Yesterday I went to go look at a 2003 SE with 146k miles. The car was in okay shape but it wasn't perfect. It had a couple beauty marks on the outside and the brakes looked slightly rusty. The right fog light was out(maybe bulb?) and the center console was missing its top. Everything else was normal. The car ran great and smooth. The dealership wanted $4900 for the car which I thought was too much so I left. The next day, I recieved a call from the dealer saying maybe we can work something out. (Maybe he regret not taking my offer?)

My offer was $3500 because I honestly thought that was a reasonable price considering I'm gonna have to get new brakes and a fix a few things. What would you do? Should i still try getting the car for $3500 or just forget about it and keep looking?

 

when i got my 2000 SE with 150k on it I paid 3500, and it was similar to yours. Minor aesthetic issues and some simple parts to fix.

I thought I got a pretty nice deal, so yours should be even better considering it's the 3.5L V6 in the 5.5 gen.

I'd say go for it

 

If they agree on the 3500 go for it.

 

Only other item I could suggest is make sure all the TSBs have been applied. For instance the left side CD cut-out or the dead squirrel noise (MT-only).

 

sounds good but it also depends where u live

 

If they accept your $3500 will that include tax and all those other charges dealerships charge?

Personally i think that price is a little high then again it depends where you live. Around my area i have seen 02 & 03's go for up to 4200 but there in great conditions.

If that 3500 includes tax then you should go for it. Good luck

 

Just to let you know, rust accumulates on the rotors right after it rains or if it hasn't been moved. The rust comes right off after you drive it. As for price $3500 isn't a bad offer but it is a dealer so they probably won't come down that much.

 

Yeah depends where you live got my 02' for 4600 with 146K on it in July 2011 when I bought it.....

 

I live in New Jersey. And yeah, I now understand what you mean about the rust on the rotors. Also, the car has a slight squeak when I hit bumps. Is this a bad thing?

Edit: Just got off phone with dealer, they said they lowest they can do is $4k, not including tax.

 

Just move along then

 

sounds like a good deal to me. $4k for a 2k2 with under 150k miles? where do i sign?

 

id hold off, if you want the car, tell them you can do $3500 and you can pay taxes (provided your alright with that price) after a couple more days, or a week, they will call you back.

ive got $3000-3500 in my 02 max and its a 6MT, but has a reconstructed title and the rear bumper hasnt been painted to match yet, mine has 115k miles though. i think $3500-4000 is probably fair if the car is decent, the console will cost $30-75 depending on color, what model is the car though? is it loaded, leather? 6MT? automatic? color? how nice are the tires? tires are expensive they better be in good shape.

matthew

 

many good questions indeed. if $4000 including tax while everything is in fair condition (mind you, it's a 10 year old car),then go for it. my 02 has about the same mileage and i would be reluctant to let it go for $5000 (let alone $4000) due to the amount of maintenance/mod work(radiator, upper/low rad hoses, oil pan and gasket, oil filter o-ring, brake pads/rotors, struts (incl. bearing and insulators),RL caliper, PAS bearing, PAS axle, spark plugs, MAF sensor, battery, replaced with brighter gauge cluster bulbs, aftermarket radio/speakers, outer tie rod ends, sway bar bushing, sway bar links, PS HP hose, PS pump, Viper remote start, etc.) i've done to it.

 

in new jersey i see 5.5 gens from 2500-9000 the 9k ones are decked out i paid 5300 for my 2k3 with 80k miles but i have many mods that came with the car but i just spent a total of around 1800 on aestetic **** like rims, bumper, grill fogs and i bought a optima red top and some other stuff since i bought the car