Hi all,

I am new here and I searched around to see where I should put this thread and it seems like car talk would be the most appropriate but if is not please move this thread. I apologize in advance.

I just want to share this story I had when trying to buy an Acura TL. There was an 2008 Acura TL for sale, 40k miles and car fax history was clean, 1 owner. I saw the ad online for $19,495 and of course when I arrive there, the sticker price they have for it was $23,500. So skipping ahead to the negotiation, first of all the car salesman did not even offer a seat for my friend and I. We did the negotiation standing up. Anyways, so I asked 'Whats the best price you can give me?', I was already preparing to offer him $16,000 and starting the haggle process. Instead, his first offer was $17,900! Close to $6k off the sticker price! That completely threw me off and then struck me as suspicious. Why would a car salesman, who is known to leech every dime out of you would offer this insane low price. I figure something must be wrong with the car and he is trying to get rid of it. At that time the mechanic that I go to has closed so I told him I'll be back.

What do you guys think? Was I right to be suspicious or I'm just thinking too much?

 

I'm going to make some guesses.

You're a young kid.
The salesman didn't take you for a serious buyer.
He called your bluff in his mind.
You left.
He wins.

 

Well, I am 25 and my friend who came along was 32. I did tell him I was ready to pay in full if the car checks out.

What did the dealer won? I'm confused, he could've made a potential sale.

 

True Market Value®
Trade-in $17,198
Private Party Sale $18,619
Dealer Retail $19,931

If it checked out, I would have bought it before he figured out that he made a mistake. Maybe it's been sitting on the lot too long. Did you have a trade in? Maybe he was prepared to low ball you on that. Maybe the dealer got it for a trade for $15,000. There could be many reasons.

 

- Needs to get rid of it, sitting on lot too long and willing to let it go for very little profit

- Made an honest mistake and would have come out when the paper work was going to get signed

- Did it on purpose to get you excited and emotionally attached to the car, and then when the above "mistake" is mentioned then he jacks the price a few thousand betting your emotional connection to the car will make you still buy it.

- Something is wrong with the car (Don't bet all your horses on carfax, also run autocheck and get a mechanic. I've seen plenty of cars that look clean on Carfax but autocheck shows an accident)

The list goes on, just do your due diligence and make sure you do a proper investigation on the car. Don't get emotionally attached to the car and be prepared to walk away when something smells fishy or they try to rip you off. Most dealers bank on the fact that you will Fall in Love with the car and then try to screw you. There are many dealers and TL's out there.

Good Luck

 

I tend to agree with Dave on this one. The dealer was ready to go and started with his lowest price. But, this economy is not that great, so he probably figured it would only go north from there. My

 

You asked for his best price and he gave it to you...get the car checked out and buy it.

Dealers hate haggling just like consumers.

 

Well let see you said the online price listed was $19,495 that means they were ready to sell it at that price minus $17,900 = $1595 that's not a huge amount. The sticker price not being changed yet isn't a big deal it happens from time to time. IMO I think your over thinking it.

 

Should've put a deposit down on it with the understanding that is the sale price and told him when you're mechanic opens if it checks out okay, sign the papers.

Simple as that

 

You know what they say...If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is...

 

This man would know

 

I wouldn't call this a weird story. If he'd offered you no discount you would be all pissed and say dealers all suck. Is it CPO? If not ask them to throw in a warranty and buy it.

 

I 3rd that!

 

So maybe bumped up the sticker price so when you come in and ask what's the lowest price you can give me, he can give you the craziest "deal" so you'd buy it. Or they just f*cked up and the price really was $19,495

 

OP needs much more experience buying cars.

 

Don't forget to get the underbody protection package.

 

and the fabric and spring protection package!