Vig...maybe we gotta have you drive this way...I see them frequently enough.

Ahhh. A post I can help. Please do not metion you have a trade say a realitive wants it or something. Get a clear rock buttom low price without the trade. Then add the trade in later! **So you get max dollar for it!** I had this same problem with my 05 SLE I was all over it and my wife, was like don't need it, its a gas hog, doesn't seat 6 people, less space than my Impala and threatend to walk away how many times. That is how I got him down on the price another mear $350 bucks, then I haggled him for over 1 hour for the trade in vaule on my 92 Caddy... But we were playing the price game on the SLE for about an 1 and then another hour just to do paper work. So total took me 4 hours (including test drive to get the car) when the salesman *whom I like alot* could have done it in just 2! Act and be sure like you can walk away from it at anytime that is key, it will scare them and make them want to keep you in the office and prolly lower the price. Good luck, and never tell them a max. Let them offer it too you towards the end if no progress is made hell, go ahead low-ball em!

Chris...we already gave him all that..He'* ready to deal and the car got ripped out from under him.

No worries though, Bobby'* has had their SSEi for coming on 5 months now. The only thing is that its a small dealer and their trade policies are kind of tight. If they will trade my car I'll likely have an SSEi tomorrow.

Good luck! maybe all the cosmic tumblers will click into place and you will get the deal done.

The trade-in thing might be part true. Little independents don't have the humongous cash reserves that franchised dealers do and they have to be careful where they put their capital. On the hand, you probably know by now I immediately look at anything they say as an attempt to max their profit. This way he can look like he'* actually "doing you a favor" by attempting to give you squatl for your trade-in. But also on the good side it'* Feb, biz is slow and maybe he'* desperate for cash.

I would still think that framing the discussion as "your car + $XXX". The reason I brought this up above, was so they didn't put you in the 4-way squeeze so you would have to dicker on every little thing. Salesman work 4 angles at once to find your weak spot.

Car price
Trade Value
Down Payment
Monthly Payment

They will look for a way that you can rationalize the deal to yourself. The monthly payment thing can get you killed because it takes your eye of of the ball, which is the cost of the deal. But that and down payment apply more to new car purchases. They don't really apply in your situation anyway. If you just say cash with trade, then everything is clear and you just have to dicker on one thing, not two. They hate that.

Billboost is right. CT and MA are a hot bed of listings.

Really, good luck. you got the knowledge. have some fun with it, if you can.

VigCS,

I have a better idea. I'll sell you my 1997 SSEI for $3500.00 straight up.

No song, no dance, and a damn good car. I'll even drive it to you !
I can be in Frederick in 1 hour.

NOoooooo.. I'm not stupid, but since I do these for a living, I'll just go buy
another one in a week or two.

My car : White, factory five spokes, leather, ALL options inc HUD, and
SSEI floor mats. Beautiful paint, beautiful body, and a real nice,clean
interior. Aftermarket boost gauge, and AF gauge on pillar mounted pod.

Mods : New 3.4 ZZP pulley, new gatorback belt, new 180* drilled stat, new
3-1/2 cold air intake, new Mallory Pro sidewinder 8mm red wires, new
flowmaster 80 series with new stainless tips, and new Magnaflow 3in
cat.

I baby the car, I'm 60 years old, and I have never turned a tire on the car.
It'* just nice to know that through correct tuning, I can maximize the
potential of the car.

This is not a joke. Let me know before you get hosed from a Dealer.

I'd take you on that deal but I'm afraid that'* way too many miles for me to be comfortable with Giterdun - I want less than 100,000,

So, I talked to my mom tonight. Long story, she did a complete 180 in her decision to let me borrow money and the result is an extremely pissed off member. I guess I'll have to do this the old fashioned way and save up.

Look on autotrader.com.....I look on there for a 97-99 SSEI and saw a bunch in my area for decent prices.....all within 200 miles of me!

only 2 within 100 miles of me on Autotrader...one sold and the other one is overprice and at a small dealer who wont budge on price. =/