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

[talksthetorque]

I started a separate thread in this but wanted to ask in here.
Are the suvs you get in px all tatty?
We’re looking for our first one (X3) and I’m wondering why every single one is festooned with scratches, stonechips and dinks all over the paintwork, and they all look like the lower centre console has been owned by an anxious man with an automatic centrepunch.

[Mexman]

talksthetorque said:

I started a separate thread in this but wanted to ask in here.
Are the suvs you get in px all tatty?
We’re looking for our first one (X3) and I’m wondering why every single one is festooned with scratches, stonechips and dinks all over the paintwork, and they all look like the lower centre console has been owned by an anxious man with an automatic centrepunch.

SUV's and in particular MPV's are ALWAYS battered.
Out of every 10 we are offered, probably only 3 or 4 will be worth retailing, and even then, they will need paintwork, trim replacing, the valet of a lifetime (at least twice) and all kinds of rectification work.
I suppose it's because they are generally all owned by families with half a dozen feral kids and dogs etc.
I bloody hate selling the things, because all you ever get is 'ooh, there's a little scratch there and a mark there!'
'Yeah, and I've just spent £1500 rebuilding this piece of st, I'm not going to spend any more either'
And the people you are trying to sell too?
Yep, families with half a dozen feral kids and 3 big, hairy, slobbering dogs....and the cycle repeats.
Answer to your question, Yes, they are normally always completely wrecked.

[Mercury00]

I'd rather deal with a female salesperson than a male, solely because the men always try to be your best mate and bullst you. The women I've dealt with have been more easygoing.

What a lot of salesman don't seem to understand is that I want to buy a car, not be sold one.

[Mexman]

Mercury00 said:

I'd rather deal with a female salesperson than a male, solely because the men always try to be your best mate and bullst you. The women I've dealt with have been more easygoing.

What a lot of salesman don't seem to understand is that I want to buy a car, not be sold one.

I disagree, I don't want or need any more friends in my life, let alone someone I have sold a car to.
A salesman will act like he wishes to be your friend, but trust me, ask him to join you for a pint, and the answer will NOT be 'yes mate'
The worse thing you can do is sell a car to friends or family, trust me on that one.
I wish to sell you a car, of course I do, but I do not want to marry you, or have you on the phone to me constantly because the rear wiper blade is deteriorating on your used car.

[Sheepshanks]

talksthetorque said:

We’re looking for our first one (X3) and I’m wondering why every single one is festooned with scratches, stonechips and dinks all over the paintwork, and they all look like the lower centre console has been owned by an anxious man with an automatic centrepunch.

I have to say we've never had a car before which has picked dings and other scuffs like wife's Tiguan has.

[4941cc]

HTP99 said:

AmitG said:

Question to the sales people: is there a measurable difference between the success of men and women in car sales?

I know it's a male dominated field, but still.

I started thinking about this because in 10+ years of buying cars I have, on average, found female sales people much easier to deal with. I wonder if that is borne out by the statistics.

I know in the past, our manufacturer wanted all dealers to have at least 1 female sales exec as they generally gave far better customer service which was reflected in a better CS score overall, however in terms of selling and numbers sold, they tend to have not been as good as a male.

Pretty much that, having worked with a few.

[4941cc]

d8mok said:

Edible Roadkill said:

As a reverse question to that is a sexy female customers more likely to get a good deal than a man??

Does a set of baps on display help bring the price down?

No but bring a dog in and have everyone eating out of your hand

Exactly this.

Baps only work if they request a home viewing and test drive before the deal is concluded...

[talksthetorque]

Mexman said:

talksthetorque said:

I started a separate thread in this but wanted to ask in here.
Are the suvs you get in px all tatty?
We’re looking for our first one (X3) and I’m wondering why every single one is festooned with scratches, stonechips and dinks all over the paintwork, and they all look like the lower centre console has been owned by an anxious man with an automatic centrepunch.

SUV's and in particular MPV's are ALWAYS battered.
Out of every 10 we are offered, probably only 3 or 4 will be worth retailing, and even then, they will need paintwork, trim replacing, the valet of a lifetime (at least twice) and all kinds of rectification work.
I suppose it's because they are generally all owned by families with half a dozen feral kids and dogs etc.
I bloody hate selling the things, because all you ever get is 'ooh, there's a little scratch there and a mark there!'
'Yeah, and I've just spent £1500 rebuilding this piece of st, I'm not going to spend any more either'
And the people you are trying to sell too?
Yep, families with half a dozen feral kids and 3 big, hairy, slobbering dogs....and the cycle repeats.
Answer to your question, Yes, they are normally always completely wrecked.

Thank you for your brutally honest response. I’m sorry if I hit a nerve, have a cup of tea and a sit down
The oh wanted an evoque but thankfully I managed to plant the seed of unreliability, and a friend’s husband in the trade put the final nail in the coffin. So the next choice was an x3. Christ they’re all rough. I can’t believe people buy £50k cars and then trash them like this. We have no kids, feral or otherwise and two small dogs, only one of which slobbers a bit.

