discount at car supermarkets

plzsm

just wondered if anyone had ever purchased from a car supermarket
are you able to haggle for discounts or is the advertised price totally fixed
iam after a car at available car that is £10699 wondered if i could get anything off it perhaps as much as £500 or am i living in cloud cuckoo land
plan is pay by cash (not finance)

Old_Slaphead

My somewhat limited experience was to explain that I had a budget of £5000 cash but was prepared to stetch to £5500 absolute tops...not negotiable and had £150 wreck as p/ex.

I was interested in a car for £5799.

Initially they weren't interested (probably awaiting a better offer) but I left offer on the table. A few days later, probably cos they rely on a quick turnround, they agreed to up p/ex to £299 to get the deal done.

So maybe there is scpe for small movement but I wouldn't think you'd get too much - and they expect cash deals anyway or you have to pay for their finance.

sillygoose

Hi
you can haggle, often cars at the supermarkets have the prices inflated anyway - like a back door way of charging huge interest as most customers need finance (onto which they add even more high interest!) A certain supermarket that sounds like 'Hovercraft' is terrible for this - I have seen tatty 2 year old cars for sale there at a higher price than a new one.

Some of the big ones that shift ex-company cars are a lot better and you ALWAYS haggle for cars, its part of the business, at the right moment lift your bottom off the seat and mutter the simple words 'I think we will leave it then' and head for the door. Go and look at some of the other cars for a while, you can always back down if needed, all you lose is a bit of face - so what? you might gain some cash. Always ask for too much off then you can start splitting the difference. Keep splitting the difference to the last £1, ask for mats or half a tank of fuel if thinks dry up.

Paying cash means little these days as there is more money in it for the dealer from finance, but it does show your serious and if the dealer plays the game you can close the deal here and now before you change your mind.

Its a good time to buy as there are lots of trade in cars from September's new plate to shift, also a lot of companies/company driver will have held off until September so their old cars will be in the loop. (well serviced, mostly motorway cruisers)

I just bought a basically brand new car worth £18600 for £13990 with a lot of searching and a bit of luck!

Have fun!
Rob

plzsm

thanks for these, some good tips, for the car iam after (VW jetta) the supermarkets are actually quite a bit cheaper than any garage or dealer. The car is on at 10699, they offered £2500 p/e for my car (which seems low according to the net). If I could get it for £7K plus mine i'd v happy but that is more than £1k discount, which seems a bit over optimistic but i could try walking away as i am not totally desperate to buy or sell

sillygoose

Depends where you get your trade in value, a lot of them tell you what you want to hear but the dealer will go by Glass guide. Sites Like AA, Whatcar and Parkers were all quoting a higher value than Glass (one was over £1000 more!) when I just traded in a car, sure enough the dealer priced at Glass. you can get a Glass price online for £2.50, I think via the Autotrader site, at least then you know you have exactly the same numbers as the dealer will to start the talks.
Don't forget to search via Autotrader.co.uk - its better to register (free) to get more search options. I also found http://www.motors.co.uk useful. Also see if the VW site has a search of used cars at dealers stock. I have dealt a lot with dealers last few years because although the prices in the window seem high, someone somewhere is usually pretty keen to shift what you want, if you can find them!

sillygoose

Why don't you post the model/engine/age/mileage/spec you are looking for and anyone as bored as me can play 'find the best deal' haha!

plzsm

Yay !!
I have a 2003 (53) Vauxhall Astra 1.4 LS with 57K miles in excellent nick
available car offered me £2500

I am after a 2006 Jetta 1.9 dont mind which spec at all really - prefer diesel
best i have found is £10699 at available car or £10999 at motorpoint

any help appreciated

sillygoose

also which county your in! its often worth travelling to go pick up the car, depends on the warranty offered. If its insurance backed (like RAC run scheme) then you can claim the work to be done at any aproved dealer.

sillygoose

Just a quick look at VW site - 2006 1.9TDI S only 17k miles, Gilbert Lawton in Cheshire £10,495 with 12 months VW approved warranty (what warranty does a supermarket give?) and thats before a bit of haggling.
And another very similiar in Herts, only 16k miles on it. A couple in Glasgow at under 10K (cars usually get cheaper as you head North)

plane_boy2000

I dont think that motorpoint are very cheap anymore, and they really are a supermarket i.e. they shift in volume and there is no negotiation. I was looking for a passat last year, and my dealer had identical models on the forecourt at the same price as motorpoint. The difference was that I could buy from an authorised dealer, he would knock 500 off the screen price, give me a better part ex price, better service (lots of free coffee) and the car was prepared for me, and serviced before delivery. All in all the dealer offered a far better and more attactive package.

Richard_Bowden

Recently bought a 1 year old Golf Plus tdi SE from Trade-Sales in Slough service was excellent made appointment that was kept by salesman,very courtyeous and had 3 cars in colour of choice to choose from.Price was some £3000 cheaper than our main dealer but not negotiable.
Negatives no test drives but all the time in the world to examine and start engine also Watch admin fee of £71.00 added on to price on completion of deal.