Buying a used car in 2019

Tammer

Hi,

I'm trying to buy a car at the moment and thought I'd reflect on a couple of things that seem to be the norm nowadays.

1.If you see a car on auto trader with one of the big, franchised dealerships, you will probably have to spend more than the advertised price to get the car. This is because of add ons like mats, tax, admin fee, gap insurance, paint insurance, fuel and additional warranty. Only some of these can be rebuffed.

2. There will be no haggling over the price as "the internet has killed it".

3. The lack of service stamps in the handbook may be explained away by "records being online" (and invisible).

4. Many people are prepared to buy a used car without having seen it further weakening the haggler.....

Does this reflect the market today?

marlot

1. I bought a Honda earlier this year. No extras added to my bill. There was a bit of damage to the bumper so they repainted it.

2. I got an extra £500 off (I negotiated £500 over the glasses guide value for my trade-in).

3. Research the model you're buying so you know how the services are recorded. Honda is still recorded in a book. If online ring a dealer to check.

4. More fool them.

motorguy

Tammer wrote: »

Hi,

I'm trying to buy a car at the moment and thought I'd reflect on a couple of things that seem to be the norm nowadays.

1.If you see a car on auto trader with one of the big, franchised dealerships, you will probably have to spend more than the advertised price to get the car. This is because of add ons like mats, tax, admin fee, gap insurance, paint insurance, fuel and additional warranty. Only some of these can be rebuffed.

All of those can be rebuffed. Gap insurance i would recommend, but there are cheaper options available online.

Tammer wrote: »

2. There will be no haggling over the price as "the internet has killed it".

Thats great news as previously car dealers added on £500 - £1,000 which he then discounted back. Now it tends to be the price you see is the price you pay.

Often you can still negotiate though, so always worth trying.

But, its better to get £10 off a car costing £10,000 than £1,000 off the same car at another dealers costing £11,000.

Tammer wrote: »

3. The lack of service stamps in the handbook may be explained away by "records being online" (and invisible).

Should be trackable by ringing the main dealer - they can see all services. Better that than a fake stamp

Tammer wrote: »

4. Many people are prepared to buy a used car without having seen it further weakening the haggler.....

Really? I've never found that.

Tammer wrote: »

Does this reflect the market today?

No

AdrianC

motorguy wrote: »

4. Many people are prepared to buy a used car without having seen it further weakening the haggler.....

Really? I've never found that.

There are regular threads here from people who've bought used cars sight-unseen at a distance...

Just one of the latest: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6040406

motorguy

AdrianC wrote: »

There are regular threads here from people who've bought used cars sight-unseen at a distance...

Just one of the latest: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6040406

I've seen it on here a few times but I've never experienced it out in the real world whereby someone has been prepared to buy a car sight unseen that I was looking at or it has been used as a rebuff to any negotiation tactic

Ectophile

I bought a used car a couple of months ago.



1. The price on the windscreen was the price I paid. Apart from the tax, which can no longer come with the car, thanks to a change in the tax rules. The warranty was free, and that's what I assume it is worth.


2. I didn't attempt to haggle. Of course, I had been looking at Autotrader for a while, and new what cars of that age and model should cost.


3. Mine came with a book full of stamps.


4. Can't say, but surely there can't be that many people who would buy a car without ever test driving it.

SHAFT

Ectophile wrote: »

I bought a used car a couple of months ago.



1. The price on the windscreen was the price I paid. Apart from the tax, which can no longer come with the car, thanks to a change in the tax rules. The warranty was free, and that's what I assume it is worth.


2. I didn't attempt to haggle. Of course, I had been looking at Autotrader for a while, and new what cars of that age and model should cost.


3. Mine came with a book full of stamps.


4. Can't say, but surely there can't be that many people who would buy a car without ever test driving it.

Wait until Fred clocks that.

Johnmcl7

Tammer wrote: »

Hi,

I'm trying to buy a car at the moment and thought I'd reflect on a couple of things that seem to be the norm nowadays.

1.If you see a car on auto trader with one of the big, franchised dealerships, you will probably have to spend more than the advertised price to get the car. This is because of add ons like mats, tax, admin fee, gap insurance, paint insurance, fuel and additional warranty. Only some of these can be rebuffed.

I've never been forced to buy any of these that I didn't need, when I've walked away the fees have disappeared by the next day. If I did have to pay them I'd factor them into the overall price to decide if it's worth it.

2. There will be no haggling over the price as "the internet has killed it".

It depends how good the price is as the flip side is the internet makes it easy to show a price is cheaper and I think people will make the effort to buy a car further away if the price is much better.

3. The lack of service stamps in the handbook may be explained away by "records being online" (and invisible).

My current car has that system but when I purchased it there was a full printout from the manufacturer showing all the service details for the car.

4. Many people are prepared to buy a used car without having seen it further weakening the haggler.....

I'm sure that's always been the case though.

debtdebt

Not sure you'd get very far if you didn't buy fuel.

foxy-stoat

I find that private buyers are 100% worse than years ago.

I research and list my private car for a realistic price only get get messages like;
"Best price"
"Final price"
or "whats the lowest you will take for it"...like I pick a price then I have to haggle with myself for the !!!! on the other end of the phone.....and offers of 50% less than advertised price, doesnt matter if its a £2000 price tag for a £4000 car or a £4000 price tag for a £4000 car, daft offers seem to come with the territory. Then there is folk who expect a brand new condition car that has been driven for 70,000 miles in 6 years....crazy.

MEM62

Tammer wrote: »

Hi,

I'm trying to buy a car at the moment and thought I'd reflect on a couple of things that seem to be the norm nowadays.

1.If you see a car on auto trader with one of the big, franchised dealerships, you will probably have to spend more than the advertised price to get the car. This is because of add ons like mats, tax, admin fee, gap insurance, paint insurance, fuel and additional warranty. Only some of these can be rebuffed.
Actually all with the exception VED can be refused if you do not want them. Some dealers will kick up a fuss about rejection of the admin fee but if it is a deal breaker then it will often be waived - particularly at the end of the month when targets need to be met.

2. There will be no haggling over the price as "the internet has killed it".

Not in my experience. The internet brings you more choice. It also allows you to check out a dealers reputation and feedback. It is a powerful tool for you, not a disadvantage.

3. The lack of service stamps in the handbook may be explained away by "records being online" (and invisible).
Again, up to you to accept that or not. Personally, if I do not see a stamped service book I work on the basis that the vehicle has never seen the inside of a garage.

4. Many people are prepared to buy a used car without having seen it further weakening the haggler.....
Yes, they are. And there are tales of woe on these forums resulting from such stupidity.

Does this reflect the market today?
No.

You need to pick the person that you want to buy a car from as much as you want to pick your car. We visited several dealers when we were looking and most of the I wouldn't buy from - no matter how attractive the vehicle. Dealers that indulge in the practices that you have highlighted will not get my business. You must remember that you have the choice when parting with your money.

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