How low do you make an offer on a late model used car

[musiclawyer]

carsdirect and autobyetel have several Mazda3's 2006 with low mileage in my area (all of them in 8k-20k mi. range) but they are all asking for $16K-17.5K

A NEW 2007 not all tricked out is not much more, or in the same price range according to Edmunds.

Is it ridiculous to call and just offer $15K even? on threat of just going to another dealer and getting a brand new one.

Any strategies welcome

[wildhorses]

1. do it--tell them you looked at one on another lot

but, like this color better. the other lot was ready to deal at $15k....

[tk2kewl]

2. I have no idea how the site works, but...

"everything is negotiable"

[billyskank]

3. What's the worst that can happen?

They say no. Give it a try.

[MissB]

4. Offer even less.

Work your way up to your price.

[skygazer]

5. Check the blue book on it

You can get blue book listings online - they give you values for excellent, good and poor condition. Almost no used car is considered in excellent condition - go by the good condition and that will help you figure out what it's really worth.

[Zavulon]

6. Start with $12K

It indicates that you're willing to spend something in the ballpark, but not in the range they're thinking. The salesman will go and "talk to the manager" and probably come back with an offer of $15K. The markup on use cars is huge, so much so that used cars are a dealer's bread and butter. You could probably get it for $14K.

BTW, if you're taking out a loan for the car, make sure you have more options than financing through the dealer. Otherwise, they adjust their financing rate to match whatever they intended to make on the car in the first place and your hard-fought discount will be nothing more than an illusion when it's all said / done / paid off.

[musiclawyer]

7. excellent suggestion

thanks

[Zavulon]

8. Let me know how it goes, please, I'm curious.

If it's not too personal, I mean.

[guitar man]

9. If it's really nice

and really late model, not over 2 years or so old, I'll offer 2/3 of what a new one runs.