Used car purchasing: main dealer vs non main dealer

[tylerdurden]

Hi,

Wanting a bit of advice.

I have a good understanding of what you get when purchasing an approved used car from a main franchised dealer. Your paying top dollar for a good car with warranties etc.

I have also purchased from private sellers before. Again, i understand the buyer beware risk. The risk is usually built into the price which I would expect to be significantly lower than a main dealer.

What I really don't have a feel for are all the non- main dealers. A search of any prestige car will often bring up many cars being sold through dealers who are not part of the main dealer networks.

My personal instinct has always been a bit suspicious so have avoided, but am I missing a trick?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

There are good cars, OK cars and bad cars, in franchised main dealers, independent dealers, and private sales. One would hope that there's a greater concentration of good cars in reputable dealers, be they franchised main dealers or independent, but the best cars could be in any of those categories. I know that doesn't help.

Buyer beware in all three categories...

 

[tuonopepper]

I've always taken the view it depends on what I'm buying.

Main dealer gives a degree of comfort and backup (well I theory anyway) and would be my choice for mainstream but fairly expensive and premium cars.

Your general 2nd hand dealer/private is fine for run of the mill cheaper purchases I make from time to time.

When it came to the TVR and the Boxster S I had I felt that a well renowned, single brand independent was the best option.

There's good and bad in anything though and no guarantees, research and gut feeling when dealing with various dealers is probably as good as it gets.

 

[Stig2082]

My take on this is that small independent car dealers can be a nightmare and have been the source of my worst car buying experiences over the years- and have been far more problematic than private sellers. I have never actually had an issue with private sales. There has been one exception to this rule (ref. small indie) but mostly been awful for me - though I agree with other poster that specialist independent may be different. Main dealer usually will be a premium, though not always, and generally are more accountable though not without their challenges. I have just bought a car from Mercedes Bridgend and service was faultless and car was really good value.

 

[190]

I looked at the main dealer prices when buying my W204 and it would have cost me 10% more than what I paid for a car in similar condition at a big superstore. I thought that was too much for what amounts to 9 months extra warranty and 12 month breakdown cover.

 

[grober]

The problem as I see it is one of resource. Should your new pride and joy go wrong has the individual or business you bought it from the resource financial or otherwise to repair it.?? Many small independent dealers are merely " car handlers" buy cheap[ possibly at auction] +tart up+ sell dear --is their business model. This model makes scant provision for cars going wrong other than to pass the problem on to the next customer. A specialist dealer on the other hand should have both the knowledge and workshop facilities to effect repairs should it be necessary.

 

[zipdip]

I think it all depends on what car and how old,if you are buying a 4/5 year old car then it will be cheaper at a local dealer,and if it has full main dealer service history great,if the car is less than 3 years old then the lowest mileage cars will be found at main dealers,with them you get the map updates and the service history should be perfect,it all depends on just how much and what car you want as to where you buy from.

 

[BTB 500]

The M-B 'Approved Used' Tier 1 warranty is pretty bulletproof ... it's basically the same as the 3-year warranty you get with a new car. It gives real peace of mind for the first 12 months and can usually be extended after that, if you want. After a year you generally have a good feel for how problematical (or not) a car is going to be!

 

[400ixl]

I have had far better experience in issues being resolved by local dealer / supermarkets than I have from main dealers (across multiple brands). Main dealers often have a habit of hiding behind the manufacturer and taking a long time to get things resolved, in particular the premium brands. Locals have more to lose by bad publicity and you can access the top much more easily, they tend to just get things done.

I wouldn't select one over the other. I'd find the right car at the price point I am willing to spend and make sure the car is well inspected, has the history that is appropriate for the spend etc and go from that stance, rather than who is selling it.

If you intend to buy something reasonably new with full dealer history and will continue to have it serviced by them, then that may well be worth the additional buying price. If you will get it looked after by an independent, then the main dealer is not really something to worry about, unless it is in the manufacturer warranty period.

 

[st13phil]

I wouldn't select one over the other. I'd find the right car at the price point I am willing to spend and make sure the car is well inspected, has the history that is appropriate for the spend etc and go from that stance, rather than who is selling it.

In general I agree, but I would also consider the reputation the seller has as being a guide to how they are likely to respond if something goes wrong.

My experience with MB Main Dealers is that if you're looking for a car that's under 3 years old they tend to have the best ones. Some of them also have a few cars that, frankly, wouldn't be out of place on a bomb-site used car lot but those tend to stand out like a sore thumb. I've never had one drag their feet or try to hide behind the manufacturer either if there have been issues that needed attending to post-sale - but maybe that's just luck on my part.

If I were going down the independent dealer route I would only consider buying from someone with a good reputational track record and, if I were looking for a prestige or specialist car, someone who specialises in them. Mercland is an obvious example that ticks both those boxes.

 

[BTB 500]

I have had far better experience in issues being resolved by local dealer / supermarkets than I have from main dealers (across multiple brands). Main dealers often have a habit of hiding behind the manufacturer and taking a long time to get things resolved, in particular the premium brands. Locals have more to lose by bad publicity and you can access the top much more easily, they tend to just get things done.

I've never had any problem with the M-B warranty ... got things fixed quickly and with minimum hassle. That included a new battery on the SL ... something that would often be excluded as a 'consumable' item.