What are some dealers like?

badbrian

The wife's car is officially unsafe to drive. It's 11 years old, there's only 5 months left on the NCT and it needs over a grand's worth of work plus 3 new tyres.

So going down the option of getting a s/h car. Thought I would try some dealers as they must be awash with s/h cars these days. Tried a garage near work. Had a 6 year old car, and not a fashionable one at that, priced at just under €5k. I said €4k. He said €4,800 (for cash!). I said no thanks, I'm not going to be taken for a mug.

Went out Saturday. Looking around a few lots. I asked about a few cars. An 8 year old Corsa - €5k. Huh? This is the cash price. List price was €5,500.

They had a Hyundai Accent. 2000. I have a Hyundai Accent which I bought new in 2000. Admittedly mine is a 3 door as opposed to the 5 door on display. Mine has a FSH, is alarmed (don't ask), got the spotlights at cost in lieu of frustration at recurring initial problem. I think I would be blessed if I had to sell it and could get €2.5 to €3k (and I don't want to, it gives me no trouble and I simply want a car that goes from A to . The list price on the one on display was €6,250. I'm sure there was a bit of haggle in that price. But are we really to pay a premium of somewhere like 50-75 % for a few months warranty?

Has the world gone mad or have the dealers just made so much money that the greed has gone to their heads?

I appreciate that I just went to a handful of dealers and it is not a representative sample, and I don't meant to offend any dealers out there, but I found this to be a thoroughly negative experience. I was so shocked that I was walking around hoping the sales people wouldn't approach us. I genuinely felt they were trying to intimidate us some times by reacting as if we would be lucky to get anything even remotely road worthy for €4-€5k

I now intend to go down the route of buying privately. I intend to look for a small car with a fsh and then get the AA to give it a thorough looking over.

Anyone else feel the same about some of the motor dealers? And what sort of discount should I get for paying cash. Some of the list prices seemed ridiculous.

Brian

miju

some things are a bit overpriced all right but a few dealers on the way to the airport have good prices though in saying that they offered me €3,000 for my €6,500 car so I just laughed and walked out

Wishbone Ash

badbrian wrote:

I intend to look for a small car with a fsh

In Dublin, small cars with a FSH and low mileage, are generally very expensive as there is a demand for them. A large car, with higher mileage and all the goodies, will probably be the same price.

badbrian wrote:

And what sort of discount should I get for paying cash.

Paying by cash is no longer what it used to be. Many dealers look down their noses at cash customers and the hassle it gives them. A straight deal (i.e. no trade in) will probably get a better price.

badbrian wrote:

got the spotlights at cost

They are fog lights for use in fog only, not spotlights.

badbrian

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Paying by cash is no longer what it used to be. Many dealers look down their noses at cash customers and the hassle it gives them. A straight deal (i.e. no trade in) will probably get a better price.

What I meant by a cash deal was no trade-in. Apologies for the confusion. It was clear to the guys I was dealing with as I said we wouldn't be trading in.

I would expect that the trade in value of the old car would only be equivalent to the discount, so best to see if anyone wants to pay a couple of hundred euro for the car separately.

Mc-BigE

Most dealers will pass on cars worth less than 5k to smaller dealers, there just not interested because Mr & Mrs SSIA are coming in buying brand new cars from them. The thing is the S/H prices should be coming down at the moment as dealers s/h stock increases due to new car SSIA buying.
But it doesn't seem to be happening at present.
If your looking for a small engined, small mileage, small car, i'd buy privately over a dealer, especially if your not trading in.

If your buying for cash (no trade in)from a dealer, the discount depends on the car TBH , i.e you'll get more off a high mileage big car with a high price,
than a small car worth 5K, i'd go in 1000K less then asking price for a 5K car from a dealer.

Squawk

Hey Brian,

Just bought a car last week from a small garage. Was a toss between a Golf and an Astra he had and went with the Golf. Astra was really nice car though, only reason I didn't go with it was it was a saloon and was too big for me.

Only reason I'm posting is I spent ages looking for a decent car at a decent price so understand your frustration. I have no connection with the dealer other than his phone number which I can pass on if you want to PM me.

May not be what you are looking for but I was so long looking for decent car last time, I would have loved to have been given a heads-up on any cars out there.

Darragh29

Try going down to the auction at Wilsons on the Naas Road on Tuesdays, good prices if you're prepared to deal on a sold as seen basis.

mikemac

Darragh29 wrote:

Try going down to the auction at Wilsons on the Naas Road on Tuesdays, good prices if you're prepared to deal on a sold as seen basis.

And you can see some of these in dealers with signicantly lower milage the following week;)

KeRbDoG

badbrian wrote:

The wife's car is officially unsafe to drive. It's 11 years old, there's only 5 months left on the NCT and it needs over a grand's worth of work plus 3 new tyres.

11 year old car unsafe to drive, Jasus, driven into the ground eh?