Do you enjoy buying cars?

Do you enjoy buying cars?

Author
Discussion

Mad Maximus

Original Poster:

358 posts

3 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
I’ve read a few stories on here of cars being written off or the car being beyond repair so then they need to buy a new one and despise it. I assumed as a car guy everyone would be like me and absolutely love the hunt. I enjoy searching out the best car, getting the best deal possible and finding something rare really tickles my whistle. In my mind I don’t get how you can be into cars and hate the buying process. Not that it matters much but it surprised me.

Do you enjoy the hunt?

interstellar

3,306 posts

146 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
I enjoy looking on the net etc and comparing specs but don’t like dealing with the dealers.

Edited by interstellar on Monday 25th March 21:46

FMOB

853 posts

12 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
The hunt for a car is enjoyable but then there there is a car salesman at the end to piss on your enjoyment.

The search is fine, the buying well less said the better.

M4cruiser

3,643 posts

150 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
Yes I do, but my other half doesn't seem to get it.

I don't like the inane salespeople.
Are you alright there?
Are you particularly looking for a blue one?
We've got one of those coming in soon. (No you haven't, you just made that up.)
Are you local? (What does it matter?)
Reliable car. (How do you know, you haven't been running it for the last 3 years.)
etc


Gordon Hill

807 posts

15 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
Nope, that's why I keep them for years.

MitchT

15,868 posts

209 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
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.

993kimbo

2,977 posts

185 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
It used to be fun, a long time ago.

valiant

10,228 posts

160 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
Enjoy the hunt but can't stand the actual buying process.

Over over under steer

663 posts

123 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
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.

stanlow45

304 posts

6 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
Gordon Hill said:
Nope, that's why I keep them for years.
Same here.

ChrisH72

2,176 posts

52 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
I spend loads of time planning and looking for my next car but don't actually buy that often. I do actually enjoy looking far more than buying!

Buying can be enjoyable and I've had good experience with small independent used car dealers where you simply agree a price and buy the car and that's that. Less so at big franchised dealers. We bought our family car from Bristol Street Hyundai as an ex demo. The price of the car was presented to us with every conceivable extra automatically added which I'm sure isn't legal. GAP, Diamond Bright, upholstery treatment, tyre and paint insurance etc. Having to argue that you don't want any of it is embarrassing and quite frankly hard work. The sales persons response was 'why wouldn't you want it'?

Kuwahara

845 posts

18 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
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.
.

Agreed, product knowledge with some salespeople is abysmal…

FMOB

853 posts

12 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
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.
Exactly what I dislike about the actual buying process, I find telling them to shut up or I am walking away reigns in the worst of it.

popeyewhite

19,878 posts

120 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
The search, the purchase, the first period of ownership. Addictive. Never regretted selling a car either.

Gordon Hill

807 posts

15 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
One of the many,many reasons why I run sheds, it cuts out most of the bull from main dealers and salesmen previously mentioned, of course there are downsides too like dealing with mouth breathers, that's why now I only buy cars from a mate/ client who virtually gives them to me and has a 5 star customer satisfaction on his reviews. Current E Class was virtually free and wafts me about in relative luxury with a minimum of fuss.

RDMcG

19,142 posts

207 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
I buy cars new and generally keep them for a very long time.

My garage has cars from 2003,2005,2007,2015,2018,2022,2023 and none will be moving on. I mainly deal with the same sales rep who has done all my cars for decades. I spec the car in advance, sit down with her and get the thing ordered. Process takes ten minutes. No test drives, no upselling me, no bargains.

I hate shopping around and the process for me is very functional but quite pleasant. In a perfect world I would go to a manufacturer's website and simply input the spec like ordering from Amazon. I am never going to order special colours or the like so I do not agonize about every detail. Its just a car.

Mad Maximus

Original Poster:

358 posts

3 months

Monday 25th March
quotequote all
There must be something really wrong with me then because I love the salesmen. That seems to be what most folk hate but I love dealing with them even when they try the hard sell it just makes me chuckle inside, running back and forth doing the Hokey Cokey with the “boss” . I’m an extremely patient person sometimes to my detriment that’s maybe why but I love it all. Anyone want me to go and buy them a car let me know (your money obvs haha).

Jamescrs

4,479 posts

65 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
It depends on the circumstances, I enjoy it when i'm working on my own timeline and have the chance to research, read owners forums, study specs etc.

I've been in the position where I have to buy quickly due to a car being written off and another stolen and when i'm rushing to buy something because I need a car it isn't so much fun

PositronicRay

27,022 posts

183 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Gordon Hill said:
Nope, that's why I keep them for years.
'Find what you like and stick with it' is the mantra I've lived by for many years.

Trevor555

4,440 posts

84 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
FMOB said:
The hunt for a car is enjoyable but then there there is a car salesman at the end to piss on your enjoyment.

The search is fine, the buying well less said the better.
This..

Each time they approach me it's a "what crap will they come out with this time?" moment..

None of that with Cinch