want to buy a newish car and don't know where to start!

Dodgybloke

Albionrover suggested the parkers guide. Unfortunately this is only any good for private sale prices, even then it's optimistic. Private sale, you're better off comparing like for like on Autotrader. For trade in prices at a garage, you need to know the bible the garages use which is the Glass's guide. This gives you the actual prices garages are paying. Best place to get the price is via the AA website. Go to the Motoring Advice link and then select "car prices." Then put in you car details including mileage, and you'll get the exact price. However, a 51 car may not be listed. Older cars are necessarily kept.

I gave my dad the glass's guide price to his car. Originally, the garage offered him bottom price for his car. After what I told him, he got top price and he can't haggle for toffee.

Hope that helps

cyclonebri1

Idiophreak wrote: »

I read somewhere that most places have something like 15% to haggle with, so I wouldn't accept less than a 10% discount. Find a car for, say, 5k, offer them something like 4,3 or 4,4 on a take it or leave it basis. They'll probably try and make you sweat it out "ooh, I'm gonna have to go and call my manager" blah blah blah, but they'll probably take it in the end..

Used to be true but an increasing number of the major independants are now operating a one price for all system. Believe me I've tried arguing (haggling) with them. You can't even get them to fix a mark on the car, or nick a better ally wheel from a similar car they have. Seems to be "what you see is what you get".

Which sometimes is OK if the car is exactly what you want.;)

Inactive

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Used to be true but an increasing number of the major independants are now operating a one price for all system. Believe me I've tried arguing (haggling) with them. You can't even get them to fix a mark on the car, or nick a better ally wheel from a similar car they have. Seems to be "what you see is what you get".

Which sometimes is OK if the car is exactly what you want.;)

Easy cure, walk away, it is a buyers market. I wouldn't buy from someone that wasn't prepared to repair any marks.

ljbnotts

Thanks for all your help everyone, i'm off tommorrow to see what i can get! Wish me luck on a good deal!

bigturnip

Go in when it's been raining for a few days, they will be short of sales when it is raining, also the best weather to test drive a car in.

anewman

I'm always a bit unsure of lifting a bonnet in the rain in case of causing damage to electrical components.

cyclonebri1

anewman wrote: »

I'm always a bit unsure of lifting a bonnet in the rain in case of causing damage to electrical components.

Thats a good test then? Would you want to buy a car with disolving electrics?;)

I would never buy/view a car in the wet, you could miss a multitude of bodywork problems. Test drive in wet? if thats important to you

cyclonebri1

Inactive wrote: »

Easy cure, walk away, it is a buyers market. I wouldn't buy from someone that wasn't prepared to repair any marks.

I thought exactly the same but when youv'e haggled elsewhere and the ideal car you've found is at such as availablecar.com, (recent experience), where they will not budge on price, well?:money:

The heart/pride says walk away, but the brain/pocket says go for the best or cheapest overall deal.;)

Inactive

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I thought exactly the same but when youv'e haggled elsewhere and the ideal car you've found is at such as availablecar.com, (recent experience), where they will not budge on price, well?:money:

The heart/pride says walk away, but the brain/pocket says go for the best or cheapest overall deal.;)

Fair enough, to each his / her own, I still would never buy a car from a dealer that wasn't prepared to put the faults right before a sale, chances are they never checked it over mechanically either.

You may as well buy at auction if you are happy to buy " as is ".

But I do know what you are saying.;)

Little_John

A small tip for you when buying Peugeot. The company opperates a fleet of veichles for all their employees they get a brand new car to their own request so if they want a 207cc with all the bells and whistles that is what they get. When their car aproaches 6000 miles they order a new car the car when it reaches 6000 miles goes in to the used car market and is available for peugeot dealerships to take on and sell. The car is inspected for faults etc and the employee is fined for any mark so these cars are well looked after.

The prices take a huge hit due to them no longer being new cars, I know someone who works for peugeot and he has 8 differnet cars a year often 207cc's so you can get a very good deal on what is almost a new car that has been looked after if you get the ones with about 6000 miles on the clock.

General tips when buying anything is know the figures, most trade price guides like GAP and glasses dont have values for very new cars but if you can find a rough guide for the trade price and aim to get it as close to that as you can you re getting a good deal. Never tell a dealer/dealership what you are prepared to pay never give any indiaction of your funds untill you are happy with a deal they come back with. I find it is usually dificult for a sales person to come back with a single figure of the amount they want for the car. but push them and they will come back with a number eventually. If they don't then get up and leave and tell them why it usually forces them in to giving you the price then you can start knockin them down, a good way is to look for faults in the car slightest marks etc can all be used to knock the prices down.