How to buy a car

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Tue 3 Jul 2007 14:45
How to buy a car - Botchit, Soddem & Leggit
Ok, so the time has come to flog the old workhorse and get something better, bigger and newer.

Looking to buy a 2004 (or thereabouts) Renault Scenic 1.6 petrol or 1.9 Diesel. Due to lack of suitable cars for sale privately, I feel that my fate will lie in the hands of the west midlands 2nd hand motor trade.

I know pretty much what I want, how much I should be spending, how much I can spend how I will finance it etc., but am looking for tips on how best to peel back all the salesman's pink fluffy dice such that I pay no more than a "fair" price.

I have picked up some bits of advice along the way...

1) start off with the idea that you will buy their finance (and warranty)
2) walk away
3) aim to be buying at a "month end"
4) when you have got as far as you think you will get, ask for tax, tyres, fuel, mats etc just before you sign
5) blah de blah

What tricks can one best use to drive the deal down? Do the above actually work?

Tips from any old hands (or better still, an insider) would be great.

Thanks in advance,

BS&L
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Tue 3 Jul 2007 14:48
How to buy a car - Nsar
The section up and to the left of this message entitled How to Buy & Sell Cars is ideal for your needs
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Tue 3 Jul 2007 17:38
How to buy a car - Clk Sec
>>>3) aim to be buying at a "month end"

Quarter end, ie March, June, September or December, may be better.

Clk Sec
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Tue 3 Jul 2007 23:38
How to buy a car - oldtoffee
>>Looking to buy a 2004 (or thereabouts) Renault Scenic 1.6 petrol or 1.9 Diesel. Due to lack of suitable cars for sale privately, I feel that my fate will lie in the hands of the west midlands 2nd hand motor trade.

Check out Car Giant - exactly the type and age of car they sell lots of at prices you might struggle to find elsewhere. Quick check reveals they have 20 Scenics between 2003 and 2005 ranging from £4,300 to £8,800.
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Wed 4 Jul 2007 00:29
How to buy a car - mal
>>>3) aim to be buying at a "month end"

Thought that only applied to registration of new cars for the dealer to qualify for manufactures bonuses, the op is buying a S/H 2004 model.
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Wed 4 Jul 2007 01:03
How to buy a car - spikeyhead {p}
Any business that's part of a chain will have monthly and quarterly targets to meet.

Recent interest rate rises have dampened the market a little so you may get lucky
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