buying a car -tips required

Nicksky

Hi all, i have my cash savings ready to buy an MPV.
I intend to buy a citroen c8 or 807(essentailly the same model).

Any tips on how to get the most from my cash 16-17k????
should i wave 1k less than the screen price in cash under the main dealers nose?
or does anyone have any othwer more subtle approaches.

Thanks.

PhiL_P_3

Check out Honest John's guide to buying at http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/buy_sell/index.htm

fwhorn

Wouldnt touch a french car, because when they get a fault it can be quite costly especially an electrical one. If you are going for a 7 seater there is quite a few good ones on the market. I can recommend the land rover Disco TD5 (52 onwards), Touran (dear but VW) or what about the Vauxhall Zafira GSI. Cant help you much with a dealer, but have a good nosey on the intenet for car supermarkets and the likes of. If you live near a BCA (British car auctions) you can buy direct with warranty or bid on a car you like and purchase a warranty, some bargains to be had. All in all i Woudn't touch a french car, there will be many a people who will disagree. Having friends in the game helps.

Hope this helps.

PhiL_P_3

fwhorn wrote:

Wouldnt touch a french car, because when they get a fault it can be quite costly especially an electrical one.

I would have to agree just having gotten rid of a Citroen C5 after two very costly years..

startrekker

:rotfl: How many are you buying, seems you have 4 or 5 threads going at once here:rotfl:

bikebarbie

i would strongly reccomed you have a browse through the https://www.whatcar.co.uk website. They have a breakdown on all cars (speed, mpg, insurance, tax...) and you can even compare between cars. There are also real reviews from people who own the car and tell you exactly how it is. As far as I can remember last year the best MPV was rated to be the Vauxall Zafira, also remember like everything else is better to buy a "better - more expensive" badged car at lower specs (reliability and well built stil there) than top of the range of a cheaper car.

I bought a new car 6 months ago and I also found that when you go to a dealer and they give you a quote you can ask for a written quotation, they are legally obliged to provide you one even if they like to bully customers in thinking that they dont do this. The only reason they dont want to give them is because they want to stop customers from playing dealers against each other and that's exactly what you need to do if you want a good deal. (you should be able to find an article about this on whatcar website too)

Best of luck !

aahbarnes

fwhorn wrote:

Wouldnt touch a french car, because when they get a fault it can be quite costly especially an electrical one. If you are going for a 7 seater there is quite a few good ones on the market. I can recommend the land rover Disco TD5 (52 onwards), Touran (dear but VW) or what about the Vauxhall Zafira GSI.

You the OP not to buy french and then recommend a Land Rover Disco, a car which came 13th from bottom of the JD Power survey?

Jazzy_B

I did my research and test drives at garages 20 miles away. When I'd decided on the car, I researched prices on web by brokers sites (in Martin's main article), Parkers and Whatcar. I then went to my local dealer, laughed at his first offer, and told him I could buy car from another dealer several hundred pounds cheaper. I dropped in the name of the dealer 20 miles away.He came up with his best offer. I told him I would think about it. This was cheaper than broker sites. I then went back to him, and said if he was prepared to drop price by another £200, I would deal with him. He agreed and threw in free mats and metallic paint. I saved around £1000 on a car costing under £9000, got mats, metallic paint and got far more than any other garage had offered p/ex
Buying in December also helped, as the showrooms were dead, and their targets have to be met by the end of the month.
My OH also bought a new car recently. The dealer wasn't interested in a cash sale, and was really pushing a finance deal
You might get more replies posting on the Motoring forum.

Bargainbabe_2

You need to do your thorough research of prices and just because you have cash doesn't mean you are guaranteed a better deal. Dealers make money from selling finance packages. And boy, will they try and push this, along with the gap insurance, the paint finish guarantee, upholstrey guarantee, and anything that they will make money out of!!
Once you have a figure in mind, go and test drive your chosen car and don't get carried away. When it comes to doing the deal, stick to your price, try and get extras thrown in and most of all don't get pulled in by their emotional patter....it's all part of getting the most out of you that they can.

I went through this recently. I researched for 3 months before buying the car and I knew exactly what I wanted and how much I was will to spend. They tried to flog me the finance and all the other bumph which I politely turned down, although the way the manager went on, you would of thought it was the best thing since sliced bread (I think not, love)

In the end I spent £1000 less than planned with a tank of petrol, mats and 6 months tax thrown in.
It can be done if you can keep control and stay calm. Just don't get sucked in.

hops1963

Buy a Honda - quality build and hold their prices much better.

lancs_girl_2

Hi just read above can someone please advise me where is the motoring forum, is it on this site? thanks