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Car Giant Review
Kazaa218917
Posts: 45 Forumite
in Motoring
Hi folks.
Not sure if there is a review thread on here. just seen many discussions about peoples various experiences and one in particular person who had a really nasty experience. which was part of the same thread which I believe is now closed.
So if im allowed, I thought I would put up my thoughts on my experience with this MASSIVELY POPULAR company!
As we know, they are based in London (Near White City).
So, what has my experience been?
I bought a Honda Civic S-Type Si from them 60 plate with 30k miles on the clock. Good condition. I was looking to view a couple of other Civic's that they had but each time, the cars were sold within an hour of being available to view.
So I missed out on a second Civic by 15 minutes! gutted! Then asked them to show me anything else that was within my requirements. Took it out for a test drive, and within an hour, the deal was sealed.
They tried to sell me AA Warranty, Gard X and GAP Insurance.
All 3 sounded great and I would have gone for the GAP Insurance and AA Warranty for peace of mind. However, Budget meant I had to politely decline.
I dont regret it either. I purchased the Gard X kit on ebay for £45 in total and treated the car myself.
A few days down the line, I realised that the rear De-Mister wasnt working & brakes were whistling. Called up CG and they asked for me to book it in. Took it in yesterday, and this morning I received a call this morning....Brake Pads were replaced and rear de mister was fixed.
there are lots of people who have advised me to go for AA or RAC health check on the car etc....I would say make a list of things you think are not right, take it to your local / regular mechanic and ask him if he can check it for you. you will probably pay less than RAC / AA health check (approx 250 to 300 quid) and take the list to CG and see what they say. I know if i replaced Brake Pads with my mechanic, he would charge me approx 250 quid including Labour.
Customer service was brilliant. there was no forced sales and they did try to convince me to go for the extra's. but no pressure at all. Just a repetition a couple of times that things may be beneficial. However, that didnt bother me much.
To summarise, I would bur from Car Giant again.
Not sure if there is a review thread on here. just seen many discussions about peoples various experiences and one in particular person who had a really nasty experience. which was part of the same thread which I believe is now closed.
So if im allowed, I thought I would put up my thoughts on my experience with this MASSIVELY POPULAR company!
As we know, they are based in London (Near White City).
So, what has my experience been?
I bought a Honda Civic S-Type Si from them 60 plate with 30k miles on the clock. Good condition. I was looking to view a couple of other Civic's that they had but each time, the cars were sold within an hour of being available to view.
So I missed out on a second Civic by 15 minutes! gutted! Then asked them to show me anything else that was within my requirements. Took it out for a test drive, and within an hour, the deal was sealed.
They tried to sell me AA Warranty, Gard X and GAP Insurance.
All 3 sounded great and I would have gone for the GAP Insurance and AA Warranty for peace of mind. However, Budget meant I had to politely decline.
I dont regret it either. I purchased the Gard X kit on ebay for £45 in total and treated the car myself.
A few days down the line, I realised that the rear De-Mister wasnt working & brakes were whistling. Called up CG and they asked for me to book it in. Took it in yesterday, and this morning I received a call this morning....Brake Pads were replaced and rear de mister was fixed.
there are lots of people who have advised me to go for AA or RAC health check on the car etc....I would say make a list of things you think are not right, take it to your local / regular mechanic and ask him if he can check it for you. you will probably pay less than RAC / AA health check (approx 250 to 300 quid) and take the list to CG and see what they say. I know if i replaced Brake Pads with my mechanic, he would charge me approx 250 quid including Labour.
Customer service was brilliant. there was no forced sales and they did try to convince me to go for the extra's. but no pressure at all. Just a repetition a couple of times that things may be beneficial. However, that didnt bother me much.
To summarise, I would bur from Car Giant again.
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Comments
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Kazaa218917 wrote: »
I know if i replaced Brake Pads with my mechanic, he would charge me approx 250 quid including Labour.
A bit of a tongue in cheek comment here, but if you are happy to pay a mechanic £250 to change brake pads, it wouldnt convince me that you got a good deal from CG, which given from your review they seem to have behaved only as anyone would expect them to, would be a differentiator for me?
Were you able to negotiate a discount off the sticker price?
What about the "admin fee" of £99 for buying? Did they knock that off?0 -
A bit of a tongue in cheek comment here, but if you are happy to pay a mechanic £250 to change brake pads, it wouldnt convince me that you got a good deal from CG, which given from your review they seem to have behaved only as anyone would expect them to, would be a differentiator for me?
Were you able to negotiate a discount off the sticker price?
What about the "admin fee" of £99 for buying? Did they knock that off?
Hi Paul
CG's prices are non negotiable. including the £99. they havent charged me a penny to repair the car which is the important thing.
Its not expected for a seller to offer after sales repairs. My last car was a Honda Jazz, purchased from a dealer who offered no warranty or repairs what so ever. And if CG are offering to sell me AA Warranty in the first place, I didnt expect them to repair the car tbh. I thought they would turn around and say...We told you to take the warranty and you didnt.
Also, after all the price hunting I did for the Civic, I personally think I got a good deal on the car. Its condition is impeccable for a second hand vehicle.
Point to note for new buyers from Car Giant. Always ask to see the Log Book if they have it before test driving the car. see who the previous owners were. Mine was 1 owner from new. the other one I looked at was Motability car. and a third I looked at was that of a divorced couple....the lady probably got the car as part of settlement.... It can aid towards your decision to test drive or not.0 -
Kazaa218917 wrote: »
Hi Paul
CG's prices are non negotiable. including the £99.
So they actually charged you MORE than the advertised price? Do other dealers not normally discount their price?Kazaa218917 wrote: »
they havent charged me a penny to repair the car which is the important thing.
Its not expected for a seller to offer after sales repairs.
