What should I pay for this Abarth??

The local Fiat dealer has a white Abarth in, I drove the car and love it but it has a few more options that I really care for which is reflected in the price. In addition to this the car has a bit of a story...it was sold once before to a kid who essentially joy rode it for a week until his check bounced. He then returned the car and made up a sob story about why he couldn't afford the car. I don't know whether or not the car was ever titled. Now the car sits with 750 miles on it at the dealer and the manager says he wants it sold. One rim has curb rash on it but there is a replacement on order, this is the only mark the car appears to have. The sticker price is 26,250 if I remember right. It will still have a full warranty when it is sold.

I asked the Fiat manager what deal he had to offer and he said they would take a dollar off for every mile that was on it. I thought this was pathetic. The dealership is one that will bargain. I am curious what you guys think I should offer? I talked to a guy at the dealership both times I was in there who was haggling back and forth with them about a truck so they are definitely open to offers, he told me straight out to lowball the heck out of them.

The car is white with the white wheel package, Navigation, leather, red door mirrors with the stripe and maybe a few more options. There are at least 3 other dealerships within a 4 hour drive of here but I would prefer to buy locally. This dealer is in a city of 160000 residents and has only sold 23 cars since they opened a few months ago. The people who have bought them have all been over 45 and the sales manager wants to sell to a younger crowd such as myself.

Please tell me how much I should ask for?!

I gave in to my automotive ADD last night and it appears that all of the 2012 Abarths are sold, so they may not be very interested in cutting the price.

ummmm I think I would wait a year or so before buying an Abarth. They're new, there has been a lot of "manufactured" desire created for them. See where we are this time next year. Will it still be the hot car to have? Will problems have manifested themselves? I'd never buy a car in the first year of its release. Like the second poster said, all the Abarths have sold so I'd be surprised if he went any further down than that $750. Pass

PS...I've driven one and I like them but $26,000 is just insane money for what it is. Look at what $26k gets you on the used market.

I wouldn't buy that car at all considering the gentle "break-in" it likely received.

You can't compare a $26,000 new car to a $26,000 used car if you're not shopping for a used car.

I'd negotiate like it's cancer they want to get rid of. If they truly want to get rid of it, they'll take a stupid low offer.

Since I have been looking the fiats I have yet to see an abarth on the lot, the local dealer sells 150-175 or so a month and has 250+ non abarths on the lot. So anything under sticker to me is seen as a good deal on the car.

Your lucky the dealer did not just outright lie and say the manager had been driving it and it's back on the lot.

Derick Freese wrote: You can't compare a $26,000 new car to a $26,000 used car if you're not shopping for a used car. I'd negotiate like it's cancer they want to get rid of. If they truly want to get rid of it, they'll take a stupid low offer.

my point was just that you SHOULD be shopping a used car. I've never understood why anyone would sign up to take that stupid hit in the wallet as soon as they drive off the lot. Hell, even Warren Buffet buys his cars used (well hail damaged at least). Don't fall for the marketing hype.

Carro Atrezzi wrote: Will problems have manifested themselves? I'd never buy a car in the first year of its release.

It's new to the States, but this car has been around for several years now. No 'teething' problems to worry about that you may have with a brand new car.

JamesMcD wrote: I wouldn't buy that car at all considering the gentle "break-in" it likely received.

This. The OP is spending too close to new car money to not expect something that has been treated with some respect.

alex wrote:

Carro Atrezzi wrote: Will problems have manifested themselves? I'd never buy a car in the first year of its release.

It's new to the States, but this car has been around for several years now. No 'teething' problems to worry about that you may have with a brand new car.

yes and no. It has some similarities to the Italian model but there are a metric crap ton of differences too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Wb-pozyYU

Carro Atrezzi wrote: my point was just that you SHOULD be shopping a used car. I've never understood why anyone would sign up to take that stupid hit in the wallet as soon as they drive off the lot. Hell, even Warren Buffet buys his cars used (well hail damaged at least). Don't fall for the marketing hype.

Sigh. Not again. Why is it that every time someone mentions that they would like to buy a new car, tons of people come out of the woodwork yelling in effect "but you should buy a crapcan instead because nobody needs a new car" and declaring it un-grassroots if you have four figures in a car?

Don't get me wrong, I love this forum and our merry band of nutcases, but these arguments about wanting to impose someone's values on someone else is starting to grate a little.

If the OP is in the market for a new car and has decided that their finances allow for it, why not try and give some helpful advice instead?

BoxheadTim wrote:

Carro Atrezzi wrote: my point was just that you SHOULD be shopping a used car. I've never understood why anyone would sign up to take that stupid hit in the wallet as soon as they drive off the lot. Hell, even Warren Buffet buys his cars used (well hail damaged at least). Don't fall for the marketing hype.

