e90 - did I do the right thing?

[phatmanace]

Went to look at an E90 320d estate yesterday at a local specialist.

I had a Mk 4 Golf GTI to trade in - which I was quoted approximatley what I thought it was worth, and I told him I would be paying cash. The chap then quoted a figure for what I would have to pay - about £10,600. He then refused to move on the price, "I can't even take one more pound off" - I politeley asked him to go and check with the manager, which he did, and then came back and said "Nope, not one more pound". I asked him for his best price, and he wouldn't budge. I then said "Ok, thanks , but no thanks, and left"

{additionally - no test drive was apparantly permitted until we 'agreed' on the figures, which I thought was odd, would have thought it would work in their interest to let me drive it, I might have loved it so much I would been more pliable on the money!}

I was very suprised that there was zero movement in the price, perhaps the credit *is* truely over!

Cheers
-ace

[martin vr6]

No its not, but the problem we are facing just now is the dealers are struggling to find good cars for stock at reasonable prices, desireable models (the 320d being such an example) are regularly commanding above "trade book" or "bottom book" price at auction etc and the offset is cars are becoming more expensive with little room for discounts

[martin vr6]

No its not, but the problem we are facing just now is the dealers are struggling to find good cars for stock at reasonable prices, desireable models (the 320d being such an example) are regularly commanding above "trade book" or "bottom book" price at auction etc and the offset is cars are becoming more expensive with little room for discounts

[phatmanace]

should have checked before I posted -they have left me 2 a/phone messages, and apparantly they have just reduced the price of all of their stock of touring cars by £2000 for each car... :-)

[Ciaran]

That's a bit of a drop - from not giving you a penny off to £2k. Seems odd.

[christer]

no test drive until purchased = a big no no in my book

Just walk away, but let them know the reason you are doing so is that you couldn't drive one first. They should always be aware of the reason as I have had this twice this year and I told them exactly why I wouldn't be buying with them in the hope that this farcical policy is eradicated sooner rather than later.

[phatmanace]

Can anyone in the trade opine as to why this is? (no test drive before talking about numbers )

clearly it's to deter time wasters, but isn't there a case to say that a good test drive might also pursuade people to buy!

[eliot]

A BMW dealer in Highgate pulled the no test drive thing on me the other day - was really suprised, almost shocked. Suffice to say, wont ever reccomend them to anyone.