People are So bad at buying cars
People are So bad at buying cars
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Discussion

Frimley111R

Original Poster:

19,168 posts

263 months

Monday 15th April 2019
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It drives me mad!

My BiL bought a GT86, 2 weeks before Xmas. He didn't ask for a discount so paid full price and got a stupid finance deal
A friend went to a car supermarket with 1000 cars and bought the very first car he saw when he walked through the gate
My daughter bought her nearly new MINI for full price, bought 2 years warranty(???) and paid through the nose for scotchguard. If I hadn't been there when she collected it she'd have been stitched up for even more.

There are countless others but they all know how much I know about cars, how I traded cars in the past etc and yet they all go off an make terrible buying decisions on cars. Then it's 'Here's my new car' and I have to pretend it's a great car for them. And then, when it goes tits up/cars break down/etc. they ask for my help.

If I don't know something about a product, I ask people in the know.

I shouldn't care but to see people just wasting money......

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

199 months

Monday 15th April 2019
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Surely your daughter had spoken to you about wanting a new car?

Andy665

4,161 posts

257 months

Monday 15th April 2019
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Fools and their money

My sister (who runs her own business and is pretty intelligent) was told by the Audi sales exec he did not have time to negotiate so she paid list price for a Q5, her husband (also runs his own business) paid list for a FFRR six months because they were "in demand"

They knew I get them good deals but won't lower themselves to ask for help I'd happily give - I could not care less any more

Pica-Pica

16,544 posts

113 months

Monday 15th April 2019
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Because are so many cars for sale about, and no really bad cars, it is so simple to just walk away from anything other than a decent discount/trade-in. Like house-buying, it is always best to be a cash buyer (and don’t tell me about ‘free’ finance, there is no such thing).

Andy665

4,161 posts

257 months

Monday 15th April 2019
quotequote all
Pica-Pica said:
Because are so many cars for sale about, and no really bad cars, it is so simple to just walk away from anything other than a decent discount/trade-in. Like house-buying, it is always best to be a cash buyer (and don’t tell me about ‘free’ finance, there is no such thing).
Try getting the "deposit contribution" on top of an already negotiated discount for a cash deal.

Of course there is such a thing as "free" finance

Jag_NE

3,339 posts

129 months

Monday 15th April 2019
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some people just aren't clued up or bothered about it, they just pay what is asked and move on. its potentially a more pleasant existence in some respects, just pay the money and get on with enjoying life instead of always analysing where the value lies with every purchase.

Barga

12,241 posts

235 months

Monday 15th April 2019
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Andy665 said:
Pica-Pica said:
Because are so many cars for sale about, and no really bad cars, it is so simple to just walk away from anything other than a decent discount/trade-in. Like house-buying, it is always best to be a cash buyer (and don’t tell me about ‘free’ finance, there is no such thing).
Try getting the "deposit contribution" on top of an already negotiated discount for a cash deal.

Of course there is such a thing as "free" finance
Define “free” ?

Andy665

4,161 posts

257 months

Monday 15th April 2019
quotequote all
Barga said:
Andy665 said:
Pica-Pica said:
Because are so many cars for sale about, and no really bad cars, it is so simple to just walk away from anything other than a decent discount/trade-in. Like house-buying, it is always best to be a cash buyer (and don’t tell me about ‘free’ finance, there is no such thing).
Try getting the "deposit contribution" on top of an already negotiated discount for a cash deal.

Of course there is such a thing as "free" finance
Define “free” ?
"Free" finance in my eyes means being able to fund a vehicle at a total cost lower or at no more than it would cost to buy using any other method of funding or cash - not suggesting its a definitive response, merely mine and as this is PH I fully expect to be ridiculed, castigated or told I'm an idiot

Frimley111R

Original Poster:

19,168 posts

263 months

Tuesday 16th April 2019
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Alucidnation said:
Surely your daughter had spoken to you about wanting a new car?
Nope, along with my other daughter and sister, they both just do it and tell me after. She sold her last MINI and bought a Mitsubishi Mirage. It was ok but FFS there were so many better options.

Roger Irrelevant

3,384 posts

142 months

Tuesday 16th April 2019
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Jag_NE said:
some people just aren't clued up or bothered about it, they just pay what is asked and move on. its potentially a more pleasant existence in some respects, just pay the money and get on with enjoying life instead of always analysing where the value lies with every purchase.
Very true, it's the difference between being a 'maximiser' and a 'satisficer'. The latter tend to be the happier type of person because while maximisers may do a lot of meticulous research and get a better deal from an objective point of view, they then continue to fret about whether they made the right decision afterwards. A satisficer just buys the first thing they see that will do the job and then forgets about it. Obviously that's a generalisation but with a solid basis in fact.


Frimley111R

Original Poster:

19,168 posts

263 months

Tuesday 16th April 2019
quotequote all
Roger Irrelevant said:
Jag_NE said:
some people just aren't clued up or bothered about it, they just pay what is asked and move on. its potentially a more pleasant existence in some respects, just pay the money and get on with enjoying life instead of always analysing where the value lies with every purchase.
Very true, it's the difference between being a 'maximiser' and a 'satisficer'. The latter tend to be the happier type of person because while maximisers may do a lot of meticulous research and get a better deal from an objective point of view, they then continue to fret about whether they made the right decision afterwards. A satisficer just buys the first thing they see that will do the job and then forgets about it. Obviously that's a generalisation but with a solid basis in fact.
I partly understand that but when it's so easy to save thousands it makes no sense to me...

ThorB

6,780 posts

208 months

Tuesday 16th April 2019
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Frimley111R said:
Nope, along with my other daughter and sister, they both just do it and tell me after. She sold her last MINI and bought a Mitsubishi Mirage. It was ok but FFS there were so many better options.
Meanwhile, there's a thread on Insta where you daughter is bemoaning your most recent purchase from Greenwoods Menswear, a lovely polyester argyle sweater. If only you'd spoken to her about the purchase beforehand she'd have got you in a lovely merino John Smedley - a far better spec and whilst more expensive, it will last far longer and has a much higher residual value via Pre-Loved, so in the long term costs less to wear than your Greenwoods monstrosity.



markyb_lcy

9,904 posts

91 months

Tuesday 16th April 2019
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Heh, OP ... the grass is always greener!

As the (apparently) IT whizz (person who works in IT), I am always fielding calls from friends and family about computer issues or buying suggestions etc. On the one hand it can be exciting to help (second only to buying for yourself) and potentially broadens your own knowledge. On the other hand, it can become quite annoying and sometimes it feels like they only call at the most inconvenient times for me (not that they are to know!).

I think a happy medium is best! Nobody likes an "I told you so", but make sure those that made bad decisions are reminded that you can help in this area as it's something you're knowledgeable about. You know, for "next time" smile

130iTrack

74 posts

117 months

Tuesday 16th April 2019
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I couldn't agree more with OP.

It's painful to watch otherwise very smart people buy absolutely terrible cars at insane prices. I do also get that you actually do need know quite a lot to get a good deal and most people just don't have that much time to research.

av185

20,464 posts

156 months

Tuesday 16th April 2019
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The very people who get ripped off by buying overpriced cars and other overpriced things are invariably those that cannot afford it and end up pleading poverty.

Fools and their money. hehe

My heart bleeds.