Honest Car Dealers around Belfast

jenny-wren

I'm looking to change my ageing small family car for a new or nearly new one.

Anyone got any particular recommendations for a reputable large main dealer within easy reach of Belfast? Basically I'm looking for a dealer that will give me a good deal, won't try to rip me off with my trade in, and can be relied upon to do the same with servicing.

Anybody got any horror stories they want to share?

Before anyone suggests Charles Hurst ... I could tell you a tale or two about two of their dealerships and quite frankly wouldn't buy from them if they were the last dealer in N.I.

Francophile

I wouldn't go near Charles Hurst with a bargepole. I went to Roadside Motors in Lisburn and dealt with a guy called Jeff. He's very laid back, not your usual dodgy car salesman. I traded in and got a lot more than I had expected. Also very happy with the car and the aftersales service.

Jaime-V

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=940335&highlight=car

Have a look at this thread.

Also to add another my H got an Ibiza from Agnew Seat on Boucher Rd and he was happy with the service etc.

Have a look at Parkers for approx guide prices... http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/prices/ but trade ins are always slightly below this.

If you have the time and patience try a few different car dealers and see how much for trade in, though we have tried a few each time and they have always been the same £.

Have a look for servicing deals, H's Ibiza is £185 a year! mine was £150 for 3 years servicing (Colt) Also check the tax band and what the road tax could be in a few years.

HTH

edited to add - I went to Charles Hurst once and never again, a few of my friends have had bad experiences with them too

ooo000ooo

We bought our last car from lowes of larne, price was right, trade in was better than average. Left the car in to get the cam belt and water pump changed a while later and they lent me a car when i asked for a lift to the train station and then charged me less than quoted for the work.

Idiophreak

jenny-wren wrote: »

Honest Car Dealers

Sorry, this just made my laugh...now, where did I put my dehydrated water?

djkaizen

I'd suggest Bells Crossgar if your looking a Renault or Peugeot. But at the same time I wouldnt as I'm selling my 04 megane and its going in the autotrader. 1 more potential buyer.

Its only 20 mins from belfast

Bigcammy

Avoid Hursts and MH Motors like the plague, please.

Phillips Autos on Rosetta Road have been straight with me and I think Agnew's Autoexchange aren't bad.

facingthefuture

I agree about Charles Hurst.....not good.

Ginger_Nuts_2

I heard from someone who knew someone who read somewhere that Bells were terrible and Phillips were a bunch of cowboys:mad:



What i'm saying is that, car dealers, no matter who they are can and do sell cars that turn out to be not to the standard that a customer expects. It really comes down to what you expect from them. There are more than a few people who will go off on a rant if the car 6 months after buying it needs a windscreen wiper totally unjustified, but mud sticks and chinese whispers make the story even worse very quickly. Dealers usually buy from auction, they do their best to get a car to retail level as cheaply as possible, obviously to maximise their profit. In amongst this there will be cars that have faults that they wouldnt have been able to find whilst in the limited use before retail. To me a good dealer is one who can and do deal with aftersales problems quickly and without too much fuss. :cool:

As a by the way, I have heard that Lowes of Larne are good to deal with but I havent had experience myself. I have bought a car from Hursts on boucher road and had no problems with it or the aftersales, in fact, before I bought it, they replaced the front discs, tyres and repaired a small paint blemish on the front bumper, and the car only cost me £3k. I also found them very pleasant. Now the renault part, that was a different story, moneygrabbing and very abrupt and their parts department were rude.

You can find a great car dealer and they just mightnt have a car that you want, so my advice is, go in with your eyes open, if you dont like the sales people, dont buy, walk away, theres other cars out there. And whatever car you get.. health to enjoy it;)

ballyblack

Also the Make/Model you select is important, maybe to lessen the chances of a need for a warranty claim in the first instance?

Francophile

djkaizen wrote: »

I'd suggest Bells Crossgar if your looking a Renault or Peugeot. But at the same time I wouldnt as I'm selling my 04 megane and its going in the autotrader. 1 more potential buyer.

Its only 20 mins from belfast

Bell's might be all right to buy from, I don't know as I didn't buy my renault from them but as far as servicing and repairs go, they seem to just think of a number and a high one at that.