Advice re best approach to a deal
Discussion
Not the snappiest of titles, but after a little bit of advice as to how to approach a possible new (to me) car purchase from a dealership.
Now,I’m not looking to annoy,however I don’t want to post a link to the actual car or indeed say what it is,as I don’t want to scupper my chances down the line...
Anyway,the car is an suv at a franchised dealership with some extras-some of which are desirable to me,others not-but the none desirable bits do put the car just over the 40k list price and higher tax bracket.Not a major issue,but just to paint the picture.
It’s a 10 month old 68 plate with 4k and has been a managers runaround.
It’s now priced at just over 32k and book price from various sources has the following.
Franchised dealership £31,325,Independent dealer £30,720,private good £29,960 and part ex of £28,445.
I have expressed an interest,but the car is a good distance away,so communication will be via email or phone call.I have been offered a test drive,but due to the above and because I have test driven a similar vehicle locally,I have declined for this reason.
How would you approach the above in order to get the best deal?Should I hold out to nearer December time for the possibility of a Q4 deal if they exist in this current climate?
Are book prices a reliable gauge - could I push further or would I be taking the pee.
I am not desperate to have this specific car,but if the deal is a good one,I will snap it up and it will be a keeper for several years.I will be self financing.
I would be really interested to see how you would approach this.Cheers.
Now,I’m not looking to annoy,however I don’t want to post a link to the actual car or indeed say what it is,as I don’t want to scupper my chances down the line...
Anyway,the car is an suv at a franchised dealership with some extras-some of which are desirable to me,others not-but the none desirable bits do put the car just over the 40k list price and higher tax bracket.Not a major issue,but just to paint the picture.
It’s a 10 month old 68 plate with 4k and has been a managers runaround.
It’s now priced at just over 32k and book price from various sources has the following.
Franchised dealership £31,325,Independent dealer £30,720,private good £29,960 and part ex of £28,445.
I have expressed an interest,but the car is a good distance away,so communication will be via email or phone call.I have been offered a test drive,but due to the above and because I have test driven a similar vehicle locally,I have declined for this reason.
How would you approach the above in order to get the best deal?Should I hold out to nearer December time for the possibility of a Q4 deal if they exist in this current climate?
Are book prices a reliable gauge - could I push further or would I be taking the pee.
I am not desperate to have this specific car,but if the deal is a good one,I will snap it up and it will be a keeper for several years.I will be self financing.
I would be really interested to see how you would approach this.Cheers.
These days the car is almost a secondary consideration to what deal you get. If you want to buy the car outright with no finance or extras don't expect much of a discount on anything remotely desirable unless it's overpriced in the first place.
Buy on 12.9% PCP, take GAP insurance, paint protection, alloy and tyre insurance, key insurance etc and I'm sure the dealer will be happy to give you a deposit contribution and something off the price.
You're at a disadvantage being remote from the dealership, a lot of remote enquiries come to nothing so you need to demonstrate you're a serious buyer.
If you want the car I'd offer £31k and ask for a years road tax to be included for starters and gauge their response.
Buy on 12.9% PCP, take GAP insurance, paint protection, alloy and tyre insurance, key insurance etc and I'm sure the dealer will be happy to give you a deposit contribution and something off the price.
You're at a disadvantage being remote from the dealership, a lot of remote enquiries come to nothing so you need to demonstrate you're a serious buyer.
If you want the car I'd offer £31k and ask for a years road tax to be included for starters and gauge their response.
Cheers for the replies.Its not a massively desirable car,but with the spec,this one is fairly well priced.I know it will continue to depreciate,but timing is the key in potentially getting it before it levels out and getting snapped up by someone else.
Theres not a lot of consistency regards prices across dealerships and WBAC has it at £28,815.Brokers aren’t a better option as the prices through them are quite solid.
I was looking at a cheeky offer between £30 and £31k and just leave it there.
Theres not a lot of consistency regards prices across dealerships and WBAC has it at £28,815.Brokers aren’t a better option as the prices through them are quite solid.
I was looking at a cheeky offer between £30 and £31k and just leave it there.
One option is to wait.
I was seriously considering a used car at a main dealers. I got them to what I thought was the best deal I could - £1K price reduction, full ceramic coat on body & wheels, 2 year warranty, but then I decided that I just couldn't live with the interior colour, so walked away.
3 weeks later the car is back on Autotrader for £2.5K less.
I was seriously considering a used car at a main dealers. I got them to what I thought was the best deal I could - £1K price reduction, full ceramic coat on body & wheels, 2 year warranty, but then I decided that I just couldn't live with the interior colour, so walked away.
3 weeks later the car is back on Autotrader for £2.5K less.
I'd be tempted to wait, but would put make model etc in car for sale site which picks up from all the market-google trovit cars this will give you a good idea of bottom retail price for the model of car many of which aren't on the big car sale sites such as Autotrader.
You'll almost certain to get a better deal end of the year early january and would be looking for least 30% of list but could be as high as 40% depends a lot on make/model and spec.
Another logshot is to put reg,no into an insurance comparison website many give you an insurance value - in my experience usually a low ball figure so would say if can get car for round about that figure take it.
