Value for Money? Franchise or Independent Dealer?

[TheFoX]

What a question? Do you buy your pre-owned Merc from a Main Dealer or a Independent Dealer?

I have bought four Mercs, of which we still have the last two, and there is quite a story to each purchase.

Back in 2008, I bought a second hand CLK500 Elegance Convertible for £30,000, from a main dealer based in Southampton. They arranged the finance and I picked up the vehicle a week later.

On arrival, they had failed to valet the vehicle, and it still had minor damage that had been pointed out a week before. Also, the onboard computer had not been reset, so I had no dials or info. I also only had 2,000 miles before the next B service on Assyst, which then cost me £750, including repairing something that was pointed out to them within a week of picking up the vehicle.

I owned the vehicle for two years, and when I traded it in, never went back to that dealer.

Now, moving on five years to 2013, I decided to purchase a C220 from another Merc Dealer in Lincolnshire. Apart from getting a poor deal for my part exchange (£1,000 less than independents were offering), I thought I had got a bargain. What I got was a 2010 C220 in white with just 27,000 on the clock for £19,000.

I asked for the Service Report and was told by the Business Manager that this was available online through the internet. Not knowing any different, I trusted him. When I later found out that you can only request the Service Report through a main dealer, I didn't bother.

A year later, I put the vehicle in for its 40,000 mile B service, only to discover that the 27,000 mile service was missing from the Service Report. To add insult to injury, they also informed me that one or more of the injector seals was leaking, and that there was rodent damage to the main brake fluid reservoir.

I contested this and got the bill reduced. I then discovered that the first owner lived near a Dyke and had parked the vehicle up for a month or so before the end of his Agility so as not to rack up the miles (9,000 a year was his allowance).

So, not only did I buy a vehicle that did NOT have a full service history, it also had existing damage not picked up by the PDI.

Roll on two years, and I am looking at trading in my C220 for a CLS or E Coupe. Two different main dealers tell me my C220 is only worth £9,500 as part exchange for a newer vehicle. Also, the target price the vehicle I wish to buy is between £25,000 to £30,000. To me, this sucks.

Then I decide to start investigating independent dealers who sell all manner of cars. One dealer offered me £10,000 for my C220, and another £10,800.

Then I spotted a likely CLS in Essex, and popped down to have a gander. After taking the vehicle for a test drive and falling in love with it, we started to haggle. The dealer offered me £11,000 against his car priced at £24,000. I ended up getting £11,500 against the same price, for a car that, if it had been on a main dealer forecourt, would have been priced in the high £20,000's.

So, what did I get for my money. Firstly, I got an additional £2,000. I've got a year RAC Warranty, and I've got a fully spec'd car for less than what an equivalent main dealer would have offered it for.

The car was part of the Mercedes Benz Corporate program and has a full service history, and had only covered 24,000 miles when I bought it.

I think I have lost my faith in main dealers. They promise that the vehicle you buy from them will retain its value better than other makes, then they cheat you at the other end.

Also, when I bought the C220, the business manager tried to sell me an extended warranty for the second year, and chip and dent insurance. The extended warranty, he told me, would cost £1,000 now, or even more if I took it out later. Ironically, when my warranty ran out, they only wanted £500 to renew. Guess where the additional £500 would have ended up?

Now, on to chip and dent insurance. This insurance covers you if you get chips or dents and want to repair them independently of your main vehicle insurance. Sounds good, doesn't it. But, there is a catch. If your vehicle gets damaged and you make a claim, you legally have to notify your main insurer that you have made a claim, and it could affect your No Claims discount. This wasn't pointed out to me when he tried to sell the policy to me.

Thankfully, I bought neither policy. Imagine shelling out £1,000 only to discover I could have renewed for £500.

So, after buying two Mercs from main dealers, I have a bitter taste in my mouth. The independents have lower overheads so they can offer better deals, and if you are a bit concerned about buying from an independent dealer, look for one associated with a body such as the RAC or AA, as they vet these dealers.

