Should I buy new or nearly new?

superdon

FelinePrincess wrote: »

Those who have had good deals, how long did it take from start to finish?

About a week or two. Give them the best price, ask them to match it. They will probably come close, but probably above. Then, give them time to stew and they will call back. If I had waited just another few hours, I had another dealer offering me a better deal, worth about another £400!

Personally, I found the best price, then spent a bit of time emailing a load of dealers with the deal asking them to beat it. Doesnt matter where they are, even the other end of the country. If one dealer will do a price, you'll find another closer that will match it. Saves the time on calls, and I find it a lot less hassle. I probably emailed about 15 - 20 dealers. Some will not get back, some will decline to get involved, but a few will be desperate for your business. Its good fun!

You might be better being a little bit flexible on the colour and spec (especially specific extras). Unless you are lucky, they might have to do a full new factory order which might decrease the chance of a good deal and lead to quite a long wait.

Also, keep in mind the VAT increase in January and the rumoured (not confirmed?) Ford price increases next month.

FelinePrincess

I do about 25 thousand miles a year, maybe a bit more which is why I had planned on getting a diesel. I read lots of reviews for the old shape model and it sounded alright but I have been able to find much less info on the new model. What problems do you know of with the diesels?

I will be flexible on spec if it means a price saving, colour and extras aren't too important to me but nice to have the added luxury and fave colour if possible!

I am very concious of the vat increase so want to make sure I'm not affected by that. The rumoured ford price increase is a concern aswell as it doesn't leave that much time. I would love to know for definite if it's happening, do you think ford would give me an honest answer if I asked? Either way I want a new car ASAP as my current car is beginning to give me more problems so the sooner it goes the better!

E-mailing garages sounds like a good plan - I think I will try and get started on that tomorrow.

Have you got your new fiesta now then? Must be a great feeling!

cyclonebri1

superdon wrote: »

I know you are just winding us up now and I shouldn't bite but...

When did I say I didn't have the cash? Have more than enough to pay cash thank you. I said I never intended to pay cash and never would.

You really are scraping at the barrel.

I have to apologuise, I did miss remember that, you say you didn't want to pay cash.

But that makes it even worse. In these days of very low savings interest rates can you honestly suggest that you can retain more interest on the "more than enough cash":rolleyes: you have to cover the interest on any outstanding finance???, I'll save you bother of getting the brain cell warmed up, you can't


Well you did bite.

FelinePrincess

Forgot to mention, that price was from drivethedeal.com, as far as I can see there are no extra costs.

cyclonebri1

matt1987 wrote: »

Some people prefer to have the cash sitting in the bank account though cyclone. I have £1100 outstanding on my current car, and I also have way over that sitting in a saving account. I could if I wanted to pay it off, but I am comfortable paying my monthly payment, and not struggling at all, while my savings are there for an emergency and gaining interest.

Same as my new one. I chose to put down £2000 cash down plus my £5500 car instead of more cash and less monthly payments, which I could easily do.

My payments over 3 years will be £157 a month. Over 2 years they would have been £227 a month - £13 over what I am paying now. Its hardly going to break my bank, and I am hardly in severe debt because of it. Infact, believe it or not but having a car on finance has actually helped me big time, because before last year I had no credit history. Now I have a fantastic credit history because of taking such a big sum out and paying it all back on time!

Sensible values Matt, you need a cash reserve, and believe me a fair few years ago ago I was struggling to achieve this, but;


I have a !!!!poor credit rating, probably, why, because I never had loans, never had HP etc, I did have a mortgage once but that was for £9 not £90K back in the 80's.


When I couldn't afford the cash for a nicer car I bought a nice car for £s cash

I have never had negative equity in anything major and those values have stood me well.

You can't blame Gordon Brown or the banks for everything, they can't lend if you/we don't borrow