Is It Negotiable When Buying a New Car? What Usually Do Australian Buyers Do?

iamccc1234 on 15/11/2024 - 13:59
Last edited 15/11/2024 - 15:37 by 1 other user

Hi buddies, just considering buying a new car (or a display car for discount, not second-handed car) lately. I never own/buy a car before.

I thought we pay at least how much the price it is on the official car sale website. However, I noticed that the price of a new car is negotiable in the country where I came from. Like the price listed on the website is $50,000, but John eventually gets the car with only $46,000 and Mary gets the car with $42,500. However, Sam gets it with full price $50,000. So, I am keen to know what the regular practice is here.

Here is an example: A new Porsche Macan without changing anything, the drive away price on the official website is $107,121. Is there a room for discount? Or people always pay the price as listed?

Thank you.

Automotive

Comments

  • Downvoter on 15/11/2024 - 14:02
    -5

    Go hard on asking for a discount if you have a time machine to take you back to 2019.

  • Drakesy on 15/11/2024 - 14:08
    +3

    If it's a Toyota or any car that has a waitlist, you've got not chance.

    If it's a run of the mill chinese/korean/japanese car then you may have a chance.

    The second hand market is stagnating and brand new market is retreating. The car dealerships are getting worried about hitting their targets.
    Honestly given it's been 4 years since COVID you actually would have a chance.

    having said that, anything Porsche will be highly unlikely to get discounted.

    • netjock on 15/11/2024 - 17:26

      The worst aspect is there would almost be no cars from 2021 - 2022.

      It is going to be fun going forward what kind of crunch happens given supply has caught up to demand (with exceptions. Why are people still sitting on a Toyota waitlist is mid boggling)

      • Drakesy on 15/11/2024 - 17:47

        Yeah, people's obsession with Toyotas that are running interiors and tech ~3-4 years behind the Chinese and its competitors will always amaze me. Sure they're reliable but at what cost.

        • TEER3X on 16/11/2024 - 22:34
          +1

          Sure they're reliable but at what cost.

          Not reliability

  • SBOB on 15/11/2024 - 14:17
    +15

    I never own/buy a car before.

    A new Porsche Macan

    Seems about right

    • montorola on 15/11/2024 - 14:33
      +1

      Maybe he wants to work his way back down to a Corolla lol

    • iamccc1234 on 15/11/2024 - 14:55

      Lol, this is funny, even me. I would think myself being stupid to own a Porsche as the first car. I might damage the car easily.
      But this is the car brand I like for a long time. It's kind of risky my money though. So still struggling my choices. (Options under A$100,000)

      • SBOB on 15/11/2024 - 15:09
        +7

        So still struggling my choices. (Options under A$100,000)

        anyone buying their first car, having never bought a car before, and is budgeting up to $100k, well, they are either on the wrong site or just wanting to see how high an insurance premium they can obtain :)

        • brendanm on 15/11/2024 - 18:13

          "Oh gosh $10,000 a year seems high! Oh wait a sec, that's monthly".

        • iamccc1234 on 16/11/2024 - 12:35

          I didn't think about the insurance. I thought it's all the same for everyone with no crash records. Thanks, I would definitely consider this.

        • this is us on 16/11/2024 - 20:37

          Yeah, looks like a troll to me, but people have their right to make questionable decisions… 😂

  • Euphemistic on 15/11/2024 - 14:22

    Discount is always possible, but doends onna range of factors. Stock availability, dealer sales records for the day/week/month, your choice of options/colour, whether the car is in stock or on order, popularity of the model, wether the model is new or in run out etc. Also depends on you and the relationship with the sales staff.

    You might get 10% off sticker price, you might not.

    End of the day, YOU need to be happy with the price. If YOU arent happy, find something else. Once youve bought, ignore anything relatwd to thw price you pay - especially Fred down the road who says he got the same one $5k cheaper. Fred probably is talking out his butt.

    • iamccc1234 on 15/11/2024 - 16:17

      Lol, thanks for sharing and I didn't know we can use Fred as a hypothetical person when talking. Only knew John before.

      • Euphemistic on 15/11/2024 - 16:51
        +2

        i already knew john got $4k off.

  • 87percent on 15/11/2024 - 14:23
    +1

    No haggling.. you can get more if you trade in a car (eg; friend recently bought a new Subaru and got more than what other places were offering for their trade in)

    • SlickMick on 16/11/2024 - 15:14
      +1

      trade-ins just give the dealer wiggle room: choose whether you want a great discount or a great trade-in price.. can't have both.

      and haggling is still there… might be less successful, but we had an upper limit on a CX-60 and eventually got the price we wanted without losing the free floor mats and charger.

