New cars selling like hot cakes?
Discussion
I've popped in to several main dealers who are on my shortlist of potential cars.
They all appear keen but they never get back to me with figures.
Should I be the one chasing the deal?
Why the apathy though; all I can conclude is that new cars sales are through the roof and one or two they miss by not getting back to customers are insignificant.
They all appear keen but they never get back to me with figures.
Should I be the one chasing the deal?
Why the apathy though; all I can conclude is that new cars sales are through the roof and one or two they miss by not getting back to customers are insignificant.
Depends how you are phrasing it.
If it's "I'm looking a 7 cars and yours is on of them... for sometime" then expect a low return.
If it's "I'm comparing monthly repayments on an Audi A6 with x spec against a BMW 535d with y spec, for delivery on Aug 1, with a deposit of £10k - how close to £430 a month can we get?" then expect a different response.
Worth following the car salesman thread and asking in there, they are a nice bunch, most marques represented.
If it's "I'm looking a 7 cars and yours is on of them... for sometime" then expect a low return.
If it's "I'm comparing monthly repayments on an Audi A6 with x spec against a BMW 535d with y spec, for delivery on Aug 1, with a deposit of £10k - how close to £430 a month can we get?" then expect a different response.
Worth following the car salesman thread and asking in there, they are a nice bunch, most marques represented.
I've approached dealers without telling them they are on a shortlist. As far as they were concerned, I was only interested in their car.
It's for a driving school so would be fairly high profile and many learners go on to buy the same car they were taught in.
I was also looking prior to the 13 reg release so I'd have thought they'd be only too happy to part with pre-registered stock.
Not so it appears.
It's for a driving school so would be fairly high profile and many learners go on to buy the same car they were taught in.
I was also looking prior to the 13 reg release so I'd have thought they'd be only too happy to part with pre-registered stock.
Not so it appears.
Edited by Kentish on Monday 11th March 16:05
OP, don't forget that this is PH. In order to buy a car you need to know the exact make and model you require, the exact spec, the full finance cost and price breakdown (so you know how much you will need to pay per month), the exact date the car can be delivered and how much profit the dealer will make on the deal.
Once you know all of this, you will be allowed five minutes with a salesman. During this time he/she will take various bodily fluid samples and run a lie detector test, just to make sure you aren't wasting his time.
Don't ask for a test drive without booking at least a month in advance, and don't you dare visit the showroom without taking note of the strict dress code employed by the company in question.
Don't expect a call back if your tone is not quite right. Also, don't expect anything other than a face to face chat as emails and phone calls are strictly forbidden. Let's not forget that most phones at dealerships do not ring out.
Finally, do not mention anything about other marques, or the fact that another dealership has a slightly better offer. Dealership staff are highly territorial beasts. The mere mention (or whiff on your clothes) of another seller renders them dangerous.
When you've done all of the above, you may be able to buy a car.
Once you know all of this, you will be allowed five minutes with a salesman. During this time he/she will take various bodily fluid samples and run a lie detector test, just to make sure you aren't wasting his time.
Don't ask for a test drive without booking at least a month in advance, and don't you dare visit the showroom without taking note of the strict dress code employed by the company in question.
Don't expect a call back if your tone is not quite right. Also, don't expect anything other than a face to face chat as emails and phone calls are strictly forbidden. Let's not forget that most phones at dealerships do not ring out.
Finally, do not mention anything about other marques, or the fact that another dealership has a slightly better offer. Dealership staff are highly territorial beasts. The mere mention (or whiff on your clothes) of another seller renders them dangerous.
When you've done all of the above, you may be able to buy a car.
Edited by funkyrobot on Monday 11th March 15:57
Grenoble said:
funkyrobot said:
When you've done all of the above, you may be able to put a deposit down for a car that you haven't yet been allowed to drive and will not be delivered until next year. By which time you will want your deposit back, but that just won't be cricket, will it.
EFA
It does feel like I have to sell to them. I dropped into our local Audi dealership in sunday scruffs and funnily enough didn't get approached, just got watched a lot. On the other hand, after work in my suit I got politely asked what I was interested in and offered coffee then a meeting in one of the offices. We spoke as if it were a business deal; a financial one at that:
Step 1 - didn't even talk about the cars
2- Budget. Monthly budget. If it fits its a win, end of.
3- Throwing in "extras"; servicing, accessories and any other swag I deem would be deal-breaking.
I ended up negotiating with the finance company - not the dealer. As soon as I had struck a good deal with them and "the dealer's arrangement will still be honored", the dealer was more than happy to start moving around the deal within their limitations. It's even worth having an honest chat about any vehicle they need to get rid of and would rather flog to a punter than trying to pass on elsewhere.
It's all a dance, you just have to do it.
Step 1 - didn't even talk about the cars
2- Budget. Monthly budget. If it fits its a win, end of.
3- Throwing in "extras"; servicing, accessories and any other swag I deem would be deal-breaking.
I ended up negotiating with the finance company - not the dealer. As soon as I had struck a good deal with them and "the dealer's arrangement will still be honored", the dealer was more than happy to start moving around the deal within their limitations. It's even worth having an honest chat about any vehicle they need to get rid of and would rather flog to a punter than trying to pass on elsewhere.
It's all a dance, you just have to do it.
valiant said:
fjord said:
f
k 'em
Go buy a demo with 5000 on the clock and safe yourself £
Not necessarily true.k 'emGo buy a demo with 5000 on the clock and safe yourself £
The demonstrator came with extra miles of course
I walked into a main dealers this morning and spent 15-20 mins looking around just two of their models, I was obviously looking with intent as I was checking out rearward and side visibility from both seats in both cars and the visibility of each car front and rear.
There was nobody at either sales desk; a girl was in the glass office with the door shut looking out at me.
The sales guys were outside walking to and fro and never even attempted to ask if they could help.
I'm not too worried as I have seen that the car is suitable, so I'll go back again when I'm ready to start talking about leasing and contract hire/purchase deals.
Is this why some dealers don't follow up (b/c it's not an outright purchase)?
Is a lease type deal a low or non-profit making deal for them?
Finance used to be a good earner for dealers but maybe that's no longer the case.
I'll be replacing it with (hopefully) the same dealer every year or two so they'll have good repeat business from me.
There was nobody at either sales desk; a girl was in the glass office with the door shut looking out at me.
The sales guys were outside walking to and fro and never even attempted to ask if they could help.
I'm not too worried as I have seen that the car is suitable, so I'll go back again when I'm ready to start talking about leasing and contract hire/purchase deals.
Is this why some dealers don't follow up (b/c it's not an outright purchase)?
Is a lease type deal a low or non-profit making deal for them?
Finance used to be a good earner for dealers but maybe that's no longer the case.
I'll be replacing it with (hopefully) the same dealer every year or two so they'll have good repeat business from me.
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