Buying first Mustang

[Mr. Met]

First, I hope I am posting this in the right place.
I am finally buying my first Mustang, my first time buying any car. Hopefully a 2015 GT in comp orange. I have a few that I found, one that has the exact options I wanted, but the issue I am having is figuring out what a fair offer would be. I have been looking on a few sites like Edmunds but it seem like most of the cars I have looked at are already listed at or near their "retail value". Many of them also have the wrong options listed, like the one I am interested was listed as a red manual on at least one site. How do you usually go about deciding were you should start and what's the most you should pay for the car? Any advice would be much appreciated.

JJ

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[Nomadic]

Just pick a number out of a hat.

 

[Mr. Met]

Just pick a number out of a hat.

Any particular type of hat?

 

[esco11]

After I noticed how often dealers were wrong on listed options I started just grabbing VINs and looking for window stickers.
These sites got me most of them:
http://www.wikilender.com/ultimate-window-sticker-vin-decoder-tool/
https://researchmaniacs.com/VIN-Number-Lookup/WindowSticker/Ford.html

Once I figured out what options they for sure I had I checked NADA for rough price estimates. You can try KBB too though.
http://www.nadaguides.com/

After doing some VIN digging I managed to snag a CPO GT Premium PP at a price I was happy with before the dealer even got pics up. From what I can remember their ad didn’t mention performance package or nav at all.

 

[Spork3245]

CarMax. They sell at KBB and sell bumper-to-bumper unlimited warranties.

 

[Mr. Met]

Most of the mustangs I have seen by CarMax were priced one or two thousand more than other dealers.

I have a few near me I am looking at but this one has all the options I am looking for.

I checked nada and it gives it a retail price of $28,000.

 

[Nomadic]

Any particular type of hat?

 

[moto111]

.... the 15s are probably already listed for they are worth . There isn’t an answer look at nada and see what the dealers will take offer wise

 

[Infidex]

What options are you looking for?

 

[Mr. Met]

I am looking to get it with
Auto
401A
Security package
Adaptive cruise
Nav
50 years package

 

[2018OFPP1?2]

First, I hope I am posting this in the right place.
I am finally buying my first Mustang, my first time buying any car. Hopefully a 2015 GT in comp orange. I have a few that I found, one that has the exact options I wanted, but the issue I am having is figuring out what a fair offer would be. I have been looking on a few sites like Edmunds but it seem like most of the cars I have looked at are already listed at or near their "retail value". Many of them also have the wrong options listed, like the one I am interested was listed as a red manual on at least one site. How do you usually go about deciding were you should start and what's the most you should pay for the car? Any advice would be much appreciated.

JJ

When buying used cars, I start with KBB and NADA low trade in value. This should be considered the MAX a dealer would pay for a used car, and generally they actually pay MUCH less, what's known as the wholesale value, which unless the dealer is your uncle, you will never find out. And even then you may not ;) Dealers make their living on used cars.

Anyway, start with the low trade in value, add what you consider to be a fair margin for the dealer, or not (remember, he likely didn't pay anywhere near the trade in value unless it's a model in extremely high demand), and then consider how much you're willing to go over that if you just have to have it. This should be your max, and you have to be willing to walk if they won't agree to it. Remember, they want to sell the car, so you have all the power. If you show them you are willing to walk, they generally become much more willing to work with you.

Recognize this is a game, and his objective is to get you to pay as much as he can. Your objective is to pay as little as he will take. You can quit anytime you don't like the way it's going. You may have to go back and forth several times. Whatever you do, be nonchalant. The less information he has about your motive for being there, and how much you're willing to spend, the more control you have over the deal.

If you're not willing to, or don't want to invest the time playing the game, you can just hit him with your best offer, and walk if he rejects it. You may have to walk from several cars because there are people out there who will just pay the asking price and all the dealer has to do is wait for one of them to come along. It comes down to how much time and effort you want to invest in the game.

If you can get it for less than KBB/NADA retail, realize you've paid less than the average person buying that car, and be happy with the deal. Good Luck!

 

[HeelToeHero]

The above in theory is all well and good but the quality of used vehicles varies widely. I remember shopping for a 3 year old vehicle for my wife: some vehicles had things broken, missing , or even rust starting etc.

Buying a new car condition is constant (relatively) and focusing on price is easy, but a used car every vehicle is different. Always buy the best condition vehicle you can afford.

This was part of the reason I bought new for this car: for not much more money I could get a new vehicle.

 

[brpec]

KBB means nothing, dont waste your time looking at it. Just search online the prices and you will have a better idea of value.

based on what you want I believe you can find you Mustang for about 23 - 25k with very low miles.

If you can handle a base model I would tell you to look at the 2018s, you can get a base for about 28k.

Don´t rush. Good luck!

edit: Just notice you want with 50 year pack. The problem here is that you will limit your search a lot, you probably going to have to pay the price.

Question, what is the price you cant go above?

 

[articrandom]

After I noticed how often dealers were wrong on listed options I started just grabbing VINs and looking for window stickers.
These sites got me most of them:
http://www.wikilender.com/ultimate-window-sticker-vin-decoder-tool/
https://researchmaniacs.com/VIN-Number-Lookup/WindowSticker/Ford.html

Once I figured out what options they for sure I had I checked NADA for rough price estimates. You can try KBB too though.
http://www.nadaguides.com/

After doing some VIN digging I managed to snag a CPO GT Premium PP at a price I was happy with before the dealer even got pics up. From what I can remember their ad didn’t mention performance package or nav at all.

I will never understand how people still trust KBB or similar websites. Who do you think that owns those websites? They inflate the prices so you end up paying more. Cars are not worth what those websites tell you.

 

[JohnD]

Whatever the dealer is asking just low ball him big time. You can't insult a car dealer, no matter how poofty and hurt they act you won't insult them, they just want an offer and they'll go from there. If it's a really clean low mile car I'd go at least 25% less than asking, and if it's not I'd go even further down. They can make more money on a used car than they can on a new one, so they have more room to move.

Car buying is a game, enjoy it!

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