Pre-reg cars

AdrianC

Buzby wrote: »

Cringe away - especially if you think the only tax on a car is VAT!

So please feel free to explain what other tax is payable...?

the OTR price is invariably inclusive - it has to be by law.

That's right, yes.

And if a new car is "bought" by a VAT-registered business, in the course of their business, that VAT is reclaimable. And - on resale - VAT will be charged again. So if you buy a pre-reg car, then 20% of the price you pay is VAT. Just the same as if you bought a brand-spankin-factory-order new car.

Also - you seem to assume that, even where a used car is not VAT-qualifying, the amount of VAT on a new car is somehow relevant in defining the used price. It isn't. The relationship between the new OTR price and the used price is what sets the used price.

motorguy

Buzby wrote: »

Sure, if you finance or lease your options diminish as you'll pay the price most other users think is 'normal' which is a pity.

With leasing you dont pay any price - retail or otherwise. Its merely a long term rental.

With finance you are free to negotiate the best deal you can, then get the best finance agreement you can.

Buzby wrote: »

As for the 'big hit' by returning a pre-reg, I was lucky agreed, but it is not impossible if you think outside the box.

Of course - totally agree. However i wouldnt want the O/P to be left with the impression that a pre-reg is a guaranteed way to save ££,£££s which your original post could have suggested.

Buzby wrote: »

Having just had a test drive in a fully specced Infiniti Q70 Hybrid with a list price of £54k, I got this down to £48.5k with very little haggling.

Yes, Infiniti are keen to get bums on seats and sales percentages up.

Buzby wrote: »

Imagine my surprise at tracking down a seller disposing of one with 825m on the clock and 10 months old... at £24k with original invoice and servicing history. Yes, this isn't your run of the mill Ford XXX but if you wanted luxury at a superb price, it's a no brainer.

I guess its an example of how you shouldnt buy on price only - the Q70 is a fairly poor car, compared to the competition.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/infiniti/q70-saloon/summary/25878-2

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/infiniti/q70/90768/infiniti-q70-hybrid-review

However, if you really must, you'd be better off looking at the 2.2D variant at a starting price of £33K, not £50K.

Also, its not that cheap - you can a top spec one from a main dealer with a few extra miles for less, and i'd say they'd snap your arm off if you bid £22K

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/infiniti/q70/postcode/bt622hb/radius/1500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/sort/default

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201412159651140?radius=1500&model=q70&sort=default&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&page=1&search-target=usedcars&postcode=bt622hb&make=infiniti&logcode=p

motorguy

Buzby wrote: »

Cringe away - especially if you think the only tax on a car is VAT! The Car Tax of old was indeed very unfair, as it was a tax on a tax, BUT the OTR price is invariably inclusive - it has to be by law. So sorry your point-scoring game didn't work. But do keep me amused with your justification that only buying new is the way to go.

It is on the only tax. Has been for a long time.

Yes, the on the road price is inclusive of VAT, but it doesnt make that in any way relative to the price you might pay for a pre-reg.

And for the record - i have not and am not saying that buying new is the only way to go. Of course its not. But likewise it would be wrong to give the impression that you can save ££,£££ "only" by buying a pre-reg, which your original post implied.

BabyBoots

Thanks all. I can't afford to buy brand new, but I might be able to stretch to a pre-reg. I will watch out for when the service is due, and try to get the first one thrown in. The ones I've seen are 15 plate pre-reg, so I guess the garage wants to move them now the 65 plates are in. They're not that much more than buying a used 14 plate from the same garage.

motorguy

BabyBoots wrote: »

Thanks all. I can't afford to buy brand new, but I might be able to stretch to a pre-reg. I will watch out for when the service is due, and try to get the first one thrown in. The ones I've seen are 15 plate pre-reg, so I guess the garage wants to move them now the 65 plates are in. They're not that much more than buying a used 14 plate from the same garage.

Whats the car make model and engine size you're looking at?

dannyrst

BabyBoots wrote: »

Thanks all. I can't afford to buy brand new, but I might be able to stretch to a pre-reg. I will watch out for when the service is due, and try to get the first one thrown in. The ones I've seen are 15 plate pre-reg, so I guess the garage wants to move them now the 65 plates are in. They're not that much more than buying a used 14 plate from the same garage.

Have you tried to negotiate a price on a new one?

motorguy

dannyrst wrote: »

Have you tried to negotiate a price on a new one?

+1

If the O/P would tell us which specific car we may well be able to advice better?

If there is a significant difference and its too much of a stretch of the O/Ps budget then no harm done, but as i've tried to explain and demonstrate, its best not to "assume" a pre-reg is cheaper, even though the headline figures often make it look that way

dannyrst

motorguy wrote: »

+1

If the O/P would tell us which specific car we may well be able to advice better?

If there is a significant difference and its too much of a stretch of the O/Ps budget then no harm done, but as i've tried to explain and demonstrate, its best not to "assume" a pre-reg is cheaper, even though the headline figures often make it look that way

Also, the OP stated that there are older models for sale at the same garage for around the same price as the pre-reg (I think?!)

That sounds to me like an ideal place to offer a very cheeky low offer for the older car and get a smashing deal. But that's just me.

BabyBoots

Sounds like you have much more experience of this than me! I'm only having to buy because someone drove into my old one and wrote it off. Feeling in a bit of a hurry with a baby to look after and not much time to look at cars! The insurance company have given me a 2015 Nissan Note 1.5 diesel to use just now, and I was thinking of buying something similar. I'm after something cheap to run (particularly cheap on tax and insurance, as I only drive 4k miles a year), not too big (easy to park), but with lots of room in the back & boot for rear facing car seats, pram, suitcases, shopping. I wouldn't mind something a bit bigger again than a Note, like a Golf or a Focus, but I would like to buy something under £35k miles and under 4 years old (I've only had two cars before, they were both 3 year old Fiestas), and it doean't seem like I can afford a bigger car that's as new.

The local Nissan dealer is advertising 14 plate Notes that have done 8 to 15k miles at about £9-10k and pre-reg 15 plates for £12k. I don't really want to spend more than £10k. I did wonder if you're effectively getting a new car with a pre-reg, with most of the new car warranty etc.

If you have any pointers on getting a bargain, that would be great

I should say, I've not even been to a garage yet, I've just looked online - will hopefully get the chance to go on Sunday.

AdrianC

If you're only doing 4,000 miles per year, do NOT get hung up on fuel economy/tax and buy a diesel.