Tactics for buying used vehicles
 

Going to be in the market shortly for a new (most likely used) Vehicle, looking specifically at 2015-2017 F150 with the 5.0L motor

I havent bought a used vehicle in 13 years, obviously buying privately is fairly straight forward, just get the best deal possible. But for a dealer, whats the best way to approach a used vehicle on a lot?

Friends i've known who have recently bought brand new vehicles had mixed opinons as to disclosing if you are buying outright in cash or not right off the bat as opposed to discussing the price with financing a possibility then saying you can buy outright into the discussion.

If you have a black/blue book value on a vehicle, what can you expect to pay from a dealer based on those prices? Like, will they go a couple thousand over a price if you grind them hard enough to make that profit?

Using vehicles at other dealers as leverage for a price from another dealer?

What are some things they always charge for that you can get out of? like signing fee's etc. should you be paying any fees to purchase a used vehicle?

Any tips would be appreciated, likely be in the market in the summer or fall

You’re up against it hard buying a truck, Americans buy all our used trucks, they’ll have no motivation to make a deal for you unfortunately given the current climate.

68style is right. When I was negotiating on my F150, the sales person wouldn't budge on price and told me that he held the truck for me from the week's shipment to the US. I was sure he was bluffing and jokingly called him on it, so he walked me outside and showed me the truck with the instrument cluster removed and ready for a US cluster. I instead pushed for a decent price on our trade in and had them remove their ridiculous doc fee (the sales manager was not at all happy to give up on the fee, but eventually gave in). You might be able to swing some deals on accessories/warranty/oil changes etc too, as I was able to get free rubber floor mats.

I'm now a member on an F150 forum and there is a very active thread about US members with Canadian trucks, so the practice of shipping them south is still common.

Wow, learn something new every day.

Was not aware that if the truck doesn't sell, it just gets shipped out.

Been looking at F150s this weekend for a buddy, if you are financing you're better suited buying a new one. Ford sells used trucks through bank financing, so rates can be as high as 6.9% for 84 months which ends up being like 63.5k for a truck going for 45k. A 2018 lariat can be had as little as 61k with the ford incentives, their finance rates are 0.99% for 84 months which ends up being like 71k. So for under $100 a month you'd have brand new instead of like a 2015 Lariat with 50k kms.

I can purchase outright to about 40k using either cash or a line of credit which I’d be getting a better rate than any pre-owned dealer financing

I’ve read that even at like .99% financing, over 84 months you’re paying an additional like 15% on the total cost due to interest and term?

I got 0% on my Ram when I bought it, only reason I did it really.

How much potential money off do you think you could have gotten if you had purchased outright?

It seems like even with 0% you pay like 10k more than you would paying cash? Or is that not true

Dunno, I had a wicked corporate deal through the company I work for ($5k off the asking price I believe). It was a low end ST trim and they were close to receiving the new models. Supposedly the dealer old made like $650 off me, wouldn't throw in a bedliner or anything for me.

I've never been ballin enough to consider buying a new vehicle cash so I honestly couldn't say. What I do know is my boss brought a brand new F450 Platinum for $67k cash I believe, with our company discount. I think there's always more wiggle room when buying cash for a new vehicle, I think more than when buying a 3-4yr old used truck.

why the 5.0? i initially wanted a 5.0 when i bought my truck but after driving an ecoboost you really notice the extra torque in the midrange especially. also get pretty decent fuel economy for a fullsize pickup. plus theyre way more common, you will have a difficult time finding a 5.0

I’ve driven both (my dad has the 2015 5.0) and it feels like such a superior motor to me.

Also the Coyote is suppose to be one of the better motors ford has put out in a long time and I think in terms of a long term vehicle, I will be better off with the 5.0 than any sort of turbo motor.

So if you’re buying from a dealer lot what fees should you/shouldn’t you be paying?

Last time I bought a car off the lot from a dealer, I said, I'd be willing to pay $X for the car before taxes and then I let the salesperson write it up as how he/she wants. If he wants to put down $200, go ahead, if she wants to write down $450, fine by me.

I did not know that so many trucks were being shipped to the states, that explains a lot. I also have been looking for a used truck 2015-2016.