I've got my eye on a car; price on forecourt £3795 while i've got £3500 maximum. Do you think a dealer will offer this sort of discount for cash with no trade-in in your experience?

In the current climate I reckon he'll snap your hand off.

He'll snap your hand off!!
Nothing is selling. I bought a 55 plate Range Rover for £13900. It was in the Auto Trader at £21k. A week later on the garage webby it was £16995.
I waved the cash and persuaded the garage to fit and supply four new wheels and tyres.

Bid him £3000 it'll probably be the first car he's had a sniff on this month.

[Edited on 4/8/08 by CRAIGR]

As a closer comparison, I bought a 51 plate Laguna last year to use when I broke all the other cars! It had £2999 on the screen. I handed the garage my credit card and told them I'd take the car now if they would take £2000. The salesman tried to haggle but I pointed out that that card had a £2k limit. Take it or leave it. He took it!

As above, £3500 is a great offer FOR HIM!!!

Offer £2500 and see what he says. Keep a straight face all the time, and just keep saying No - don't embelish your answers, just No is fine for him to understand...

Steve

the more you can get off the car the more you will have to spend on extras. Try to get a Years MOT or no deal, also get the sales man to put new mats in or mudflaps. Argue that the tyres are poor or better still...

Leave an offer of say £2500 with full MOT and then leave your number and walk away when he says no. He'll call you with in an hour or two.