Buying a used car from dealership

UncleZen

Make sure you test drive the cx3
Compare prices on auto trader.
Make sure any points you note are listed to be fixed as a condition of sale. When you pickup the car  dont take anyones word telling you its been done, do another test drive if necessary and check (a mazda dealer had me once on this, resulting in me returning to the dealership several times to get a resolution,  not ideal if its a distance away. Try and get them to throw in mats and a spare wheel (if it doesn't have one). They'll probably try and sell you gap insurance, don't be pressured into accepting it. 
The cx3 is a good car, have nicely refined engines and should last many years. Good choice.

AdrianC

onlyfoolsandparking said:

AdrianC said:

Goudy said:

DoaM said:

4) Take someone with you who is knowledgeable about cars.

It's probably just as relevent these days to suggest to take someone with you who is knowledgeable about car finance.

No point in getting cheap finance on a shed.

Should they get expensive finance instead then?

If the car isn't worth buying, because it's a shed, then they shouldn't get any finance at all on it, because they shouldn't be buying it.

How is a 3 year old car a shed?

I haven't seen it. Have you? Or are you suggesting that a used car is automatically good simply because it's only three years old?

onlyfoolsandparking

AdrianC said:

onlyfoolsandparking said:

AdrianC said:

Goudy said:

DoaM said:

4) Take someone with you who is knowledgeable about cars.

It's probably just as relevent these days to suggest to take someone with you who is knowledgeable about car finance.

No point in getting cheap finance on a shed.

Should they get expensive finance instead then?

If the car isn't worth buying, because it's a shed, then they shouldn't get any finance at all on it, because they shouldn't be buying it.

How is a 3 year old car a shed?

I haven't seen it. Have you? Or are you suggesting that a used car is automatically good simply because it's only three years old?

why would anyone get finance on a car they weren't going to buy?

I haven't seen it and yes I am suggesting a 3 year old car is highly unlikely to be a shed.  

Biggus_Dickus

AdrianC said:

Goudy said:

DoaM said:

4) Take someone with you who is knowledgeable about cars.

It's probably just as relevent these days to suggest to take someone with you who is knowledgeable about car finance.

No point in getting cheap finance on a shed.

Not necessarily....

onlyfoolsandparking

Looks pretty good to me considering it's age, apparently?? it was registered in 1901, well over 3 years ago lol 

AdrianC

onlyfoolsandparking said:

AdrianC said:

onlyfoolsandparking said:

AdrianC said:

Goudy said:

DoaM said:

4) Take someone with you who is knowledgeable about cars.

It's probably just as relevent these days to suggest to take someone with you who is knowledgeable about car finance.

No point in getting cheap finance on a shed.

Should they get expensive finance instead then?

If the car isn't worth buying, because it's a shed, then they shouldn't get any finance at all on it, because they shouldn't be buying it.

How is a 3 year old car a shed?

I haven't seen it. Have you? Or are you suggesting that a used car is automatically good simply because it's only three years old?

why would anyone get finance on a car they weren't going to buy?

Exactly. Which is why the first person to take along should be somebody who can tell you whether the car is worth buying or not, rather than somebody who can tell you whether the finance is cheap or not.

I haven't seen it and yes I am suggesting a 3 year old car is highly unlikely to be a shed.  

Good luck with your future purchases. You'll need it.

onlyfoolsandparking

AdrianC said:

onlyfoolsandparking said:

AdrianC said:

onlyfoolsandparking said:

AdrianC said:

Goudy said:

DoaM said:

4) Take someone with you who is knowledgeable about cars.

It's probably just as relevent these days to suggest to take someone with you who is knowledgeable about car finance.

No point in getting cheap finance on a shed.

Should they get expensive finance instead then?

If the car isn't worth buying, because it's a shed, then they shouldn't get any finance at all on it, because they shouldn't be buying it.

How is a 3 year old car a shed?

I haven't seen it. Have you? Or are you suggesting that a used car is automatically good simply because it's only three years old?

why would anyone get finance on a car they weren't going to buy?

Exactly. Which is why the first person to take along should be somebody who can tell you whether the car is worth buying or not, rather than somebody who can tell you whether the finance is cheap or not.

I haven't seen it and yes I am suggesting a 3 year old car is highly unlikely to be a shed.  

Good luck with your future purchases. You'll need it.  
I doubt it lol

Goudy

The point I was making is the ideal is to buy a good car on cheap or affordable finance, not just buy a cheap finance deal.

It was obvious from the original post that the OP wasn't sure about the different types of finance that could be offered.

We know it's possible to buy a duff car from a dealer, we see many posts about it and we all point them back to the supplying dealer to get it repaired or reject it.

We also see posts of buyers signing up to expensive or confusing finance deals they don't fully understand and we've no one to point to expect themselves for not reading/understanding what they have signed.

This is why I suggested it's just as relevent (not more or less) to take someone with you that understands the finance being offered if you don't fully understand yourself, as when they get home with the car, there's little recourse with what they've signed.

It's not unusual for someone experienced in buying used cars to spot a good/bad one, but they will often be more than likely be familiar with the finance side of things as well, so the one person might be counted on to do both, hopefully.

If the OP can find someone to fill both, there's a chance they will buy a decent car and perhaps save on some finance costs.
With only one or the other, there's a chance of a duff car or expensive finance.

Hoof_Hearted

Put your old car on WBAC for a valuation to give you some idea of its worth.
Look for similar Mazdas on AutoTrader. If there are any cheaper local ones, particularly ones with lower mileage, print off the ads and suggest that you will look at them as well. Sales staff know if you walk out you may not come back.
Look at the body work in good light for any signs of repair. Look along the sides, in particular.

photome

hope the OP returns, and takes some of the advice on board