I Saved $3.5k Using These 4 Used Car Tactics
Last month, my client Vishal saved $3,560 on his used car purchase. He bought a 2016 Hyundai i30 for $15,250 when similar odometer and year were selling for $18,810.
Here are 4 tactics we used to score him a great deal.
Picking the right car model for Vishal
Vishal was originally looking for a Toyota Corolla, Honda HR-V, and Mazda CX-3, but couldn’t find quality listings within his $15k budget.
SUV’s and Toyota’s are in high demand on the used car market in 2025 making them more expensive.
He was happy to consider two other car models, Mazda 3’s and Hyundai i30’s as they offered better value at the same price point
Tactic 1
Know your real needs. Exploring other brands and sedans or hatchbacks can save you thousands.
Shortlisting the cars
I contacted two listing that were great deals, $2k and $3k under market price. They were both legitimate sales and had been serviced properly.
Unfortunately, both were sold before we could do an inspection. Cars under market value tend to sell quickly (within a day or two).
Tactic 2
Browse used car marketplaces often and organise inspections early to score the best deals.
Mazda 3s and i30s on Facebook Marketplace were listed $1k cheaper than similar cars on Carsales.
Tactic 3
Searching both FB marketplace and Carsales will score you the best deals
Inspecting + negotiating
We found a 2016 i30 with 63,000km, full service history, and no mechanical issues — listed for $16,500.
It was over Vishal’s budget of $15k and unfortunately the seller said the price was firm.
We explained we had a budget of $14k (this is intentional) but made an offer of $14.5k because of the car’s condition.
The seller responded by reducing her price to $16k.
We offered to split the difference at $15,250 and she accepted, a price Vishal was more than happy with.
Tactic 4
Lead with your budget, not a critique to keep the seller’s goodwill. Start with a number lower than your budget to end the negotiation near the price you want.
Vishal and his partner — proud new owners of a car that’ll last them years
Happy car hunting,
Roger
Buyer’s Agent
P.S. If you want to see if you’re eligible for a $3.5k saving - you can book a free Bulletproof Car Consultation to find out.