Hey all,

I've been searching for a Z for quite some time now.. I haven't been able to find the one that I've liked yet though. However, there is a 04 redline touring Z(6MT) w/ 36miles that I've been looking at since yesterday. I saw the car in person and was in a really good condition despite the fact that it is a 6 year old car. I couldn't drive it because it was a Sunday.

I've looked at the kbb and edmunds and it prices the car around 13k with the same specs and features with mileage. Would it be pushing it for me to offer that much when the car is listed for 16k?

 

A $13,000 offer would not hurt. What if the seller counters with $15,500? Then what will you do?

 

Honestly, I think I'll walk... why not just pay a few grand more for a 07-08's.

 

Yeah there are other Z's around that are 07+ but they're automatic, which I don't want.

 

okay so I'm going to the dealership on saturday to test drive as well as negotiate more. I negotiated with the salesmen from $16.9K to 15.9K so far. I want to see if they'd go any lower once I go there and let them know that I am willing to buy if they go lower.

 

Thought that the car listed for 16,000?

 

oh man I typed that wrong.. it's listed at 16,991 to be exact but I've got it down to 15.9K so far. I really want to lower it to 15.5

 

Walk in and say

I will give you $14,990 for this car today.

Stick to your guns.

 

Okay, I'll try that. Is the dealer going to be stingy on the price of the vehicle if I let them know that I have a trade-in?

 

You're right. When I valued the car on KBB, how come it only shows "excellent" condition prices for retail value? I wasn't able to locate where I could make that change. I don't know of anyone that values their car at "excellent".

Also, it seems like there are some differences between Edmunds and KBB. Edmunds definitely values the car cheaper at the right condition for thousands less than KBB. Would this be considered how KBB just is?

 

No. Work this as 2 transactions. First a firm price for the Z. If the seller asks "Do you have a trade in?" I answer "I have not decided."

After you have fixed a firm price for the Z, negotiate the trade in.

If the seller begins "playing games" with the Z price - I walk.

 

Book prices that you see are an "average." Lets say that book is $15. Some buyers are buying for $17. Some for $13. So the average is $15. There is always plenty of wiggle room in the book price.

NOTE: Profession buyers have access to a real time data base of vehicles in the regional area. They know what comparable vehicles are selling for today.

 

wow i'm learning a ton from you david. thank you for all the information.

I plan on going offering them $14.9 this saturday and if they don't take it, then i'll just walk and wait.

I'll update this on saturday as well.

 

If you do that, the dealer could also "low ball" you and stay firm on the price of the trade in to make up for the $$ lost from the negotiation of the Z price, so regardless, the dealer can still f*ck you over one way or another.

 

When I looked at my Z last march the dealer wanted $16,800 and I talked them down to $14,500'ish. I basically got this deal because a car lot 45 mins away was selling the same model, same year and almost the same mileage for around 15K and my dealer beat the other dealers price just to gain my business.

 

not that 36k is alot of mileage but you can probably find a better deal for a newer one.

 

I ended up buying the car last night!

thanks for all of your help guys!