Want to buy new VW - any advice on where to buy?

chubsta

As my other half is about to (hopefully) pass her driving test i want to get her a nice shiny car, which i will be intending to keep 'forever', i.e. i don't want to get one intending to replace it after a few years.

We have decided on the new VW 'Up' but cannot find anywhere that sells at anything less than the RRP. Does anyone know of any reputable places that sell at lower prices, or are we better off just going to our local main dealer and if so, any tips on trying to get a little discount?

If all goes well the car will be purchased by credit card (i get cash-back on this) with that balance being paid off when the bill comes in - do i pay for the car when ordering or just pay a deposit and then the rest when it is picked up? Or would i be better off just paying by debit-card? Any and all advice gratefully received...

Indout96

The problem with the "UP" is that its brand new, small and in demand so discounts will be hard to come by. It was the same with the Aygo / C1 / 107 when they came out and the Toyota IQ.

Be aware that you may have to pay quite a charge to pay by credit card. When I bought my last car they were talking about 2% extra as that is what they have to pay. As the money was in our bank I paid by Visa debit at no extra cost.

Obukit

OP - not wanting to dissuade you but are you sure a new car would be the best choice? New drivers are statistically likely to have a bump, scrape or kerb the alloys in their first year, in a new car you would have to repair this or claim through your insurance, which could put pressure on your other half.

Personally I would get a cheap car now and then the new VW after a year when prices for new ones will have dropped a bit. But your choice, of course .

MX5huggy

Most dealers won't take more than a couple of hundred on a credit card as a deposit without charging you around 2% so wiping out your cash back.

chubsta

Thanks for the replies - the 2% cc charge is not something i had considered so that is very interesting to hear about, i guess i could use that as a potential bargaining point but how far i would get with it is up for debate...

I did think about getting an older car initially for the reasons that have been mentioned, however due to work commitments i am not around a lot and need as close to 100% reliability as possible so getting a new car, particularly a VW, seemed the best option, couldn't bear the thought of her being broken down because i tried to save a few quid! Although i am paying for the car it will be owned and registered in my other halts name, that way if she does crash or mark it, well, its not mine so i can't complain!

Cheers for the advice!

Lum

VWs aren't exactly reliable cars any more. They got that reputation thanks to the Mk2 and Mk3 Golf in the 80s/90s and have just been coasting along on that reputation while pumping out mediocre cars.

If you want something reliable that will last you a long time, get a Kia or Hyundai with a 7 year warranty.

Personally I'd just go for an older car and the top level of breakdown cover. Upgrade after she manages to not crash it as a lot of new drivers have a bump in their first car.

verityboo

Lum wrote: »

VWs aren't exactly reliable cars any more. They got that reputation thanks to the Mk2 and Mk3 Golf in the 80s/90s and have just been coasting along on that reputation while pumping out mediocre cars.

If you want something reliable that will last you a long time, get a Kia or Hyundai with a 7 year warranty.

Personally I'd just go for an older car and the top level of breakdown cover. Upgrade after she manages to not crash it as a lot of new drivers have a bump in their first car.

+1

There are plenty of surveys such as this one

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/reliability-survey-2011/258307

(where VW comes 20th out of 35 manufacturers) which show that their cars are average and you could get far better if reliability is your priority

markelock

or the skoda equivalent?

verityboo

markelock wrote: »

or the skoda equivalent?

Yes, if you really want one buy the Skoda version, the dealers are far better. One of the reasons that skoda do so much better in satisfaction surveys

Lum

Vindication of my post in that WhatCar link..

Most reliable car in that survey... Kia Picanto, also one of the lowest average repair costs at £90

dodo69

I beg to differ! I have just completed 26,000 hard miles in a new VW Passat and it has been excellent - £30 Road tax, 60 mpg and amazingly refined. In contrast to friends Toyota that has been back to the garage regularly for faults. We cannot generalize about cars - years ago I bought a beaten up Proton Persona for a few hundred pounds. It never missed a bat in 12,000 miles and I sold it for what I paid for it. Six years later I parked beside it in the local Asda last week and its still going strong!