Tips please - buying used from a branded dealer

briznik

I have seen a car I'd like to buy and am after some tips for getting he best price. The car is 6 months old, and has been listed there for at least a couple of weeks. I have the cash but can take credit if it saves me money in the long run (unlikely, but worth an ask...!)

I don't have anything to part exchange.

Any advice? Anyone on here who can give me some idea of how much room branded dealers have to negotiate?

forgotmyname

Depends on how popular the make/model/spec is. Probably not much off the new price. Choose something just over a year old.

Iceweasel

Without knowing what make and model, and the asking price of course - I can only guess at what you could ask for or manage to wheedle out of them.

£1000 off the windscreen price for no trade in.

A years free servicing or a service deal for 3 years.

Spare wheel and jack.

Tyre Insurance.

You will often get the best price by letting them arrange finance and then within the week you change your mind and pay cash.

Don't bother asking them to tax it for you - but you could ask for the price of the VED off the deal.

jaydeeuk1

Also check the price on drivethedeal. When I was looking at a toyota yaris, it was cheaper to buy a brand new one from there than a 3/6 month old 2nd hand one from the forecourt. Also be aware with most insurance if you're first owner and smash it up 11 months later you'll get a new car, if you're 2nd owner and smash it up a few after purchase you'll get market value so you'll also need GAP insurance.

MX5huggy

You don't NEED GAP insurance because as you say you will get market value which is what you paid.

Do the Drive the Deal thing it worked for me.

straighttalker

Iceweasel wrote: »

Without knowing what make and model, and the asking price of course - I can only guess at what you could ask for or manage to wheedle out of them.

£1000 off the windscreen price for no trade in.

A years free servicing or a service deal for 3 years.

Spare wheel and jack.

Tyre Insurance.

You will often get the best price by letting them arrange finance and then within the week you change your mind and pay cash.

Don't bother asking them to tax it for you - but you could ask for the price of the VED off the deal.

You can't really say a grand off the screen price is attainable unless you know the full price the vehicle is being marketed at. If it's a £50k Merc I'd say a grand is achievable, less so if it's a £7k supermini.

VED doesn't pass with a vehicle any more so all buyers are expected to tax their car at their own cost when buying.

Free service and extras would be more realistic.

Iceweasel

straighttalker wrote: »

You can't really say a grand off the screen price is attainable unless you know the full price the vehicle is being marketed at. If it's a £50k Merc I'd say a grand is achievable, less so if it's a £7k supermini.

VED doesn't pass with a vehicle any more so all buyers are expected to tax their car at their own cost when buying.

Free service and extras would be more realistic.

That's exactly why I said that without knowing exactly what car we were discussing all I could do was have a guess.

I managed to get all of the things I suggested trying for, off an 18month old BMW 320d last year that was advertised at £18K.

Except the tax of course with the old rules they taxed it for 6 months.

Nowadays I'd be expecting some other sort of 'gift' - mats perhaps.

straighttalker

Saw that after I posted!

Not sure how much margin dealers have but I went to auction with a view to bidding on a 2007 Audi S8. Hammer price went at £12200 plus buyers fee which is on a sliding scale for dealers. Was too rich for me anyway. Seen it up a few days later at £15450. So an approximate £3000 margin for the dealer if they manage to sell at that.