# Used car buying advice needed

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/used-car-buying-advice-needed/65321>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 13, 2001, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/used-car-buying-advice-needed/65321 "2001-05-13T16:02:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/used-car-buying-advice-needed/65321/1 "2001-05-13T16:02:07Z")

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I’m buying a used car and need advice regarding dealing with dealers. Specifically, I need to know how low I can expect the dealer to go. The vehicle I’m interested is a 98 Civic EX. The Blue Book is $18,600 retail and $14,900 trade in. What do these figures mean as far as my bidding strategy is concerned? Do you have any insight into the psychology and the ritual which exist around a used car purchase. What kind of games do salesmen typically engarge in? I’m aware of the “I’ll have to talk to my manager” routine, but that’s about all I know. Advice from former or present used car salespeople is especially appreciated.

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**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/used-car-buying-advice-needed/65321/2 "2001-05-13T17:28:09Z")

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Forget about the Blue Book, and forget about the invoice price. The dealers figured out long ago how to work around them. Go to [http://edmunds.com](http://edmunds.com) instead. They’re significantly lower.

[Civic EX Sedan](http://www.edmunds.com/used/1998/honda/civic/4drexsedan/prices.html)  
[Civic EX Coupe](http://www.edmunds.com/used/1998/honda/civic/2drexcoupe/prices.html)

If you’re going to use Edmunds, print out all the info, and bring it in to the dealership with a calculator so you can figure out the cost of the options and mileage. I suggest going to a high volume dealer; generally, the sales mooks won’t screw the well informed buyer because they get enough suckers walking through the door in the first place.

A couple of years ago, I bought a 96 Chevy Corsica V6 for $8500. The sticker said $12000. IMHO, it definitely pays to be a hardass.

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**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/used-car-buying-advice-needed/65321/3 "2001-05-13T17:37:21Z")

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I forgot to add that Edmunds suggests that you should expect to pay +/- 10% of their quote. They list $12,668 for the sedan, but even figuring im mileage and options, it still beats the hell outta 18 large.

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/used-car-buying-advice-needed/65321/4 "2001-05-13T23:25:15Z")

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Great info:

[http://www.carbuyingtips.com/scams.htm](http://www.carbuyingtips.com/scams.htm)

& not to be missed:

[http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/editorial/confessions/part3.html](http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/editorial/confessions/part3.html)