Haggling on (brand) new car...

pinkteapot

First time buying a new car. I know it's not MSE, so don't worry about the tips about buying second hand instead. But, any tips for haggling / is the approach below OK?

There's only one car we like, so we don't have two different manufacturers to play off against each other (and we don't have the time/inclination to fake drive and spec up an alternative we're not interested in). So, we figured we'd play other local dealers for this manufacturer against each other instead.

Forgetting any sales game/tactics (I'm rubbish at it), I was just going to say to the dealer we've dealt with so far that we're going to get a quote from the dealer in the next town over (after all, who'd spend this sort of money without getting more than one quote?!), and we'll just go with the best price. Get the best offer from both of them, and pick. It's a cash purchase, not finance.

I know you can get better deals online but with such a big purchase I'm more comfortable using someone local(ish). I have put the spec out on CarWow and know what discount I've been offered by the five dealers who have responded on there, so that's given us a guide.

Has anyone else done OK just with the blunt and honest approach of "We're also talking to X dealer, what's your best price?"

And I'm assuming I can just phone other dealers, give them the exact spec/extras we want, and ask them for a price.

Feels like the first time we bought a house and had to offer/haggle on that!

Silver-Surfer_2

When it comes down to exact spec don't be surprised if they won't give you a price over the phone.

pinkteapot

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

When it comes down to exact spec don't be surprised if they won't give you a price over the phone.

Thought that might be the case... Guessing they'd rather we go in so that they can put the pressure on us to sign?

Happy to do so - the other dealer is only half an hour away, so that's no problem. Unfortunately, only those two are within a reasonable distance.

AdrianC

Being flexible over spec may help you get a good price - and certainly delivery time - as it may well be that there's a car of almost your perfect spec unsold within the dealer chain, so they can get that in rather than a build-order.

pinkteapot

We're not worried about delivery time. The car it's replacing is running OK and we don't have any big trips planned in it at the moment, so we're happy to wait for the factory delivery time (12-15 weeks they said).

I'm not sure there are any extras we'd be flexible on. We've been over it and we definitely want all the things we've included. If they happen to have a stock model with some extra bits and they'll do it for the same price then we'd take it.

Because it's the first time I've had brand new, I probably just want the full new experience of being able to specify everything. Chatting to my mum - she said she was the same the first time she had new, but she's had others since where she's been more relaxed and taken stock models that are close but not exactly the same, depending on the compromises.

neilmcl

Try other brokers, such as drivethedeal, coast2coast etc. Remember, you're not strictly buying online with these as you'll be in fact be put in touch with a main dealership to complete any sale. Armed with a proper quote you can go back to your local to see how far they'll go.

Also, look at what contributions (discount) you'll get for taking out their finance (PCP) deal, it may be worth doing that even if you cancel/settle the finance immediately after taking delivery.

What car do you want?

pinkteapot

Thanks for the tips - will check out those sites.

It's a Skoda Superb, to replace a Mondeo.

EDIT: Discount from drivethedeal matches the best offer we had on carwow. :money:

F1F93

I'd recommend getting a quote for finance. They'll likely discount it even more, and you can settle at any time paying minimal interest.

So take out the finance, get an extra few hundred quid off, settle it ASAP and pay a few quid interest.

Herzlos

You might need to give them numbers, "X dealer is offering me the car for £xyz, what can you do for me?" rather than just asking for their best price. I'd start by asking for a best price, but don't be surprised if they ask what you've already been offered.

arcon5

Also when ordering check it will come with all the features you want!! Dont just assume because the manufacturers website lists a feature that it will come with that. Logically you'd expect it to, but i've read a few threads in the past where people have expected a certain feature but it hasnt had it

Herzlos

And get the features you must have in writing, so that if it turns up without them, you've got evidence that they were promised.