| There are a few ways to honestly and ethically | | | | 3. Remember these things once you have decided |
| get the car of your dreams for a reasonable | | | | that you will purchase the car, if the price is |
| price. Follow these tips and hints and you may be | | | | right.a) This is not the only car in the world for |
| surprised how much the seller will discount the | | | | you. There are others. Maybe, they will be even |
| advertised price. | | | | better.b) Don't be in a rush to conclude the deal. |
| Ready to Start? Lets' go. | | | | Take your time.c) Don't be swayed by seller |
| 1. Do this before you even see the car. | | | | saying "I have another buying waiting". |
| When you see the car on the Internet or in the | | | | 4. Do these things when negotiating.a) Say "I'd like |
| newspaper or the magazine and you are | | | | to make an offer".b) Tell the seller the costs of |
| interested in checking it out more closely, do | | | | the items you think will need fixing once you |
| these things first:a) Check out the price of this | | | | purchase the car.c) Make your offer taking b) into |
| car against others of similar specifications.b) Have | | | | account and leaving room to move upwards on |
| your finances worked out in advance. Set your | | | | your price to the maximum you set. |
| spending limit and stick to it. Offering cash is | | | | For example, say your maximum spend is |
| usually a better option than saying you will need | | | | $10,000, the car is advertised for $12,000 but |
| to organize finance.c) Contact the seller and ask | | | | you have found $2,000 of work to be done to |
| the following questions: | | | | bring it up to your standard. Make an offer for |
| - Is the car still for sale? | | | | $8,000 ($10,000-$2,000). The seller may respond |
| - How many kilometers or miles has it done? | | | | by saying that $10,000 is his minimum. After |
| - How long have you owned the car for? | | | | taking a suitable amount of time to consider this |
| - What color is it? | | | | response, you can say "I'll go half way, is $9,000 |
| - What is the overall condition of the car? | | | | OK? If the seller agrees, then you have |
| - How negotiable is the price? | | | | purchased the car for $3,000 less than advertised. |
| If you're satisfied with the answers to these | | | | However, your $9,000 price plus your $2,000 of |
| questions ask if you can see the car at a mutually | | | | expenses is $11,000, $1,000 over your limit. No |
| convenient time. | | | | worries, just delay some of the work until you |
| 2. Do these things once you see the car.a) Check | | | | can afford it. The seller feels a bit of pain, you |
| it out closely in all areas and test whether the | | | | feel a bit of pain and you both are reasonably |
| answers you were given over the phone were | | | | satisfied with the deal. |
| correct.b) See if there are things that need to be | | | | These are just some general tips and hints from |
| done to get the car to your standard and | | | | my experiences in buying and selling cars over a |
| mentally work out their costs. For example, does | | | | long period of time. I am passing them on to you |
| the car need new tires, does it need a new | | | | to help you with your personal finances. You need |
| windscreen?c) Go for a test drive. Not with the | | | | to be able to save money wherever you can. |
| stereo going all the time though, so you can hear | | | | For details on what to look for when buying a |
| the car's noises.d) Work out, silently, what you | | | | used car from a private seller see my other |
| think you are prepared to pay as a maximum for | | | | article titled "How to Save Real Money When |
| this car. Make sure it is equal to, or less than your | | | | Purchasing a Used Car from a Private Seller". |
| set limit. | | | | |