Do you enjoy buying cars?
Discussion
Zippee said:
Dave200 said:
Recently bought a year old car from an online car supermarket and it couldn't have been easier. We didn't see the car in person and all the finances were taken care of online. The car was delivered a couple of days later. No fuss and no dealing with humans. Perfect.
I assume with the online sellers (cinch etc) that the price is fixed?Love researching etc. I'm the type of guy that makes a spreadsheet of such matters... bit sad after actually buying a car, for two main reasons:
1) The hunt is now over for another few years (though, I did find my wife's, mum's and brother's car for them too which I enjoyed)
2) I always extensively modify my cars, so getting a new one is nice as it's a fresh project, but, it's also standard! And I just do not enjoy driving a standard car, no matter how good it is
1) The hunt is now over for another few years (though, I did find my wife's, mum's and brother's car for them too which I enjoyed)
2) I always extensively modify my cars, so getting a new one is nice as it's a fresh project, but, it's also standard! And I just do not enjoy driving a standard car, no matter how good it is
Zippee said:
Depends really. I just bought a new car for me (well a Nov 20 plate that is).
Went for a Volvo S60 Inscription - bit of a dull old mans car in a way, though same engine as in a Focus ST - I have a very fun weekend car and just wanted a relaxing to drive reliable car.
Volvo haven’t used Ford engines for about 10 years now. Your car has a Volvo engine which isn’t shared with Ford, it might make the same horsepower as a Focus ST but that’s it.Went for a Volvo S60 Inscription - bit of a dull old mans car in a way, though same engine as in a Focus ST - I have a very fun weekend car and just wanted a relaxing to drive reliable car.
I recently bought an Audi TT at my local Vauxhall dealer - it was quite enjoyable but I did get the hard sell of paint and upholstery protection, wheel and tyre insurance and a load of other stuff, plus the usual back and forwards between the salesman and ‘the manager’ for 15 minutes at a time. I’ve seen it all before and just laugh it off now, they have a job to do and are probably forced to do it. I reckon I was in the showroom for about 5.5 hours negotiating and signing paperwork etc though, wouldn’t want to do it too often but very happy with the car. It wasn’t prepped as well as I expected it would be but a couple of hours washing and vacuuming etc and all is great.
I had two easy selling experiences in that time too, one to a private buyer who was a decent local chap and another to the local Mini dealer who was fair and couldn’t have been easier to deal with. You can see why people enjoy the wheeling and dealing part.
I had two easy selling experiences in that time too, one to a private buyer who was a decent local chap and another to the local Mini dealer who was fair and couldn’t have been easier to deal with. You can see why people enjoy the wheeling and dealing part.
bad company said:
I like to buy new and enjoy choosing my spec on the configurator. I’m ok with negotiating with the salesperson but do get irritated when after the numbers have been agreed they try to add snake oil like tyre protection insurance, gap cover and paint protection etc.
I have absolutely no problem with my regular dealer but I had an infuriating experience when I was thinking of trading my Jeep Wrangler for a new one. Jeep dealer offered me a fair price for the old one, had a new Jeep in stock that was close to my ideal spec ,price OK, so all good.Sent me the estimate and the net cost was $15k higher than the deal.
I called and said there had to be a mistake. " Oh, no, it is correct The 15k is a shortage charge".. I still have my old Wrangler and will never buy a car there again.
Currently in the process of buying from a car supermarket for the first time. Agreed deal online, drove 3 hours to find that since the video and photos of car had been done it had taken a nasty smack to the door and sill… so obviously didn’t proceed. Luckily they had a newer lower miles comparable model in stock so shifted deposit to that and fingers crossed I’ll be collecting it later… by their own admission they knew nothing about the cars, as they were a volume seller. Hard sell on finance and guardX but soon shut that down….
I hate buying and selling cars. I love doing the research, working out what the budget will stretch to, what models are available, but the actual buying I don’t enjoy.
I hate buying and selling cars. I love doing the research, working out what the budget will stretch to, what models are available, but the actual buying I don’t enjoy.
Dave200 said:
Recently bought a year old car from an online car supermarket and it couldn't have been easier. We didn't see the car in person and all the finances were taken care of online. The car was delivered a couple of days later. No fuss and no dealing with humans. Perfect.
That's something I just couldn't do. Every used car is different to me, even if you have two cars the same make/model/colour/age/spec/mileage, they will be very different.I quite like the process of finding the right car but the sales experience where you end up wasting 2+ hours of your life with the negotiating, upselling, justifications and video-watching is painful. Just give me your best price, if it’s acceptable let’s deal. Job jobbed.
Last car we bought (a £1500 shed) we asked if there was any room to move on the screen price and they said no. Fair dos, it’s priced keenly in the market - let’s do the deal at that price. Ok sir, thank you for your business … btw there is a £250 admin fee payable on top of that. When I said we weren’t paying that and we’d walk, he said he could drop the admin fee but the car would have to be sold as spares or repairs and we would miss out on the 5* warranty. Apparently this is very common in the industry, although had the admin fee been mentioned in the ad (and highlighted on autotrader) rather than be embedded in an image, we would never have gone to see the car!
I wonder if the Cinch model will gain traction and people will just buy online (maybe even on credit card ??)