As for my CLS, I have bought a bargain. It's a lovely car with a low mileage, all the extras I wanted, and a good return on my old C220. The only concession I have to make is that the plates don't have 'Mercedes Benz of ....' written on them.

And finally, if you buy a Merc from a main dealer, you get a years warranty direct from Mercedes. If you buy from an independent, you can still purchase the Mercedes Benz warranty from Mercedes direct, giving you peace of mind, and you could probably afford to buy it from the money you saved by skipping the main dealer and their hefty mark up.

Now I am sure that some would have a better experience of main dealers than I have, so I would be interested to know if you favour main dealers over the independent dealer, and why?

As for me, I'll keep an eye on both, as you never know who will stock what in the future.

 

[Piff]

You need to be carefull when buying any car.
I gave bought 2 cars from main dealers which I have returned a few weeks later for a full refund as they did not match the specific requirements I gave the dealers.
Not sure an independant would take a car back as easily.

 

[John]

I've never bought a car from an MB main dealer and never will.

From what I've learnt on here, many do as little as possible themselves or to the cars, do and say whatever to get the sale, never contact you back despite advising the contrary and are generally inept.

The one time I went in to an MB dealer to give them a service book to stamp for a friend - they were laughably arrogant and unhelpful.

Independent dealers, well good ones anyway, are the complete opposite and have been a much better experience when I've bought a car.

I think in your situation, whilst you shouldn't have to fight to get the right car in the right condition which it should have been in, you have been shafted more than once and allowed it to happen. A dealer will not be chasing you to put things right...

Frankly, with the experience you've had, I'm surprised you'd even entertain looking at cars from main dealers...

I'd forget insurance / body protecting or any other shyte they try and flog you - not normally worth the paper they are printed on...

 

[uumode]

I bought from main dealer in Milton Keynes in 2003 as it had a full 'gold plated' Signature MB approved used 1 year exclusion warranty (a list of items not covered under the warranty) - basically nearly everything to be handled by main dealers. The approved used warranty now is not so comprehensive.

Contrasted to the more limiting third party 'insurance' based inclusion warranty where the only items covered are those listed, and work can only be performed when approved by the insurance company.

The valet on collection was about 80%, but they sorted it to 100%. Everything else was satisfactory. However I did not wander around the forecourt looking for a car, I found the car on autotrader and traveled to purchase this specific private car which had only just come in and was unprepared and in the condition the first owner dropped it off (which is good, as you see the real condition of the car before any alloy refurbs, paint touch ups and other repair work to ready it for sale. It was fairly grubby as the owner obviously knew he was going to trade it in and didn't bother to wash it.

I also try to buy private cars on trade in i.e. 3 year old cars, and avoid 1 year or less cars as why would a private buyer sell unless it was a lemon of some sort? (Maybe nothing wrong with the car, just trying to increase the odds of buying a quality car).

Generally from feedback, I get the impression that most MB dealers are not that great. I generally don't go near any brand independents as they don't seem to have robust specialist service facilities to address any issues post sale - and harder to escalate... my perception. Also the quality of cars seem to be lower and looked clocked to me (glossy steering wheels, sagging seats), ex rental cars etc. I've never bought from an independant so my view is probably skewed.

 

[TheFoX]

Something I forgot to mention about the independent dealer was that they returned the CD that I accidentally left in the player in the post for me. Not many would do that.

I suppose it also depends on the salesperson. Some go the extra mile while others cannot be bothered. We bought a B180 for my mother from the Kings Lynn main dealer, and the salesman not only delivered the vehicle to our door, but also presented my mother with a bouquet of flowers, and that was for a car worth only £7,000.

Unfortunately, he no longer works there, and will be sadly missed, since none of the other salespeople have his charisma.

A dealership is only as good as the people who work for it, and if the salespeople are arrogant, then the experience can be dampened. I once asked the price of a vehicle and was told, 'If you need to ask, you cannot afford it'. Needless to say, they didn't get my custom, as only a fool would sign a blank cheque.

