New Car buying tips....

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Fri 27 Sep 2002 13:48
New Car buying tips.... - daryld
New car buying tips based upon 20 years of my buying everything from Boats to Motorbikes to Cars both here in the UK and abroad:

Can you add anything that I have missed?

1. Write to the manufacturer and ask if there are any impending price reductions or special offers expected in the next xx months. That way you do not get pinched like VW owners were in 2000 when VW UK categorically denied that they were going to reduce the price of UK-supplied cars after losing market share to imports. They then improved specs and finally reduced prices which resulted in some VW owners demanding money back from VW UK after having bought bonafide but relatively over-priced VW UK cars.
2. Don’t buy a light metallic colour. After an accident repair the paint rarely matches the original. And that includes repairs to more expensive marques, not just Fords.
3. If you are not good at haggling then do your new vehicle negotiation by e-mail, fax or phone. Avoid going to the showroom in person; this reduces the opportunity of you to be pressured or bamboozled into a deal your not 100% in control of. All car sales training is based on the “wow” factor of the excited customer walking into a new car showroom, and they will use this tactic to their advantage.
4. When making an offer to a dealer for a new car shock them with your opening offer. Give them your contact details asap. Make it SENSIBLY low. This sets the tone of the discussion. Then let the dealer do the work in trying to bring the price up. If you do not like the deal then literally walk away. Do not forget who is the customer here! If the dealer is pushed to shift stock then they may contact you a few days later with a sensible offer.
5. Never appear keen to buy a car; always look neutral. If the dealer is waxing lyrical about finance deals/”free” options, etc then appear calm and non impressed. See 3 above. NEVER give out positive vibes about a car—the salesperson is trained to exploit this to their advantage. When the salesperson is mumbling on about ABS, IPS, airbags, etc just remember it is just a box on wheels and keep your feet on the ground.
6. Sounds negative, but assume that EVERYTHING the salesperson tells you is a lie. Unless it is stated in writing then it is simply not true. In my experience a salesperson is a professional liar.
7. If bringing someone with you to a showroom then ensure that they adhere to the same “neutral” behaviour rules as you.
8. NEVER discuss how much money you have to spend. Make your purchase decision based upon the best deal that is presented to you, not based upon how much money you wish to spend.
9. Gets your facts straight about the car you wish to purchase. Do not get suckered in to spending more than you need –or- getting a car with more spec than you want (unless it is a genuinely good deal).
10. If the dealer will not discount the car that you want then demand that they include options such as I) Free/discounted servicing for 3 years. II) Guaranteed Courtesy car when yours is being fixed/serviced. III) Discount of spare parts. IV) Free 1st MOT, etc GET THIS IN WRITING.
11. If you are really good then get a discount on the car and ask for 10 above!!!!
12. Look at the pedigree of the car that you are buying. How have older, previous models fared? For this reason only buy new Renaults, Alfas, Fiats, Peugeots, Rovers if you expect high depreciation or patchy quality.
13. When haggling do not get rude or appear to be more knowledgeable than the salesperson.
14. Do not buy any Renault with an automatic gearbox.
15. When collecting the car inspect it thoroughly. Ensure it is to your spec. Do not allow yourself to be hurried. Ensure that the dealer has not waxed the windscreen!
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Fri 27 Sep 2002 17:36
New Car buying tips.... - Tomo
Very good advice for the tough minded. Possibly unfortunately, I think most of us are just insufficiently aggressive, though!
Tomo
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Fri 27 Sep 2002 19:02
New Car buying tips.... - The Watcher
I'd suggest to save all the time and effort you appear to have identified above as required to get a good deal, is to either import a UK spec car from Europe OR buy from the car supermarkets. That is the stark choice. Who on earth in their right mind is going to go through a 15 point plus check list to get a marginal deal?

UK dealers are a waste of time. Don't believe me? In 3 years time take the car you bought off them for top dollar and watch them offer you bottom dollar for it despite them having sold and serviced it for you, also at extortionate rates!
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Fri 27 Sep 2002 20:36
New Car buying tips.... - Blue {P}
Erm... I would happily go thru most of a 15 point check list if I thought I could get a better deal!