You'll almost certain to get a better deal end of the year early january and would be looking for least 30% of list but could be as high as 40% depends a lot on make/model and spec.
Another logshot is to put reg,no into an insurance comparison website many give you an insurance value - in my experience usually a low ball figure so would say if can get car for round about that figure take it.
All really good ideas and I think that I’ll wait until the end of the new year as suggested.
I have emailed the spoc at the dealership and tried to show that I am a serious purchaser.As mentioned though,distance isn’t in my favour.
It has depreciated a lot in a short amount of time,so let’s see what another month or two brings.
Thankyou
I have emailed the spoc at the dealership and tried to show that I am a serious purchaser.As mentioned though,distance isn’t in my favour.
It has depreciated a lot in a short amount of time,so let’s see what another month or two brings.
Thankyou
Your best option is definitely to wait. If you wait about 10 years or so you'll be able to snap the car up for not much more than a couple of thousand quid 
If you want or need to buy a car before then the best option is to stop using the guide prices as anything other than the guide. The salesman is not going to run to his manager and say "Boss, we've got a problem here, the guy on the phone says he knows what CAP clean is. We're going to have to let him buy it..."
If you are confident that this is the best example on the market for you at the moment ( I presume it is. otherwise you would be looing at one closer to home ) then give the dealer a call and engage with them. Make it clear that you are happy to do a deal over the phone, ask some sensible questions ( can you have a copy of the Approved Used inspection sheet, can the salesman walk you round the car on the phone to describe any marks or damage, can you have a video to show the same )
Then if you are happy to buy it make them an offer. For that offer to be credible base it at a little less than the nearest comparable car - or just offer them £30k and wait for them to say no. If they decline your offer then ask them what they can do if you are prepared to leave a deposit right now.
And then you'll need to decide yes or no. Obviously if you do buy it then you'll see an (apparently) even better example for less money the next day. And if you don't buy it then you'll never find another one that quite measures up.
Sometimes you just have to be satisfied that you are paying a fair price and not necessarily the least amount theoretically possible.
Have you ever bought a house? How on earth did you deal with that?
If you want or need to buy a car before then the best option is to stop using the guide prices as anything other than the guide. The salesman is not going to run to his manager and say "Boss, we've got a problem here, the guy on the phone says he knows what CAP clean is. We're going to have to let him buy it..."
If you are confident that this is the best example on the market for you at the moment ( I presume it is. otherwise you would be looing at one closer to home ) then give the dealer a call and engage with them. Make it clear that you are happy to do a deal over the phone, ask some sensible questions ( can you have a copy of the Approved Used inspection sheet, can the salesman walk you round the car on the phone to describe any marks or damage, can you have a video to show the same )
Then if you are happy to buy it make them an offer. For that offer to be credible base it at a little less than the nearest comparable car - or just offer them £30k and wait for them to say no. If they decline your offer then ask them what they can do if you are prepared to leave a deposit right now.
And then you'll need to decide yes or no. Obviously if you do buy it then you'll see an (apparently) even better example for less money the next day. And if you don't buy it then you'll never find another one that quite measures up.
Sometimes you just have to be satisfied that you are paying a fair price and not necessarily the least amount theoretically possible.
Have you ever bought a house? How on earth did you deal with that?
The best way is to find out what's being offered if you get offered a good deal (especially if you get a contribution) then take it, you can then pay the finance off.
You may get a better deal if you wait but you may not or you don't get as good a car, if you've found a car you like then buy it.
You may get a better deal if you wait but you may not or you don't get as good a car, if you've found a car you like then buy it.
There are several ex-managers vehicles,all with roughly the same high spec at the same dealer network.All with varying miles and prices.
That’s why I’m not really worried about losing out on this specific vehicle-others are available and from watching other dealerships,more are available nationwide.
Cheers for the pointers and as mentioned,it will be a waiting game now.
That’s why I’m not really worried about losing out on this specific vehicle-others are available and from watching other dealerships,more are available nationwide.
Cheers for the pointers and as mentioned,it will be a waiting game now.
I did a weird deal on our current family car.
In a main dealer as an ex mobility car (13months old) and a good price already.
But being mobility it had a few bits of damage from wheel chair going in and out of the boot, other nicks and scratches and a bit of alloy damage.
I asked how much it would be to fix them, was given a price and then told them not to do it! But wanted some dealer fit options added instead. Especially as it was a family bus these parts would just be damaged again within 6months. Ended up being about £150 prices difference and we shook hands when they agreed to fill it with fuel.
Sales guy said it’s was the oddest deal he’d done, but totally understood the logic.
In a main dealer as an ex mobility car (13months old) and a good price already.
But being mobility it had a few bits of damage from wheel chair going in and out of the boot, other nicks and scratches and a bit of alloy damage.
I asked how much it would be to fix them, was given a price and then told them not to do it! But wanted some dealer fit options added instead. Especially as it was a family bus these parts would just be damaged again within 6months. Ended up being about £150 prices difference and we shook hands when they agreed to fill it with fuel.
Sales guy said it’s was the oddest deal he’d done, but totally understood the logic.
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