Buying a used van-advice

[LittleRedHen]

Tomorrow I will be calling a woman about a van that she has. We already know that the van is in perfect running condition and that its exterior and interior are in excellent shape despite being a 2000. It was used for an old folks group for shopping trips mostly. It isn't an old folks home but rather their "social" gathering type place. I am not sure of the name of what I am looking for. Anyways, despite being a 2000, it only has 39-40K miles on it. It is a 15 passenger van which is what we need. We plan on taking out back seats for grocery space and it does not have any less of gas mileage than the 12 passenger. Anyways, we really need the van. I have been looking for awhile to find one that fits our families needs and fits what we can afford.

Well this van is it. They are asking 10K and I checked the Bluebook value and that is only about 7K. They are probably just fishing and hoping to catch a fool who would not check out the value of the van. They do not owe anything on this van as it was paid for by gov't funding. So it isn't a matter of asking what they need to pay it off. They are selling it because the old folks complain its too difficult to get in and out of because of the height. My Husband is a good friend to the man who drives transportation for this place and thats how we know that the van is in great condition and worth buying. He told us that it would be worth 8K and we should flash that kind of money at them and see if they take it.

We would take it for 8K even though its above the value. BUT of course part of me wants to see if we could go less. The less I spend on this van is the more I have for a chest freezer which we greatly need too. Plus we want to take a trip next month. So any money saved is money that can be spent elsewhere.

SO.... Where is a good place to start for negotiating? How do you negotiate?

Do we just bring a print out of the Bluebook price and say "Would you take 6800??" (which is the value according to Kelleys) Or since they are asking 10K would you just ask if they would take an even 7K?

We never tried to work someone down on a price of a vehicle before. We always just paid their asking price in the past.

SO... any advice?? (relating to the question and not any personal opinions about 15 passenger vans etc) I just want advice on how to negotiate the best price please.

[Ashtina98]

IMO, never pay more for a vehicle than what it is worth. I would offer them Blue Book if you feel it is worth it but don't pay more than that!

Dee

[LittleRedHen]

Would you offer below the blue book then? or just offer the blue book price and not go higher?

[Alice In TX/MO]

Take a copy of the blue book print out with you. That's your final offer, and you're sticking to it.

[Laura]

There is another pricing book besides Kelly, too bad I can't remember what it's called, that has different price values. Blue book tends to be low, only considers milieage and looks and doesn't neccessarily reflect actual value.

Consider your van's mileage is easy mileage, very little wear on engine, transmission....the entire drive train, service maintenance records, and clean interior, not torn up like a school van would be, I would certainly be willing to pay above Blue Book for it. I know several people looking for such a van, especially one that was a senior citizen van instead of a school, rental or shuttle van, which tend to be used up before being sold.

[clovis]

You can also tell them that the bank won't loan any more than Blue Book, which is most often very true.

Tell them you have $6000 to spend, then shut up. Let them talk.

Follow that rule....make an offer....then shut your mouth....it puts the pressure on them to make a decision.

I also like starting with this: "Well, we like the van, but we are pretty far apart on the money..." (Then shut up.)

clove

[moopups]

Take their asking price and the book price into consideration, 7 -10, ect. Offer the difference below their asking price, then offer to 'split the difference'. Which will bring you up to the book value, and them down to the book value.

What they are above, you go below (book value), this is how the system works. Whom ever speaks first loses after the offer.

The same as handing a pen to a homeowner for in home sales, never do that, lay the pen on the table and let them reach for it. First motion, first loss.

[Jenn]

1- bargaining is expected with cars- I suggest you paid too much for your prior cars. I also believe they are asking 10K expecting to be counteroffered and that had they started at bluebook they'd not get that much. However sounds like this car is worth more than bluebook- see #2.

2- Price is what it is worth to you and to them also and what it is finally sold for. Bluebook can say $3000, if they have other buyers willing to pay $10,000 the price may actually be $10,000. What is it worth to YOU? If you have to resell it in a year or three it is not worth more than projected bluebook value in three years plus what you are willing to spend (on top of repairs gas and maintenance) over three years to own and drive it. If you can't find any other than a brand new $30,000 van that for some reason (shoddy new cars etc) would probably last only as long as this one will, this van is worth almost $30,000 to you! We own an old (9seater, sorry) van bluebook maybe $6000, but replacing it would cost $20K or more (afraid to buy used) so it is worth much more than $6K to us and we just won't sell it. Similarly we bought a homestead long ago and paid $5K over VA valuation; because it was worth even more than that above what VA said to us. Regretted slightly when I sold and calculated I'd paid plenty of 'rent' over 4 years, but I would've anyway to take a suburban farmette and make it my own. Same now- if we never move (and never have to default on mortgage ) we haven't paid too much; but if we resell and lose 20% purchase price (as I fear is possible if we want a quick sale in today's market!) we'll be beating ourselves up. I will use this principal if I ever make an offer for the pasture behind our lot- farm land is worth, well, under $1000/acre but there's no such farmland within 30 miles local big towns here; land to build houses may be worth $3-4000/acre, but for me to won the 10 acres next to my lot, well like MC advert priceless. Well I do have a budget but no other land than that will do for us so we'll be willing to go up (or get less acres and pay more per) above 'market' price for that land.

[LittleRedHen]

well I cannot find any other 15 passenger vans closer than 4 hours from here. I certainly cannot find them under 50K miles AND under 15K in price. We would like to make this van last the next 10 years. We have no desire to resell ever... its a "run it into the ground" type purchase and plan on making it last as long as we can. We will never outgrow it!

Oh how i'd love for them to take 5K for it tomorrow :P

[FiddleKat]

CL, was that $7000 listed for a striped down model? The Blue Book is a good source, but you also have to add in the extras, such as a/c, power, and other options too.
Our van is a 99 conversion van, high top, and still has a value of $10,000 on it.

If you can't find any under 50K AND under 15K, then I think you already found one at a decent price.
Offer them the $7000, and if they don't take then offer a little more.

[Laura]

I have a 97' 1 ton Dodge 15 passenger van I bought in 2000. Even though it is 10 years old and has a lot of miles, it's still valued at $8-9,000, but prices are higher out here in the west. We looked for two years before finding it online, it was a preschool van with very few miles.

I plan on getting at least 25 years out of it. I get it serviced regularly and have had no problems with it whatsoever. Dodge no longer makes these vans, so it's pretty much irreplacable.

[Heidi's_Goats]

You can also check out the value on www.Edmunds.com and www.nadaguides.com

[Anita in NC]

I would print out the value from KBB or other such places. Print out the trade-in value and private sale value inputting the condition and mileage and tell them your willing to pay KBB value for private sale but that's it and see what they have to say.

10K for a 7 year old van seems a little steep even if it is in great condition. I sold a 7 passenger van that was 8 years old and only got 2k for it and it was in pretty good condition. I've priced vans before the the 7 passenger and 15 passenger were never that far apart in price.

[LittleRedHen]

well i talked to her a bit this morning. It looks like we will end up settling in the 8K range. I found out a few of its extras. I also know a dealership offered her 8900 within the past year. It has depreciated some but i dont foresee her coming down a whole lot from there. I am hoping I can wave 8K in front of her and she take it. Its im emaculate condition! no problems and spotless mechanical history!