Bigmikelakers
New member
If the 4runner I find is $13,995? Is it cheaper to buy from a private seller because dealers tack on fees and such? I only will have like $15k to spend thats why I'm curious to know what I can afford.
What Would Be The Total Price At A Dealer?
- Thread starter Bigmikelakers
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Learn to negotiate. And always negotiate "out the door" cost. If you don't they will try to tack on fee's, some legit; some not.
In general, yes, you will get a cheaper deal short term private party, but since you MUST pay sales tax, title and registration, it can many times come out to be the same or more.
So. Do research. If 15k is your max, then that is your max for the 4runner plus title, tax and registration.
When you are negotiating price at dealer, start low, way LOW of their offer. Never pay their sticker. That is getting ripped off. Every dealer expects the final price to be below sticker, well not every, carmax doesn't.
I have always negotiated for my KEYS in Hand, OUT the door price. They understand this prices includes any and all fee's needed to get it done.
So, if I see a 4runner for 13.9; I start at 12.5 and work up with out the door included. Remember: tax, tag and title will run you 1k or more and you should remember this. If the sticker asks 13.9, and you get them to 13.5 OUT THE DOOR, if you subtract the tax and tag, around 1-2k; you got them down on the price of the car by almost 2k and that is not a bad deal.
Don't let them lead the discussion. Don't ever tell them what you can pay monthly (if financing) ONLY negotiate on TOTAL out the door price. Be ok with walking away...
Hope that helps.
Edit: I just bought a 2005 v8 4x4 Sport in excellent condition for 12.4; they listed it at 15.5k.
So, if you are willing to play hard ball and be patient (I spent a month looking and shopping) you can get one hell of a 4runner for 15k.
In general, yes, you will get a cheaper deal short term private party, but since you MUST pay sales tax, title and registration, it can many times come out to be the same or more.
So. Do research. If 15k is your max, then that is your max for the 4runner plus title, tax and registration.
When you are negotiating price at dealer, start low, way LOW of their offer. Never pay their sticker. That is getting ripped off. Every dealer expects the final price to be below sticker, well not every, carmax doesn't.
I have always negotiated for my KEYS in Hand, OUT the door price. They understand this prices includes any and all fee's needed to get it done.
So, if I see a 4runner for 13.9; I start at 12.5 and work up with out the door included. Remember: tax, tag and title will run you 1k or more and you should remember this. If the sticker asks 13.9, and you get them to 13.5 OUT THE DOOR, if you subtract the tax and tag, around 1-2k; you got them down on the price of the car by almost 2k and that is not a bad deal.
Don't let them lead the discussion. Don't ever tell them what you can pay monthly (if financing) ONLY negotiate on TOTAL out the door price. Be ok with walking away...
Hope that helps.
Edit: I just bought a 2005 v8 4x4 Sport in excellent condition for 12.4; they listed it at 15.5k.
So, if you are willing to play hard ball and be patient (I spent a month looking and shopping) you can get one hell of a 4runner for 15k.
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I just bought a 2003 Limited V8 with 96K on it for $10.5 from a private individual. She was asking $12.5 and I offered $10 even thinking I was really going way too low. I was kind of shocked I got it for $10.5. With taxes tags and everything I figure it was about $11.3 give or take a couple hundred. I know I borrowed $11.2 and that was not quite enough. We have 6.75% sales tax where I live in Ohio.
But buying off private individuals has it's drawbacks too. If anyting goes wrong it's your problem. At a dealer they might step in and help you out or give you some kind of break. I always try and get a car for under KBB Private Party price though, even from a dealer.
But buying off private individuals has it's drawbacks too. If anyting goes wrong it's your problem. At a dealer they might step in and help you out or give you some kind of break. I always try and get a car for under KBB Private Party price though, even from a dealer.
chucknorris
New member
$12k for 05 SE? Is that the financed amount? Assuming over 100K miles, correct? Where do you live?
