Car Giant

feltonblue

I was nearly put off going to see Car Giant by the (few) negative comments that I could find online, but I'm glad to say that I decided instead to see for myself. I reasoned that sales of hundreds of cars per week couldn't be achieved without the odd disgruntled customer.
Having got there I was pleasantly surprised by the infrastructure - not that far off some main dealers that I've visited, and all the staff were unfailingly polite. The cars have not been tarted up, which I preferred as it meant that you could see quite quickly which had been looked after and which abused. You do need to have some experience of car buying & maintenance to be confident, unless you're going for a late low mileage car that's still under manufacturer's warranty. Although there is no "selling" of the cars, there is a scripted sales pitch to sit through if and when you decide to buy a vehicle. In our case the salesman was still polite and at around 15 minutes it hardly compared to the old timeshare pressure sales. Just keep saying "no, thank you" and it's soon all over, and as it's the only downside of the whole experience I can't see why it would be a deal breaker for anyone.
All in all I'd say that Cargiant represents the ultimate MSE approach to buying a 2-3 year old car: great choice, fair price, you don't pay for anything you don't need or want. For extra peace of mind I bought an independent insurance policy, but after 600 miles the car I bought feels solid and if it breaks down in a year or two's time I won't blame Cargiant, I'll blame the manufacturer.

dh1981

It's taken nearly 3 years for me to realise I'm not happy with Car Giants service.

I bought a VW Polo in Feb 2011. I wouldn't usually buy anything on finance, but I was starting a new job where I was driving a lot and my car at the time was not up to that much use. I initially wanted a 2 year finance deal, but the monthly costs were high and the salesman recommended a 3 year deal instead. My first application for credit was rejected, the salesman made me feel pretty crappy about it - and my credit history isn't even that bad, I just don't have much of a credit history. I had already refused PPI, but it was implied that I would have a better chance of obtaining finance if I took out this insurance. I also took the mechanical breakdown cover and asset protection cover, but refused whatever it is they offer to protect the interior of the car (some sort of scotchguard I think - and was asked why I didn't want my car to look nice!!)

After a long wait I was finally told that they'd managed to find a company that would lend to me. Everything else was rushed through - it's all a bit hazy here, as it was nearly 3 years ago, but I'm sure I was asked if I wanted to read through all the documents 'now' or if I wanted to take them home and read them at my leisure. Having been at the car giant office for hours already I was keen to leave.

Skip forward nearly 3 years, and I'm looking forward to the car payments finally coming to an end. I call moneyway to check my final payment date, and am told it's SEPTEMBER 2014!! I have a 42 month credit agreement.

I am well aware that this is my own fault. I dug out the paperwork and it's there in the small print. I should have read it. I didn't. I just naively believed what they were telling me. I've never been that good at personal admin, I'm still not. Technically they did nothing wrong, it's there in the paperwork. But I'm still annoyed.

motorguy

vikingaero wrote: »

I'm going to defend Car Giant here. If you want deposits and reservations then go to a glass palace car dealer. Some of the cars and service are rough and ready for a reason - price! You either buy there or don't buy.

Their cars are often no cheaper than going through a franchised dealer, and their cars are usually of a lower standard.

Whilst people expect main dealers to knock £££'s off the price, the sheep that mostly use Cargiant seem quite happy to get stiffed with non negotiable add on charges.

On top of that, you then have to suffer a poor standard of service and an uphill struggle to get anything done if something goes wrong.

They're the motoring equivalent of Tescos - you "think" you're getting a bargain but moreoften you're not.

Often their cars are wayyy above average miles or undesirable specs.

If you dont want to pay for a prep'ed car then cut out the middle man, do what CarGiant do and buy a fleet auction and save yourself ££££'s.

motorguy

feltonblue wrote: »

All in all I'd say that Cargiant represents the ultimate MSE approach to buying a 2-3 year old car: great choice, fair price, you don't pay for anything you don't need or want. For extra peace of mind I bought an independent insurance policy, but after 600 miles the car I bought feels solid and if it breaks down in a year or two's time I won't blame Cargiant, I'll blame the manufacturer.

So a fair price compared to the retail price of a "normal" trader, who will happily negotiate down on price?

On top of that, you paid an admin fee for the privilege and then had to pay for a warranty, included by a franchised dealer anyway?

Not seeing the bargain here?

motorguy

Did a quick check.

VW Golf, diesel, under 1 year old.