[Sheepshanks]

talksthetorque said:

So the next choice was an x3. Christ they’re all rough.

I'm surprised by that - know a few people with X3's and they're older people with grown-up kids.

[Mexman]

talksthetorque said:

Thank you for your brutally honest response. I’m sorry if I hit a nerve, have a cup of tea and a sit down
The oh wanted an evoque but thankfully I managed to plant the seed of unreliability, and a friend’s husband in the trade put the final nail in the coffin. So the next choice was an x3. Christ they’re all rough. I can’t believe people buy £50k cars and then trash them like this. We have no kids, feral or otherwise and two small dogs, only one of which slobbers a bit.

Yep, there's a lot of rough ones out there, but rest assured, there will also be the odd little gem amongst the rough.
Keep searching, one will be out there somewhere.

[Flibble]

How far do you go with rough paintwork? Saw a Prius the other day that looked like it had been cleaned with wire wool. I think it was black but it was swirled so badly it was more of a charcoal grey. Would you even bother trying to rectify?

[lord trumpton]

I wonder that the steady decline in car condition is related to the fact hardly anyone owns them - the rent/PCP them and hand back. THe pride of ownership and desire to protect their investment is not what it used to be.

They know in 2 or 3 years they will get a shiny new replacement and don't give too much of a care about them aster the 6 month novelty has worn off?

[Mexman]

lord trumpton said:

I wonder that the steady decline in car condition is related to the fact hardly anyone owns them - the rent/PCP them and hand back. THe pride of ownership and desire to protect their investment is not what it used to be.

They know in 2 or 3 years they will get a shiny new replacement and don't give too much of a care about them aster the 6 month novelty has worn off?

Good point, very possibly down to this.
Most part exes are in terrible condition, cleanliness wise.
Having to mop a car and do a couple of panels of paintwork is normal now.
As is interior valeting, sometimes a car will need 2 or 3 separate interior cleans to get it anywhere near acceptable, particularly at this time of the year.

[unrepentant]

lord trumpton said:

I wonder that the steady decline in car condition is related to the fact hardly anyone owns them - the rent/PCP them and hand back. THe pride of ownership and desire to protect their investment is not what it used to be.

They know in 2 or 3 years they will get a shiny new replacement and don't give too much of a care about them aster the 6 month novelty has worn off?

Totally the opposite in the US.

Lessees are responsible for the condition of cars when they are turned in at lease end. They are charged for damage, stains and tears to upholstery, worn tires, dents and dings, lost keys etc.. and are required to maintain the car to manufacturers recommendations. Generally off lease cars are in great condition and make good second hand buys.

[anonymous-user]

Mexman said:

Good point, very possibly down to this.
Most part exes are in terrible condition, cleanliness wise.
Having to mop a car and do a couple of panels of paintwork is normal now.
As is interior valeting, sometimes a car will need 2 or 3 separate interior cleans to get it anywhere near acceptable, particularly at this time of the year.

I gave my px a proper detail before I took it in. Just personal pride/mild ocd, but I was gutted when I had to detour down 50 miles of B roads when the M5 was closed. It was filthy when I turned up
Mind you, I then spent a good few days getting my "new" car up to my standard.

[Office_Monkey]

Interesting talk of tatty pxes - am looking to chop in the x trail for a cmax. It isn't going to be worth much but would save the hassle of getting rid

What sort of things should I be asking for to be included or knocked off the asking. Is a used model from a main dealer. Don't want to take finance as would be insane apr, am mindful there might not be a huge margin for the dealer but I don't work there.

[Sheepshanks]

lord trumpton said:

I wonder that the steady decline in car condition is related to the fact hardly anyone owns them - the rent/PCP them and hand back. THe pride of ownership and desire to protect their investment is not what it used to be.

I might be missing something, but they’re not the cars that Mexman is going to be seeing.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Monday 4th March 09:13

[Sheepshanks]

unrepentant said:

lord trumpton said:

I wonder that the steady decline in car condition is related to the fact hardly anyone owns them - the rent/PCP them and hand back. THe pride of ownership and desire to protect their investment is not what it used to be.

They know in 2 or 3 years they will get a shiny new replacement and don't give too much of a care about them aster the 6 month novelty has worn off?

Totally the opposite in the US.

Lessees are responsible for the condition of cars when they are turned in at lease end. They are charged for damage, stains and tears to upholstery, worn tires, dents and dings, lost keys etc.. and are required to maintain the car to manufacturers recommendations. Generally off lease cars are in great condition and make good second hand buys.

It’s exactly the same here, so I’m baffled by Lord Trumpton’s point.

[anonymous-user]

Sheepshanks said:

It’s exactly the same here, so I’m baffled by Lord Trumpton’s point.

One of our neighbours had their lease car picked up on Friday. I was quite surprised by the amount of time, effort and pictures taken before it was taken away. I was also mildly amused as it was parked by the side of a busy road and the chap taking the pictures kept walking into the traffic to get a better shot

[Fast Bug]

If you return a lease car covered in scratches and dents you'll get a bill when it goes back to the lease company.