Bringing a car from another branch to my local dealer

[toon10]

After getting a practical family bus, I no longer need my 4 door saloon leaving the door open to get something less practical and more fun. I don’t do track days and need something I can do a short commute in relative comfort so discounted anything too hard-core/track focused. I don’t like convertibles so started looking at tin top coupes and sports cars.

I’d love a Cayman but my budget doesn’t stretch that far. I’ve thought about a 350Z but I need something that will return at least 20mgp urban.

So I’m looking for a manual 125i or 135i coupe or Z4 coupe. I’ve been looking for a while and just can’t find anything local to me (Newcastle area) on budget (around £13k). I’d prefer not to buy from a main dealer as you end up paying a lot more for an “approved” car but I’m starting to think they only way to get what I want is to travel hundreds of miles or ask a main dealer if they have any stock at their other branches that can be transported to my local dealer.

So the question is, if I find the car I want elsewhere in the country (there's a few), would a main dealer be prepared to have it shipped to my local branch or am I being a numpty?

[V40TC]

Depends If they are the same group of companies.
I got my freelander taken from Taunton (nearest branch) to exeter branch 40 miles further away to make the purchase.
Same group of companies though.

[SMB]

toon10 said:

After getting a practical family bus, I no longer need my 4 door saloon leaving the door open to get something less practical and more fun. I don’t do track days and need something I can do a short commute in relative comfort so discounted anything too hard-core/track focused. I don’t like convertibles so started looking at tin top coupes and sports cars.

I’d love a Cayman but my budget doesn’t stretch that far. I’ve thought about a 350Z but I need something that will return at least 20mgp urban.

So I’m looking for a manual 125i or 135i coupe or Z4 coupe. I’ve been looking for a while and just can’t find anything local to me (Newcastle area) on budget (around £13k). I’d prefer not to buy from a main dealer as you end up paying a lot more for an “approved” car but I’m starting to think they only way to get what I want is to travel hundreds of miles or ask a main dealer if they have any stock at their other branches that can be transported to my local dealer.

So the question is, if I find the car I want elsewhere in the country (there's a few), would a main dealer be prepared to have it shipped to my local branch or am I being a numpty?

unlikely, unless you commit to buy sight unseen, each dealer is likely independant of the others ( same group excepted) and will want some profit in the car for themselves, few will want to take in an overpriced car on the hope that you might buy it. Their view will likely be , if you can't be bothered to travel to view, you are unlikely to be serious about buying.

[toon10]

Thanks for the replies. I suspected they would not like to move stock around but wanted to ask the question.

I got my current car from a none main dealer about 60 miles away and I had to go back and forward to the garage a few times to test drive it, pick it up and a couple of issues in the first month of ownership. It was just a pain so wanted to avoid travelling too far.

There is a car which looks suitable but it's 130 miles from me and I know the same dealership has a branch in my area. There are a few 135i coupes on budget but they are miles away so I could just sit it out and see if the right car comes up locally. I'also m going car hunting on Saturday so I'll pop into the main dealer to see what they have. You never know, they might have a trade in car due that suits which isn't on the forecourt yet.

[giger]

They move stock within the group and that is pretty much the end of it (as the profits and costs can be moved around). Most of their used cars come from auction, typically company cars being deflated, and then part ex's that have been taken in within the group.

[markmullen]

Usually they'll be happy to sell you a car from another branch, I always was, it was double bubble, another deal for us and one less for our sister branch when competing in sales!

What they won't do is just move cars around for you to have a look at. If it's the car for you and the money is right and you're prepared to buy it (eg agree figures, leave deposit) subject to a satisfactory viewing of it when they collect it then most, if not all, dealers, will do a group transfer like that.

[toon10]

markmullen said:

Usually they'll be happy to sell you a car from another branch, I always was, it was double bubble, another deal for us and one less for our sister branch when competing in sales!

What they won't do is just move cars around for you to have a look at. If it's the car for you and the money is right and you're prepared to buy it (eg agree figures, leave deposit) subject to a satisfactory viewing of it when they collect it then most, if not all, dealers, will do a group transfer like that.

That's good to know. So basically if I'm serious and tell them I've seen the car for me at another branch and I'm prepared to put a deposit down, then after test and inspection if all is as advertised, the deal can be done. It's worth asking them if nothing else.

[Toaster Pilot]

Most big dealer groups will transfer stock from another branch if you agree to buy and leave a deposit - big risk buying an unseen used car IMO so I'd rather go to the other dealer that has the stock in the first place

[markmullen]

toon10 said:

That's good to know. So basically if I'm serious and tell them I've seen the car for me at another branch and I'm prepared to put a deposit down, then after test and inspection if all is as advertised, the deal can be done. It's worth asking them if nothing else.

Exactly that.

[KTF]

toon10 said:

That's good to know. So basically if I'm serious and tell them I've seen the car for me at another branch and I'm prepared to put a deposit down, then after test and inspection if all is as advertised, the deal can be done. It's worth asking them if nothing else.

By branch you mean the dealer is part of the same group - i.e. Styner to Styner (OK), not Stratstone to Styner (not OK).

[toon10]

KTF said:

By branch you mean the dealer is part of the same group - i.e. Styner to Styner (OK), not Stratstone to Styner (not OK).

Yeah, same group.