Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all.

[Butter Face]

I’m still blown away by how much it’s dropped in 4 months. I’m going to show that to people when they complain about losing £5k in 3 years

[Mexman]

Bad day at the office today.
I swear to God, the next person to say to me 'thats food for thought' after dragging me around the pitch for an hour in the pissing down rain, in and out of every car from a Fiat Panda to a Grand Scenic is going to get a sharp poke in the eye with a sharp pointy sticky thing.
What does that fking stty phrase even mean?
Arrrggghhh!!!
Jesus, I hate that phase, just a typical bored time wasters way of saying ' I'm a wker, and just here to pull you found by your cock for an hour in the rain', when you should be having a rare chance to shove a sandwich down your face without interruption for just 5 fking minutes.
These people always turn up at the most inconvenient time of the day when you are preparing a car for an impending handover in 15 minutes time.
Rant for the day over.
I know, I know, 2/10 etc....

[Buster73]

Dan W. said:

I think the view is you are really keen and if you want it for 24 hours. must admit the only time we did a 24 hour event one guy had the car 4 hours rang us up and said I am bringing it back as I don't like it and don't want to waste any more time driving it. brutal honesty much appreciated.

I did that with an Audi A5 many years ago , within 4 miles I’d decided it wasn’t for me and turned around and dropped it off , salesman was surprised but thanked me for not wasting his time.

[grant8064]

Mexman said:

Bad day at the office today.
I swear to God, the next person to say to me 'thats food for thought' after dragging me around the pitch for an hour in the pissing down rain, in and out of every car from a Fiat Panda to a Grand Scenic is going to get a sharp poke in the eye with a sharp pointy sticky thing.
What does that fking stty phrase even mean?
Arrrggghhh!!!
Jesus, I hate that phase, just a typical bored time wasters way of saying ' I'm a wker, and just here to pull you found by your cock for an hour in the rain', when you should be having a rare chance to shove a sandwich down your face without interruption for just 5 fking minutes.
These people always turn up at the most inconvenient time of the day when you are preparing a car for an impending handover in 15 minutes time.
Rant for the day over.
I know, I know, 2/10 etc....

Snap...I have had a whole April of that. Worst month of last year, worst month of this year. God I hate April and the people it brings out.

[Sheepshanks]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Is your average buyer even aware of leasing (as in PCH)? Many people think their PCP is a lease.

[mcflurry]

Camelot1971 said:

Butter Face said:

Is it the KY66 one?

I reckon they've had that in stock a bit. It's dropped £5k since December

If you're worried about the price now, I wouldn't. From Apr-Dec last year it dropped just £1600 and since then it has almost literally dropped off a cliff. £5k in 4 months. Mental.

Clean book in April last year was £31600 (trade), dropped to £29750 by december and is now £24250.

Make them any offer, they're probably desperate to get rid.

Edited by Butter Face on Sunday 22 April 14:55

Only just spotted this! Cheers, yes, that's the one. I wonder if they moved it to a new dealer as it was showing as "just arrived" last week. Of course, Marshalls are a massive dealer group so they probably moved it from 'up North'

The high spec 66 plate ones seem to hang about - I guess no one wants to pay for all the toys when you can get a 67 plate one with 1000 miles for less money.

The 66 plate one is probably a lot cheaper to tax though as it's based on emissions, rather than the £450 x 5 year "expensive car" pothole tax

[Utterpiffle]

I posted this on a dedicated thread, but it was suggested I ask on here. So, copy/paste...

Plugging in a code reader before buying a car from a dealer? Do dealers generally allow this, or is it a big no no?

I know I could simply ask them, but I'm interested to know if it is the done thing these days...

We are hoping to look at a 10 year old Merc CLK350 convertible next weekend at a dealers. Car looks spot on, but it doesn't have full history. I have a Merc Star diagnostic system (albeit a Chinese knock-off one) - so it would give me a good indication to any current or stored faults - certainly more than the Torque app would give me.

I've not bought a car for a while, and never from a dealer, but the 350 is not too common with a decent spec (xenons, electric/heated Designo seats etc), so it's worth a look. Also, this is a late one so it should be post the common balancer shaft issue (I'll ask for the engine number before we go look).

[The Mad Monk]

Butter Face said:

From Apr-Dec last year it dropped just £1600 and since then it has almost literally dropped off a cliff. £5k in 4 months.

No, it is nothing like almost literally dropped off a cliff.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/englis...

[Butter Face]

The Mad Monk said:

Butter Face said:

From Apr-Dec last year it dropped just £1600 and since then it has almost literally dropped off a cliff. £5k in 4 months.

No, it is nothing like almost literally dropped off a cliff.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/englis...

Ahhh, you literally caught me with my pants down

[HTP99]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Pretty much that, I know we would refuse; who knows what you are actually plugging in and potentially causing issues.

[grant8064]

Utterpiffle said:

I posted this on a dedicated thread, but it was suggested I ask on here. So, copy/paste...

