What to pay on a second hand car

[CapScarlet]

We are coming back to the UK after nearly 20 years overseas and after buying a house the next thing on our list is getting a new car. We will be looking at buying a nearly new car (less than one-year-old and less than 5,000 miles) and looking to spend 30-35k.

Looking for a 3,0-liter diesel of some description and have narrowed down the choices to either a BMW X4 or an Audi A4 Avant.

I am wondering what discount I should expect from a main dealer (percentage wise)? This will be a cash purchase. I was thinking I would get c. 1,500 off but really have no idea.

Thoughts and views (including on car choice) appreciated

[UpTheIron]

Why that price point?
Why diesel?
Why main dealer?

If you go that route then it will be down to your negotiation skills and how much wiggle room they have on the car.

There is no arbitrary figure in terms of "discount".

[CapScarlet]

UpTheIron said:

Why that price point?
Why diesel?
Why main dealer?

If you go that route then it will be down to your negotiation skills and how much wiggle room they have on the car.

There is no arbitrary figure in terms of "discount".

1. Because that's the price points that a nearly new car of the type I'm looking at is priced.
2. Used to own a Q5 diesel and liked it a lot.
3. Peace of mind

[thelawnet1]

How many miles are you doing? Have you considered PCP or a lease on a new car?

[DuraAce]

This discount malarkey is ridiculous.

There is no fixed figure. How on earth can there be?!

You could have 2 similar cars, one is 40k but you can get 10% off.... Other car is 35k but no discount. Which is the best deal?!

[CapScarlet]

thelawnet1 said:

How many miles are you doing? Have you considered PCP or a lease on a new car?

No have not considered primarily as we have the cash but also I have had a PCP deal before and felt thoroughly ripped off at the end with all the additional charges (for damage over and above normal wear and tear)

[CapScarlet]

DuraAce said:

This discount malarkey is ridiculous.

There is no fixed figure. How on earth can there be?!

That was the point of my question i.e. in general what discount are people getting?

[HTP99]

CapScarlet said:

DuraAce said:

This discount malarkey is ridiculous.

There is no fixed figure. How on earth can there be?!

That was the point of my question i.e. in general what discount are people getting?

Depends on the car
Depends on how keenly priced it is already
Depends on how it is priced relative to similar cars out there
Depends on how long the dealership has had it for
Depends on the desirability of that particular model
Depends on how the dealership is feeling at the time
Depends on how you come across
Depends on the margin in the car
Depends on if it has been recently reduced in price
Depends on if they have had a call on that very car the very morning that you enquire on it and that call is in the middle of making a 200 mile trip to come and see it and has said if it is as described he will pay the asking price

There are absolutely no hard and fast rules.

You hear of people obtaining £3k discount off similarly priced cars, you hear of people obtaining no discount off similarly priced cars

Edited by HTP99 on Friday 17th November 06:33

[gizlaroc]

I have got £7000 off a £39k 335i before, it was a good deal.
I managed to get an 18 month old E350 estate for £23k down from £28k, that was an even better deal.
I got a 3 year old 3.2 A6 Quattro Avant with 13k miles on it for £12500 that was my best deal so far.

However, I paid full price for an 12k mile M3 CSL at £31k, that was the best deal I have ever had.

Asking how much off is a nonsense.
Do your homework, see what price other dealers are selling the same car for and try and get it cheaper.
Also be careful, often buying new is far cheaper than buying at a year or two old, unless you keep your cars for 15 years until they are worth bugger all.

[CapScarlet]

gizlaroc said:

Also be careful, often buying new is far cheaper than buying at a year or two old

Why do you say that?

I've looked at new cars from Brokers and the discount is between 15-20% (lower on the X4, higher on the A4) which still puts the price 10-15% above a one year only. Would you go for new?

[CRA1G]

Also remember cash is NOT king anymore......

Think of it this way... three enquiries on the X4....

Man A. wants to P/X his 3 year old 30,000 mile lovely X3,so a excellent opportunity for a second bite of the cherry for the dealer to retail that..

Man B. Wants a Pcp or finance £30K over 5 years,so dealer can earn £800/1500 in commission,or better still both A&B..

Man C. Wants to hand over best part of £35K in cash (which the dealer won't/can't except) and also wants £1500 knocking of the price..

Hmmm..?

[HTP99]

A few people have mentioned finance, the OP has been out of the UK for 20 years, the chances of him obtaining any finance here is nil

[mcbook]

Just go onto Broadspeed.com and that'll show you the discount that you should aim for in dealer negotiations.

[S9JTO]

Just set up some 'Saved searches' on AutoTrader for the car, location, spec, price range and keep an eye on them for a while, that's what I always do.

[CapScarlet]

mcbook said:

Just go onto Broadspeed.com and that'll show you the discount that you should aim for in dealer negotiations.

Thanks - that's where I've been looking.

[CapScarlet]

HTP99 said:

A few people have mentioned finance, the OP has been out of the UK for 20 years, the chances of him obtaining any finance here is nil

Correct.

I was originally trying to get a mortgage (on a house not a car :-P), but it seems that even with 60% LTV almost nobody is able to provide finance as they can't credit score us.

[CapScarlet]

CRA1G said:

Also remember cash is NOT king anymore......

Think of it this way... three enquiries on the X4....

Man A. wants to P/X his 3 year old 30,000 mile lovely X3,so a excellent opportunity for a second bite of the cherry for the dealer to retail that..

Man B. Wants a Pcp or finance £30K over 5 years,so dealer can earn £800/1500 in commission,or better still both A&B..

Man C. Wants to hand over best part of £35K in cash (which the dealer won't/can't except) and also wants £1500 knocking of the price..

Hmmm..?

You definitely have a point there...I would look at it similarly.

[daemon]

CapScarlet said:

mcbook said:

Just go onto Broadspeed.com and that'll show you the discount that you should aim for in dealer negotiations.

Thanks - that's where I've been looking.

Thats for new cars only and thus wont be indicative of any discount you might receive on a used car.

I'd be checking Autotrader, home in on the type of car you want - model, max miles, etc - and then sorting by price. Be prepared to travel for the right deal and ring in advance to get all the gen on the car and confirm availability.

£50 off a car at £30,000 is better than £5,000 off a similar car at another dealers priced at £35,000 so dont get hung up on discounts.

Prices vary wildly, so better to find the right car priced correctly in the first place than try to hammer down an overpriced car.

[familyguy1]

lease a car ?

[HTP99]

familyguy1 said:

lease a car ?

Out of the country for 20 years, no financial trace!