How do you get a dealer to budge on SC price?

Plecostomus · 02-23-2011, 01:21 PM

I am looking at this dealer-owned SC and the salesman will only come down $300 on price and he says its FIRM. Says he has too much money in it to come any lower. I really love the car and want to buy it, but I feel he can come down at least $1000. The car is in excellent cosmetic shape, but has NO upgrades! What's a guy to do? Thanks if you can suggest anything..

(yes, will do PPI and renegotiate if any probs!)

billybek · billybek's Garage

What is the asking price and what is the mileage and condition?

BKLYNTARGA · BKLYNTARGA's Garage

Leave your number and walk away..he will call!!!!

steve911T · 02-23-2011, 01:26 PM

What I would do is to give him my card/phone number and walk out the door telling him to call me if he is interested in making a deal. Win or lose, you have to have the stomach fortitude to play their game. Also, it is truly a buyers market out there and there are plenty of great cars available. Steve

Plecostomus · 02-23-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybek

What is the asking price and what is the mileage and condition?

Asking $20,000. Mileage 70k and in very good condition cosmetically. Can't speak for the engine tho'.

Plecostomus · 02-23-2011, 01:29 PM

Thanks Billy, Steve, and Brooklyn!

mpetry · mpetry's Garage

Without seeing the car we cannot give you advice on a specific price, but the market varies widely depending on the condition and provenance of the specific car you are considering.

There are a lot of good cars out there for sale in the 12-14K range. $20K sounds very high. Any 30 year old car with 70K on it will need some restorative work, tuneup at least, probably the usual SC stuff (studs, seals, bushings, etc).

Try this: "I will buy that car for $XXXXX". And say no more.

I would not even agree on a price till you've seen the result of a PPI. It's fair for you to pay for the PPI, make sure it is done by someone independent. You might try saying "out the door" so they don't have a chance to lay on a bunch of documentary fees and other "packs" so they get paid for typing out the title.

Bottom line is they want to sell the car. If you say "what's your best price" you are wasting your time. Make an offer of what you're willing to buy the car for, and leave it at that.

911Gedward · 02-23-2011, 01:46 PM

Get the PPI done. If it shows to be in top condition - needing nothing - then the 20K price tag may not be too far off. However if the PPI shows some issues you have a better idea of what your buying as well as negotiating leverage.

schumicat · 02-23-2011, 01:57 PM

unless that car is in really incredible condition, it will sit on the lot for some time at $20k. then the price will come down. I'd also be skeptical of mileage unless documents; it takes 10 seconds to swap out the speedometer/odometer on these cars. most originally had 85 mph speedos and were changed at some point in their life to the 150 mph version.

john walker's workshop · 02-23-2011, 02:00 PM

lotta cash for an SC. 87-89 carrera maybe. around here at least. $14-$15K or walk.

screenwriter-X · 02-23-2011, 02:10 PM

That you can't speak for the engine means that he can't speak for the engine.

There certainly is such a thing as a $20,000 911 SC. It's one which is in excellent condition, has full records from new, and an assessment of perfect health from a third party with expert credentials.

If he can supply full records from new and such an assessment, then it is worth $20,000. Otherwise, he must negotiate because he'll never sell it for that much.

Plecostomus · 02-23-2011, 02:11 PM

MPetry- Thanks a lot. I tried the one price offer ($18,000) and he balked and said they paid $18 for the car!

Thank you Ged, Schumi, and John!

What if I pay to get the PPI done and it turns out there is nothing major, but needs work equating $1-2,000, I go back to him to negotiate and he says "forget it! No deal. Price is firm"? Do I ask him prior to the PPI that if something is wrong, will he lower the price to commensurate?

Thanks again..

Plecostomus · 02-23-2011, 02:13 PM

Thank you for that, screenwriter! I think the only records are handwritten notes in a log. The carfax doesnt reflect anything untoward, although I don't know how legit carfax reports are.

schumicat · 02-23-2011, 02:17 PM

a dealer who pays $18k for an sc would not stay in business long. there is one on CL here with 15k miles that looks in exc. condition asking $20k.

Canada Kev · 02-23-2011, 02:18 PM

It might help a bit if we knew roughly where you were located. That price seems kinda steep to me even for an exceptional SC that actually included all records, and I live in Canada where folks tend to ask quite a bit more than they do in the US.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 02-23-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plecostomus

Asking $20,000. Mileage 70k and in very good condition cosmetically. Can't speak for the engine tho'.

there are 7 SCs on the planet worth $20K. His isn't one of them.

With a little searching, you should be able to find an excellent SC for $12K, or even less.

screenwriter-X · 02-23-2011, 02:28 PM

Handwritten notes in a log mean zilch.

Quicksilver · 02-23-2011, 02:28 PM

Your only real power in negotiating to buy a car is your willingness to walk away. There are other great SCs out there that are in the same condition. It might just take some time and energy to find them.

As soon as you start moving on price you are playing the dealers game. If he yanks you around for an hour and only gets you to raise your price by $300 then he just made $300 dollars an hour. This is the world they live in so of course he his going to stall about the price. He knows that YOU came to him so all he has to do is sit there and watch you go through gyrations and his deal will automatically get better and better. He does this everyday so he knows this very well.

The best advice has already been given to you. -> Walk away
The car isn't going anywhere at that price. Wait till he has sat on it for a while. If the car sits with a price on it where you can see it from the road even better. Just watch until the price moves down. Don't talk to him until then because if he knows that there is a person that checks every week about the car he isn't going to want to move the price down as much.

While you are waiting look elsewhere...

dshepp806 · dshepp806's Garage

Bullsheeit....way over-priced.......walk,...briskly...drop an offer, PENDING A FULL PPI,.....and forget about it.....he may call, and you'll find he doesn't have that much in it afterall....service history docs are premiumly prerequisite!

Best!

Doyle

foxpaws · foxpaws's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plecostomus

I am looking at this dealer-owned SC and the salesman will only come down $300 on price and he says its FIRM. Says he has too much money in it to come any lower. I really love the car and want to buy it, but I feel he can come down at least $1000. The car is in excellent cosmetic shape, but has NO upgrades! What's a guy to do? Thanks if you can suggest anything..

(yes, will do PPI and renegotiate if any probs!)

Your first problem - "I really love the car".

The salesman can feel the love.... and is acting accordingly.

Don't ever fall in love until it is in your garage.

Drive a few more -that car won't be going any where soon - see if you don't feel the love again... because then you know - it is really just lust talking.