Buying new car for first time - help!

girl*in*green

My car died on Monday and I'm now considering buying a new car (a VW Up!) but I'm rather overwhelmed by all the information and additional costs involved. I've had some quotes from the local VW dealership - are all the extras necessary and worth the money? The two add-ons I'm interested to get advice on in particular are the VW protection plan (an additional £1250 on top of the price) and service plan (£199 extra). Should I definitely have these? Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks!

jimjames

As this is a money saving site my advice would be to not buy a new car. If you get one a year or so old you will avoid some of the worst depreciation and still have warranty etc.

Can you explain what the protection plan includes? If it is for faults then £1250 sounds a lot of money for something that should be covered by their warranty

girl*in*green

Thanks jimjames. The plan includes:

Retail Price Protection
Autoglym Lifeshine Protection
Tyre and Alloy Wheel Insurance
Cosmetic Warranty

Nodding_Donkey

Is that the £1250 wax and polish that they guarantee for three years?

There are loads of car detailing products available that will be as good and a lot less money.

If I were you I would price all the elements up individually, from the product suppliers not from VW, and save yourself the dealers commission.

girl*in*green

Thanks - so I can safely decline that part of the plan then?

gilbert_and_sullivan

girl*in*green wrote: »

Thanks jimjames. The plan includes:

Retail Price Protection
Autoglym Lifeshine Protection
Tyre and Alloy Wheel Insurance
Cosmetic Warranty

So, Gap insurance @ around £150 via the net.
Posh wax polish, circa £15 and some elbow grease.
Don't drive on builders sites or into pot holes or smack kerbs and you won't damage tyres or wheels.
Presumably cosmetic warranty is a pre pay service for getting any minor parking dings scratches etc sorted, but could be wrong there.

I reckon that plan is overpriced by about £1k, but a nice little earner for the sales bod if you were to sign up.

As above, buy used, if you buy a year old Kia Picanto instead it will have 6 years makers warranty still to go.

motorguy

girl*in*green wrote: »

My car died on Monday and I'm now considering buying a new car (a VW Up!) but I'm rather overwhelmed by all the information and additional costs involved. I've had some quotes from the local VW dealership - are all the extras necessary and worth the money? The two add-ons I'm interested to get advice on in particular are the VW protection plan (an additional £1250 on top of the price) and service plan (£199 extra). Should I definitely have these? Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks!

Based on what you've subsequently said, its a definite NO to the VW protection plan.

The service plan, yes, i'd go for it.

I would probably buy new - this model is still quite new and is very much in demand on the used market. You're going to end up paying close to list and not to be able to avail of finance offers, servicing offers and your choice of spec.

If you do want to save money though theres the mechanically identical SEAT Mii and the Skoda Citigo, both are cheaper.

motorguy

Also, you should be able to knock £300-£500 off the list price, based on what the likes of broadspeed are offering.

http://www.broadspeed.com/new_cars/Volkswagen/Up/

girl*in*green

This is all really helpful, thanks so much. I have looked at the Citigo but I'm not as keen on the colours (shallow, I know, but if I'm buying new...) but I'll look at the Mii. I'll see if I can get the price down so more based on that broadspeed link. I'm pleased I asked about the plan - the way the dealer spoke about it, it didn't sound optional! They must smell an inexperienced buyer a mile off.

motorguy

girl*in*green wrote: »

This is all really helpful, thanks so much. I have looked at the Citigo but I'm not as keen on the colours (shallow, I know, but if I'm buying new...) but I'll look at the Mii. I'll see if I can get the price down so more based on that broadspeed link. I'm pleased I asked about the plan - the way the dealer spoke about it, it didn't sound optional! They must smell an inexperienced buyer a mile off.

They'll try to dismiss the broadspeed offer as "we dont compete with internet sellers", but broadspeed merely put you in touch with the dealer who will do the car at that price in your area. Be firm - tell them unless you can see some sort of discount, you'll have to look elsewhere first.

Theres very little profit in cars any more, so dealers really make their money instead on the add ons. Again, if they try to insist, walk and buy elsewhere.

Car_Complaints

The protection plan "NO" it all depends what the "Service Plan" has to offer if its for 3 years servicing then go for it for £199 or you could tell them to throw it in as part of the deal.

Just to warn you that VW UP's suffer from gearbox problems, mainly very noisy
VW's response will be "Its a characteristic of the vehicle"

The UP is a "base" model to compete with all the other small cars out their, and from experience it shows, lack of sound deadening interiors not great..you can get more for your money...echoing what JimJames says "Do you need to buy new"