Do dealers not try to sell you cars anymore? Also fam wagon

[Pedal_Loud]

Been looking to replace our aging S-Line B7 A4 Avant fam (short for family for the language pedantics) wagon for a while now. No real need but would like something a bit smarter, newer and fresher. The fam (Still short for family) car has always been the poorer relation with money being shoved into a series of impractical cars for me. The guilt has finally got the better of me. The cash wedge has been sat waiting to be spent for a year or so now is finally going to go into something we can all get benefit from.

Req's are petrol, 5 door, 4WD or RWD, decent boot, mem seats, decent audio, Auto, +200bhp, 0-60 in sub 8s, up to 35k for the right car but would like to spend a bit less, would like it to be as new and with as low miles as possible having spent years trudging round in +14 year old workhorses while the halo sports car sat unused in the garage because there wasn't enough room for our stuff.

It all points toward an S4 Avant, S Line Q5, A5 Sportback, 4 Series Gran Coupe, Golf R wagon, Cupra Ateca, leggy Cayenne, maybe a 2.0 F-Pace. Not keen on any of the BM X range.

Anyway I'm trying to view ones that are suitable and the budget means most cars are at dealers. Had a couple of really pleasant experiences where I was left to view the car, see all the docs, keys and go for a drive but on further consideration for various reasons the car wasn't suitable - spec, boot space etc.

Also had a couple of shocking experiences at what on the face of it appear to be prestige dealers. All appointments booked in advance etc. Experiences have included viewing the car in a darkened room, budget brand tyres just fitted to a 400bhp car, kerbed alloys, buttons not working on the console on a 2 year old car, 1 key only, cars blocked in, service history being read out to me, refusal to provide a reg place so I can check MOT history (found the plates in the boot) original tyres on one car (the tyre date was earlier than the cars date) which were cracked and had chunks missing, wheels in need of refurb etc. and requests for test drive met with such a degree of uncertainty to the point of me giving up.

The usual stories about yes we'll prep it first, we'll see if the manager will sort that etc and I'm like sorry too late. The cars on the forecourt being presented for sale and it has a very obvious list of jobs that even Stevie Wonder would want sorting if he was to buy. You only get one chance to make a first impression and there's me the customer walking out the door still with the money in my pocket. How do these companies stay in business?

Anyway, any help with my search appreciated!

Edited by Pedal_Loud on Thursday 12th August 13:00

[OscarIndia]

I've just bought a Volvo V90 D5 AWD R Design and so far am very impressed.
Worth a look as they are well within your budget.

[av185]

Cars still flying out the door at increasingly high prices due to supply shortages etc.

Lots of scruffy dogs about too but folks still buying them.

So dealers don't have to try.

[budgie smuggler]

Pedal_Loud said:

cars blocked in

Yep I had that several times when shopping for cars recently. Another thing is the battery being flat.

I wouldn't have minded if they were obviously run ragged with customers, but none of them have been busy.


I mean I fully expect a good old shafting when buying a second hand car from a dealer, but it seems they don't even bother with lube any more.

[Volvolover]

Sadly no dealer is going to prep stock for a sale until the order is placed

Because margin

[ZX10R NIN]

SQ5 Plus makes a lot of sense:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105253...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107215...

GLE 350d AMG Line Premium Plus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108106...

E350d All Terrain is a great option but very rare find

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106153...

[Volvolover]

ZX10R NIN said:

SQ5 Plus makes a lot of sense:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105253...

To whom? Certainly nobody with a wife and two kids who wish to carry some belongings with them as well

Thrashed in every way as a family car by a 6 Avant or an E class Wagon

[Evil.soup]

budgie smuggler said:

Yep I had that several times when shopping for cars recently. Another thing is the battery being flat.

I wouldn't have minded if they were obviously run ragged with customers, but none of them have been busy.


I mean I fully expect a good old shafting when buying a second hand car from a dealer, but it seems they don't even bother with lube any more.

Lol that made me chuckle and wince at the same time!!

[LightningBlue]

How about a Volvo S60/V60 Polestar? Not many around but could be fun if you can find one

[Jcwjosh]

If it were me i would be looking at a Cupra R ST - Not a fan of the bronze wheels or accents so i think that would need to be changed but i imagine they would make a great family car that or the obvious Golf R estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107295...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106193...

