When to buy new car?

anotheruser

Other forums also suggest waiting until Autumn.
Shame as my car needs a new Mot in September. Maybe I should sit tight and save more money so I don't feel so bad spending the amount I'm looking to!

strawb_shortcake

I've just had to buy a new car, the dealership would not budge on price, but they did pay a bit out on new battery, moving the car 200 miles and paying for its service and mot next week. 
I did notice when I test drove the car they had already knocked over £1k off it. 
I may well have got a better deal had i of waited but didn't have that luxury. Luckily maybe? I paid cash so no interest to be added on top of what may be a fast depreciating asset but I plan on keeping it 5 plus years 

fred246

annabanana82 said:

paying for its service and mot next week. 
 

When a garage says it has serviced a car you have no idea whether they have actually done anything or not. There does seem to be a lot of people who are promised that a car will be serviced before delivery and find later on that they have no record of it being done. My theory is that the salesman will say anything to clinch a deal but then they have no power over the service department to actually get it done. So when you pick the car up make sure it has a stamp in the book or some other evidence that it has been done. As I say it's not proof they have actually done anything but it's the best you can get from a garage.

[Deleted User]

Grumpy_chap said:

There won't be any deals coming up in the near future as, after last night's announcement, there will be 3 million Hong Kong nationals popping over and all needing cars, houses etc.  Buy now before the rush!  I am even thinking of doing a BTL so that I can max out on the rent

Don't be a kipper

Grumpy_chap

[DELETED USER] said:

Grumpy_chap said:

There won't be any deals coming up in the near future as, after last night's announcement, there will be 3 million Hong Kong nationals popping over and all needing cars, houses etc.  Buy now before the rush!  I am even thinking of doing a BTL so that I can max out on the rent

Don't be a kipper

What's a kipper?

My note was tongue in cheek, thought the smiley made that clear.

marlot

November is often the cheapest month for used cars.

molerat

To buy my car, which I purchased in December, would today be £500 - £1K dearer than I paid then with same or older reg date and higher mileage.

onlyfoolsandparking

Prices of cars are interesting at the moment, I was exploring a 'potential' new car around 5-6 months ago, A Citroen C4 grand picasso is currently my choice maybe a 12-13 plate definitely pre new (ugly) model with around 50-60k on the clock. I spotted quite a few around 4K to 4500 which looked ok but I've since decided to carry on running current 'old nail' into ground as just put new timing belt, water pump and 6 months ago a clutch, plenty of oil and filter services etc, I'd be surprised if it lets me down and according to my mechanic who happens to be a good friend he reckons Citroens are 'bulletproof' on engines and it's good for another 2-3 years. Just out of interest though I had a nose round trader yesterday, same car/s I was previously looking at are now 5k to 5500. Looks on the face of it that prices have gone up!!!! so its any ones guess as to when to buy IMO.  

molerat

In the Telegraph

Concerns about using public transport during the coronavirus crisis have pushed up the price of used cars as people see driving as a safer alternative to trains and buses.

There has been particular interest for smaller, cheaper secondhand cars. Price tracking firm Cap HPI reported price increases of between 21pc and 25pc on used Citroen C2 and Mini One cars between May and June.

Speaking to Car Dealer magazine, Derren Marti, head of valuations at Cap HPI, said: “I’ve been at Cap eight years and never seen that. It’s very unusual for that to happen in such a short period of time.’

and

Fears are growing that car dealers' forecourts will be left empty as manufacturers struggle to restart production under strict social distancing rules.

Experts warned that customers could be stuck with long waiting lists in coming months, hitting the beleagured industry hard as it fights its way out of lockdown amid signs of a bounce in demand.

Grumpy_chap

Not that the motoring press have any incentive to boost the industry of which they are part and "talk up" demand and prices...

I suspect any 'bounce; in demand will be short-lived as "need to buy" customers expire and the reality of the slowdown bites.