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General Negotiation Question

5.3K views 27 replies 10 participants last post by  6th element  
#1 ·
All,

I have had a few back and forths with a dealership regarding one of their cars that has prompted this question for me about negotiations in general. I am new to the car negotiation space, as I have lived in NYC for quite a while and not needed a car of any sort.

So I was just asking some questions about consignment vs. ownership and other features of this car. It has been listed a year. In the salesman's latest response to me he proactively, without me mentioning price, said "We have our best price advertised. Please let me know if you have any additional questions." Is it too aggressive at this point to start mentioning comps at lower prices, that we are a month away from it being another MY old, that it hasn't sold at that price yet and theyre continuing to sink money into it rather than selling for a fair price and getting the cash flow, etc.? Or should I continue to ask questions (don't really have any more, except I could ask why they think it hasn't sold yet in a year but that may be insulting) or tell them about myself/what I am lookin for?

BTW, they said originally it was consigned but now is owned by them.
 
#2 ·
In the salesman's latest response to me he proactively, without me mentioning price, said "We have our best price advertised. Please let me know if you have any additional questions." Is it too aggressive at this point to start mentioning comps at lower prices, that we are a month away from it being another MY old, that it hasn't sold at that price yet and theyre continuing to sink money into it rather than selling for a fair price and getting the cash flow, etc.?
I would ignore the "best price" comment. Don't be shy about making an offer (stating any conditions) - I'd simply say what you think it's worth. They should know the market - you don't need to justify making a lower offer - it's your money. If they're insulted by it, there are plenty more for sale.

Providing comps at lower prices is fine, although sales prices are a much better thing to use (but more difficult to find). I wouldn't talk about their costs or cash flow - they know about that, and you don't. It's not an argument - don't let them convince you to pay more than your reasoned assessment says that it's worth. It is a buyer's market. Good luck.
 
#3 ·
My Dad was an automobile dealer. He said about buying a car “If they do not jump off the ground at your first offer, you offered too much and just gave money away”. But he was looking at it just from the perspective of making money on them.

If I find just the right car, it’s a lot harder to do that, especially with limited production vehicles. A couple of times my whole negotiation was “Is that for sale?”
 
#4 ·
Since I have seen your posts on Lambo talk and here, my opinion is you need to focus on one marque at a time. Then narrow your choice of desirable cars to three or four that fit your spec and price.
focus, get serious, and make your offer.
If declined, walk away and repeat at choice “b”.
There is no hurry. There are green 570S, green hurricanes, and green gt3........and so on.
Just when you sign on the dotted line for the perfect car at your price, there will be one just that much better. It’s inevitable.
Over analysis creates paralysis
I know
 
#5 ·
Dealers are frustrated, not moving a lot of cars yet probably dealing with increased number of tire-kickers. So they get snarky.

You owe him sweet F all, in terms of explanations or backup data. Just offer whatever you think the car is worth, including any other conditions like warranty or service valet, loaners, whatever. Don’t wait until after agreeing on the number, as you’ll never get any extras at that point.

If you do that, they’ll know you are serious and if they want to move the car, you’ll get it.

Personally in this market I wouldn’t offer a penny more than 10% off their asking price, even on something truly limited or collectible. I see Carrera GTs and other iconic cars sitting for months with the same asking prices. So you aren’t likely to miss out on a common supercar due to being outbid.

p.s. brace yourself for a litany of insults from some forum members here who are combing through your social media as we speak and like to shat on anybody who even mentions looking for a deal. This ownership forum should be about supporting owners and would-be owners but it isn’t, sadly. Good luck.


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#6 ·
Dealers are frustrated, not moving a lot of cars yet probably dealing with increased number of tire-kickers. So they get snarky.

You owe him sweet F all, in terms of explanations or backup data. Just offer whatever you think the car is worth, including any other conditions like warranty or service valet, loaners, whatever. Don’t wait until after agreeing on the number, as you’ll never get any extras at that point.

If you do that, they’ll know you are serious and if they want to move the car, you’ll get it.

Personally in this market I wouldn’t offer a penny more than 10% off their asking price, even on something truly limited or collectible. I see Carrera GTs and other iconic cars sitting for months with the same asking prices. So you aren’t likely to miss out on a common supercar due to being outbid.

p.s. brace yourself for a litany of insults from some forum members here who are combing through your social media as we speak and like to shat on anybody who even mentions looking for a deal. This ownership forum should be about supporting owners and would-be owners but it isn’t, sadly. Good luck.


