Doing a deal - where to start?!

[MancGuy]

Hi All

I'm looking to buy my first Merc - an SLK 200 in the next few weeks. This will be the first time I have negotiated a deal and would be really grateful for any tips on getting the best deal as I don't really know where to start! My budget is about £20k and will be buying an approved used car from a MB dealer with Agility finance. With a deposit the monthly payments are about £300 which seems reasonable.

The dealer has already tried to flog me GAP insurance (seems really expensive) and Supaguard which I'm not convinced is worth it for a used car. Both of these add about £1,000 to the cost of the car.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Red C220]

This time of year buying any car from a main dealer the world is your oyster.

End of quarter date is December, so don't be in a huge rush to take a car in the next 3-4 weeks, buy closer to new year and dealers will be more willing to deal to hit targets.

You're also looking for a summer car in winter, so in theory you should be spoilt for choice.

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

Although I'm very supportive of my dealer in leicester I wouldn't take their GAP insurance as there are lots of cheaper insurance deals on-line. Many firms specialise in GAP insurance.
Supaguard is so cheap for them to buy and apply I'd want it for nothing.

Money spent on a warranty is well worth looking into. maybe squeeze them for free service vouchers as again, don't actually cost them much.

 

[BTB 500]

Yup you can usually get Supaguard thrown in for free, and don't take their gap insurance.

 

[Rory]

Hi All
My budget is about £20k and will be buying an approved used car from a MB dealer with Agility finance. With a deposit the monthly payments are about £300 which seems reasonable.

Is Agility a PCP, or is that standard HP?

May I ask how much deposit you're thinking of putting in?

Reason for the question is MB have PCP deals on new SLK's at the moment for a similar monthly cost, with around £5K deposit. I've heard of some incredibly low buiness lease deals kicking around (£250/mth) on cars in UK stock, so there may be scope to do a deal on a car that's in stock.

The dealer has already tried to flog me GAP insurance (seems really expensive) and Supaguard which I'm not convinced is worth it for a used car. Both of these add about £1,000 to the cost of the car.

Both of these are almost entirely profit for the dealership, hence they're keen to sell them to you. You find if you refuse them, and all other add-ons, too early on in the discussion, that the dealer loses interest in dealing with you.

As others have suggested, you can buy GAP online for about a third of what the dealers charge. The fact that it's so cheap gives you a clue as to how often claims are made.

 

[John]

Personally, I wouldn't bother with GAP. Shop around if you are worried.

At £20k, I would be starting with a car in the £22/23k price ballpark - research other models for sale well and get to know the car so you know if something is up for the right price to start with. Use National Search to look for a car - it can be brought to you if miles away.

At the end of the day, how hard you hard ball them is down to how much a particular is worth to you.

Have a poker face, don't be in a hurry and be prepared to walk. When they tell you what the bottom line is, to find out if they really can't go any lower you need to play the waiting game and be prepared to lose it. If you are not prepared to lose the car, it would seem you are happy with the deal as it is.

I said the same thing to our FD recently and she had Audi eating out of her hand after a week asking her what they could do, whereas once she might have got over-excited and spent more than she needed to.

Focus on what the car doesn't have as they will focus on what it does have. It might not have SAT NAV but personally I couldn't give a monkey's - however, you don't want them to know that...

Oh, and I always negotiate a touch up brush into the deal to save the stupid price you normally have to pay for one!

 

[Dieselman]

I said the same thing to our FD recently and she had Audi eating out of her hand after a week asking her what they could do, whereas once she might have got over-excited and spent more than she needed to.

A strange position for an FD, they are supposed to be tighter than a corset.

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

Oh, and I always negotiate a touch up brush into the deal to save the stupid price you normally have to pay for one!

Good idea. I got a spare bulb kit and boot liner thrown in to clinch my deal!

 

[John]

A strange position for an FD, they are supposed to be tighter than a corset.

Hmm, well she has a very impulsive crazy side as is not your stereotypical FD, but then I suppose I am not a typical IT Manager either... I can't see Bill Gates wheelspinning anything!

Previous FD was as you say but the FD at my last company was also not shy at signing off large POs without question. Drove a 2003 E320CDI at the time strangely although changed it as he had numerous issues with it...

 

[John]

Good idea. I got a spare bulb kit and boot liner thrown in to clinch my deal!

I remember some old car show where Brewer or that Dominic bloke negotiated loads of things in including a 'full tank of fuel' but I'd feel like a tit listing all those things - just a couple of bits that you know you will need are good though...

 

[solarmer1]

Although I'm very supportive of my dealer in leicester I wouldn't take their GAP insurance as there are lots of cheaper insurance deals on-line. Many firms specialise in GAP insurance.
Supaguard is so cheap for them to buy and apply I'd want it for nothing.

Money spent on a warranty is well worth looking into. maybe squeeze them for free service vouchers as again, don't actually cost them much.

Mmmm.. Wouldn't be Listers would it? Bought a Volvo from their VW agency in July and agreed a price then salesman added on £1000.00 for Supagard, warranty, road tax, fuel and Gap insurance! Told him I much preffered the agreed price and eventually they agreed to a full tank plus Supagard, 1 year road tax and warranty for the original screen price ( already competitive).

They wasted 3 hours of my time attempting to sell additional items and eventually caved in when I said I was leaving!

Most patronising experience since I was at school.

Anyhow, my advice would be to make it clear from the moment you meet the salesman that you are not interested in Supagard, Gap or anything else other than the car and warranty. That way you will avoid timewasters!
Regards
Solarmer

 

[Rory]

They wasted 3 hours of my time attempting to sell additional items and eventually caved in when I said I was leaving!

Inchape owned VW Chester did the same when I bought a Golf recently. What should have taken 30mins took 3 hours. I really, really, really wanted to get up and walk out but we were getting a pretty good deal and they had the car in stock (unusual with VW). Even after we'd signed they offered us money back if we'd take the car on finance!

 

[jaymanek]

This is why they price their cars so cheap... They work for the finance commision andother kickbacks. They probably made zilch on the car.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Can't say that I've often thought that dealers price cars 'cheap'.

Agree that dealers will try and make extra profit on cross-selling and also see no problem with it. I'll buy if I consider the add-ons good value and won't if I don't. Certainly don't blame the dealer for trying to make an extra sale, it's just good business.

Now when it comes to pricing up my part ex I almost always feel the victim. I will never understand why paying top price on the car I want to buy because I want the convenience of a part exchange means that I should accept a laughably derisory offer for my own car. Talk about wanting it both ways!

 

[MancGuy]

Hi All

Thanks so much for all the advice. I really didn't think so many people would respond - what a helpful bunch!

I don't really have a rigid idea about spec - just want heated seats and air scarf but can take or leave anything else.

There are too many snippets of good advice to quote them all but will certainly keep them in mind when I go back to the dealer! Will hopefully have pics of my SLK on here soon once a deal has been done! Thanks again!

 

[stroudwaterboy]

Do not worry about walking away, politely

You will get a call within a week, that is the point for the real negotiation to start.