[bunghullio]

If it's a dealership there is plenty of room left to negotiate. Most likely they're looking at $3500-5000 in profit at $10,995. That's how dealerships work. That way when they act like you're bankrupting them at $9500, they've still turned a tidy profit of at least $2,000.

All dealerships make the majority of their profit selling used cars because it's impossible for the consumer to know what they actually paid for the vehicle at auction, or trade in. Unlike new vehicles, where the consumer can find out exactly what they paid for the vehicles including manufacturer holdback.

The way they make new cars seem more attractive is by the rebates and/or low financing. Or by getting customers in with a "One only at this price" loss leader vehicle. Only to switch them to a used vehicle of the same type (or not) with the features the customer may want, that they didn't realize weren't on the vehicle they initially came to buy. Such as; p/w, p/l, a/c, automatic, remote keyless entry, or a different color than white.

I would first obtain the N.A.D.A. Blue Book and start at a high trade in value for the car. Or just go in, test drive it, show only slight enthusiasm about the car, and follow the salesman inside where he ultimately wants you to be. Don't mention one word about paying in cash. Not one!

Contrary to popular belief, at a dealership, cash is NOT King! Dealerships would much rather finance you as they make more money that way.
They'll bring in the numbers, which will consist of several options that include a down payment and different monthly payments. This is called the first pencil! I don't care how attractive it looks, if you buy the car on the first pencil (or second and third, for that matter) the salesmen are going to be laughing their asses off and high-fiving each other the second you're driving away.
Wait until the fourth pencil at least!!

Better yet, go in to do the numbers with them, and when they come back, just shake your head no, and DON'T SAY A WORD! Let them do all the talking. Then when you can't stand it any longer offer $7,500 and stop. This process will take a couple of hours, minimum.
Stand firm at $7500. Force them to talk you up in price, and DO NOT go over $9,000 "out the door" (tax and licensing included). Even if you have to walk out.
If they know that they've got a sure deal at 9k, they won't let you get far. Especially if it's Tues./Wed./Thurs., OR the last day of the month.

Phew! Sorry that was so long, people.

Now, if it's a private owner, he's already "into" the car for a larger sum. Plus he probably has some emotional ties to the vehicle as well. He's also less likely to price it with a $4200 average profit margin.

Try to offer him something like, $8750 and look for his reaction. He'll tell you exactly what he feels about your offer, and will probably tell you the lowest he'll go is $10k. At that point let him know that you really like the car, will take good care of it, and that you've only got $9500 to spend right now. But it's in the form of ninety-five 100 dollar bills. Inform him that anything under $10,000 doesn't have to be reported to the I.R.S. and that you'll take the vehicle off his hands right now so he doesn't have to spend another one of his Saturdays fielding telephone calls from "buyers" that aren't really that serious about actually buying, or having to miss anymore of his favorite weekend activities because he's being "jacked off" by looky-loos! Then pull out your wad of cash. This is the time where cash really IS King!

Let us know how it goes.