  • Cluster on 15/11/2024 - 14:30

    Yes, you can haggle. Try it and see. At worst your offer won't be accepted and you'll just have to walk away. That last part is key, because if the salesperson feels you'll buy the car anyway then there's no point in reducing the price.

    If a new car has been sitting for 12 months (like MG4 EVs) then the price can be slashed. But if the cars are selling as fast as they come off the boat, your chances are near zero.

  • RogerLoger on 15/11/2024 - 14:52

    Get precise make, model, colour, etc (including year of manufacture). Once you have a full description, travel to some dealers and haggle the best price you can. Once you think you are at the best possible price you can get, find a car buying broker/agent and see what they can do.

    You may need to post again to find one with a good reputation. I haven't used mine for 13 years, but he did over $1k better than I could at the time.

  • welcomeUniverseWorld on 15/11/2024 - 15:50

    Always ask for discounts.,..

    Ask for addons , example can they taint the glass, etc etc etc.. add any extra addons at any discount possible.

  • thirtysixd on 15/11/2024 - 16:20
    -2

    Yep you can haggle and get a discount now

    There is excess supply but most importantly the CCP has come to our rescue

  • Brick Tamland on 15/11/2024 - 16:56

    Sometimes yes sometimes no. Depends how desperate the dealer is to sell.

  • cuteseal on 15/11/2024 - 17:17

    You can try one of those car broker firms - you can raise a no-obligation request and they will farm out requests to 3 or 4 dealers for their best quotes.

    I went through the process with one and it depends on the make/model.
    Honda don't discount at all from their RRP, and I also tried a Haval H6 but Haval were already running a promotion at the time and they just came back with the same pricing.

    Worth a try since it's no obligation and basically just filling out details on a website and maybe fielding a call from the broker, and you get results the next day.

    • kiitos on 18/11/2024 - 15:35

      I tried a broker once and he got shirty after I declined to go with him (the lowest price he gave was higher than what I had been offered by a couple of dealers I had approached before trying the broker)

      • cuteseal on 19/11/2024 - 09:48

        Yeah you get all sorts of bad eggs in every industry. The ones I dealt with were pretty chill when I didn't go with them…

  • netjock on 15/11/2024 - 17:27

    Anything that has a waitlist you're not going to get a discount. You might have to accept the price if it goes up when it does arrive.

    Porsche you got no hope. Any real prestige car people don't buy it based on a discount.

    If you are looking at a brand that wants to win market share (the Chinese / Koreans etc) then you'll have a better luck.

  • brendanm on 15/11/2024 - 18:12
    +6

    Whenever I buy a new Macan I pay retail, you don't want the salesman thinking you are poor by bartering. I will generally give him a 10% tip as well, provided he does the proper deliver with the bow on the car and a bottle of wine. The Porsche hat is nice as well.

    • Dollar General on 15/11/2024 - 20:55

      I always pay over asking price for my new Porsche. I don’t want the sales person thinking I can’t afford the monthly repayments at those exorbitant interest rates

      • brendanm on 15/11/2024 - 22:23

        Payments? It's cash only sorry, they look down on people who can't pay everything upfront. A bit shameful to be honest.

    • OZBargainer in SA on 16/11/2024 - 10:18

      Don't forget to tick all the boxes so that you pay more than a second hand RAV4 in options.

  • JIMB0 on 15/11/2024 - 19:37

    Like the price listed on the website is $50,000, but John eventually gets the car with only $46,000 and Mary gets the car with $42,500.

    Be like Mary is my advice. Find out how she got the price down.

    • SYLTB on 15/11/2024 - 20:42

      So, you are saying Mary?

    • Dollar General on 15/11/2024 - 20:56
      +1

      Same way the Virgin Mary got pregnant

  • Gunnar on 15/11/2024 - 23:03

    Like the price listed on the website is $50,000, but John eventually gets the car with only $46,000 and Mary gets the car with $42,500. However, Sam gets it with full price $50,000.

    This is easily explained:
    - Sam is white,
    - John is southern European, and
    - Mary is Asian because we actually know how to bargain

    • SYLTB on 16/11/2024 - 06:32

      You accept white supremacy, downgrade Italians, and imply Thai women are better at huggling

    • Euphemistic on 16/11/2024 - 15:04
      -1

      Mary got such a great discount they offered her a job as ming mole, for … reasons…

  • TheSANegotiator22 on 16/11/2024 - 08:24

    Of course there is room to haggle, recently did this on a new car was just kver $60k RRP got it for $55k driveaway incl all onroads, extras included and full tank of fuel.

