If you're looking for a
Used Car, I recommend you use a website with used car estimates. You appear to be from the UK, so I hit up Google and found
WiseBuyer's Guide's "used" page. Because no two used cars are alike, you should only use the prices of their used cars as a rough approximation of what you might pay. For example, my first car was a 1989 Honda Accord. I went online to see how much one of those in good condition might cost, and decided that would be the highest I'd be willing to pay the family selling theirs.
As for haggling prices, have them give you a test drive first. See if it drives weird at all. Check the engine. If you don't know anything about cars, find a friend or relative who does. Also, check all the little things. If the doors and windows are automatic, do they work properly? Do all of the radio speakers play? Find something wrong.
Anything. Then used all the things you found wrong as an excuse to drop the price. Start by asking for a price so low, you don't think they'll go for it. They want 3,000 pounds? Ask them to sell it for 2,000. Eventually, you'll meet somewhere in the middle.
Now, if you're buying a
New Car, know what car you want before you're on the car lot. I hit up a few car guide websites, as well as manufacturer websites before I bought my second (and current) car, my 2007 Toyota Yaris. I looked for cars in my budget, with all the things I wanted. Most manufacturer websites will tell you how much their cars will cost at the car dealership. Remember that price, so the salesman doesn't try to charge you too much for things you don't want. Also, have a "safety" car in mind-- the other car you want, should your first choice by unavailable. You don't want someone trying to sell you a car you don't want, can't afford, or don't know anything about.
Not that you care: I nicknamed all of my cars after comic book characters. My old Honda was called the Negasonic Teenage Warhead, after the X-Men character (because it was 14 years old and bound to explode at any moment). My Toyota is named Spider Jerusalem, after the main character of Transmetropolitan, but I'm thinking of changing the name because it makes people think I own a Spyder.