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Haha I appreciate it. The car that prompted this post is a Huracan (I've mentioned I am still looking between a 570s and Huracan, as topcarbon has seen) and the guy replied to my $172k offer by saying "We are the oldest Lamborghini dealer in the country. All of the services are up to date as we are a Lambo dealer. (No PPI necessary) Our price is $179,880 but thanks for the offer."

179,880 is the list price. it has been listed just short of a year.
 
#11 ·
No need for a PPI? Ha, tell him to pound sand.

Chris I have never paid anywhere close to 2 or 3% off of asking price for a used car, whether from a dealer or not and regardless of economic conditions. You are basically asserting that dealers (or even private sellers) list the minimum price they are willing to accept?

It’s a garden variety Huracan. Unless it is paint-matched to your first born’s eye colour, go deal with somebody realistic and that, like any reputable dealer, supports an independent PPI.


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#12 ·
No need for a PPI? Ha, tell him to pound sand.

Chris I have never paid anywhere close to 2 or 3% off of asking price for a used car, whether from a dealer or not and regardless of economic conditions. You are basically asserting that dealers (or even private sellers) list the minimum price they are willing to accept?

It’s a garden variety Huracan. Unless it is paint-matched to your first born’s eye colour, go deal with somebody realistic and that, like any reputable dealer, supports an independent PPI.


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Yeah I have been running into this more often than not, though not as snarky. I've made some offers probably around 5% off list prices (most recently ~7%/$10,800 for a green 570s yesterday) and the response isn't a counteroffer but either that the price is firm or that "we are still $10,800 apart on the money", indicating they don't intend to move.

Even if they are polite about it like the green 570s at Marshall Goldman, the lack of countering makes this a nonstarter bc I am not negotiating against myself.
 
#16 ·
Best to look for consignment cars as chances are a private seller is not wanting to sit on a super car in this declining market.
I always go in at least 20% off and work from there.
Yeah guess I need to wait it out longer. When I go in with even say 10% lower (or even less than 5% lower at FC Kerbeck) than list price, I am typically met with "you're $xxx lower than [the listing price]" without a counter
 
#19 ·
As a general rule of thumb when buying... "You can always go up, but you can't go down".

When I found the 570 I wanted, the ask was 185 (1K miles/230 MSRP). I called. We talked for 5 mins. I offered 160, he countered at 180......we met in the middle at 170.

Remember....... THEY are trying to sell something nobody needs. THEY need to treat YOU with respect and you also need to not be emotional and be prepared to walk. THEY need YOU....... not the other way around. Good luck.
 
#21 ·
As a general rule of thumb when buying... "You can always go up, but you can't go down".

When I found the 570 I wanted, the ask was 185 (1K miles/230 MSRP). I called. We talked for 5 mins. I offered 160, he countered at 180......we met in the middle at 170.

Remember....... THEY are trying to sell something nobody needs. THEY need to treat YOU with respect and you also need to not be emotional and be prepared to walk. THEY need YOU....... not the other way around. Good luck.
Good advice and basically exactly what I do every time.


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#23 ·
For a used car, yes, because the seller is always listing the highest price they think anybody would pay.

The key, as mentioned above, is to not let emotion show your hand. You must never let on that you really want this specific car and be utterly matter of fact with your price negotiation.

They know the real market price of their cars. If they are holding out for a premium, it is most likely because the buyer has somehow indicated that they might pay it.


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#24 ·
got it. what about cars with either (i) a custom, rare color and/or (ii) a lot of aftermarket mods that the dealer tries to use to mark up the car a ton? Like say it has $50k spent (supposedly) in upgrades like exhaust, twin turbo, etc...I am sure dealer didn't pay much, if any, extra based on mods and it's my understanding that in general people don't attribute any value to aftermarket mods when buying. But if the dealer clearly has it marked up big time and in the description is BOASTING ABOUT ALL THESE INCREDIBLE MODS MAKING THIS A CAR TO RIVAL THE BEST HYPERCARS and all that shit, how can you possibly bring them down to earth and say "hey this car is like 50k overpriced, let's get real"
 
#25 ·
Make a fair offer. Don't argue with them. If they don't accept and think you are a real buyer then they will circle back with you. If they don't think you are a real buyer then they will not circle back with you later.

The prices/deals that many people are reporting on the forums were also there pre-covid. I think dealers are liking this renewed interest thing but the deals/selling prices aren't much different then pre-covid.