Dealing with Car Salesmen

colino

My initial response appears to have disappeared into the ether. Briefly, what is the price to change? You cannot interpret or price adjust Glass or CAP, you don't have the experience. Why a Zaffy? Perfectly adequate, there's loads around but they are just utilitarian boxes. Do you need to change (I realise for the purposes of TI, you'll say it's perfect), but are you just buying for price/plate?
With any major purchase, and as you can use the internet, do your homework, check reviews, check target prices, check brokers and re-evaluate your own car. Every new car is just a pile of cash trying to depreciate to zero, rust itself to dust and waiting for someone else to scrape, dent or steal the thing.

Strider590

Not to pee on the BBQ, but a couple of my GFs friends have had two Zafira's and they were nothing but trouble, mostly water getting into the wiring loom and causing near untraceable electrical faults..... Ranging from the alarms going off, to doors unlocking themselves, to engine warning lights.

But it's a large family car, not designed to be rock solid (for the fleet market). I would say unless you NEED more seats than you'd get in a 5 door hatchback, then it's a poor choice. My Vectra has more boot space than a Zafira, 5 seats and hasn't failed an MOT for over 6 years, but this IS designed of the fleet market, where unreliable cars can cost a manufacturer milllions.

OddballJamie

Strider590 wrote: »

Not to pee on the BBQ, but a couple of my GFs friends have had two Zafira's and they were nothing but trouble, mostly water getting into the wiring loom and causing near untraceable electrical faults..... Ranging from the alarms going off, to doors unlocking themselves, to engine warning lights.

But it's a large family car, not designed to be rock solid (for the fleet market). I would say unless you NEED more seats than you'd get in a 5 door hatchback, then it's a poor choice. My Vectra has more boot space than a Zafira, 5 seats and hasn't failed an MOT for over 6 years.

Forget the MOTs for a moment. What's it cost in repairs over the six years?

BJV

Pre reg can be a good buy.


But you have to remember some golden rules.


Forget how much the cost of the new car is and how much they give you for yours in essence it is the chunk in the middle that is the most important bit as this is the amount that you will have to pay.


This is because most dealers will be able to play around and confuse most of the public with write down allowances here and there. ESP with Vauxhall who can get contributions from the manufacture as well. Forget it instead is the chunk that you need to concentrate on. It really does not matter if they give you £0.01 for yours and discount the cost of the new one accordingly.


Based on what you have said the car is £9999 and they have offered £2000 for yours balance to change £7999.


Not bad but please remember that sales people are just human they will of been trained so that they can gain your trust and so that you feel some connection. This is because when you trust them they are more likely to be able to convince you to buy. Fab so why don't you do the same. Your salesperson is most likely not going to be the person you ultimately has the power to discount but this does not mean that you can not play one dealership off against the next.


Vauxhall are either just about to or just have changed the Zafria so there are loads of dealers doing really good deals.


There is no harm getting the best price from say three dealers and then chipping them down. If this one goes ? fine there are loads more.

DoctorFoster

BJV wrote: »

Pre reg can be a good buy.


But you have to remember some golden rules.


Forget how much the cost of the new car is and how much they give you for yours in essence it is the chunk in the middle that is the most important bit as this is the amount that you will have to pay.


This is because most dealers will be able to play around and confuse most of the public with write down allowances here and there. ESP with Vauxhall who can get contributions from the manufacture as well. Forget it instead is the chunk that you need to concentrate on. It really does not matter if they give you £0.01 for yours and discount the cost of the new one accordingly.


Based on what you have said the car is £9999 and they have offered £2000 for yours balance to change £7999.


Not bad but please remember that sales people are just human they will of been trained so that they can gain your trust and so that you feel some connection. This is because when you trust them they are more likely to be able to convince you to buy. Fab so why don't you do the same. Your salesperson is most likely not going to be the person you ultimately has the power to discount but this does not mean that you can not play one dealership off against the next.


Vauxhall are either just about to or just have changed the Zafria so there are loads of dealers doing really good deals.


There is no harm getting the best price from say three dealers and then chipping them down. If this one goes ? fine there are loads more.

The did it two years ago.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/vauxhall/zafira/tourer/

OddballJamie

DoctorFoster wrote: »

The did it two years ago.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/vauxhall/zafira/tourer/

Didn't think the Tourer was a replacement, just a better newer model to sell along side.

Although the current Zafira is 9 years old now.

jaydeeuk1

Zafira exclusiv models with the 1.6 have been £8999 at pentagon several hundred times throughout the year, I wouldn't pay a penny more than that. Actually I wouldn't pay a penny, but thats just me.

Strider590

OddballJamie wrote: »

Forget the MOTs for a moment. What's it cost in repairs over the six years?

Counting tyres?
Because the biggest expense has been the £350 a year in rubber.

Counting servicing?
Because I do it myself.

The springs and shocks had to be replaced, but this is wear and tear stuff, although I opted to spend more on better replacements.

The biggest single cost was the gearbox and clutch at 75k miles, £750. The main output shaft bearing failed, a well known problem with that box (fitted to Astra, Vectra, Insignia, Zafira and many others).

It's not needed an actual "repair" now for well over 4 years, the front drop links might need replacing this year (they have a bit of play), that's about £80 each, or £80 for both DIY. There's also a rear suspension bush that I need to take a closer look at. It'd still pass an MOT, but that's not the point.

DoctorFoster

Strider590 wrote: »

Counting tyres?
Because the biggest expense has been the £350 a year in rubber.

Counting servicing?
Because I do it myself.

The springs and shocks had to be replaced, but this is wear and tear stuff, although I opted to spend more on better replacements.

The biggest single cost was the gearbox and clutch at 75k miles, £750. The main output shaft bearing failed, a well known problem with that box (fitted to Astra, Vectra, Insignia, Zafira and many others).

It's not needed an actual "repair" now for well over 4 years, the front drop links might need replacing this year (they have a bit of play), that's about £80 each, or £80 for both DIY. It'd still pass an MOT, but that's not the point.

So allowing £100 for a service each year and discounting the cost of shocks it's about £3600.

So allowing the same for servicing including my rubber plus the cost of a fuse my Zafira has cost £1000 over 6 years.

Which would you judge to be the most reliable and cost effective?

OddballJamie

Strider590 wrote: »

Counting tyres?
Because the biggest expense has been the £350 a year in rubber.

Counting servicing?
Because I do it myself.

The springs and shocks had to be replaced, but this is wear and tear stuff, although I opted to spend more on better replacements.

The biggest single cost was the gearbox and clutch at 75k miles, £750. The main output shaft bearing failed, a well known problem with that box (fitted to Astra, Vectra, Insignia, Zafira and many others).

It's not needed an actual "repair" now for well over 4 years, the front drop links might need replacing this year (they have a bit of play), that's about £80 each, or £80 for both DIY. There's also a rear suspension bush that I need to take a closer look at. It'd still pass an MOT, but that's not the point.

I was just trying to get an idea, as pretty much any car will pass MOT if it's looked after and enough money thrown at it.

I had a Xsara for almost 5 years, passed every MOT, only needed general wear and tear, tyres, brakes, back box, cam belt, one clutch.

Only problem I ever had was a pin hole in a fuel pipe, 5 minute fix for the AA.