Master the Marketplace: Getting a Sweet Deal II
As you begin negotiating for a used car, use a true market pricing service like the one supplied online for free by Edmunds to help you with pricing. This will help you get a general sense of what the prices are going for beyond the posted sticker costs and will help you work out a deal on any number of used cars. As you enter the process, knowing your stuff is the best weapon you have against getting ripped off or taken for a ride.
In knowing the numbers, you have an idea of the value of the car you are negotiating on. The dealer will work hard to justify his or her price, without a doubt, but you can negotiate your way past the salesperson by remaining firm on a price you think is fair. By setting this price or setting your own limits before you walk on to the lot, you are already a step ahead.
If you have been shopping around in your area, you should also have a good account of what other vehicles are selling for and how other cars are moving. Use this information to help move the dealer closer towards the price you want to pay for your used car. Keep calm and rely on what you know.