Chris
Last car we bought (a £1500 shed) we asked if there was any room to move on the screen price and they said no. Fair dos, it’s priced keenly in the market - let’s do the deal at that price. Ok sir, thank you for your business … btw there is a £250 admin fee payable on top of that. When I said we weren’t paying that and we’d walk, he said he could drop the admin fee but the car would have to be sold as spares or repairs and we would miss out on the 5* warranty. Apparently this is very common in the industry, although had the admin fee been mentioned in the ad (and highlighted on autotrader) rather than be embedded in an image, we would never have gone to see the car!
I wonder if the Cinch model will gain traction and people will just buy online (maybe even on credit card ??)
Chris
Edited by ScoobyChris on Thursday 28th March 21:10
M4cruiser said:
Dave200 said:
Recently bought a year old car from an online car supermarket and it couldn't have been easier. We didn't see the car in person and all the finances were taken care of online. The car was delivered a couple of days later. No fuss and no dealing with humans. Perfect.
That's something I just couldn't do. Every used car is different to me, even if you have two cars the same make/model/colour/age/spec/mileage, they will be very different.I dont enjoy it unless its a new one, im always thinking in the back of my mind are the sellers trying to hide something and in my experience most are.
I hate bringing a car home having missed something on the inspection, especially paintwork defects.
Only myself to blame really but still annoying.
I hate bringing a car home having missed something on the inspection, especially paintwork defects.
Only myself to blame really but still annoying.
So there's a general theme on this thread...
The dealers often spoil the buying experience.
I have to agree, even though I've been in the motor trade for 35 years.
But then that means I recognise the absolute shrite some of these people come out with, as I'm sure most on here would also.
Cinch??
Bring it on..
The dealers often spoil the buying experience.
I have to agree, even though I've been in the motor trade for 35 years.
But then that means I recognise the absolute shrite some of these people come out with, as I'm sure most on here would also.
Cinch??
Bring it on..
I used to enjoy the excitment of buying a car, although never bought brand new.
The last two cars i had from a dealer both had hidden faults and bodges not declared (both were Mercedes).
Buying privately from an enthusiast is the best experience. In recent times however there are too many wanabee "wheeler dealers" who overprice/oversell the cars and again often end up disappointed afterwards.
I suppose it has always been a lottery with the second hand market.
I realised that if you find a good motor keeping for as long as possible is the way forward, although getting somethimg new or different can be enjoyable also.
The last two cars i had from a dealer both had hidden faults and bodges not declared (both were Mercedes).
Buying privately from an enthusiast is the best experience. In recent times however there are too many wanabee "wheeler dealers" who overprice/oversell the cars and again often end up disappointed afterwards.
I suppose it has always been a lottery with the second hand market.
I realised that if you find a good motor keeping for as long as possible is the way forward, although getting somethimg new or different can be enjoyable also.
MitchT said:
Maybe it's because I'm an introvert but my sentiment about cars is the same as my sentiment about women. I'd rather just fast forward to the point where I'm settled and happy with my quarry and avoid all the faff of hunting and trying to pin down a new acquisition.
Hmmm. I’m not sure I would describe that sentiment as ‘introvert’. I can think of more appropriate descriptions.Over over under steer said:
There is nothing I despise more than having to deal with salesmen. I really enjoyed buying from private buyers, but I don’t have the guts to do that on anything that’s notably valuable. I’ve recently had the displeasure of buying two BMWs from a main dealer, and it is unbelievable how much they tried to upsell me on tyre protection, paint protection, ceramic coating, and anything else all at ridiculous prices. I appreciate they are heavily incentivised to do so.
The chap at BMW, whom I bought my last car off, was adamant he was going to sell me the tyre protection “for my own good” and he couldn’t “in all good conscience let me go without” and still sleep well knowing I was unprotected. What a load of crap. Honestly, I turned up on the day to pick it up, when I told him 100 times that I didn’t want any of the extras, I just wanted to come in pay and leave. The whole experience took two hours, whilst he went back-and-forth to his manager, negotiating with himself down on the price of these extras that I told him under no circumstance, will I be buying.
I know this is also turning into a bit of a rant, but the lack of knowledge is sometimes hilarious, even at main dealers.
My experience of BMW salespeople is totally different. In recent years I’ve dealt with Halliwell Jones, Sytner and Stratstone and found them to be totally professional and enjoyable to deal with. The chap at BMW, whom I bought my last car off, was adamant he was going to sell me the tyre protection “for my own good” and he couldn’t “in all good conscience let me go without” and still sleep well knowing I was unprotected. What a load of crap. Honestly, I turned up on the day to pick it up, when I told him 100 times that I didn’t want any of the extras, I just wanted to come in pay and leave. The whole experience took two hours, whilst he went back-and-forth to his manager, negotiating with himself down on the price of these extras that I told him under no circumstance, will I be buying.
I know this is also turning into a bit of a rant, but the lack of knowledge is sometimes hilarious, even at main dealers.
AlexNJ89 said:
I love looking for my next car.
While most people scroll Instagram, I scroll AutoTrader.
I’ve been doing a bit of Autotrader scrolling and watching You Tube reviews as a replacement for my Alfa Mito (that acts as the family’s third car). While most people scroll Instagram, I scroll AutoTrader.
The current thoughts are Alfa Guilietta (Diesel or Petrol) Fiat 124 Spider or Jaguar XF 3.0 Diesel.
keo said:
I am always scrolling pistonheads and trader! When I start using my Exige more I will love it again. But if I could sell it without losing a fortune I want a Caterham, Atom, Mono next! Today anyway…
I have a Caterham and I adore it, might go for a blast this afternoon in this weather. But I really wish I had a friend or 2 to share the car with because it doesn't get used enough to warrant the money I have tied up in it.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff