Topic: used car purchase - at dealer - offer?

[jonnyboy]

Hi all,

I've been searching for a 2008-2010 Mazda5 manual for a while and came across a coupel of options.

One is a private sale. 2009 with 22k. Nice enough shape. family car that has been serviced, but not necessairily kept clean. 60mth/100k extra factory warranty also.
I figured it worth $15,000 as per black book.. offered $15,500, refused then upto $16,000 cash, $16,750 if a 0% finance transfer was an option.
Owner is firm at $17,500. Cars been listed for around 6 weeks.

Second option is a Mazda dealership. Similar car, but in the color I want with the factory tints... its what I woul dhave bought had I had finances available before the last of the 2010 cars in manual sold out.

Anyway, its a 2008 with 42k.. listed at $19,888(or $18,888 depending on what resource you use), a quick phone call to a salesman got me to $17,000.
Its a lease vehicle, warranty is up as its passed 3 years. Was leased orihginally from the same garage that has it for sale now.
I reckon, doing my math that there was approx $12,000 outstanding in that vehcicle based on 36 months of lease payments.. so, even as an in-and-out purchase, the most the dealer paid for the car is the lease buyout amount of $12,000. If it went through Mazda lease return, then to dealer aution.. presumably they paid less than that

Blackbook has it at $11,500 which makes sense... so, I figure that if I offer the assumed $12,000 + $1000 processing/repairs + $1000 dealer profit =$14,000, I should score a deal.

Am I way off with this?


I typically avoid dealers as I dont like being lead down the garden path, but in this case (pre inspection), its the car I want.
My head suggests that the private sale would be a better car, but the sellers not motivated and I'd have to pay well over blackbook value to buy it.


Any suggestions gratefully received.
Or lessons if I'm confused with how used cars at dealerships works....

thanks

[ArticSteve]

$1000 dealer profit Am I way off with this?      

Forget the FUZZ math.  Attend the dealer, bring your wallet and hammer out a price.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[2latecrew]

Well of course that private owner wants more than black book. If he traded the vehicle in at black book he'd get 15 K plus save HST on a new purchase netting out to him getting around 17 for his car. Why sell privately if you won't make out at least as well as a trade in?

Do you need something "now". If that M5 has been listed for 6 weeks he's already made one payment since then. Another 2 weeks it will be another payment. He should be coming down at least another few hundred. Sounds like maybe he owes 17 500 on it.

The dealer one?

http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2008-Mazda-Mazda5-GS-Minivan-W0QQAdIdZ322848180

12 500 (probably get it for 12) for an 08 with 64 K

or http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2008-Mazda-Mazda5-6-PASSENGER-w-QUAD-SEATS-W0QQAdIdZ329488082

14 999 asking for one with 65 at a DEALER!They are on crack asking 19 to you.

I doubt I'd even bother trying to negotiate with a dealer who wants 19. I'd go straight to one that is starting closer to 14 or go buy private for much less.

There are tons of M5s around

[jonnyboy]

I'm in BC, so neither of those NS cars work.

There are lots of GS or auto cars around. Not many GT's with sticks.
Agree though, at $18000 that dealer is dreaming... trouble is that with dealers being so 'optimistic' and apparently assuming that depreciation doesn't appply any more... they are driving up what private sellers are asking and expecting to get.

Wifes due any day with number two.. she's leaning on me to go buy something :0

[Weels]

That private sale looks like your best bet.  An '09 with only 22K, and extended warranty.
I'd offer $17K cash - if it's dirty inside, spend a couple hundred at a good detailer & will look like new.

Given any thought to new?  Looks like Mazda has 0% financing for 48 months

[tortoise]

Yeah,  at anything close to 20k you're probably better off just buying a new 5 (if the looks don't bother you).

FWIW,  I just bought an 08 GT (no leather or Nav) with 54,000 km for $13,500.  It was a QC car so factor that in.  Either way,  17 is far, far too much.,

[johngenx]

No way would I pay extra for unusually low kms.  Time is the enemy of cars.  Sitting and short trips are hard on vehicles.

With a dealer, go ahead and offer way below the asking price.  I typically shave $3-5K off used asking prices at dealerships.  They usually blue-sky their asking price hoping a sucker comes along...

[jonnyboy]

Yep, thought about new... 2012 Mazda 5 on finance is an attractive option.. but it looks stoopid. They had it nailed with the 2010 model year/spec imo.. aside from 3k rpm at cruising speed... oh right, and no 6speed diesel... but apart from that, its a classic shape that I like a lot.


Tortoise.. I followed your thread. I've looked at many similar options, but like you, the 5 pulls the sensible family strings. Wife, 16 mth old and imminent Baby.


My main stumbling block for purchase is the USA cars I've missed. 
The last 3 west coast new 2010 Mazda5 Base MT (with DSC/Traction) at $14500us.. no sale at either dealer as I'm not american.. then last week, pretty much the same car came up as mazda dealer used sale, 8000miles at $15000... missed it.. but a nearly new car for that kind of money vs 3yr old car here for the same money is a killer

Dealer phoned me today saying they'd take $16,5 but I ran out of time to go and see it as I had more pressing thinsg to take care of. I'm going to regroup and get down there next week. I'm pretty sure that car wont be going anywhere any time soon at that sticker price :O

Thanks all for the feedback