Any tips for buying a car from a dealership? I'm off to start looking seriously today and don't have too much experience buying cars. How much can you usually haggle a dealer down from the listed price? Anyone got a solid technique? Is there anything I should ask for etc. Bit worried about looking like a mug and not getting the best deal.
Go in there loaded with information.
Whatcar and Parkers are good places to get a free valuation of a car. It will tell you the auction value (what the dealer probably paid for it unless it's owned by a brand), poor condition, average, good, trade in price, etc. Get two quotes, they'll be close but different. The dealer will tell you that those figures are flimflam, so make sure you have a couple of similar cars looked up on autotrader as well so you can show him market value.
If you're trading in, do the same with the car you're selling. He will try and give you less than the auction value as that will guarantee him a profit even if he can't sell on the forecourt - don't take that! Be prepared to put down a deposit and wait while you sell privately.
If you have market prices, he will try to tell you that he has to charge more because he guarantees the car in a way that a private seller won't/can't. If the car he's selling is in as good condition as he's telling you, then there's nothing to guarantee. He'll tell you that his prices are higher because of overheads that private sellers/smaller sellers don't have - that's a him problem, not a you problem.
Finally his two big weapons in a car sale (and I always, always fall for them) are impatience and desire. If you're anything like me you're desperate to get your hands on the new car - be prepared to wait, be prepared for someone else to buy that car and for you to have to find another. If you've agreed a purchase price, then be prepared to pay a deposit and wait for a while as you sell your car. Unless you're buying a particularly rare car, there will be hundreds to choose from - new ones will be on the market every day/week. Don't make the mistake of getting fixated on that particular car, there will be plenty more.
Edit:
Sorry, just read your post properly and you said dealership.
Let me know which brand and I'll respond properly.
!!!! Which was ideal 'practicality wise' but it feels like its made of yogurt pots by comparison. 