I just bought a mint Certified Pre-Owned 05 SE V8 4x4 with 60k miles for $18k @ 60mos/2.9% w/$3500 down (had $3500 equity on trade) and $11k loan payoff on trade. Financed $15k after tax. Registration was transferred from trade-in
Was advertised @ $22,125 with an internet price of $19,811.
In AZ.
Do your research on prices and demand in your area. Edmunds.com can give you a TMV value on the car you are looking at. TMV is usually lower than KBB or NADA.
As said before, be patient, stick to your numbers and walk away if the deal is no good.
Every market is different and I suspect yours was more since you rolled over so much equity from your other car. I didn't.
100k, just. I ignore Edmunds and KBB and go straight to auto auction price. I want to know what the dealer paid for the truck. I get Galves and black book memberships, they cost, sure; but I save thousands.
The "KBB" on my truck was 15-19 but I knew that at auction, it sold for 11k. I got him to as LOW as he could possible go and still pay the light bill. I worked at it and I did walk away. It was a small area in P.A. and I got the impression it had been on the lot for a month, so I pressed harder. I would have gone to 13k but not a cent more.
Every region is different and every situation is different. It was the last day of the month, the truck had been sitting there for a month and gas prices in that place were staying high, pushing people away from the V8. Over the past month, as gas has fallen, auction prices have risen on the v8 models as more people are looking at them.
I got lucky, I admit it. I also was patient and stalked many places. I searched autotrader and cars.com every day at lunch. I had a list of 4 different 4runners, all I would take. The one I got was the best and the only v8, but still.
100k, just. I ignore Edmunds and KBB and go straight to auto auction price. I want to know what the dealer paid for the truck. I get Galves and black book memberships, they cost, sure; but I save thousands.
The "KBB" on my truck was 15-19 but I knew that at auction, it sold for 11k. I got him to as LOW as he could possible go and still pay the light bill. I worked at it and I did walk away. It was a small area in P.A. and I got the impression it had been on the lot for a month, so I pressed harder. I would have gone to 13k but not a cent more.
Every region is different and every situation is different. It was the last day of the month, the truck had been sitting there for a month and gas prices in that place were staying high, pushing people away from the V8. Over the past month, as gas has fallen, auction prices have risen on the v8 models as more people are looking at them.
I got lucky, I admit it. I also was patient and stalked many places. I searched autotrader and cars.com every day at lunch. I had a list of 4 different 4runners, all I would take. The one I got was the best and the only v8, but still.
03_4x4Runner
Senior Member
I do not know how other states are but in Arizona if you buy from a private seller you do not have to pay any sales tax.
chucknorris
New member
Was'nt doubting the validity of your purchase. Was just amazed at the price!
You are right, regions differ, demand differs, vehicle conditions differ, so many factors that impact price, it really only comes down to what the consumer is willing to accept.
Good on you for strikin an excellent deal! I thought I bent my dealer over :boink:, but you 1-upped me on that one for sure! :thumb3:
Bigmikelakers
New member
Thanks for the info, DC Runner. I can't wait to get my truck.
Atlanta_man
New member
In most states it is not called a sales tax but it costs about the same as the sales tax would be to register it in your name. Its based on the sales price and depends on the buyer and seller telling the truth on the paperwork.
webby
New member
When I google black book car prices, there are several web sites. Which of those is the one that you used?
Thanks.
Dawg4Runner
New member
If you find a private party sale just remember to add around another 11% to the sale price to cover sales tax, reg. fee, lic. fee, misc. local fees and smog cert. Keep in mind that the CA DMV will charge you the sales tax rate of where you live and not where you bought the car. So if you buy the car in Orange County where the sales tax is 7.75%, they will still charge you the L.A county sales tax of 8.75% (since OP is from L.A.).
When I buy from dealers I always negotiate "out the door" price and never "what can you afford to pay a month". In your case, $13.5k is probably tops you want to pay for sale price. That should keep you around 15K OTD.
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