Getting a new/used car

matimage

Ok my ever reliable peeps on MSE, I need some advice/comments/opinions/rants:

We need a new car. Ok, 'need' is a bit of strong word, we would like a new car. At the moment we have a C4, had it since new, lovely car, get around 58mpg from its diesel engine.

Problem is, we have a toddler and another one on the way in Oct. As lovely as the C4 is, it just ain't big enough. We struggle at the moment to get everything in there on days out, let alone when baby2 comes along and we need the second seat to the pram etc...

Got our eye on a Zafira, wanted a 2/3 year old one, similar condition to my car (which is mint). However, these seem to be rarer than hens teeth. So we thought we would look at a new one. But, the amount dealers want to give me for my C4 seems wildly different to the valuation the Whatcar website say I should be getting in part ex.

Don't know if there are any car salesmen on here but perhaps someone could explain how these 2 figures can be so far apart. Whatcar says I should get around £5600. I have been offered £3600 and £4100 by a couple of different dealers.

Basically that means that a new car is ruled out so we are back trawling around for a used one.

Also, I think it seems to be a bit of a myth when people say to get an ex-demo or 1 year old car, I haven't seen any, where are these mythical motors!?

harveybobbles

matimage wrote: »

Whatcar says I should get around £5600. I have been offered £3600 and £4100 by a couple of different dealers.

...because WhatCar is a glossy magazine with pretty pictures and is a "guide" and far from the real world.

The C4, in the Trades eye's are a bit of a lemon. An unwanted one at that. We've always struggled with them. Petrols, diesels, coupes, 5doors, base ones, leathered up things. No one wants them. They's rather have a Focus/Astra.

If you have been offered 3600-4100 then that is more likey to be the real value.

If WhatCar suggests you should et 5600 for it, then why not sell it yourself in the paper etc?

daveyjp

The trade in is only half the story - cost to change is what you negotiate. If the trade in is lower than what you think it should be, the car you want should be discounted to reflect this.

Unfortunately driving your Citroen into a Vauxhall dealer already puts you on the back foot - the Vauxhall dealer has to get rid of a Citroen, if they don't have a Citroen dealer as part of their group they have to sell it on to a Citroen dealer.

What are similar cars to yours costing at dealers? Take off £1,000-£1500 and this is the trade in value the dealer will work on.

If your car really is worth £5,600 then dealers will be looking at £7-7,500 when it's on the forecourt - is this what they are asking?

Try going to a Citroen dealer and look at Picassos instead.

matimage

Thanks both. Have to ask then what is the point of whatcar? If it is purely going to give me an inaccurate idea of what to expect and then feel disappointed when that price doesn't materialise...

I understand the Vauxhall issue, however the Picasso's are a bit out of my price range.

ZootHornRollo

have you tried Glasses or Parkers price guides for a valuation?

I have found these to be fairly accurate in the past. You also need to remember that there is often a price difference depending on where you are - some types of cars sell better in different areas.

harveybobbles

Glasses, Parkers, WhatCar, CAP etc - they are all car guides. With the emphasis on the word "guide". Nothing more, nothing less. They are already a month out of date from when they get printed anyway.

We pay hundreds each year to subscribe to Glasses and CAP, but at the end of the day we use our own experience and research to value a car.

flyingscotno1

matimage wrote: »

Also, I think it seems to be a bit of a myth when people say to get an ex-demo or 1 year old car, I haven't seen any, where are these mythical motors!?

Not a myth, just have to look for them as they are in demand. I've never found any issues in getting 1 year old cars.

matimage

Hmm, Parkers has price it part-ex at £4145 and private at around £4700. Bummer...

matimage

flyingscotno1 wrote: »

Not a myth, just have to look for them as they are in demand. I've never found any issues in getting 1 year old cars.

Any advice for that? Do you go to dealers/private etc?

matimage

Although I do have to add, after some of you have burned me for believing whatcars valuations, that I have been to one dealer to look at a picasso and the price they offered me was lower than whatcars (and parkers) and what they wanted for their car was much higher then whatcars and parker valued it.

Now theres a surprise.

ZootHornRollo

i think thats the point at which you strat bartering.

They are always going to start low on your car and high on theirs. You go the opposite way and hopefully you meet in the middle.