Dealing with Dealers - Any hot tips?

[Janitor]

How do's?

OK, call me old fashioned, but isn't the car market as static as a lady marathon runner on mid-town piss break at the moment? I've heard it is, so what do you think Dealers are thinking right now?

Are they twiddling thumbs waiting for the door to sway... "Is that a potential sale or just a strong gust of wind..?" Maybe I'm wrong and perhaps all is dandy in the Automotive sales sector?

Let's assume business is slow. What can, or perhaps more accurately, what will the suits do to get a sale? How far can a deal be negotiated and is the climate really on the buyers side this winter-time?

Maybe some of you have a few tried and tested stick-on methods of getting a tremendous deal out of the showroom, or maybe (if we're all lucky) someone here has some 'inside' from the more comfy-chaired side of the desk and know what customer angles usually produce customer favouring results?

I think most of us know some basics, but I'm hoping a few absolute gems shared here would make good reading!!

...ok yes, I am toying very strongly with Lotus ownership right now, and a few tips would be fabulous - I think I personally stand a strong chance of landing a great deal at the moment, but what's your thoughts people?

Cheers!

[GRL]

The wife and I were at a local BMW dealer last weekend - wife wants a 3 Series Coupe. We had tested a 325Ci and 330Ci about 6 months ago and wanted to compare a 320cd. Very attentive sales guy showed us some examples on site and gave us 40 minutes in a nice, nearly new 320d. He tried our car (for p/x valuation) and came back with a price. After composing ourselves following hysterical laughter, we shook hands with sales guy and said we would go away and think about it and that we would call him sometime in the week. The poor guy was blocking the exit wittering and sweating (I kid you not!) trying to get us to consider a deal and deposit.

Remember this is BMW so whilst they will not struggle to sell cars all year round they will be experiencing a post-Xmas lull. Elise sales are always low this time of year so visiting 2 or 3 Lotus dealers to check their stock and prices should pay dividends.

Happy hunting

[rfoster]

There's MASSIVE money off the BMW Coupes now - I just managed to secure 10% plus an additional £2,000 off a new one for one of my customers. This may go some way to explaining the rubbish px price they gave you!

[mustard]

The Lull was PRE Xmas, Elise Sales have been very good since the New Year!

[GRL]

Thanks for the info Richard. Is there a reason for the massive discounts? I was told that the new 3 Coupe will not be arriving 'til mid 07.

I stand corrected Mustard

[bogie]

in my experience it varies between dealers - all depends on their individual circumstances/sales figures n targets so worth visiting 2 or 3 and comparing deals.

Best time is near the end of a sales quarter - 2nd month in so they will deliver by 1/4 end and make their target...catch em when they are desperate and buy a car ex stock and you can get some good deals...in the middle of summer 4 years ago when I got mine, I managed to get 10% off list and a free sports exhaust on an ex-stock car

[Janitor]

Interesting BMW experience at the weekend Mark, nicely described too! Have you decided to take his offer or are you lining up a cheeky comeback?

I think you are right too actually Mustard, I've noticed a few have shifted since the turn of the year - studied the market pretty hard since early December, some appear 'wedged', others are moving. I wonder how much Dealer reputation / service is having an effect on who's selling and who isn't..?

Nice work Mark - 10% and a pipe was pretty good going fella If I understand your 'end of quarter' comment right, then your suggesting get a deal done at end of Feb / early March to get the keenest attention? I also agree that ex-stock is pretty much taken as the way forward there

[RobM77]

The car market is certainly slow at the moment! I have a theoretically very sellable 330ci for sale at the moment at a reasonable price (price straight out of Parkers in fact). It's been for sale since the middle of December and I've only had one call!

Problem is, I can't get into that Lotus showroom to strike a deal cause my cash is tied up in a car that isn't selling!!

[rfoster]

GRL said:

Thanks for the info Richard. Is there a reason for the massive discounts? I was told that the new 3 Coupe will not be arriving 'til mid 07. I stand corrected Mustard

Expecting to see the new Coupe in September after the factory shutdown in August. I expect they're just getting shot of as much stock as they can. Interstingly you can still factory order a coupe with the same level of discount, if registered before the end of March. All the chunky cars have lots of cash off - £5k on Mercedes E-Class, £9k on Merc SL's, even a good discount on 1 Series.

[GRL]

Janitor - We told the salesman that we didn't like the diesel and would like a Black Saphire 325Ci or 330Ci with black leather interior. Gave him some examples from the BMW Approved website (18-24 months old, 15-25,000 miles, ~£20k) and he said he'd arrange for a 325Ci to be delivered to their dealership that met that spec for a couple of weeks time. That was last night.

My wife tells me he's rung her again this morning offering £500 off the sticker price of the 320Cd we drove Is it just me???

Thanks again Richard for the extra insight

[Janitor]

Humm... seems rather keen to shift it..? As for not listening to what his customers want... I don't feel that setting this example from the outset is the best of advertising 'full attention' if something goes wrong in the future

However, it does sound like he'll sort something you'd go for pricewise... that's assuming he can get you the car you want in the first place

>> Edited by Janitor on Wednesday 25th January 23:37