Point 16: When the saleman is saying things that you like and making it sound like the negotiations are going you way, make sure that you have your cheque book on his desk. When you push for a better deal and he starts to resist it, pick up your cheque book and start putting i in your pocket while maintaining eye contact with him. Watch his eyes follow the cheque book and then wait while he "goes and talks to the manager"! My family have used this to great effect when buying recently. :)
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Sun 29 Sep 2002 19:57
New Car buying tips.... - The Watcher
If you go through a 16(!) point check list to buy a car I think you'll find the salesman will lose interest VERY quickly.

God, it nearly sent me to sleep wading through it! :-)
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Fri 27 Sep 2002 21:49
New Car buying tips.... - OAP
May I recommend a new magazine called 'Carbuyer'. It is packed with very helpful information including where to locate the lowest prices for 2389 specifications of cars! Not cheap at £3.50 but peanuts compared with what it will save you.
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Fri 27 Sep 2002 22:36
New Car buying tips.... - Leif
I certainly don\'t agree that main dealers are a waste of time. I bought my For Ka from a main dealer at roughly the same price as Trade Sales of Slough and I got a 3 year warranty. A colleague has just bought a Rover 75 from a main dealer in Slough at an excellent price. Supermarkets are good though. A colleague bought his Mazda family car from Trade Sales and can vouch for them. It all depends on the car, the deals going at the time, and your own cheek when faced with a salesman. In my experience, it is good to visit lots of dealers and leave a phone number. They often get back with better deals. Good points though.

Also don\'t be afraid to play dealers off against each other and even against supermarkets. Some dealers told me \"We don\'t compete with Trade Sales\". Others said \"We\'ll see what we can do.\". Others gave me b******* that would bring your roses on a treat.
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Fri 27 Sep 2002 22:38
New Car buying tips.... - Leif
Oh dear ... Apologies for using b******t. Thought it would be starred out!
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Fri 27 Sep 2002 23:05
New Car buying tips.... - Fullchat
I apologise if I am missing something here.

The word b******t I do not consider offensive.

The pseudonym "ROAD KILL" I find extremely offensive.

Andrew.
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Sat 28 Sep 2002 10:45
New Car buying tips.... - Leif
I believe most people would not use b******t in front of young children and this site is open to them. Road Kill refers to a dead animal seen on a road. It is meant to be light hearted.

You are the first to complain about my monica. Do you really find it offensive? To offend you or anyone else is most definitely not my intention.
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Sat 28 Sep 2002 15:52
New Car buying tips.... - Godfrey H {P}
Can't say I care much for your login id either, and I'm not easily offended.
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Sun 29 Sep 2002 17:20
New Car buying tips.... - Obsolete
Andrew, Godfrey

Fair enough. 'Road kill' seemed inoffensive to me but I was obviously wrong. In future I'll use this id. Apologies for any offense.
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Sat 28 Sep 2002 21:41
New Car buying tips.... - Fullchat
You are to be applauded for taking my observation in good spirit.
I am maybe being oversensative but as Police Officer who has dealt with many road fatalities it does conjour images. Also bear in mind there are bound to be contributors to the sight who will have been touched by road death. We should consider their feelings also.

Andrew
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Sun 29 Sep 2002 17:02
New Car buying tips.... - Simon
Back to the subject of dealers coming out with b*******, it reminds me of a few weeks ago when I was deciding whether to purchase an official UK or an import Aprilia RS125 bike. I went round quite a few dealers, both official and import dealers, and one of these official dealers being Motorcycle City. I talked to one of the salesmen about the bike and he was telling me how good they were, very reliable and very popular etc, until I directly asked why I should buy one from them (approx £700 more) instead of buying an import and saving a chunk of cash. At this point his opinion of the bike changed totally and that they required loads of TLC, and needed to be serviced by the official dealer (because they are the only ones who can sevice them properly apparantly), and if they are not the bike will "let me down on almost a daily basis". Now I know Motorcycle City do not have a very good name for customer care and service anyway, but whereas before I would have had to think twice about buying a bike from them, I now wouldn't buy one from them at all.
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Tue 1 Oct 2002 16:52
salespersons - Graham
its funny to listen to the sales persons. when i go for a pub lunch, say, i sometimes ask "is your food any good?". it should give a good guy the opportunity to sell his freshest fish or finest beef. but the answer is often dissapointing, one actuallly said "no it's crap".

electrical goods and phones are also good. they spend ages giveing you the merits of the potential purchase, then when you go to buy they try to sell you insurance for when it breaks down.
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