Autotrader.com Dealer Price Flexibility

[John Bennett]

I've been looking at used cars on http://autotrader.com

How much negotiating room do you feel the dealers there build into their listed prices for used vehicles?

I'm looking there for a pre-2005 Toyota Tacoma 2wd extended cab, auto.

I have ZERO experience with these online dealer listings, so any experiences you guys had, or heard of, would be a useful gauge for me and would be much appreciated.

[DCG]

Ok, go to Kelly Blue Blook's website (kbb.com), enter the auto you are looking to buy, get the dealer trade in value. This will be fairly accurate as to what the dealer actually paid for the vehicle in question, they may have up to another $1,000.00 in shop costs for the car on top of that (but probably not).
Standard markup on a used car runs about 20%, new cars 12-13%.

Also, hit Edmund's (edmunds.com I believe) which is THE car buying resource for info. I sold cars for a bit (hated it), and Edmund's has scarily accurate info for a non-insider.

See if the dealer you are looking at has an internet sales dept. This is usually the equivalent of going thru fleet sales, fixed price, no haggling. Beware of interest rates the dealer may offer you if you finance, make sure to check with your bank or credit union first to make sure the rate is at least competitive, dealers also make money off the interest rate that they sell your deal to a lender at.

Hope that helps :)

[Musubi Dojo]

I just bought a 2001 Saturn Wagon, looked at a half dozen of them online at Autotrader.ca and drove 3. I found private dealers (not affilated with a Saturn dealership) would bargain more. I could get $700-$800 discount on a $11,000 car, but I was worried about the condition and after taking to my mechanic found signs it had been in an accident. Saturn dealers would hardly budge. $200 bucks was the best I could do on a similar vehicle, but the vehicle was in excellent condition.

I'll second the Edmunds reconmendation.

Good luck!
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