Car dealers

duggan1

Posted in the Motoring forum by accident as it is more a local question. Are there any dealers I should avoid when hunting for a car? Or any recommendations?

Belfast based so around that area...

ballyblack

New car, or used? What's your budget? Have you a trade in?

Size?

a little more info might extract some advice here

duggan1

Open to new or used, although only passed test on friday so expect used might be a better fit for now.

Budget is open, although realistically no more than 6K. No trade in and looking hatchback size. Kia Rio/Seat Ibiza sized cars. Preferably with some mod cons but it's not that important.

motorguy

duggan1 wrote: »

Open to new or used, although only passed test on friday so expect used might be a better fit for now.

Budget is open, although realistically no more than 6K. No trade in and looking hatchback size. Kia Rio/Seat Ibiza sized cars. Preferably with some mod cons but it's not that important.

With that sort of budget and with that type of car you should be able to get something thats still under manufacturers warranty, which is much better than any aftermarket warranty, therefore aim for as young a car as you can.

If you're not doing big miles, dont be tempted into a diesel - you'll pay a price premium to do so and maintenance costs from mid life onwards can be high

Other than that its a bit of a lottery. You "should" get the best service / highest quality cars from a franchised dealers, but their cars may cost more. Use a home trader / small dealer and you wont get much backup if something goes wrong.

duggan1

motorguy wrote: »

With that sort of budget and with that type of car you should be able to get something thats still under manufacturers warranty, which is much better than any aftermarket warranty, therefore aim for as young a car as you can.

If you're not doing big miles, dont be tempted into a diesel - you'll pay a price premium to do so and maintenance costs from mid life onwards can be high

I was looking at approved used, some of the best ones seem to be charles hurst which is a bit of a swear word I'm lead to believe...

motorguy

duggan1 wrote: »

I was looking at approved used, some of the best ones seem to be charles hurst which is a bit of a swear word I'm lead to believe...

Just check that the approved used warranty is of the exact standard of the manufacturers warranty.

Another one to try would be SERE.

CKhalvashi

Avoiding anything to do with Renault would be my recommendation.

Evans Halshaw/Stratstone/Quicks (all one company), Dagenham Motors and Arnold Clark get the thumbs up from us, although the last one does seem to have a higher number of complaints from others.

CK

southantrim3

CKhalvashi wrote: »

Avoiding anything to do with Renault would be my recommendation.

Evans Halshaw/Stratstone/Quicks (all one company), Dagenham Motors and Arnold Clark get the thumbs up from us, although the last one does seem to have a higher number of complaints from others.

CK

He did say Belfast??

CKhalvashi

southantrim3 wrote: »

He did say Belfast??

Sorry, I skimmed the post.

AC would possibly be cheapest on mainland, but you'll need to factor registration hassles with internal movement within the UK.

CK

saverbuyer

CKhalvashi wrote: »

Sorry, I skimmed the post.

AC would possibly be cheapest on mainland, but you'll need to factor registration hassles with internal movement within the UK.

CK

Arnold Clark????

Are you on drugs?

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews67375.html

CKhalvashi

saverbuyer wrote: »

Arnold Clark????

Are you on drugs?

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews67375.html

They're ex-suppliers of ours, and only aren't now as we could get a wider range of vehicles at about the same discounts through Pendragon Group.

We've never had a problem with them, although I do appreciate some have.