car buying

madlyn

going to look at a couple of new cars tomorrow, something i've not done for 7 yrs.
and advise so as a woman on my own the salesperson doesn't try to get one over on me?

oldhand

Best advise is take someone (man or woman) who knows about cars.Have you a particular make you like and a price range?,will you need it for long journeys often and will it be used for carrying many passengers (children) a lot?
Have you held a licence long and are you under 21 (for insurance purposes),all this will make a difference.You say your looking at new cars,is that new to you? as not many people here and certainly not myself would recommend buying any car brand new.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Assume, as you would with a politician, that every word they say is a lie and you won't go far wrong.

Much depends on your budget, if you're into new car budget you could find what you like and then check the online brokers later.

If its used the first thing to look at is the tyres, set of good tyres of proper make with a set of clean unworn brake discs shining between the spokes is promising.
Similarly a set of cheap Chinese rubbish or a mismatched set of worn tyres complete with splits and bulges and the sidewalls showing as much wear as the treads, plus scored pitted rusting set of worn out brake discs hiding behind the ingrained dirt on the scraped and pitted alloys is evidence the likely TLC the rest of the car has received.

Don't sign anything there and then, do not put a deposit down, do not be pressured into GAP insurance, tyre insurance, magical paint and interior treatments even more magical than the most magical anti ageing cream, do not be taken in by their finance offers until you've gone away and thought deeply about things...sales people get big bonuses for flogging these vastly overpriced extras, and they will be desperate to sign you up before you can go away and think.

some car supermarket shark operations best avoided, one or two worth the effort though.

If you want to give us a clue about budget and what you're looking for, usage, mileage, length of prospective ownership, we might be able to offer better advice.

forgotmyname

New or Used? Price range?

Do you know what car your going to choose? Several cars on the list?

Be prepared, Google all the cars you maybe interested in and what faults they have. Then get the prices so you know where to start haggling.

spacey2012

Everyone buying a car likes to buy a story with it, I am sure the dealer will have just the right tall story to match the car.
The truth is they came from the local auction and they know nothing about the car other than it is parked on the forecourt.

The biggest no, is DEPOSITS, go back with the cash and complete the transaction in one go.

madlyn

it's "new" to me but is second hand.
i'm going to a toyota dealer to look at aygo's and my budget is 5k.
oh, and my sister is coming with me now.

gilbert_and_sullivan

madlyn wrote: »

it's "new" to me but is second hand.
i'm going to a toyota dealer to look at aygo's and my budget is 5k.
oh, and my sister is coming with me now.

Car and sales site both good as good a bet as any, try to get 2010 on if you can still be under the 5 year warranty.

I don't know if any lower spec Aygos came without air con, worth having if poss there is a lot of glass in an Aygo.

daveyjp

These cars are known for letting in water, so check for leaks. Look in the boot and take the spare wheel out and look for water. If it is dry, but the wheel is rusty around the central hub its a sign of leaks into the boot which have been dried out. Have a look best you can at the front brakes and see how worn they are.

Also watch Toyota dealers they will add expensive car polish and GAP insurance to any price, ensure it is removed before you start negotiating.

Aircon is a must have.

forgotmyname

Go early in the morning especially if its damp. See the cars with condensation inside.

Possible leaks.

Do you know what model/year/spec you can get for £5000?

check the autotrader and ebay completed listings.

victor2

IME main dealers won't shift much on price, but assuming you see one you like, try to negotiate some extras into the deal once you've politely declined their extras that empty your wallet and fill theirs. Things like repairs to minor scuffs or stone chips, a full service and dealing with any advisories given on the new MOT they should get for it, if it is over 3 years old. Just think of things they can sort out at very little direct cost to them, but that would cost you a significant amount as a paying customer.

Hoof_Hearted

Remember the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 107 are virtually the same car and may be better value.