Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 3]

[AlexC1981]

I've bought from Car Giant twice. The only element of negotiation was on the part/ex price of my old car. This was about 9 years ago so it might be different now.

It's actually quite a fun day out if you are not sure what car you want as there are so many different types to see. You don't get a test drive though until you have practically committed to buying the car and it was literally up and down a short road on the premises if I remember rightly.

[RATATTAK]

David87 said:

I drove a Fiat 500 the other day and it didn't have a sidelight setting on the headlamp stalk. Simply 'off' (with front DRLs) and dipped beam. How can this be? Never seen it before.

Good design IMO

Ignition on / Lights on:
choice of high or low beam
choice of front only or front and rear fogs
all go off when ignition is off (even if light switch is still in 'on' position so no more annoying bing bongs)

Ignition on / Lights off:
DRLs only

[handpaper]

wildone63 said:

What is the thinking behind dealers propping up cars on these metal stand things on their forecourts?
Considering the amount of money these things must cost,are they supposed to show the car in a more favourable light to potential buyers as opposed to it just sitting on the ground or what?

What I'd like to know is : where can I get one?
They look quite handy for the home mechanic who hasn't room for / can't afford / isn't allowed a two-poster on the drive...

[wiggy001]

AlexC1981 said:

I've bought from Car Giant twice. The only element of negotiation was on the part/ex price of my old car. This was about 9 years ago so it might be different now.

It's actually quite a fun day out if you are not sure what car you want as there are so many different types to see. You don't get a test drive though until you have practically committed to buying the car and it was literally up and down a short road on the premises if I remember rightly.

The test drive is very short around an industrial estate. Long enough to make sure it goes, stops and doesn't wander. You don't have to commit to anything at all - you give them your key and a copy of your license and they give you the key to the car you want to look at. If you like it, ask for a test drive and then decide yay or nay.

Admittedly both cars I've bought from them have been the first and only ones I test drove - I pretty much knew which car I wanted from the website each time.

[Shakermaker]

handpaper said:

wildone63 said:

What is the thinking behind dealers propping up cars on these metal stand things on their forecourts?
Considering the amount of money these things must cost,are they supposed to show the car in a more favourable light to potential buyers as opposed to it just sitting on the ground or what?

What I'd like to know is : where can I get one?
They look quite handy for the home mechanic who hasn't room for / can't afford / isn't allowed a two-poster on the drive...

I googled that image and it gave me this link

http://www.directsupplyukltd.co.uk/see-saw-car-ram...

£950 though...

[SilverSixer]

AstonZagato said:

SilverSixer said:

Car Giant don't haggle and are pretty successful. I've bought 2 or 3 cars from there and far preferred the experience to the dealer haggle bks. Perhaps they are so low margin that the model wouldn't work for smaller dealers, they need to sell a few at inflated screen prices to incompetent/unwilling hagglers and/or brand loyalists to keep profits up. Dunno. But I like the Car Giant way.

I'd heard that - but I was suspicious that they do, in reality, negotiate. Is it really a flat "no" if you try to argue them down?

Yep. Not an inch. All the stuff about test drives above is true also, in my experience.

[SpeckledJim]

AstonZagato said:

That's not the point I'm making. Haggling has become part of the process. The customers are suspicious that, even though you say that there is no haggling, there must really be haggling involved as that is what everyone else does. They become worried that, if they don't haggle, they are being ripped off.

It's always the customer who starts the haggle. Knowing that, the dealer HAS to set his opening price to accommodate the expectation of the customer to 'get something off'.

AstonZagato said:

If no dealer had ever haggled over the price, there would be no haggling (or the tiny minority who try to haggle would get short shrift). The vast majority would be happier. If we all knew that the sticker price was the lowest price possible then we'd mainly have a happier purchasing experience.

True, but likewise, if no customer had ever haggled over price either, then everyone would be happier as well.