It is TOTALLY expected of a dealer to offer after sales repairs - that is their obligation under the Sale of Goods Act.Kazaa218917 wrote: »
My last car was a Honda Jazz, purchased from a dealer who offered no warranty or repairs what so ever.
If he was not warranting the condition of his cars, then he was breaking the law.Kazaa218917 wrote: »
And if CG are offering to sell me AA Warranty in the first place, I didnt expect them to repair the car tbh.
CG sell warranties because it makes them extra profit and also helps them evade their responsibilities under the SOGA - they're actually making you pay for something they are legally obliged to do themselves.
Other dealers will include a warranty as standard, not "adding it on" as an extra charge.Kazaa218917 wrote: »
I thought they would turn around and say...We told you to take the warranty and you didnt.
They would know better legally than to try that.Kazaa218917 wrote: »
Also, after all the price hunting I did for the Civic, I personally think I got a good deal on the car. Its condition is impeccable for a second hand vehicle.
But you may have been able to haggle £500 or £1000 off other cars making them cheaper than CG, AND you wouldnt have been charged EXTRA for the admin and warranty that other dealers include as standard?0 -
Kazaa218917 wrote:
Point to note for new buyers from Car Giant. Always ask to see the Log Book if they have it before test driving the car .......... and a third I looked at was that of a divorced couple....
How could you tell that from the v5?0 -
So they actually charged you MORE than the advertised price? Do other dealers not normally discount their price?
It is TOTALLY expected of a dealer to offer after sales repairs - that is their obligation under the Sale of Goods Act.
If he was not warranting the condition of his cars, then he was breaking the law.
CG sell warranties because it makes them extra profit and also helps them evade their responsibilities under the SOGA - they're actually making you pay for something they are legally obliged to do themselves.
Other dealers will include a warranty as standard, not "adding it on" as an extra charge.
They would know better legally than to try that.
But you may have been able to haggle £500 or £1000 off other cars making them cheaper than CG, AND you wouldnt have been charged EXTRA for the admin and warranty that other dealers include as standard?
Points noted and I take myself as educated. Much appreciated.
But I think if anyone does manage to get Car Giant to discount their price without finding problems in the vehicle....they should share it on here how they did it.... all their sales guys say the same...our prices are non negotiable. (they are not wrong to say that anyway)0 -
Kazaa218917 wrote: »Points noted and I take myself as educated. Much appreciated.
But I think if anyone does manage to get Car Giant to discount their price without finding problems in the vehicle....they should share it on here how they did it.... all their sales guys say the same...our prices are non negotiable. (they are not wrong to say that anyway)
No, their prices are fixed.
Which is a very nice tactic for them - but then fair enough i suppose - they set themselves up as a car supermarket and none of us go into Tescos and negotiate on the price
Glad you got a car you are happy with. My son had a similar one - 1.8i VTEC Exec, black, black leather, panoramic roof and sat nav - for a couple of years there and it was totally faultless during the time.0 -
A bit of a tongue in cheek comment here, but if you are happy to pay a mechanic £250 to change brake pads, it wouldnt convince me that you got a good deal from CG, which given from your review they seem to have behaved only as anyone would expect them to, would be a differentiator for me?
Were you able to negotiate a discount off the sticker price?
What about the "admin fee" of £99 for buying? Did they knock that off?
Do you knock money off at Lidl?
Actually got £300 off our Clio back when we boughg it from CG
But only because it was nearing its end of stock date and was one of a few cars marked up as managers sale.
You always speak about this £99
Get over it.
Next you will be showing similar cars in the North of England that compare in price but then again the dealer will have lower overheads
London prices are higher than Northern England.
Again. Please get over that aswell.
What is a fact is that a problem with a purchase for fixed quickly without fanfare, argument or two journeys to the North of England and back!
Myself, family and friends have bought many cars fom CarGiant and The Great Trade Centre before that.
Indeed if you want ex motability they seem to be getting the choice of the defleet motors.
If i need to financs i will happily use CG again.
If i have the cash in my pocket i will as per usual consider buying from auction first.
Must really annoy Motorguy that so many people are happy with CG
And not petty enough to moan about £99 which is mentioned pretty much everywhere.
OP. Glad you had decent service.
Cars do sell quick though. But the advantage you have going there is there are usually alternatives to buy.0 -
Do you knock money off at Lidl?
Actually got £300 off our Clio back when we boughg it from CG
But only because it was nearing its end of stock date and was one of a few cars marked up as managers sale.
You always speak about this £99
Get over it.
Next you will be showing similar cars in the North of England that compare in price but then again the dealer will have lower overheads
London prices are higher than Northern England.
Again. Please get over that aswell.
What is a fact is that a problem with a purchase for fixed quickly without fanfare, argument or two journeys to the North of England and back!
Myself, family and friends have bought many cars fom CarGiant and The Great Trade Centre before that.
Indeed if you want ex motability they seem to be getting the choice of the defleet motors.
If i need to financs i will happily use CG again.
If i have the cash in my pocket i will as per usual consider buying from auction first.
Must really annoy Motorguy that so many people are happy with CG
And not petty enough to moan about £99 which is mentioned pretty much everywhere.
OP. Glad you had decent service.
Cars do sell quick though. But the advantage you have going there is there are usually alternatives to buy.
Does a Bat Signal go off in your bedroom when someone criticises CG? :rotfl:
You'll see i did make the same analogy - you dont negotiate with Tescos so why should a car supermarket negotiate on price so i guess its fair enough
And i did wish the O/P all the best with their new car - glad they got a car they are happy with - good cars Civics. My sons stuck two years of hard abuse!0 -
I've used CG four times and have been pleased every time.
The whole Gard X demo etc is really annoying but given the money saved it's tolerable.This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
I wonder which branch the OP works at?0
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