'Parkers' prices compared to forecourt prices

[drjohn]

I'm considering buying a used car from an independent garage. I've compared the 'sticker' prices of a number of cars (price range �3.5-4k) to those listed in the Parkers guide and find that (after mileage adjustments) the forecourt prices are 20-25% higher than those quoted in Parkers (albeit a small number of cars sampled).

Are the dealers being greedy, or expecting the punter to haggle down the 20% difference or are the prices undervalued in Parkers?

Being a tight-fisted Northener I don't want to be forking out more than I should. Any opinions? (That's opinions on the question not on tight-fisted Northeners). Thanks.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

Most car price guides are based on trade prices and private sales,which do not come with any warranty.with the dealer prices,you are paying a profit to the dealer,but also you get a warranty with it.which some times carries a lot of weight if you are spending a lot of money on a car.

[drjohn]

I should point out that I'm comparing the Parkers 'independent dealer' prices and not the private sale prices.

[furrycheeky]

The majority of cars at the garage I work for are in line with the guide that we (and most dealers) use, Glass' Guide.
I had a quick look at Parkers in the local news agent tonight and indeed it was giving lower recommended prices. So we too would look expensive according to Parkers. They must get their data a different way.

[lethologica]

Do yourself a favour and do not start quoting parkers to a used car salesman. My boyfriend being one, they hear it all the time and the truth is exactly as furrycheeky said; in the trade they use a guide called Glass's, however they don't always adhere to Glass's as it depends what similarly spec'ed cars are priced nearby...