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C'mon....all that "snake charrm" (pun intended) and wit can't do it. MGs are fun. What kind is it? Midget? MGB?
'79s were at the tail end of their run in the U.S. Big bumpers, etc. Get one in the best shape you can find.
I have no idea what these are worth these days.
They're fairly easy to service. Electronics can be perplexing so invest in a service manual, too.
For those who don't want to sit and negotiate, the suggestions about internet buying are good ones. You can also just take the Edmunds TMV printout to the dealer and tell them. "this is what I want to buy, here's the price".
carsdirect.com is another one you can do the same thing with.
Personally, I'd rather make the first, and only offer to "cut to the chase".
If you want to sit at the negotiation table, does it really matter if the dealer makes the first offer? If they do, are you going to "bite" at first pencil? Probably not. So, what does it matter who makes the first offer?
Its a Midget with 68K original miles and believe it or not the original owner. The owner is an accounting manager where I work. I know that they are easy to work on and I do look forward to tinkering with it (if I get it) and driving it. It will just be a toy to drive on nice sunny summer days. :shades:
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
carsdirect.com is another one you can do the same thing with.
Now I know you are representing the salespeople. You just blew your cover. LOL
One would be better of hiring a buyers broker, you would pay less.
I doubt you would pay less by adding a "middle man" if you know how to buy.
Since you are here, you should know how to buy, right? :confuse:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I always know the vehicle I am looking for and I watch the internet ads from my local dealer. When I see the car I want at the price I want I go down and look it over, test drive etc. and do a little negotiating. The last one went something like this:
"My wife and I are interested in the 2007 LX 470 and would like to take a look at the white one that you have."
"Of course sir, that is one fine truck and we have it priced at (rattles papers) $57,000. bla, bla, bla"., etc. (I already know the internet price is $51,500. so I guess I just look stupid).
So we take a test drive and the truck checks out OK. Keep in mind that we are there to buy the truck at the advertised price if we like it.
I don't mention the advertised price because I am waiting to give the salesman a chance to tell me himself but he never does. So finally I tell him about the price. He acts very surprised and says that must be a mistake and he will have to check it out. He comes back in a few minutes and tells me that I am correct on the price and he can't understand how they can sell it at that price but they will honor it.
I already know that a realistic price for my trade in is in the $15,000. range so I figure they will try to low ball me and I am surprised when they offer $15,000. So the deal is essentially done at that point. Just had to turn down all the extras, etc.
Works for me.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I've managed a sales staff before, spent a very short stint as a sales person myself....not with cars, but in the tech industry. I think that's where my "let's cut to the chase" attitude comes from.
I had a mentor who believed in that. He would have weekly meetings. We'd examine forecasts, and routinely weed out the "fluff".
Applying that to car sales (which may or may not have relevance), I'd probably do the same thing. If a sales person started off with "I've got an internet lead. The person won't return my phone calls, or emails. They said all they wanted was a price quote....they don't have time to talk or a willingness to tell me much".
That's not a qualified buyer. Either qualify them more, or drop them from your list. Might float a number (but it wouldn't be an aggressive number) to see how they react.
Unless the sales person/district sales manager could set up a face-to-face, find out what the customer was looking for, qualify a time line, and purchasing parameters, I had them drop the prospect.
If someone really doesn't want to spend time at a dealership, or to provide enough information, TMV isn't a bad way to go. Or, you can email a bunch of dealers asking them for their best price. It will be hit and miss whether you receive a response. Of the responses you do get, they won't be the "best" deals you could probably get, either.
If you want to get "skinny" on a deal, you have to provide information and do it face-to-face. You have to commit at some point. And, you're going to have to tell the dealership you want to deal with them. Short of that, you're just dancing with them before the band has started to play. You can do it. It's just not nearly as good as it is with a band playing.
The buyer obviously has to do their homework researching what a reasonable selling price is for the vehicle he is seeking in his local area as well as any pre-arranged financing. For simplicity purposes, let's leave out a trade-in as well as any ext warranties or dealer add ons.
The buyer goes to the dealer's lot, picks out the vehicle he is seeking and goes on the test drive with the sales person, making small talk, hoping to convince them of two things. First, that they are a serious buyer TODAY. Second that they are an educated consumer as far as the vehicle is concerned as well as finances. With the small talk he attempts to form a somewhat decent relationship with the sales person.
They sit down to discuss the price and the buyer reiterates that they are a serious buyer today, but they do not care for the back and forth negotiations. He has a target price in mind based on his research, but he will never reveal that price to the sales person. Why? Maybe the sales person will come in lower.
He tells the sales person, "I want your best price that you will sell that vehicle to me TODAY". If I like your price, I buy it, if not, I move on. No negotiations and you get one shot with the price and only one shot. If I decline the price and you offer anything lower, then I won't buy from you for any price. To reiterate, I am a buyer TODAY, so far you have a perfect CSI coming, and I'm seeking the best price that you can sell the vehicle to me. I'll need to see the price sheet with all rebates, fees and taxes figured in for a final OTD price. I have pre-arranged financing with my bank but if you can beat the rate, I'll finance with you. The buyer gives them what they need to check his credit score.