Car Giants cheapest - 2012 Golf 1.6 TDI Match, 5 door, 28K miles, £11799 + £99 admin fee = £11,898

http://www.cargiant.co.uk/Volkswagen/Golf/details-610954-Volkswagen-Golf.asp?viewtype=0

Cheapest non franchised car on autotrader £11995

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201309248932838/sort/default/usedcars/page/1/engine-size-cars/1-4l_to_1-6l/quantity-of-doors/5/model/golf/body-type/hatchback/make/volkswagen/postcode/bt622hb/transmission/manual/maximum-age/up_to_1_year_old/fuel-type/diesel/keywords/match/seller-type/trade_adverts/maximum-mileage/up_to_35000_miles/radius/1500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

Dealer will probably take £11,500*

Cheapest franchised car on autotrader, £12690, dealer will probable take £12,100*

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310099190895/sort/default/usedcars/page/1/engine-size-cars/1-4l_to_1-6l/quantity-of-doors/5/model/golf/body-type/hatchback/make/volkswagen/postcode/bt622hb/transmission/manual/maximum-age/up_to_1_year_old/fuel-type/diesel/keywords/match/seller-type/trade_adverts/maximum-mileage/up_to_35000_miles/radius/1500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

*Based on my own experience of getting £600 off the sticker price of a 2012 Golf from my local VW dealer.

bigjl

Motorguy you really dislike CarGiant.

You can't compare a dealer in somewhere up north to London as the overheads and therefore price will be different.

So you have a choice of a 7/800 mile round trip just to look at it. And hope you can knock money off it.

So £100 fuel. Day of work. 10 hours driving. To maybe save a few hundred. If the car breaks you need to get it back up north to give them a chance of fixing it.

And it is a 61 plate so actually starting to look expensive.
Not very MSE.

And the other car is almost £1000 more.

Not very MSE.

The CG is also under VW Warranty so no need to buy a warranty.

And don't forget that the VW Golf holds a premium down south

Hence why traders for years have been buying specific cars up north and selling them in London and the South East.

I shall continue as i have done since 92 and buy cars there when i need to have it in finance. And also give cars the once over for friends and family that are looking for decent wheels at sensible prices.

Not a Golf though. Overpriced and not as reliable as many make out..

Actually a bit funny that to get a reliable VW you are better off buying a Skoda!

motorguy

bigjl wrote: »

Motorguy you really dislike CarGiant.

You can't compare a dealer in somewhere up north to London as the overheads and therefore price will be different.

As a motor trader i have found that people will travel for the right car at the right price. And they will compare prices on autotrader.

there is practically no risk in this when buying an approved used car from a franchise as you can get any warranty work done by a local franchisee anyway. also many franchises these days have the capability to get a car from another approved used dealer anyway.

And even at that, it just "happens" there is quite some miles difference between these cars. Often theres not and often its a big journey to CG.

bigjl wrote: »

So you have a choice of a 7/800 mile round trip just to look at it. And hope you can knock money off it.

No, you do all your negotiating and homework in advance. By the time you do travel its then really only a check the car over and a paperwork exercise.

Statiscally people dont trawl round dealers these days. They come prepared with information and know exactly what they should be paying.

90% of the cars i sell are sold to the first person out and at the first viewing.

bigjl wrote: »

So £100 fuel. Day of work. 10 hours driving. To maybe save a few hundred. If the car breaks you need to get it back up north to give them a chance of fixing it.

There are many approved used cars available from your local dealer that can be sourced from another dealer elsewhere.

bigjl wrote: »

And it is a 61 plate so actually starting to look expensive.
Not very MSE.

And the other car is almost £1000 more.

Not very MSE.

Just a random back of a fag packet example.

£1000 more expensive, but discount available and no one adding stuff on you should be getting included in the price - like "admin" and "a warranty".

Just demonstrating that you shouldnt "assume" that CG are the cheapest.

Clearly they're providing substandard often higher miles car at a similar price than an A1 car can be bought from a main dealer.

Their cars are cheaper because they're usually marky, dented, higher miles or an unwanted spec or model.

bigjl wrote: »

The CG is also under VW Warranty so no need to buy a warranty.

In this example yes, but not always.

bigjl wrote: »

I shall continue as i have done since 92 and buy cars there when i need to have it in finance. And also give cars the once over for friends and family that are looking for decent wheels at sensible prices.

And i shall continue to look for the best deal, no matter where it happens to be and not assume my local car supermarket are going to give me a good deal.

I'll also continue to help friends and family find the best value cars, rather than point them like sheep at a field full of cars and hope they find the decent one in there.

bigjl wrote: »

Not a Golf though. Overpriced and not as reliable as many make out..

Overpriced compared to what? I got a 10 month old 1.6TDI Golf from a main dealer with 13K miles for £12,400. It was a similar price to comparable top of their class 5 door hatchbacks such as the Focus, Astra, etc.

In fact i would challenge you to find a better car for less. I'm happy under "better" for you to show on honest john / what car / parkers that they rate it more highly.

bigjl wrote: »

Actually a bit funny that to get a reliable VW you are better off buying a Skoda!

Yeah, because that makes sense - identical engine made in the same factory, and yet its more reliable in a Skoda. Duh.

No issues with it so far. 9,000 miles under its belt since august and averaging a brim to brim 64mpg. If i drive it particularly easy i've seen 69mpg brim to brim.

Really cant think of any car that offers better value and better economy.

bigjl

Skodas tend to have the older tried technology in them. They still had the pd injection long after CR was the norm in a VW.

Surely you knew that?

