Yup OUCH. I've bought two Mercedes from a friend (well started off as my sales man and became friend second, you know how those relationships are, business is business. Anyway both times I bought cars from him I couldn't pass up the deal on the new Mercedes so I went the trade in route instead of the private sale.
The cars I traded were low miles and super clean, I knew my cars weren't going to auction so I wanted top dollar. He couldn't print a copy for me but he showed me the auction prices (low, middle, high). I told him no sale unless I get the best auction price. To make a long story short, I got 20k for my 2005 Acura TSX, they listed it for 23k and sold it two weeks later....on my 2007 C class they gave me 20 or 21k I think and listed it for 26.5k and sold it one month later. Now in both cases I'm not guessing they got those asking prices.
If you've found something you really really like and think the price is close to what you feel comfortable paying then get it, I'll tell you when I was looking and learning this fall about Boxsters I let two gems get through my fingers because of a 800 or $1200 spread from what I wanted to pay. The other option is to take your time, the right one will come along eventually.
It's interesting, I see lots of folks on this forum talking about buying cars...don't see any members offering theirs, guess we like our cars