Plugging in a code reader before buying a car from a dealer? Do dealers generally allow this, or is it a big no no?

I know I could simply ask them, but I'm interested to know if it is the done thing these days...

We are hoping to look at a 10 year old Merc CLK350 convertible next weekend at a dealers. Car looks spot on, but it doesn't have full history. I have a Merc Star diagnostic system (albeit a Chinese knock-off one) - so it would give me a good indication to any current or stored faults - certainly more than the Torque app would give me.

I've not bought a car for a while, and never from a dealer, but the 350 is not too common with a decent spec (xenons, electric/heated Designo seats etc), so it's worth a look. Also, this is a late one so it should be post the common balancer shaft issue (I'll ask for the engine number before we go look).

Depends where you're buying from I guess but we've only had one person arrive with a code reader before and he got shown the door pretty early on.

Your post shouts 'screamer' to me and bringing a code reader shouts 'I don't trust your car Mr Dealer'.

Ask them in advance, you never know, but I can guess the reply you'll get

[Mexman]

I would avoid selling you a car at all costs.
If you are that way inclined before even buying the thing, imagine what you will be like with a possible problem in the future.
It works both ways don't you know.

[Mexman]

∆ Just a normal day at the office.

[PBCD]

Buster73 said:

I did that with an Audi A5 many years ago , within 4 miles I’d decided it wasn’t for me and turned around and dropped it off , salesman was surprised but thanked me for not wasting his time.

Interesting. Did you then tell Charles that you were on your way and hail a taxi by any chance?

[Dimebars]

Camelot1971 said:

Only just spotted this! Cheers, yes, that's the one. I wonder if they moved it to a new dealer as it was showing as "just arrived" last week. Of course, Marshalls are a massive dealer group so they probably moved it from 'up North'

The high spec 66 plate ones seem to hang about - I guess no one wants to pay for all the toys when you can get a 67 plate one with 1000 miles for less money.

You may find the higher than average price means it's an ex demo. Demo allowances were usually pretty awful, meaning you could buy a used car direct from the manufacturer at a similar age and mileage for far less than what your demo owed you

[crankedup]

Drove 160 miles up North to look at a classic car for sale, looked around it liked what I saw.
Asked the commission sales for a test drive ‘ are you serious about the car then, having to clean it down afterwards is a pita if it’s not sold’. WTF, I reminded the guy that my round trip is over 300 miles!! am I serious. Earn your ten percent having the pain of keeping a car clean for the next punter is part of the job isn’t it.
Yes I purchased the car and happy with it.

[Fast Bug]

crankedup said:

Drove 160 miles up North to look at a classic car for sale, looked around it liked what I saw.
Asked the commission sales for a test drive ‘ are you serious about the car then, having to clean it down afterwards is a pita if it’s not sold’. WTF, I reminded the guy that my round trip is over 300 miles!! am I serious. Earn your ten percent having the pain of keeping a car clean for the next punter is part of the job isn’t it.
Yes I purchased the car and happy with it.

What did you buy?

[Utterpiffle]

Mexman said:

I would avoid selling you a car at all costs.
If you are that way inclined before even buying the thing, imagine what you will be like with a possible problem in the future.
It works both ways don't you know.

Well, since you put it that way...

Interesting reading it from the other side, hence my post as I've never dealt with a dealer before. I guess I'm just a little naive then.

Although my motives would be entirely innocent, I hadn't considered that from your perspective, I could be out to do damage.

Thanks for the input.

Incidentally, I put a car on autotrader last night for the first time - next doors neighbours relative died, and just helping him out. It's a £2k Laguna, very low miles, but a ridiculously dull car. Within 10 minutes of putting the ad up, I had had three phone calls from illiterates asking "what's your best price mate" and "will a grand get it". There is no way I could do your job!

Edited by Utterpiffle on Friday 27th April 12:59

[Mexman]

Shouldn't struggle to sell a clean sub 2k car, just got to weed out the dummies as you have found.
Good on you for the good deed though!

[Camelot1971]

Dimebars said:

Camelot1971 said:

Only just spotted this! Cheers, yes, that's the one. I wonder if they moved it to a new dealer as it was showing as "just arrived" last week. Of course, Marshalls are a massive dealer group so they probably moved it from 'up North'

The high spec 66 plate ones seem to hang about - I guess no one wants to pay for all the toys when you can get a 67 plate one with 1000 miles for less money.

You may find the higher than average price means it's an ex demo. Demo allowances were usually pretty awful, meaning you could buy a used car direct from the manufacturer at a similar age and mileage for far less than what your demo owed you

To close this off, I ended up ordering a new Mondeo Vignale via drivethedeal in the end. The Volvo was a nice car but the finance wasn't competitive enough to make it worthwhile for me. Got just over £5k off the Mondeo and pretty much all the options bar the tow bar. 1.2% APR as well. Just have to wait till August for delivery now!