Dealers couldn't get carried away with price, as they're still in competition with each other, and customers can appraise potential cars to purchase knowing exactly what each would cost to buy.

Sadly both groups' 'A' strategy leads us to this negative situation, and it would take a voluntary sacrifice by one or the other to change that. So it won't change.

[48k]

In my book if a product has the need for a salesman then by definition there is scope to negotiate on the price.

[AstonZagato]

SpeckledJim said:

Sadly both groups' 'A' strategy leads us to this negative situation, and it would take a voluntary sacrifice by one or the other to change that. So it won't change.

But Giant seems to get away with it.

[SpeckledJim]

AstonZagato said:

SpeckledJim said:

Sadly both groups' 'A' strategy leads us to this negative situation, and it would take a voluntary sacrifice by one or the other to change that. So it won't change.

But Giant seems to get away with it.

That's true, they're aiming at a niche - "people who don't haggle" - and as long as that niche is big enough for them, then that's a sensible decision.

The majority of the trade aims at the majority of the market - "people who do haggle". And who can blame either Giant or the others for either of those rational commercial decisions?

Sad thing is the trade would prefer not to haggle, as would a large portion of the public. The status quo is probably disproportionately skewed by Dave Hagglemaster, who Always Gets A Deal. Even when, actually, he often doesn't.

[AstonZagato]

I now CarWow the spec I want, and ask the local dealer to match the best price. Fairly painless.

I still get lots of teeth sucking, "I'll talk to my manager" rigmarole but it is usually fine in the end.

[gazzarose]

Just watching Supertruckers and they have to move an airport firetruck. Why are airport fire Trucks different to normal for engines?

[MissChief]

gazzarose said:

Just watching Supertruckers and they have to move an airport firetruck. Why are airport fire Trucks different to normal for engines?

The engine also acts as a pump for the water cannon and foam lances, although I'm pretty sure that's just a gearbox or clutch that is engaged.

[Cliftonite]

RATATTAK said:

Good design IMO

Ignition on / Lights on:
choice of high or low beam
choice of front only or front and rear fogs
all go off when ignition is off (even if light switch is still in 'on' position so no more annoying bing bongs)

Ignition on / Lights off:
DRLs only

In which case, how does one leave the parking (side) lights on when parked?

[RATATTAK]

Cliftonite said:

RATATTAK said:

Good design IMO

Ignition on / Lights on:
choice of high or low beam
choice of front only or front and rear fogs
all go off when ignition is off (even if light switch is still in 'on' position so no more annoying bing bongs)

Ignition on / Lights off:
DRLs only

In which case, how does one leave the parking (side) lights on when parked?

Probably with the indicator stalk ... I'll check and let you know

[Ayahuasca]

MissChief said:

gazzarose said:

Just watching Supertruckers and they have to move an airport firetruck. Why are airport fire Trucks different to normal for engines?

The engine also acts as a pump for the water cannon and foam lances, although I'm pretty sure that's just a gearbox or clutch that is engaged.

They also need to have some off road capability, cannot guarantee a crashed ac will be on tarmac.

[Shakermaker]

Ayahuasca said:

MissChief said:

gazzarose said:

Just watching Supertruckers and they have to move an airport firetruck. Why are airport fire Trucks different to normal for engines?

The engine also acts as a pump for the water cannon and foam lances, although I'm pretty sure that's just a gearbox or clutch that is engaged.

They also need to have some off road capability, cannot guarantee a crashed ac will be on tarmac.

Also, they are a lot more specialised with the function of what they are designed for - crashed aircraft with potential huge volumes of fuel on board that needs to be suppressed with heavy duty foam

And they can be quite a lot heavier, since they don't need to travel on the road they don't need to comply so much with the weight limits or width restrictions that might occur on a regular fire engine route.

[MarshPhantom]

How exactly does religion make the world a better place?

[PoleDriver]

MarshPhantom said:

How exactly does religion make the world a better place?

You always have someone to blame!

[MarshPhantom]

There is always that I suppose.