Quick way to check was to check the slats on top of the engine cover. Straight was pd and angled was CR from memory.

If you knew lots of people that rely on their cars for work you will already know the reputation of VW vehicles lags behind the somewhat simpler vehicles from Skoda.

The 1.9 engine is not the same as the 2.0

And the 2.0 was only in a small number of Skodas till recently.

Remember the 140 PD lump was in the Passat in 07 but took many y3ars to filter doen to the Skodas and even then it was more likely to be in a Laurent Klement (i think the spelling is correct) or a Vrs.

It is great you don't like CG.

Please don't go there then.

I doubt they will care much about missing a sale.

But if you are going to spend hours trawling Autotrader at least prove your case.

All you did was prove that by travelling half way across the UK to a totally different market place would make an older car be roughly the same price.

But the buyer will not get back the extra expenditure

And there is no guarantee you will get anything off the price. No guarantee whatsoever.


Just for reference.

Last car i bought there was a Clio dci with under 30k miles at three years old with full Renault history for £5800, i am sure that included the indemnity fee but i can't remember.

Local Renault dealer had almost identical car up for £7500 and a trawl of Autotrader showed nothing for under £6500 even with higher miles.

For me that mskes it cheaper.

None of the cars i have bought there for myself or family could be sourced for less than an extra £1000 at least.

No CG isn't for everybody.

Some people like to think they have beaten a dealer down when all they have done is reduce the profit margin slightly.

motorguy

bigjl wrote: »

Skodas tend to have the older tried technology in them. They still had the pd injection long after CR was the norm in a VW.

Surely you knew that?

Yes i knew that Skodas are often based on old technology.

The comparable Octavia to the Golf is the 1.6 TDI so same engine.

I was comparing like with like

bigjl wrote: »

Quick way to check was to check the slats on top of the engine cover. Straight was pd and angled was CR from memory.

The 1.6 TDI is the same.

bigjl wrote: »

If you knew lots of people that rely on their cars for work you will already know the reputation of VW vehicles lags behind the somewhat simpler vehicles from Skoda.

Yes, early 2.0TDI's are troublesome. I would have a 1.9TDI passat / golf / skoda over the 2.0TDI any day. Having said that, i'd a new Passat 2.0 TDI back in 2010 and it gave no trouble at all when i had it.

bigjl wrote: »

The 1.9 engine is not the same as the 2.0

And the 2.0 was only in a small number of Skodas till recently.

Remember the 140 PD lump was in the Passat in 07 but took many y3ars to filter doen to the Skodas and even then it was more likely to be in a Laurent Klement (i think the spelling is correct) or a Vrs.

Yes.

bigjl wrote: »

It is great you don't like CG.

Please don't go there then.

I doubt they will care much about missing a sale.

And i wont care much either.

bigjl wrote: »

But if you are going to spend hours trawling Autotrader at least prove your case.

All you did was prove that by travelling half way across the UK to a totally different market place would make an older car be roughly the same price.

But the buyer will not get back the extra expenditure

All i have said is, CG arent necessarily the cheapest, and their cars are usually unprepared. To get them to the standard of a main dealer car you could have to spend £££'s.

All i'm saying is dont be a sheep and "assume" that the likes of Car Giant are the cheapest. Just in the same way as shopping at Tescos doesnt necessarily get you the cheapest product.

bigjl wrote: »

And there is no guarantee you will get anything off the price. No guarantee whatsoever.

Uh huh. Thats why you ring first and ask.

bigjl wrote: »

Just for reference.

Last car i bought there was a Clio dci with under 30k miles at three years old with full Renault history for £5800, i am sure that included the indemnity fee but i can't remember.

Local Renault dealer had almost identical car up for £7500 and a trawl of Autotrader showed nothing for under £6500 even with higher miles.

For me that mskes it cheaper.

None of the cars i have bought there for myself or family could be sourced for less than an extra £1000 at least.

No CG isn't for everybody.

We only have your word for all of that.

It does seem rather odd that you seem to put all your eggs in the CG basket, rather than accepting that cars can be cheaper elsewhere?

Have you some vested interest - perhaps a relative working there - that you're not telling us about? Your full on defence of them all the time does seem strange?

Is it not best to check all sources for a car, rather than assume your local CG is the cheapest and best?

bigjl wrote: »

Some people like to think they have beaten a dealer down when all they have done is reduce the profit margin slightly.

Because CG dont make profit on their cars?

CG may well have worked for you, but it doesnt work for everyone on every occassion.

Surely if you are truly unbiased you can agree with that?

Hoof_Hearted

I am with Motorguy on this. We always go and look at a number of cars when we upgrade, not ruling out private, dealers or supermarkets. However, I don't see CG cars as being on a par with most dealers in terms of preparation. They mostly seem to be ex-company cars with a moderately rough previous life, although there will inevitably be some bargains. I resent the admin fee, which is just a device to make the cars look cheaper. I would compare them more with private sales in terms of prep. In addition, buying from them, otherwise known as putting the salesman out, is a singularly unpleasant experience.