Buying from main dealer V local garage

Beechfiled

I am looking at 3 cars, all the same models and year, 1 from a main dealer, basic model and 2 are from local garages and are UK imports with extras.

My own is a UK import, the price of the new car varies as does the trade in allowance. I would have to add the same amount with a trade in to all 3 garages. The asking price at one of the garages is much lower but so is the price they're offering on mine, the dealer has a much dearer asking price but giving me a bigger trade in.

I really don't know which one to go for, main dealer or 2nd hand car dealer.

My other half doesnt drive and hasnt a clue about cars so hes no help to me.
Anyone any advice?

bazz26

Do you have a link to all 3 cars? When trading up the figure you need to focus on is how much is it costing you to trade up, not the sticker price of the newer car or the trade-in allowance price the dealer is giving you. They can play with numbers to make your trade-in price very attractive but that's pointless if the price of their car is too high. Giving it to you in one hand and taking it back in the other.

The trade off to buying from a main dealer v smaller independent dealer is that the main dealer may offer a more comprehensive warranty on the car and the car may also be prepared to a better standard for resale. That generally is how it works but not always the case as the after care from some dealers is just terrible no matter whether they have a franchise or not. The other side is that the main dealer may charge more for their car though as they have higher operating costs and all that pre sale preparation and warranty costs money.

colm_mcm

Cost to change is all that matters really. That said if one is suspiciously cheap then you'd want to ask yourself why.


Main dealer is usually the safest bet.

Toyotafanboi

A higher spec car for the same money is always nice. That said if spec doesn't mean an awful lot to you, you are most likely to get better aftersales/ warranty from a main dealer. Any car can have a bad history, so be sure to do a history check no matter what or where you buy, particularly so if it's a UK import.

Post links to the specific cars if you want and people could give some more feedback.

Beechfiled

https://www.airsideford.ie/Vehicles/Stock/Print/1035990/1100/ford-focus-1-0-ecoboost-style-100ps

http://www.phoenixmotorcentre.ie/viewanad.php?ad_id=1821088

http://www.olympiccars.ie/vehicles/ford/focus/kildare/1812527