Hey guys, I came across a 2008 Nismo, 25k miles, looks to be in pretty good shape. It's located @ a dealership, and it has been sitting on their lot for a couple months. The sticker on the car is $27,000, which is a bit higher than my budget currently allows. I plan to test drive it Thursday, and see what kind of deal I can pound out with the salesfolks.

I ran the VIN, which is how I know they've had it in their inventory for a good bit of time. I have a decent budget to work with, and I can get back in a truck I currently own if the negotiation fails, but I'm very eager to get my Z. All that to say, I have the luxury of walking away from the negotiation, which can be a powerful tool when buying a car, etc etc.

I feel that the sticker price is too high, but I'd like to offer something on the low side of reasonable and stick to my guns just in case they want to get their merchandise moving.

What do you guys suppose I should offer for the car, assuming it's in good shape inside and out. Moreover, what should I aim for in terms of drive-out, in your opinion?

Thanks for your input!!!! Here's the pricing data on TMV, KBB, and NADA for my area:

2008 Nismo @ Edmunds TMV:

Trade In - $21,074
Private Party - $23,558
Dealer Retail - $25,433

Kelly Blue Book:

Dealership Retail Asking Price $32,400 (yikes!)

NADA:

Average Trade In - $22,300
Clean Trade In - $23,675
Clean Retail - $27,375

 

Dealers always highball. Your disadvantage is that Houston is a 4-season town for the Z. Little snow. So demand is stable throughout the year. Offer $24, 550.

 

Thanks for the quick response! No doubt about Houston being a challenging buying market. Even with a decent used budget, I've been hunting for a while.

$24,550 sounds reasonable, and worth a shot. Worst case scenario, the hunt continues. As far as life's problems go, finding the right sports car isn't the end of the world. Hehe.

 

I think a seller shoots himself in the foot with a highball price. One, it dissuades potential buyers fron looking. Two, the probability that a buyer will pay highball is slim.

Keep an eye on how long the Z is on the lot. Is it sits, that is a key for bargaining.

 

Just an FYI, I paid 29K for my '08 with 800 miles on it (used, at a BMW dealership), also had tinted windows and leather seats.

Mileage, plus the fact that it's almost a year later, i'd accept nothing over about 21-22K for the car. That's a LOT of miles for a specialty car like this.

In the end though, it's up to whether you like the car enough to pay what they will take for it. I'd advise you to NEVER settle for the first day's offers. Leave, no matter what they offer you. Go home and think it over, let them call you the next day or two with another offer. If it still looks good to you, go back and make a deal for less than you walked out on.

 

The trade-in values can give you an idea of how much they may have paid for the car, either in trade or in an action. If they took it in on trade, they put another $100 into detailing etc...

If it has only been sitting for a couple months, they may not yet be desperate to get rid of it, particularly with nicer weather coming up.

I will generally offer the dealers just a bit over what I guess they may have into the car. If they want to get rid of it, then they will bite. In this case, I'd probably offer $22,500 cash if the car is in good shape. Test drive it and if you like it, give them a business card with your offering price on it. Tell them your offer is good until you buy another car and just leave. 9 times out of 10, they won't take your offer and you won't hear back from them. However, that 10th time you can get a very good deal if all the stars are in alignment.

 

^while a good strategy it may not be one that you can apply to nismos if that's what you really have your heart set on. may not be enough near you to find the best deal possible.

 

This is all good advice on used car buying - I appreciate all of your input.

There are only a handful of these on the Texas market right now, and the others are more or less appropriately priced for very, very low mileage. In other words, a bit out of my price range. That being said, I'm not hell-bent on getting a Nismo. I would love one if the deal was right, but I'm a huge fan of all Enthusiast+ Z's, so with a little bit of patience, there are any number of options in the '07/'08 market.

With this thread in mind, I plan to go take the Nismo for a spin, and if I like how the car looks/drives/feels/etc, I'll sit down with him and make him an offer of $24,550 cash OTD, and let him know I'm aggressively shopping Texas, and that my offer is good until I find my car.

Should be interesting - I'll keep the thread posted when I get over there later on in the week.

 

is this nismo at Mossy Nissan?

 

Affirmative.

 

just buy a 370z

 

 

Just FYI before you make a move OP, used 370Zs with <10K miles are selling for 24.5K

 

Did you offer $24,550 as I suggested? Did the seller accept the offer?

 

If you don't mind driving it 1K miles home, here's a nice one in my area (not my car):

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/1951685984.html

 

Too late. He bought a 2008 Touring... https://my350z.com/forum/new-owners/...-t-w-pics.html

 

Oh man he tricked me. Thanks.