How would you as the sales person approach this and would you simply cut to the chase and give them a reasonable offer? I would expect a number that maybe isn't rock bottom, but still has a few hundred on the table. Keeping to my word, I wouldn't expect to negotiate that last few hundred, but it still could be below the price I researched.
Perhaps you could enlighten me on what others have suffered in this discussion for similar behavior. Forewarned is forearmed.
If I decline the price and you offer anything lower, then I won't buy from you for any price.
Won't fly. Who would believe such a thing? Google the "Jipst Method" of car buying for better results.
I'm the one confused. How did you turn "Give me your best price Mr. Dealer" in to "Here's our best offer, take it or you walk". You literally turned it upside down and inside out. Too much sugar in your coffee this morning?
Richard
I'm about 5'11- 180 pounds and there is no way I fit.
I've owned an MGA and an MGB. A lot of fun but a LOT of trouble too.
I know I sure wouldn't want to get hit in one of these.
MGA? My friend has one, and I have trouble getting my foot on to the gas pedal.. the space between the brake and the tunnel is too small.. If it was my car, I'd need driving shoes... :surprise:
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Well, basically that is what you are doing. You're saying "give me your best price, if I don't get your best price I will not buy from you"... which equals walking. The dealership is coming back, and in theory will present their best offer, knowing that if you do not accept, you will walk. So, unless the dealership is bluffing, they are giving you their best price, which if you do not accept, they will expect you to keep your word and walk. i.e"Here's our best offer... take it or walk."
Your posts were fine, no problem, It's just that if you reply to a particular individual you might get into a long and tedious exchange that will be difficult to get out of.
I think your observation was actually quite funny. People buy a Prius to save money on gas so they can gamble it away. A few years ago we went to a casino here to see what the hype was.....it was a beautiful winter day, sunshining, warm....a winter day that only happens once all winter.
I was amazed to find the casino was completely packed and you had to wait in a line if you wanted a slot machine. People wouldn't go to the bathroom for fear of losing their place at a machine.
I couldn't get out of their fast enough.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Don't worry, Snake is a defensive driver.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Exactly, and I would expect you to. It's all about a person keeping their word.
Nope, not at all, I give up.
They recently opened one near where we live. Been there twice mostly for the food! Great buffets!
And, I saw one a womon I had sold a car to. She ground every last penny out of the deal I remember. She griped about everything.
There she was, at a blackjack table playing away! When I left, I saw her again. This time at a slot machine.
Do you know why the Brits like warm beer? Because all the refrigerators are made by Lucas.
Ran into a past coworker at a meeting last week who used to own an MGB. I'd ridden in it once. He was saying some people put a V8 into those; he saw one locally.
The car was small for me, close to the ground, and rough riding back in the 70s when I rode in it. I can't imagine what it's like with a small GM V8 in it.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
LoL! I was a bit surprised to get 9 Google hits on the "jipst method" but only 7 for the "bobst method".
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
When I owned the Midget, I was 6'1'' and my weight was about 140. I had no trouble getting in and out. I couldn't do it now. I weigh 190 and "Arthur" has set in on me.
I do agree it came with problems---electrical mainly. It spent some days in the shop. Still, I loved driving it.
Richard
Don't get him started again. He has calmed down and I don't want him upset. Be nice like you usually are on here.
Richard
And as far as I remember, none of them bought because usually people who say this have no clue what a best deal or best price is.
He has a target price in mind based on his research, but he will never reveal that price to the sales person.
Now by the time we're sitting down I would have figured out that you have a target price you want to achieve that you don't want to disclose.
My answer every time to this before I reveal any discounted numbers would be:
"I'm not here to play poker with you, by guessing things like what your target price is, and shooting random numbers in the air, hoping that one of them is what you want. You want to make an offer, then do it, give me your credit card, and I'll go to my manager and see if it's doable, and if it is, we can do business"
Usually this gets me an offer, or the guy walks away cause he/she really wasn't serious.
As far as I see it, I've spent time with you, helped you pick the right car, gave you great service, so tell me what I have to do to earn your business. I'm obviously not going to give away all of my gross if I don't have to, so once again, let me know what I gotta do here to wrap this up?
And yeah, saying that you'll go elsehwere if I come back with a lower price is bs. Would you really get up and leave and start the process all over again?
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
--Of all the years I have been car buying, I have never had a dealer come in under what I was thinking at first offer.
Do your research, and figure out what price will make you happy - subtract $500. If you research is accurate, you will be within $1,000.
On a new car I prefer to make the first offer. It establishes the base point and allows me to steer the negotiation. Let the be on the defensive over their cost rather than me responding to their profit..if that makes sense.
That does happen if the customer is a straight spoken one and a miser on top.
Hey Richard, did you hurt this guy's feelings? Please don't be rude with him. He has some issues.
By the way, this is a snide remark Snake. Never thought I would have to talk to you like this, in such a demeaning way. But you set the stage up, not me. You took my remarks the wrong way.
In case you don't know, I also have speech problems, and is very apparent when I am excited, like in negotiating a sale. I just don't publicise it anywhere. I was happy that you brought that one up and I had to give an ovation for that.