*Sigh*. Not again. Why is it that every time someone mentions that they would like to buy a new car, tons of people come out of the woodwork yelling in effect "but you should buy a crapcan instead because nobody needs a new car" and declaring it un-grassroots if you have four figures in a car? Don't get me wrong, I love this forum and our merry band of nutcases, but these arguments about wanting to impose someone's values on someone else is starting to grate a little. If the OP is in the market for a new car and has decided that their finances allow for it, why not try and give some helpful advice instead?

sorry to offend anyone. That wasn't my intent. I just wanted to make sure the OP's reasoning hadn't been clouded by all the new car hype. If the OP wants a new car then they should buy one by all means.

just bring plenty of Vaseline

sorry...I just can't help myself sometimes

In reply to Carro Atrezzi:

It wasn't personal in case that wasn't clear, it's just that I have my nickname "Grumpy" for a reason and we have had a lot of these discussion around here recently so they're getting a bit old.

TBH I am generally - or at least used to be - in the "make do with a cheaper car and buy several fun ones" camp but since I moved out here from the UK (where having a car can be optional) I'm inching closer and closer to buying a nearly new or new car simply because one is so car dependent for everything out here (and the cheaper cars often seem to be horror shows).

Carro Atrezzi wrote: my point was just that you SHOULD be shopping a used car. I've never understood why anyone would sign up to take that stupid hit in the wallet as soon as they drive off the lot.

Because some of us don't change cars every couple years. Our last DD we bought was new and that was 8 years ago; I expect we'll keep it another 4 years or so.

I couldn't care less about immediate depreciation.

In California that Abarth could NOT be legally sold as a new car by the dealer. It's a USED car. I'd ask them to pull at least $2500 out of the price. Warranty also began the day the car sold to the young deadbeat dude. I'd advise not buying it unless you get a big discount and some freebies like an extended warranty.

it's now a used car and i would expect the dealer to take the depreciation hit. you know that it was driven poorly enough to curb a rim in 750 miles, so i would definitely take that into consideration.

Duke wrote:

Carro Atrezzi wrote: my point was just that you SHOULD be shopping a used car. I've never understood why anyone would sign up to take that stupid hit in the wallet as soon as they drive off the lot.

Because some of us don't change cars every couple years. Our last DD we bought was new and that was 8 years ago; I expect we'll keep it another 4 years or so. I couldn't care less about immediate depreciation.

And as I've said before, if no one bought new cars, we wouldn't have good used cars/trucks to buy.

That being said, I'm about to order a car next month, it will be my third new car in the last 2.5 years. Although my agreement with the wife on this one is that I HAVE to keep until it's paid off.

I like to think of it as doing my part to help the economy and used car supply.

Am I the only one that thinks that story sounds completely hokey? The kid drives off and a week later his check bounces so he has to bring the car back? What? Huh? That would never happen in a million years. I believe thats the story the OP received...........I am saying the dealer is whacked.

Or I am going down to the Ferrari dealership to write them a check and drive the car for a week before they find out it bounces. Then I'll just bring it back and tell them I can't afford it. Ya right.

^To be fair, on my Frontier I'm currently driving, they let me take it home before both my wife and I had signed the loan paperwork.

I ordered a 1994 Chevrolet S10 Blazer (drove it for 10 years - 110,000 miles). The sales guy was trying to get me to get an option and kept saying I needed it for resale value. My cars are usually $1,200 cars when I sell them and a key fob isn't going to help.

In reply to patgizz:

Depends on the state. In VT cars are new until 7500 miles. Yes, for purposes of taxes. The state doesn't want to take a hit on taxes due to used car status and the corresponding depreciation hit.

Check your local state laws. The Dealership F&I guy probably knows how to work the law to the benefit of the dealership. That's his job.

Feedyurhed wrote: Am I the only one that thinks that story sounds completely hokey? The kid drives off and a week later his check bounces so he has to bring the car back? What? Huh? That would never happen in a million years. I believe thats the story the OP received...........I am saying the dealer is whacked. Or I am going down to the Ferrari dealership to write them a check and drive the car for a week before they find out it bounces. Then I'll just bring it back and tell them I can't afford it. Ya right.

Happens more than you think. We've had it happen twice where I work this summer alone. Someone comes in and gets financing based on say a 3000 dollar down payment. The check bounces and the finance company says no way.

I would be most worried about that the "PO" did to the car in 700+ miles. I would offer $19,000 and go from there. I would not pay more than 21-22 for that. Since the "PO" knew that they were not going to keep it I bet they thrashed the snot out of it. Curb rash on a 700 Mile car? Proof to me they did not care what happened to it. What else has been thrashed? Gearbox / trans? Redline runs for miles on end? What about the front suspension. Did something take a hit and is going to brake after a couple thousand miles? To me that is a used car with a sketchy history. Unless you get a good price on it I would not bother especially when for not much more $$$$ you can get a new one.

The bottom line is that it is a risk purchasing that car. How much $$$ are you willing to gamble? You need to get that car at a price that will offset any significant repairs (say engine or trans replacement).

Base abarth pricing lists as 21,000 on Truecar for dealer cost. If that is true then I would get them to come down for sure since I am sure the car was trashed for 750 miles and they know it probably was too

As much as I agree, how much damage is really going to happen in that amount of miles in a car that makes less HP than a lot of sport bikes?