Ford Dealerships

[larkinrsrc]

Hi

Going to look at cars at a Ford dealership tomorrow. Any advice on dealing with salesmen? Looking at vehicles similar to a 2017 Focus petrol with 11000 mileage.

Could I walk away with a car listed for £11495 for £10400 or is that too unrealistic?

[HTP99]

You have to remember that the internet has made the country a very small place, all cars advertised have to be the correct price in the first place now otherwise no one would look at it, margins are ever tighter too, you may get a couple of hundred off you may not, many dealers won't even entertain any discount.

if it is priced correctly vs what else is out there then it is unlikely to be discounted, why should they?

Go in expecting to pay the asking and if you get anything off, it is a bonus, if you genuinely don't have the asking price and only have £1000 less to spend then I wouldn't waste your time.

[Plate spinner]

You can always state your price and walk away.

If they want to do it they’ll call you, if they don’t they won’t.

[Jamescrs]

I think you will struggle to get that discount if I'm honest, unless you can look online and find a car of very similar mileage, with same age and spec for a lower price you can reference. As said above due to the internet garages are pricing cars very competitively now, they make their margins on the finance they push and extras such as wheel protection, gap etc.

[anonymous-user]

Discounts from RRP in this price band are non existent in my recent experience. Tried walking, calling back after a week but no joy. They said if they get to a point where they are willing to sell lower, they will just change the sticker price.

Ive heard there may be room for movement elsewhere. Eg trade in price or finance deals. But for cash buyers, apparently not.

[ScoobyChris]

When we were looking at 1/2 year old Focus STs there was very little room for negotiation (their tactic seemed to be to add on all the extras from the start and remove them one by one to show they were moving towards what we wanted to pay) so I’m guessing the margins are quite tight. I don’t think 1k is realistic, but if you don’t ask you don’t get.

Chris

[blade7]

ScoobyChris said:

When we were looking at 1/2 year old Focus STs there was very little room for negotiation (their tactic seemed to be to add on all the extras from the start and remove them one by one to show they were moving towards what we wanted to pay) so I’m guessing the margins are quite tight. I don’t think 1k is realistic, but if you don’t ask you don’t get.

Chris

Go to a broker and buy a brand new one for less. Make sure to tell the salesman that's what you're doing, it makes their day.

[Down and out]

Plate spinner said:

You can always state your price and walk away.

If they want to do it they’ll call you, if they don’t they won’t.

That's what I'd do, what have you got to lose?

[Andy 308GTB]

sambucket said:

Discounts from RRP in this price band are non existent in my recent experience. Tried walking, calling back after a week but no joy. They said if they get to a point where they are willing to sell lower, they will just change the sticker price

This is my experience too, when buying 6 to 18 month old cars from main dealers. They simply don't budge.
Wheeler Dealers it ain't.
I've had new car mats thrown in, delivery charge dropped from £150 to £50 but they wouldn't touch the sticker price.

[lornemalvo]

Same here, no discount at all on 18 month old Citigo. I did squeeze a set of mats and a tank of fuel out of them but that was it. Best you can do is decide what you want and be willing to travel for the best deal.The good news is that prices for similar cars sometimes vary quite a lot, so a willingness to travel should result in a better deal

[JRdrums]

There is a lot of people unsatisfied with Ford petrol engines. The 1.0 has been renamed ecoboom as so many overheat and die. I don’t have any experience but think you should be aware and do some investigation before buying a petrol ford.

[Flumpo]

I wouldn’t limit yourself to the car at the garage you are going to. If it’s a main dealer is it likely part of a national group.

Look at the car, tell them what want and ask what else they have in stock. They will likely sit you at a computer, put some details into a filter and show you all the others they have.

You will probably find one in Basingstoke or Middlesbrough for £1000 cheaper but say 3k more in the clock but otherwise identical.

They will probably charge you a £500 refundable deposit to bring the car down/up to the local garage.

If you like it you have all the benefits of it being from tour local garage.

[Red 4]

There's no simple answer of yes or no.

If a main dealer has a car advertised for £11k however, it will likely owe him about 9k (20% markup is about right/ the norm ime).

There's still a decent profit if he sells for £10k.

Of course, the dealers will say that's not enough because they have to chuck a bucket of water over it/ have a shiny showroom to pay for/ it's competitive compared to similar cars ( which haven't sold), etc etc.

Some dealers won't negotiate. Some will. The key is finding the right car at the right dealer on the right day.

When the stars align, you're golden

[HTP99]

Red 4 said:

There's no simple answer of yes or no.

If a main dealer has a car advertised for £11k however, it will likely owe him about 9k (20% markup is about right/ the norm ime).

There's still a decent profit if he sells for £10k.

Of course, the dealers will say that's not enough because they have to chuck a bucket of water over it/ have a shiny showroom to pay for/ it's competitive compared to similar cars ( which haven't sold), etc etc.

Some dealers won't negotiate. Some will. The key is finding the right car at the right dealer on the right day.

When the stars align, you're golden

Once you take VAT, prep (workshop costs), warranty etc, £1k margin does not make a decent profit; £300 if you are lucky.

Edited by HTP99 on Sunday 16th June 13:42