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Re: New or Used?

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:13 am
by Silk
Thanks for all the contributions, it's just as I thought, the whole thing is as clear as mud. :-(

I suppose it's OK if you're someone like my mother-in-law who always pays the asking price for everything and is just as likely to throw in a tip for good measure. The used prices can look like a bargain compared to list price. Not so when you compare actual prices and the hit you have to take on the finance if you buy used. I could always get the money elsewhere, but I like the protection of car finance, especially the bit where you can terminate the contract with no penalty once you've paid half the money.

I can get a 10% discount by going to a company that has an agreement with my employer, but 10% isn't really good enough and there isn't any room to knock them down any further. Might be an option if I go for a brand that offers little or no discounts on list prices, like Skoda.

The next step is to decide what car to go for. I know I mentioned a C Class but, to be honest, there are cheaper, more practical options. It's difficult to find a truly bad car and the differences in depreciation between brands is nothing like it was.

Re: New or Used?

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 7:46 pm
by WhoseGeneration
Go test drive anything that you think might suit you and then once decided on a specific car, bargain hard, using all the options available nowadays.
It's a bit slow in the motor trade at the moment, so you, as a definite buyer, have the upper hand.
"Slow" admitted to me yesterday by the salesman who sold us my wife's car, when we took it in for its first service.
Part of one the country's big motor retail groups and they were fitting out the dual franchise site with all the deals flags and signage.

Re: New or Used?

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 4:13 pm
by Silk
WhoseGeneration wrote:Go test drive anything that you think might suit you and then once decided on a specific car, bargain hard, using all the options available nowadays.
It's a bit slow in the motor trade at the moment, so you, as a definite buyer, have the upper hand.
"Slow" admitted to me yesterday by the salesman who sold us my wife's car, when we took it in for its first service.
Part of one the country's big motor retail groups and they were fitting out the dual franchise site with all the deals flags and signage.


I've bought plenty of cars new, so going down this route is something I'm familiar with. Sometimes I get a good deal, sometimes not so good. I had a feeling things were a bit slow, so thanks for confirming it. I tend to stay away from the dealerships in the more prominent locations. A salesman from one of them pretty much told me not to bother asking for a discount as there were plenty of customers/mugs out there willing to pay list, so why should he bother giving me a discount. Drive the Deal found me a dealer out in the sticks who was only too willing.

It seems that every time I do, someone points out that I must be a mug to buy new. Seems not.

If I was feeling brave, I may consider going private, but I would have to be very brave indeed.

Re: New or Used?

Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 11:53 pm
by waremark
Does anyone do better on new cars than Drivethedeal or Carwow?

Recently got a local dealer to match DtD for my daughter, now shopping for my wife, both Merc. Taking £3k finance to get deposit contribution, you can repay after a couple of months.

Re: New or Used?

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2017 9:25 am
by angus
There can be odd deals on individual circumstances. For example, Renault sponsor British Show Jumping, and give discount to members. It would've meant dealing with the Renault dealer in Cardiff, but the local dealer matched it, giving almost 25% off list