[ZX10R NIN]

Volvolover said:

To whom? Certainly nobody with a wife and two kids who wish to carry some belongings with them as well

Thrashed in every way as a family car by a 6 Avant or an E class Wagon

To someone who listed a Q5 S Line as a car they were considering, at which point going for the SQ5 makes sense as it also gives him a bit more performance something he also listed.

[Volvolover]

ZX10R NIN said:

Volvolover said:

To whom? Certainly nobody with a wife and two kids who wish to carry some belongings with them as well

Thrashed in every way as a family car by a 6 Avant or an E class Wagon

To someone who listed a Q5 S Line as a car they were considering, at which point going for the SQ5 makes sense as it also gives him a bit more performance something he also listed.

Soz didn’t mean to come across as dismissive but Just pointing out it doesn’t really have a big boot per the op’s requirements also

It’s like someone asking for a car with a big boot and saying they like minis, then someone recommending a mini

Edited by Volvolover on Thursday 12th August 08:00

[nickfrog]

Volvolover said:

To whom? Certainly nobody with a wife and two kids who wish to carry some belongings with them as well

Thrashed in every way as a family car by a 6 Avant or an E class Wagon

I don't know, there must be an element of subjectivity here. It may vary from person to person.

Looks like the SQ5's boot is 550L which is more than what we had in SUVs with two kids, and that was always plenty. I'd rather have a shorter car like that with more clearance and wheel travel than a big estate for family duties. That doesn't take anything away from the merits of an estate of course.

[ED209]

Why not just type family? What’s this fam nonsense?

[Volvolover]

nickfrog said:

Volvolover said:

To whom? Certainly nobody with a wife and two kids who wish to carry some belongings with them as well

Thrashed in every way as a family car by a 6 Avant or an E class Wagon

I don't know, there must be an element of subjectivity here. It may vary from person to person.

Looks like the SQ5's boot is 550L which is more than what we had in SUVs with two kids, and that was always plenty. I'd rather have a shorter car like that with more clearance and wheel travel than a big estate for family duties. That doesn't take anything away from the merits of an estate of course.

SQ5 = 4671mm length
A6 Avant = 4725mm

Does 54mm (apprx 2 inches) make a massive difference?

[Sheepshanks]

Pedal_Loud said:

Had a couple of really pleasant experiences where I was left to view the car, see all the docs, keys and go for a drive but on further consideration for various reasons the car wasn't suitable - spec, boot space etc.

Maybe your name's gone on the car dealers' blacklist as a time waster?


I guess places stay in business because what they do works for them. Most people don't care - or perhaps they do, I've listened to people talking out of ear-shot of the salesman and they want all the details, but they don't like to ask or they let themselves get fobbed off. Maybe every buyer goes away furious?

[Pedal_Loud]

ED209 said:

Why not just type family? What’s this fam nonsense?

Language evolves. Have clarified further in the original post though to keep everyone comf (short for comfy).

Edited by Pedal_Loud on Thursday 12th August 13:01

[Pedal_Loud]

Sheepshanks said:

Maybe your name's gone on the car dealers' blacklist as a time waster?


I guess places stay in business because what they do works for them. Most people don't care - or perhaps they do, I've listened to people talking out of ear-shot of the salesman and they want all the details, but they don't like to ask or they let themselves get fobbed off. Maybe every buyer goes away furious?

Ha ha, was waiting for this. I much prefer buying privately. As a dealer though you have to accept some element of people wanting to compare cars. I've been to dealers who have 3 of what I may be interested in, a bit of effort put in to the sale, some test drives, the niggles sorted and I'd have likely purchased. They just weren't bothered. They're chasing me up now via e-mail and one asked me when I would like to come in for a test drive, I said last Sunday when I was there after I'd booked to come in for a test drive. One chance to make an impression, my wallet and I have moved on.

[23.7]

Pedal_Loud said:

Been looking to replace our aging S-Line B7 A4 Avant fam (short for family for the language pedantics) wagon

Edited by Pedal_Loud on Thursday 12th August 13:00

Not really a pedantic but isn't it easier to just write family rather than a bracketed explication.

[David-p5d5m]

Volvolover said:

Sadly no dealer is going to prep stock for a sale until the order is placed

Because margin

The last two cars I bought from dealers were perfectly presented when I looked at them.