 

[Gareth Kent]

Bought my CLS used from a main dealer. Was valeted to my standard (high) and I negotiated a little money off for something that was worse then their description ( in my opinion). I got-the usual 12 month warranty and also Mobilo. Price was competitive and I am still very happy with the vehicle 2 years later. Peace of mind from buying from a dealer on a homogeneous product (as far as I am concerned) which has a value to me. Was not a central London dealer and I did my home work. As always it's buyer beware and get informed before you go see a vehicle.

 

[edc]

I tend not to buy within manufacturer warranty so typically small time dealer not even specialist. Worked out well for last 2 purchases and hopefully same again for collection this Saturday!

 

[GordonTarling]

I've bought two MB's from main dealers. The first was a S210 from MB Watford who, as far as I was concerned, were a shower of sh*te - they hadn't even checked the engine oil level when I collected it and I later found many other things that hadn't been done. The second was an S211 from MB Direct at Park Royal - a much better experience all round and they even replaced front disks and pads a couple of weeks later when I complained that the brakes were juddering. It was a lovely car all round, just a pity that some scrote decided he wanted it more than I did after a couple of years of ownership.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

At this moment I am so happy that I don't sell used cars whether at a dealer or independent.

 

[markjay]

I bought several cars from Car Giant in London and had no issues whatsoever.

Of course it's a no-frills service so don't expect chit-chat over tea and biscuit, but the cars were always correctly described and none ever gave me any grief.

 

[Meldrew2]

it. I also try to buy private cars on trade in i.e. 3 year old cars, and avoid 1 year or less cars as why would a private buyer sell unless it was a lemon of some sort?

A lot of the cars less than one year old are ex-rental or courtesy cars. Still with a couple of years warranty. These are usually what I look for, as I can drive away in a couple of days instead of waiting for factory order.

 

[John]

I once asked the price of a vehicle and was told, 'If you need to ask, you cannot afford it'.

Hilarious. Nothing like having an over-inflated opinion of your own standing in the market place.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Hilarious. Nothing like having an over-inflated opinion of your own standing in the market place.

I used to meet the local MB dealer sales boys for beers on a Friday night and the buzz words were 'the brand' and 'the marque'.

As you say, hilarious.

 

[j.schmeltzer]

MARKJAY: I too have bought several cars in the past from Car Giant, when we lived in Oxford and Northampton. Now we are on the Isle of Wight it is too difficult to get there. I found their cars to be exactly as labelled, no pressure salesmen, fairly priced and quality offerings, no rubbish.
The only drawback was if you wanted to p/x, you got a very lowball figure. If we were closer I would go there again.

 

[markjay]

MARKJAY: I too have bought several cars in the past from Car Giant, when we lived in Oxford and Northampton. Now we are on the Isle of Wight it is too difficult to get there. I found their cars to be exactly as labelled, no pressure salesmen, fairly priced and quality offerings, no rubbish.
The only drawback was if you wanted to p/x, you got a very lowball figure. If we were closer I would go there again.

Correct, their P/X offers are pitiful, but to be fair you don't have to accept and can sell privately instead - I guess there's a price to pay for convenience... but other than that it is as you say - genuine cars, no hidden issues, no broken promises and no pressure to buy. Bought five cars from them between 1998 (they were called 'The Great Trade Centre' back then) and 2013.

 

[Piff]

I've bought two MB's from main dealers. The first was a S210 from MB Watford who, as far as I was concerned, were a shower of sh*te - they hadn't even checked the engine oil level when I collected it and I later found many other things that hadn't been done.

I'll second that - I was told the E320 I was buying would be "like new"
Collected it - broken heated seat, non working temp gauge, mis matched paint (c0cked up even further at their second attempt), no 114 point check before collection so warranty invalid.
When I dared to point out the problems their sales director said "what do you expect on a used car?" I said their salesman had said it would be " like new" so that's what I expected. He said "there is no satisfying you is there" - hence car returned for full refund.

 

[John]

He said "there is no satisfying you is there"

You should have retorted:

"I simply expect the car to be in the same condition as the new cars you get to drive around in for free, which I would be helping to pay for, you f*****g tw*t."