Is it really possible to get a good deal on a brand new car?

TiTheRev

Idiophreak wrote: »

Aren't all car sales fairly slow at the mo?

ie I'm sure you can push almost as hard on used cars still - so if you've got a nearly-new car that was 17k now on the forecourt for 12k, sure you'll be able to push that down a good amount still, maybe not *as much* as a new car, but a fair amount still...

So I'd have thought buying nearly-new still gets you more car for your cash...

There's more money in used than new atm. An example was a car my brother was interested in. The dealership I work for offered him the car at cost price. £600 discount *new*, or a used one with 30k on the clock and a couple of years old £2500 discount on the forcourt price...

Margins are a lot less than you'd think on new cars

Chris2685

Sorry for all the questions...

What would be likely to happen if I said I would buy it at slightly less discount on finance but expected a lower rate than their standard, or even 0%? Would they even be able to do that, or is that out of the dealers hands?

I really don't have much more than £3500 to spend on a car, but I am just trying to get all the angles of the beneifits of buying new in the current market compared with buying second hand. If I could get a good deal on a car that is new I would be willing to go higher and spread the payments...

I will probably just end up going for the safest option and buying a second hand one within my budget really. I don't need to buy one until around end of November, but it would be nice to get it earlier.

Idiophreak

Chris2685 wrote: »

I really don't have much more than £3500 to spend on a car, but I am just trying to get all the angles of the beneifits of buying new in the current market compared with buying second hand.

The way I see it...Benefits of a new car:

* Get exactly what you specify
* No "where has this been?" questions
* No "life" taken out of car
* No MOT for a couple of years
* Warranty
* "Dealer" service, finance deals etc etc

The top 3 really are new car specific...
The bottom 3 you'll get to some extent either with new or nearly new...

When I bought my car, it had something like 40% off the "new" price, it was under a year old, looked as-new and had 4k on the clock. Because the price was (relatively) so low, I got *more* stuff than I'd have specified if buying new. I got a good deal in terms of servicing, guarantee etc, so I was able to overcome my fears about previous owners...and with such low milage I wasn't overly bothered about the "life" being taken out of the thing, either.

Obviously, it's all personal preference, but I'd have thought it would take *a lot* of weird stuff to happen before it becomes better value to buy a brand new car...

On the finance stuff - best thing is to ask. The dealerships *can* to some extent control what they offer you, so use it as another stick to beat them down with.

lincroft1710

Chris - the main downside on buying new car is DEPRECIATION. Decide what your preferred car(s) is/are, look it/them up on Parkers or What Car website and see what trade in value is after just one year, compared to new list price. Also remember if they are discounting new cars this year, next year trade in will be proportionately lower.

Chris2685

True, I think I will stick with the second hand market! Thanks for all the advice.

nickbennison

Motorpoint have new a Ford Focus, 58 reg, 1.6 manual, silver for £9699
http://www.motorpoint.co.uk
Why buy second hand?

Chris2685

Nice. Shame I had most of my savings in IceSave isn't it.

Idiophreak

nickbennison wrote: »

Motorpoint have new a Ford Focus, 58 reg, 1.6 manual, silver for £9699
http://www.motorpoint.co.uk
Why buy second hand?

Without even trying I've found 1.8zetecs with sports packs, top of the range for 9k or just under. 08 plate, around 5k or less on the clock...

To answer your question then...
"Why buy second hand?"
"Because you get more car for less money."

Hope IceSave works out OK for you, Chris - sure it will.

AdrianHi

Chris2685,
Expect you've heard on the news by now you will be able to recover your icesave savings from the UK FCSC who will be writing to you. Will take time to get the money though.

Either go nearly new up to a year old or stick to what your cash budget will get you. Cars are depreciating fast right now, so putting as little money as possible into one seems sensible now.

Chris2685

Thanks Adrian. In light of these financial troubles, and not having as much of a safety net as we had before IceSave died, I think we will just be spending as little as possible to get a car suitable for our needs...