Tips for buying from an independent dealer

[bob6600]

I agree with Jay, unless it's a specialist or classic car traders will not make thousands on it. I went with a friend to purchase a 525d today and the (independent) seller was honest in his ad and the price was good. Managed to agree a price in the end, he reluctantly agreed to taking another £100 off only because it's the 3rd purchase from me or my friends. He explained his profit margins and costs which were realistic and we were happy not to push for the extra £150 we were originally asking for. Margins are low and his service was faultless. Everyone has to earn their crust and I'd rather he be around next time myself or a friend needs to buy a car, unless it's a Merc in which case I'll go up the road to Mercland

 

[JBD]

Ignore all price guides (Parkers etc), simply look on Auto Trader and see how much others are up for.

It's a bit of an in-joke in the trade when people turn up quoting Parkers etc expecting the trader to 'match it' when in reality you might as well be stood there with The Beano in your hand for what use it is.

E55BOF gives a great bit of advice; try and strike a rapport with the trader before you leave.

On point. Guy recently told me that parkers said his car was worth 5 grand more than we offered him. We offered him cap clean value and 10 grand off a new SLK! A cars only worth what someone will pay for it and nobody offered him more than us.

 

[markjay]

Well spoke to the dealer today and got all the info I wanted then pointed out that there was an almost identical car at Bristol (about 30miles each way further than Birmingham) for £8k and he was advertising his at £9495 and said I prefer his car but could he meet me half way?

No

didnt want to drop from the asking price at all!

Do dealers really expect to get full asking price?

I would expect that a car advertised at £9495 would expect to sell at £9k max.

Is it just me or was this dealers response a bit strange.

Steve

The only place I have seen where cars are sold on windscreen price is car supermarkets (e.g. Car Giant etc).

I think you will find that many dealers refuse to negotiate over the phone and will label callers that try to haggle before seeing the car as time wasters.

As DSM10000 said, what dealers want to see is if you are serious... if they think you sctually want the car they will listen, but everyone else is automatically considered as a canvasser and worth ignoring.

Actually showing-up in the showroom usually helps convince the dealer that you intend to do business.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

On point. Guy recently told me that parkers said his car was worth 5 grand more than we offered him. We offered him cap clean value and 10 grand off a new SLK!

 

[markjay]

I wanted to agree a price before driving 150miles each way and wouldnt travel all that way without an agreed price

But that's the stand-off... you won't go there until he drops the price, he won't drop the price (presumably) until you get there....

Another reason why dealers won't haggle over the phone is that you have not seen the car yet. Let's assume that the dealer's 'real' lowest price is £8k. And let's say you strike a deal over the phone. You then show-up and point-out the dull paint on the rear wing, supermarket dent on the front door, and creaking noise from the dash and want to further reduce the price accordingly - where does this leave the dealer having already used-up all of his haggling margin?

Even if a car is described as 'immaculate', no second-hand car is actually 'as new', and what is reasonable for a (say) 5-years old 'immaculate' car can be a matter of opinion even for an honest trader.

 

[Herishi]

I find it strange that parkers , what car and all other valuation sites i checked rate an excellent condition 90k e320 sport at an average of £7700.

Now i fully accept that they may be a bit low.

But it seems a massive jump to £9495.

I can see quite a few advertised at around that price but the point is they are not selling.

I would expect a offer near the asking price would be welcomed.

And as for the claims that dealers only make a few quid i would take with a pinch of salt i bet if I went with the aforementioned car as a trade it they would pull out the parkers guide and look ip the trade in value an offer that or less.

 

[jaymanek]

You wont get one one for £7700 unless its stolen, cut n shut or faulty.

Like I say, Parkers are ok for run of the mill fiesta's and corsas but values on anything else should be ignored.
The right price is what they are going for on auto trader.

 

[gIzzE]

I have always found most dealers are prepared to haggle out a price before going to see them, often they are 3 hours away, and most get it.

Only ever had two who were not prepared to haggle, one was on an E500 estate up passed Derby, and the other was a 550i Touring near Knutsford. Both cars were pretty tatty when I got there, and not the sort of tatty that would polish or look better with a good clean either, scuffed body work, broken interior trim, worn switchgear etc.

So I came to the conclusion those that want you to go and see it first probably know there are issues that 'some' people might be OK with, but know full well most will not at the price they are asking. So if they won't discuss price before setting off then I just look at something else. But 99% of them will.

I can't think of many cars that I have bought where a deal hasn't been done on the phone or via email first, I always ask if there is anything I need to know about it, so I can get an idea of what I might need to spend to get it right, and they tend to be pretty open and honest. But then I don't expect a 10 year old car to be immaculate either, something that has driven 100,000 miles is going to have some issues, and you can't expect a dealer to drive round in every car they buy to try and find them, that is just part and parcel of buying a used car.

Also, if you want to buy a car 150 miles away you have to be prepared to drive back again if there are any niggles that need sorting, if you're not, buy one from someone down the road from you.

Herishi, I would stop looking on Parkers and What Car for prices, CAP is the one to look at, and even Glass's Guide, they show what they are changing hands for, not what some magasine thinks they should be changing hands for.

Januarys' Glass's has a Sport E320cdi estate on a 56 plate with 108k miles retailing at £9300, with a trade in value of £6480, you can deduct £1200 if it doesn't have comand.
An 09 plate with 72k miles on it is retailing at £13k with a trade in of 10250.

 

[merc85]

Mercedes-Benz E Class 3.0 E280 CDI Sport 7G-Tronic 5dr

This one is the one to go and look at, its not to far away and being private may be up for a deal

 

[gIzzE]

If it were me, I would find a facelift without nav and then buy the later NTG2.5 Comand from eBay for £300 odd.


I wouldn't want that older comand system, it is now 13 years old, it felt out of date when we had it new in an S320cdi in late 2004.

 

[merc85]

If it were me, I would find a facelift without nav and then buy the later NTG2.5 Comand from eBay for £300 odd.


I wouldn't want that older comand system, it is now 13 years old, it felt out of date when we had it new in an S320cdi in late 2004.

is it a easy job fitting them? i presume they plug into the existing harness?

 

[Herishi]

Thanks for the info gIzzE, and the post about comand. if its an easy job to fit the new comand to a non comand car then this is prob the way to go

 

[Herishi]

That does look very tidy gav! The crv has gone so I'm Ready to buy

 

[Herishi]

is it simple to add extras? like the memory seats/ mirrors and electric tailgate?

 

[gIzzE]

Thanks for the info gIzzE, and the post about comand. if its an easy job to fit the new comand to a non comand car then this is prob the way to go

Yeah, you will need a loom for around £50 and a aerial adapter for about £20 but plug and play.

Many guys supply them on eBay with the vin wiped so it doesn't need coding either and will give the nav the cars vin.

 

[Herishi]

I need to look at these, esp as I use my iPhone for playing music, ipod control and track listing is a bit of a must at some point.

what is the newer comand called?

 

[bob6600]

is it simple to add extras? like the memory seats/ mirrors and electric tailgate?

Can be done but not cheap.

 

[Aletank]

If I'm looking at cars on Autotrader etc I put the details into WeBuyAnyCar, if the dealer price is £1500 above that price, it's normally a good deal, anymore than £2k above, it looks expensive !

 

[Herishi]

I'm an electronics engineer by trade so it'd only cost me parts. however Im thinking that both of these are not really requirements. Parktronic would be nice though oh and distronic

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I'm an electronics engineer by trade so it'd only cost me parts. however Im thinking that both of these are not really requirements. Parktronic would be nice though oh and distronic

Have you thought about putting a "Wanted Advert" on the forum?

You never know your luck...