    • iamccc1234 on 16/11/2024 - 12:37

      Thanks for sharing, may I know which car brand did you choose?

    • bghunter on 16/11/2024 - 23:36

      Username checks out

  • Drumadd on 16/11/2024 - 09:55
    +2

    Porsche don’t discount. Those buying can afford it. It’s a top marque. They don’t need to and their service costs are 3 times regular brands. As a first car a ridiculous choice and insurance will be astronomical

    • iamccc1234 on 16/11/2024 - 12:35

      I didn't think about the insurance. I thought it's all the same for everyone with no crash records. Thanks, I would definitely consider this.

      • Gunnar on 16/11/2024 - 12:48
        +1

        LMAO you’re going to be in for a shock with insurance. Also if you’re adding options to the car you may have to factor these in as well to the insurance quote.

        Check service and parts costs as well. Porsche is an incredibly reliable brand but just make sure you can justify service costs. They don’t like being neglected.

        As above, Porsche don’t discount, especially if you’re after a factory spec car. You may be able to get something off a demo or one that’s sitting in their inventory.

        When you talk about highly collectible Porsches (and Ferraris), there’s grail cars which being offered it at retail is your discount

  • Chris Topher on 16/11/2024 - 18:17
    +1

    Electric cars - Aus is being dumped with all sorts of leccy cars. No need to bargain, just shop around.

    • iamccc1234 on 16/11/2024 - 22:32

      I was considering the electric cars but stopped because of worried about where to recharge. I see people say that electric cars save a lot for petrol and routine maintenance, so quite into electric cars now.
      Additionally, I do see a lot of Tesla and BYD and other electric cars running in the street. I wonder where do they get their car recharged.

  • skillet on 16/11/2024 - 20:33
    +1

    Buy the car they have in their yard or demo models. Go this black Friday maybe they do a deal or ask them when they have sales.

    • peteru on 19/11/2024 - 13:27

      I have bought one ex-demo before without any major dramas, but it only had about 100km on the odometer and I put 40 of those on there on my longish test drive. It was the previous MY model, but it must have spent most of it's life parked inside the showroom. There was some savings, but it wasn't significant. The main benefit was that the car was ours to drive away the next day - which was required because the insurance company wrote off (unexpectedly) the previous car.

      BTW: Beware of GIO - the bastards took away the rental car on the day they decided to write off the car. Now when I shop for insurance I always make sure that I get the use of a hire car even after a write off.

  • peteru on 19/11/2024 - 13:14
    +1

    I went out on the weekend and kicked tyres at a number of dealers and did a bit of test driving and homework. When I returned to the Hyundai dealer on Sunday arvo, I managed to negotiate $1,500 off RRP and have a cargo liner thrown in. I compared that price with what a car buying service could do for me and it was about the same give or take $200. However, negotiating with the dealer directly will get me a car within the next two weeks, whereas the car buying service was estimating a couple of months. The other thing is, the car dealer got me a MY25 car, whereas the car buying service would only commit to MY24 models.

    Bottom line, there's room for a bit of negotiation. It helps if you do a bit of research and are flexible on the colour and trim. You may be able to get a 2%~5% discount, even with popular cars where stock is hard to find. Don't expect to get 20% off on cars with a waiting list.

  • AngusD on 20/11/2024 - 14:45
    +1

    It is possible to negotiate. Best piece of advice I'd give is, once you've decided on what car you want, go looking for facebook groups, internet forums, etc and find out what other people have paid for that car with similar spec to what you want (for recent purchases eg within the past 6 months or so). Obviously you'd be looking for Australian groups / forums.

    I bought a new car earlier this year and that's what I did. Once I had an idea of what kind of prices other people were getting, I knew what kind of price I'd be willing to pay. I ended up getting about 5% taken off the RRP, which was consistent with the figures I'd seen on those forums etc. And that wasn't in-stock, it was a factory order built to my desired spec so it wasn't them just being willing to give a bit of a discount to clear excess stock.

    Obviously the amount of discount you may or may not be able to get will vary between manufacturers, models, dealers, etc. But if you know other people have been able to get that car for a certain price, there's no reason why your dealer shouldn't be able to do the same spec car for the same price (bearing in mind that government costs like registration, stamp duty, etc may be different between states, so you may need to be willing to give a little leeway if you're in a more expensive state). Don't be afraid to walk away if you can't get to the price you're willing to pay and go try a different dealer.

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