Used car buying, am I doing something wrong ?
Discussion
I've been looking for a replacement daily driver for a while now, budget ~ £8k and my preferred choice is a Jag XJ8 (but I have also looked at the odd SAAB and Lexus).
The only place I visited to treat me as a customer and talk to me properly was a Jaguar Dealer. Every other used car place seem to think I'm a turd who is ruining their day when I turn up to look at a car.
I'm 44, dress as smart as you would when going to crawl about under cars (shirt and jeans) and turn up in my Wifes mint Golf V5. The expectation seems to be that I turn up , glance at the car then immediately press the full asking price into their hands. Asking any kind of question or actually want to spend some time looking at the car seems to be taken as a personal insult.
I'm not going to part with up to £8k without having a good look, a drive and a thorough check of the paperwork.
Am I doing it wrong ? Maybe I am being too polite ? I usually call to check the car is still available and arrange a time to go look at it, maybe I should just drop in without calling.
Any used car dealers who can give me some pointers, I'm just sick of it.
ETA: This isnt a rant or a car dealer bashing thread (we have plenty of those already) I would just like to know if I'm doing something wrong - e.g. maybe I should go in my Sons old car instead of my wifes nice one , maybe set their expectation of me a bit lower....
The only place I visited to treat me as a customer and talk to me properly was a Jaguar Dealer. Every other used car place seem to think I'm a turd who is ruining their day when I turn up to look at a car.
I'm 44, dress as smart as you would when going to crawl about under cars (shirt and jeans) and turn up in my Wifes mint Golf V5. The expectation seems to be that I turn up , glance at the car then immediately press the full asking price into their hands. Asking any kind of question or actually want to spend some time looking at the car seems to be taken as a personal insult.
I'm not going to part with up to £8k without having a good look, a drive and a thorough check of the paperwork.
Am I doing it wrong ? Maybe I am being too polite ? I usually call to check the car is still available and arrange a time to go look at it, maybe I should just drop in without calling.
Any used car dealers who can give me some pointers, I'm just sick of it.
ETA: This isnt a rant or a car dealer bashing thread (we have plenty of those already) I would just like to know if I'm doing something wrong - e.g. maybe I should go in my Sons old car instead of my wifes nice one , maybe set their expectation of me a bit lower....
Edited by Dodsy on Monday 7th May 21:34
Yep my experience too.
I texted one dealer about a car asking the usual standard questions such as MOT/FSH etc and he just blanked me.
The same happened on eBay.
However when I went to look at a car at Nissan chorley Blackpool, I was treated like a customer, given refreshments, extended warranty etc...
I ended up giving the asking price. It just felt the right thing to do. Maybe I'll end up regretting it if the turbo seals go or the VVT pulley gets weak but hey ho!!
I texted one dealer about a car asking the usual standard questions such as MOT/FSH etc and he just blanked me.
The same happened on eBay.
However when I went to look at a car at Nissan chorley Blackpool, I was treated like a customer, given refreshments, extended warranty etc...
I ended up giving the asking price. It just felt the right thing to do. Maybe I'll end up regretting it if the turbo seals go or the VVT pulley gets weak but hey ho!!
this might be worth a read....
http://www.carbuyingguide.org.uk/index.php
got me over 10%(2.5k) off for an hours 'chat'.
http://www.carbuyingguide.org.uk/index.php
got me over 10%(2.5k) off for an hours 'chat'.
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