Buying a Higher Spec Demo Model Car vs Buying Brand New Lower Spec

Lemlin

Had a previous thread on here where I looked for advice re buying the missus a new car. Have now started following up on that info.

I was in with my local Skoda dealer in Cavan last week as we were thinking about a Fabia. It's getting good online reviews and new models are sporty looking.

What struck me first was that straight away there was €1300 on top of the prices we'd checked online - €600 delivery and €700 for metallic paint. So straight away €16695 had gone to €17995. It's quite a jump.

The dealer then said they have a top spec Monte Carlo Fabia, 152 demo model, with less than 1000 miles on it. Price is €18250. Dealer said the best she could do was €18k at the time but that head salesman would be available Monday to agree confirmed price. This is for the 1.2 petrol 90bhp model. They have yet to even advertise the car.

I've checked online and the price for that model brand new is €20245 with metallic paint and delivery charges. That means the discount offered at the moment is €2245. Is it enough though?

11% seems a fairly minscule discount for what is essentially a used car. We'd be going HP or PCP as well so the dealer will get extra commission re same.

Would be interested in hearing the opinions of others as I've never bought a new car before so have no experience of same.

The other part is I can get a lower spec Ambition for 18k brand new or this higher spec demo model.

Would I have better haggle room on the new car? The girl in the office said I'd have to wait for the head salesman tomorrow to agree a confirmed price on either but do dealers really expect people to pay extras like delivery charges?

I'm not asking them to drive it to my house!

ewj1978

Its a used car. Would be looking for a lot more than 2k off it myself.

As for the charges.. Its just one of those things.

colm_mcm

Did you not negotiate a straight price on a new one? They hardly just gave you the list price?

A demo should cost roughly €700 less than a very keen straight deal price on a new one.
Anyone thinking they should get huge money off a demo because it's used is dreaming I'm afraid.

If you're doing PCP though, will you get as good a rate on finance on a used car? Also I can't see €20k fabias being worth big money in 3 years, something like a polo might have a lower PCP cost due to higher projected used value.

Lemlin

colm_mcm wrote: »

Did you not negotiate a straight price on a new one? They hardly just gave you the list price?

A demo should cost roughly €700 less than a very keen straight deal price on a new one.
Anyone thinking they should get huge money off a demo because it's used is dreaming I'm afraid.

If you're doing PCP though, will you get as good a rate on finance on a used car? Also I can't see €20k fabias being worth big money in 3 years, something like a polo might have a lower PCP cost due to higher projected used value.

The head salesman was away so I have to negotiate with him tomorrow when he's back. They're a small local dealer.

What sort of discount should I expect on a car that is €17965 brand new?

I'll definitely be buying the car in 3 years. Don't plan to walk away. Just going PCP because interest rates are so low at the minute. The monthly option means I'm not paying a huge amount more than 15k at once.

I was told the 3.9% PCP is available even though it's a demo.

MuppetCheck

To be honest you should price in more than one dealer. I bought a Skoda recently and there was 2.5k between the first and final cost to change. Not saying that there will be that difference but you need to play them off against each other.

Lemlin

MuppetCheck wrote: »

To be honest you should price in more than one dealer. I bought a Skoda recently and there was 2.5k between the first and final cost to change. Not saying that there will be that difference but you need to play them off against each other.

I was trying to pm you there but you have too many private messages stored.

MuppetCheck

Emptied there...

bazz26

I have to laugh at the sales person only knocking €250 off the price of the demo and saying they have to check with the head sales person for further discount. I've heard that line a few times myself.

Here is a decent spec pre reg for alot less if you don't mind the smaller engine:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Skoda/Fabia/1.0MPI-Top/200914399008740210/

Lemlin

bazz26 wrote: »

I have to laugh at the sales person only knocking €250 off the price of the demo and saying they have to check with the head sales person for further discount. I've heard that line a few times myself.

Here is a decent spec pre reg for alot less if you don't mind the smaller engine:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Skoda/Fabia/1.0MPI-Top/200914399008740210/

To be honest the girl I spoke to is pretty much a secretary for this lad so I would believe it.

That's a great find but it's the 1.2 litre I want as it's the best model.

I also think that car is a Style trim. The one I highlighted earlier is the Monte Carlo which is higher again.

A 1 litre 75hp Style retails new at €17995 so it appears there is only 1k knocked off the asking there.

bazz26

Strange that a secretary would be negotiating the price at all.

Also I think the Monte Carlo only really has the larger wheels, sportier black bits and pan roof over the Style. Think the Style has air con instead.

Lemlin

bazz26 wrote: »

Strange that a secretary would be negotiating the price at all.

Also I think the Monte Carlo only really has the larger wheels, sportier black bits and pan roof over the Style. Think the Style has air con instead.

She wasn't. All she said was that it was €18,250 so he'd definitely drop to €18k anyway. I think that was a given.

It's an Ambition I'd be going for brand new though. The style is €19,500, €1,500 dearer than the Ambition, so definitely out of my budget. Budget was originally 15k so I'm already stretching it.

colm_mcm

I've seen another Monte Carlo in red for €18500, assuming yours had metallic it might be priced to sell.

I also saw a Golf 1.2 TSI 105 Comfortline in Blackwater motors for €21,500. Could be ex rental,
I'd much prefer that to a Fabia

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-golf-comfortline-1-2tsi-105b/10225243?offset=9

Casati

I'd expect to get 7% or 8% off any Fabia buying straight, so a new Monti Carlo would be got for list less maybe 1400. Getting 2250 off a pre reg with no miles is reasonable but its still a fairly expensive small car versus a new Fiesta

Lemlin

colm_mcm wrote: »

I've seen another Monte Carlo in red for €18500, assuming yours had metallic it might be priced to sell.

I also saw a Golf 1.2 TSI 105 Comfortline in Blackwater motors for €21,500. Could be ex rental,
I'd much prefer that to a Fabia

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-golf-comfortline-1-2tsi-105b/10225243?offset=9

The one offered is metallic. Where was the one you saw? That comfort line looks ex rental and is way above my budget of 18k.

colm_mcm

Just spotted it's only a 1.0

Lemlin

Ended up going with a 152 pre registered Seat Ibiza instead. Thanks for everyone's help.