watched wheeler dealers? Mike never even talks money before he gets there.
Also be realistic, most dealers work on profits in the hundreds not thousands. The bigger the dealer the more overheads they have to cover.
If one of our cars is advertised at 9490, it would be rare for us to let it go for anything less than 9250.
2k profit? Only in the dealers dreams. Only low volume classic car dealers make profits per car in the thousands ...