I certainly did not mean any snide remarks, but if that is what came across, I am truly and really sorry. I would have been happier if you had confirmed the meaning of my posting in a more non-insulting / non-standoff language.
Personally I'm not a grinder type, or one to bump someone a few hundred bucks. So I prefer an easy straight up approach.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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I have been trying to keep a low profile...........but sometimes it's just too tempting not to make a comment.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
It was ultra nice of you to apologized chikoo, especially since you didn't say anything wrong. You only commented on something based on the facts you had at the time.
From my observations, almost all of the people on this site would not knowingly insult someone in a malicious manner.
I understand completely where you are coming from.......
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Saw that after my last 2 posts.
Sounds like a good idea.
Getting back to sales, I do have a question for the salespeople. I pretty well have to buy my car from the dealership where we have bought our last 3 cars, if I want the same make. Next dealership is about 50 miles of hard driving away.
The problem is our salesman is not that good. He's not bad, but he doesn't know a lot of information, and it takes him forever to work on the computer. I don't want to get him into trouble because he doesn't really do anything malicious - I guess he does try but he just is not very helpful. I can't think of a way around this, have you ever seen a similar problem? I am not looking forward to working with him next time.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
When I bought a couple weeks ago the internet price on the car I was looking for WAS below every price I had seen and what I thought I would have to pay, until my son found the guy in Ohio. There were a couple others (MD and VA) that were close in price but they were too far away to suit me. The price I got was better than what I could get here in the Burgh and since the color combo wasn’t available here, that was a no brainer (even for me) as far as the new car price.
As I said before, they offered me $9000 for my trade (12,800 miles) over the phone but that wasn’t going to get the deal done. So I decided to give the guy a credit card deposit (Thursday evening) to hold the car until I went there on Saturday. When I got there I said, “now you can see why I want more for my car”. He said, “what do you want” so I said “$9600”, thinking full well that I wasn’t going to get that price but surely somewhere in the middle would have done the deal. He goes to the tower comes back and says, “will $9600 do the deal” ? I said “yes” and he said, “lets write it up”. I knew my car was worth more than $9000 but I thought he was going to offer me something less than $9600. I was surprised to say the least; on both ends of the deal.
FWIW, I just saw my car listed on his lot for $13,000. So, that’s where he is going to make his money. I know he won’t get 13 but that’s where he’s going to make his money and that’s what I thought all along.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I'm with Jip on this one.
From your point of view: Dealer gives you one price. You buy or you walk.
From dealers POV: He gives you one price. You buy or you walk.
So the dealership is basically saying "This is our price. Take it or leave it." AKA, reverse Bobst.
:confuse:
One of the many veterans who have just disappeared.
Am I the only "original" left?
Yes... I've finally out-Neiled Neil. (Seinfeld reference) Now that I've got the most popular method, I'd like to go on record as saying, the fact that bobst has been absent here on Edmunds the past 2 years is pure coincidence. :surprise:
I re-wrote several long paragraphs on the pro's of jipst method and the con's of all other methods, but unfortuantely, or fortunately, the power went out seconds before I hit "Post My Message". So. again... google the "Jipst Method" for the latest.
Yep thats what she told me. She also told me that she doesn't drive it that much and only drove it much during college. She implied that it was only driven occasionally during summer months.
Of course she could have said 168K miles and I didn't hear the "hundred".
What color is it? Mine was yellow. Have they decided on an asking price?
Not sure what color it is and they haven't discussed price yet.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
From dealers POV: He gives you one price. You buy or you walk.
So the dealership is basically saying "This is our price. Take it or leave it." AKA, reverse Bobst.
Thanks verdugo. Yeah, that's it, classic case of the reverse bobst method. I thought I was being fairly crystal clear on the matter. I don't drink coffee w/sugar in the morning, but I did sneak a minature Milky Way from my son.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Keep us posted on the MG.
Richard
You are so right. My new one is so much better to get in and out of now.
Richard
Your reply to golic also expresses my experience. After research, I had hoped for $9,000 on the trade. After those five phone calls from the dealer, I ended up getting $9,500. On the other end, my research had showed I would have to pay around $18k. Once again, after those phone calls, I ended up paying $16,500. I didn't really try to grind. I just indicated that I would wait a bit before buying. It was the best buying experience that I have ever had. I think that I just caught them in a selling mood.
As I mentioned before, my trade sold in 16 days. They were asking $11,500 and sold it for $11k. That gave them $1,500 profit. I imagine that the profit helped them recover some what from my skinny deal---or at least what I felt was a skinny deal. I think that both parties came out ok.
As to selling my trade, they had an interesting experience. The girl who wanted the car had terrible credit. She asked if her fiancee could co-sign for it. When he arrives on the scene, it turns out that his credit is worse than hers. She then calls her father to see if he will co-sign. When he arrives, his credit is no good either. All parties assume the deal is off. The next day, the mother arrives with the daughter. The mother has good credit and co-signs for the daughter. Go figure!! If I were a car salesman, I would be insane after the first week!
Richard
I hope they didn't sell it with a warranty or they still might lose on it
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250