Ok... so I guess I'm sposed to "ask" what I'll get trade pretending I really don't want to trade... if its good, get it in writing and sort of make them think I've changed my mind and dont want to trade... then negotiate the car price down (used 97SE.... 32k miles, BOSE, lthr)
how do I bargain? I'm new to this.....
I think there's a woman who works in the used car part... I'll go to her, cuz I always get intimidated around guys I don't know why... but I don't with women salespeople
and then if I get agood price in writing tell her I will trade (cuz she'll have lowerd the price thinking no trade)
and bam! good deal?
~tom
please post/email ASAP... going tomorrow

 

Don't even mention that you have a trade in until you have agreed on the lowest price for the car your going to buy. Go in with all the blue-book, internet, etc... prices and make sure you let them know what the car is really worth. With used cars, it's a bit tougher to negotiate. Good luck.

 

yeah but if i do that, they won't give me crap for trade in ???

 

If they don't know you plan to trade in your current car (just tell them you're buying a second car or something) then they'll work harder to get you a lower price -- if they know you have a trade-in they're gonna jack the prices around on both cars until you don't know left from right. Then after you've agreed on the selling price of the new car, tell them you decided you'll trade in your car and this is what you want for it or no deal. Basically, your trade in (and whatever they'll give you for it) should have no bearing on what you pay for the new car, so leave it out of the mix as long as possible. Once you tell them you're gonna trade it in, don't let them touch the price you agreed on for the new car, and be prepared to walk if they won't give you what your trade-in is worth. That's the real kicker -- be prepared to walk at any point if they're not giving you what you want (within reason). They know there are other dealerships you can go to and it is to their advantage to move cars even with almost no profit, especially after the time they've already invested in you.

 

What pricing source should I use to determine what I want for trade and what they should give me....thanks

 

The dealers go by the NADA (National Auto Dealers Association) blue book, but I'm not sure that is available online anywhere. The Kelley Blue Book is a good reference though -- you can find that on lots of sites like carpoint.com or autosite.com. Dealers use trade-in/wholesale values, not retail. Also, the dealer will consider your trade-in one "condition" level lower than you do, even if it's perfect, so take that into account. When we got our Max, I traded in our '99 Camry after only 10 months and with low miles, looking nicer than it did when we bought it, and the dealer still only wanted to consider it "Good" rather than "Excellent" condition (we prevailed).

 

i agree with keeping the prices separate and then announcing the trade as a make it or break it deal. you may want to contact another nissan dealer with the same numbers and have a back up in place if they don't go for it. this way you minimize the risk of having to go back to the 1st dealer with your tail between your legs.
Take your time and do some phone-ing around before you sign a deal - it's worth a few extra hundred (and the peace of mind in knowing you got a good deal) to wait another day.

also depends on what you're trading. if you trade a nice car, they may give you decent money knowing they can sell it off their lot without compromising their reputation. if it's a p.o.s. you may want to sell it yourself. ex: my beat up 91 sentra wouldn't trade for more than 500 because they could never sell it to a customer. but it is still a reliable car and you can generally sell anything that runs well through the paper for at least 1000.

 

I just called about 6 dealers within a 2 hour drive, and told each of them that my family lives in their town, so it would be convenient for me to buy a car from them, re: servicing when I'm in town.etc etc. Every dealer was willing to fax me their best price on a purchase contract. All I had to do was fill in my VISA number for a deposit and fax it back.. You would be amazed in the Spread of quotes they gave me, but the dealers who know about this game play it well and truly do fax you a good and honest quote