Buying a new car. What can you ask to be included?

sdavi3680

What can you realistically expect to try and get included for free when buying a new car? Once you have haggled down the price to something you are happy with, what can you then try to add without being too cheeky?
I read that a lot of people get them to include a full tank of petrol, but I have also read about servicing and MOTs. So some would get them to agree to pay for the MOT in a years time? What about servicing, what does that actually mean?
Anything else? If you have bought a car new, what did you get included?

pitkin2020

You talking brand new or just new to you i.e a few years old.
When I bought my pre owned car I knocked the dealer down £500 got 1/2 tank of diesel and had the warranty extended from 1 month to 3 months.
As they say if you don't ask you don't get the worst they can say is no. If I was going for a new car (brand new) I want the tank full atleast.

plane_boy2000

First MOT will be due when its 3 years old - dont think you have got much chance of getting that chucked in, besides its only worth £50.

From a personal standpoint I think its always worth asking, but to do so after a final price is agreed is a bit cheeky - how would you feel if you went to pick it up and they told you that the price you agreed was for the car, but you needed to pay extra for the tax disc and fuel in the tank?

Lay out your full expectations up front and ask them for their best price, then call other dealers and ask for exactly the same package - play them off against each other.

Regarding servicing quite a few manufacturers are offering a fixed service deal now, so worth looking out for.

What car are you looking for so we can advise you what type of discount / deal is achievable

plane_boy2000

Forgot to add that you need to weigh up the value of any extras - i.e. a tank of fuel costs the dealer the same as it costs you, so if you ask for it and get it then thats £60 more on the price of the car as he cant get it any cheaper than you, however, gap insurance, diamond brite, mats, accessiories etc are high margin, so the value to you is greater than the cost to the dealer.

sdavi3680

I'm looking at buying a new Polo 1.4 SE 5dr.

I think it's ok to ask for the extras once you have got the price down to something you are happy with. It would only be a case of me asking what the best price was, whether he could match it with so and so, then once it was matched, just saying if he wants me to buy it here and now, could you throw in.....

Anyway, I didn't even realise that you didn't have to have an MOT on a new vehicle for the first 3 years!

anewman

sdavi3680 wrote: »

Anyway, I didn't even realise that you didn't have to have an MOT on a new vehicle for the first 3 years!

So didn't many other people if you look at the MOT failure data recently posted on the BBC news site. Data was from 2007 and more 2006 cars than you would expect had an MOT.

goldspanners

ask for whatever you like, the salesman won't be offended, he will have had it a million times before, they will give you something,maybe not everything you want.

when i bought new i asked for mudflaps,mats,tank of fuel 12 months road tax. he agreed to full tank of fuel,12 months tax,mudflaps and front mats only. which i though was fair enough.

sdavi3680

BTW the listed price for the Polo is £13,030. From looking online it seems reasonable enough to expect to get it for around £12,100.

I've no idea then, if there are any costs on top of that. Is it normally expected that that would be the 'on the road' price? I mean can you expect road tax to be sorted out for you?

Another thing, what does servicing cover? Am I right in thinking you just take it to the approved garage every year/10,000miles? And this is usually something you get automatically with a new car?

Sorry I've never bought a new car before so really don't know what's involved.

pitkin2020

Get the price down first before asking for extras, they are not extras if they are included in the price.
You ask them for the best price, i.e he says £12,500 you say £12,000 maybe meet in the middle, price agreed, NOW what extras are you willing to throw in, uprated car mats (the plush VW ones), possible first years service, etc etc.

If you say you want the extra car mats, fuel and first years service before you get a price the price of all those items will be included in the price the dealer gives you.

ahillsy

It's all a game, don't show your whole hand too early as they say!

The usual things asked for to be thrown in are full tank of fuel and/or mats. You can also get the first service or so thrown in. In my experience, it's best to get the price down first and then say "throw in xyz and I'll shake your hand now".

The main thing is to haggle hard on the price of the car - if you don't, then you may feel like you're getting a good deal with a tank of fuel or whatever thrown in, but in reality they can well afford to as you haven't badgered them down enough on the price

I haggled for about 3.5 hours, to get the price down by another 4% on the existing deals, which effectively gave me full leather interior for free. Then a full tank of fuel too.

Sitting in silence usually works a treat

Oh, and if you make it clear you have the means to put a deposit down on the day, that usually gets a nibble on the line.

plane_boy2000

New polo is popular and in demand so dont expect to get much discount unless you are a cash buyer with no part ex.

Servicing will be every year on time and distance, or you could have it on long life, but only worth it if you do 15K plus a year. VW have a servicing offer on the polo - £250 for 3 years servicing - 3 services including a brake fluid change - if it was me I would take that as its a good buy.

You also need to factor in the colour you want - red, white, blue non metalic are standard, but all the other colours are £405 extra.

When asking for extras dont forget that the first years tax is already included in the price of the car so dont be fooled into thinking they are "giving" it to you!