Toy with me, baby! or How to handle a used car salesman?

[SamIam]

OK, here is what I'm thinking I'll do re that Toy (1995 TOYOTA T100 PICKUP DX 4WD (V6), 200,000 miles with "check engine light on).

I am now dealing with Frank-the-Used-Car-Salesman. Frank has a sense of humor, at least, and I kind of like him.

Frank confided to me that people can't get financing on a car with that many miles - no kidding - especially as over-priced as they have it. He also said they'd let me take it to my own mechanic to have the "check engine" light thing diagnosed. Generous of them.

But before I do any of that, I'm taking in those NADA prices that Jim posted (thanks, Jim!). I'll offer them the NADA price of $4,825.00 MINUS the cost of my mechanic's diagnostic. If the car checks out, I like it well enough to go up to $5,000.00. But that will be my final offer.

Oh, and if I don't buy the truck, they don't get to look at the diagnostic unless they pay me for it.

Does this sound like a good strategy? I've never really negotiated with a car salesman before. In the old days, I had enough money to just go buy what I liked with a minimum of dealing back and forth.

I can't believe how hard it is to find a "clunker" in my price range. I guess Obama sent them all off to be turned into scrap.