Getting the best deal and beating the system

[sixpot]

So here's the scenario.

I have an Alfa 159 saloon worth in the region of £7k. The PCP deal I curremtly have on it has a settlement figure of £6,900, but with 2 years still to run. (I got a very good deal on the car originally and used car residuals have helped me out, in case you were wondering). So give or take a few hundred quid I am at break even point on the loan. Now due to the arrival of baby Nr 1 I am looking to change to something more practical. The holidays to Center parcs and the like are proving challenging with the amount of things we need to take with us. I have decided to go for something like a used Audi A4 avant, but every time I speak to a garage and enter into negotiations they always ask me the same thing. "What is your settlement amount?" Now at this point, rightly or wrongly, I immediately become suspicious. Am I better off witholding this information until they have given me a true Part ex price for my car or am I better off telling them. Either way I am naturally suspicious of car dealers and would love to know more about the ins and outs of used car deals, so that I could play the system better.....after all there is a system right?????

Any help greatfully received

Thanks


Sixpot

[Papa Hotel]

Wait... you want something more practical than a 159 because you have a baby coming?

Anyway, I know what you mean about being suspicious, rightly or wrongly. I never tell them anything, let hem tell me stuff then talk from there.

[sixpot]

Sorry didn't make myself clear. Baby well and truly already arrived. He's 18 months old and the 159 is driving me mad. Just can't get everything in.

[Papa Hotel]

sixpot said:

Sorry didn't make myself clear. Baby well and truly already arrived. He's 18 months old and the 159 is driving me mad. Just can't get everything in.

I don't want to bore everyone with how awesome my Panda is but straight up, I can easily fit in enough stuff for me, the wife and the baby for fortnight trips to NI and weekends in the Highlands. Seriously, I don't understand how you have issues with a 159. We can swap if you want... Straight swap, I won't take a penny.

[sixpot]

Let me explain....

One typical long weekend trip to CP.

2 adults + 18 month old

1 large suitcase
1-2 medium bags of shoes/wifes makeup (You know what they're like)
2 crates of food (self catering)
1 large pushchair (Quinny)
2 mountain bikes
1 bike trailer (For little'n)
2-3 large bags of toys/other stuff for little'n
all weather gear...jackets etc
2 swimming bags, seperate from other bags (Always go straight to the pool on arrival)

If I told you that the Quinny alone basically fills the boot, then maybe you would understand.

[Presuming Ed]

I'd be tempted to say the car owes me nearly 8K to try and cut a great deal and to make the garage work but in honesty, I think the dealership can find out the outstanding amount of finance by checking on HPi or a quick call to the finance company.

[sixpot]

Presuming Ed said:

I'd be tempted to say the car owes me nearly 8K to try and cut a great deal and to make the garage work but in honesty, I think the dealership can find out the outstanding amount of finance by checking on HPi or a quick call to the finance company.

I wondered this myself, sometimes they have called them whilst I am there, but always needed me to answer security questions, so maybe they can't. Anyone know?

[RVVUNM]

The dealer only needs to work out the equity + or - in the car to help work out the deal on a new car.

[Papa Hotel]

sixpot said:

Let me explain....

One typical long weekend trip to CP.

2 adults + 18 month old

1 large suitcase
1-2 medium bags of shoes/wifes makeup (You know what they're like)
2 crates of food (self catering)
1 large pushchair (Quinny)
2 mountain bikes
1 bike trailer (For little'n)
2-3 large bags of toys/other stuff for little'n
all weather gear...jackets etc
2 swimming bags, seperate from other bags (Always go straight to the pool on arrival)

Apart from the two bikes, that's pretty much what we'd bring... and it fits. Well, maybe not so many toys.

sixpot said:

If I told you that the Quinny alone basically fills the boot, then maybe you would understand.

We have a Babystyle Oyster, also unnecessarily big, but I can assure you it fits easily into the the boot of a Panda with room for other stuff. You don't NEED an A4 Avant, you just WANT one. What you should want is a 159 Sportwagon.

Anyway, I don't want to derail your thread any more

[ZesPak]

Papa Hotel said:

We have a Babystyle Oyster, also unnecessarily big, but I can assure you it fits easily into the the boot of a Panda with room for other stuff. You don't NEED an A4 Avant, you just WANT one. What you should want is a 159 Sportwagon.

Anyway, I don't want to derail your thread any more

Of course, if you want an A4 avant, you should get one, pref in S-line, for the imagine .
Is there any other reason you want to get rid of the 159? Otherwise, why not go for a 159 SW instead of for the avant?

[balls-out]

Presuming Ed said:

I'd be tempted to say the car owes me nearly 8K to try and cut a great deal and to make the garage work but in honesty, I think the dealership can find out the outstanding amount of finance by checking on HPi or a quick call to the finance company.

I sure hope that sort of financial data isn't that easy to obtain...

[markmullen]

Why not be straight with the dealer, you've got a much better chance of them being straight with you.

When I worked for main dealers it was always the case that someone trying silly st like that got reamed. You might think you're being clever but I guarantee you'll not get the best deal possible. The smug satisfaction of thinking you've got one over on the dealer will be negated by the fact that for the next 36-48 months you'll be paying more than you need have done if only you'd not tried to be clever.

[MKnight702]

If it was me, I would be looking at what you pack, rather than a bigger car. The second you get a bigger car you will take more crap with you and be no better off.

As a practical suggestion, how about a cheap umbrella folding buggy from Mothercare, for an 18 month old it will be ideal and take up much less room in the boot. For the odd long weekend away it makes much more financial sense than buying another car.

[Papa Hotel]

balls-out said:

Presuming Ed said:

I'd be tempted to say the car owes me nearly 8K to try and cut a great deal and to make the garage work but in honesty, I think the dealership can find out the outstanding amount of finance by checking on HPi or a quick call to the finance company.

I sure hope that sort of financial data isn't that easy to obtain...

I'm sure they can only find that out with you permission when it's almost time to sign. I'm equally sure someone from the field will be along shortly to correct me.

[markmullen]

I used to call the finance house for a settlement figure whilst the customer was with me, this avoided the deal being stacked up with totally incorrect figures if the customer had guessed or made it up.

[FamilyDub]

I now often ponder how my parents got two kids and all their crap into a mk2 Fiesta when I see threads like this.



Edit: Grammar fail

Edited by FamilyDub on Thursday 7th April 11:51

[ZesPak]

FamilyDub said:

I now often ponder how my parents got two kids' and all their crap into a mk2 Fiesta when I see threads like this.

My mother managed it in her MK1 golf, which has about the size of a breadbox.

[Papa Hotel]

ZesPak said:

FamilyDub said:

I now often ponder how my parents got two kids' and all their crap into a mk2 Fiesta when I see threads like this.

My mother managed it in her MK1 golf, which has about the size of a breadbox.

Four of us in an Allegro...

[Pints]

Papa Hotel said:

ZesPak said:

FamilyDub said:

I now often ponder how my parents got two kids' and all their crap into a mk2 Fiesta when I see threads like this.

My mother managed it in her MK1 golf, which has about the size of a breadbox.

Four of us in an Allegro...

Seven up, on a penny-farthing.

[Fast Bug]

When you HPI a car it will tell you that it's on finance, who with and the agreement number. In theory only the supplying dealer can get a settlement figure without you being there. This isn't always the case though... I always get a settlement figure as it makes mine and the customers life far easier when trying to work a deal out.

FamilyDub said:

I now often ponder how my parents got two kids' and all their crap into a mk2 Fiesta when I see threads like this.

Mum had Daf 33's and a Mini when I was a kid...