Dealer advising me to wait til January to buy car

PizzamanIRL

I got a new car through PCP finance in 2018.
It’s time to upgrade now. Last week I met with the dealer (a Volkswagen dealership) and agreed to get next years new model but collect it in November, registered as a a 202 car.

Today the dealer called me and advised that she can freeze the prices we agreed on and that I wait til January to get it, as a 211 car. So then when it comes to trade the car in again in 3 years it won’t lose the value that it would lose if it was a 202 registered car. She said correctly that I wouldn’t be driving it much anyway between now and January if I got it.

It sounds like she’s doing me a favour but I can’t help but feel like there’s something in it for her.
I have it in writing that the prices will be frozen.

So, hate comments about PCP aside, what do ye think? Good deal?

colm_mcm

Have they guaranteed the price of the new car in 2021 as well?

Would out you in a much better position in 2024 if you are going again to have a 211 vs a 202.

bazz26

I cannot see any obvious downside for you if they are going to honor the agreed price and you don't suddenly put 1000s of km on the clock between then and now.

My feeling on why they may be doing this:
1. Their sales department has to shut tomorrow evening and only the servicing department will be allowed to stay open for the next 6 weeks. So they won't open until December and your then talking 2/3 weeks to Christmas. Why would you want to register a new car with only 4 weeks of the year remaining anyway?
2. The expected delivery time of your car has been pushed out and they don't expect it to arrive before January anyway.
3. They and the car manufacturers have wrote off 2020 as a disaster for new car sales and are focusing on next year's sales targets so want to get out of the traps early and try to recover.

PizzamanIRL

colm_mcm wrote: »

Have they guaranteed the price of the new car in 2021 as well?

Would out you in a much better position in 2024 if you are going again to have a 211 vs a 202.

Yes that price is guaranteed. To be honest I’m leaning towards taking her deal but I just felt a bit skeptical that she doing me a favour

PizzamanIRL

bazz26 wrote: »

I cannot see any obvious downside for you if they are going to honor the agreed price and you don't suddenly put 1000s of km on the clock between then and now.

My feeling on why they may be doing this:
1. Their sales department has to shut tomorrow evening and only the servicing department will be allowed to stay open for the next 6 weeks. So they won't open until December and your then talking 2/3 weeks to Christmas. Why would you want to register a new car with only 4 weeks of the year remaining anyway?
2. The expected delivery time of your car has been pushed out and they don't expect it to arrive before January anyway.
3. They and the car manufacturers have wrote off 2020 as a disaster for new car sales and are focusing on next year's sales targets so want to get out of the traps early and try to recover.

Thanks for the reply.
Yes she mentioned they’re closing tomorrow evening so if I still wanted it they could try rush it through for me.

Your 3rd point crossed my mind too. It crossed my mind last week that they were actually going for 2020 targets also and that’s why one of her first sentences was her offering to give me the car this year.

colm_mcm

They probably just don’t want to be buying a car into stock that they may not be open to sell.

ELM327

VRT changes in Jan 2021, beware of that.

spyderski

As above, the price of many cars will actually be reducing in January - make sure yours isn't one of them, with the dealer trying to lock you into the current price. Car sales people are generally not renowned for their altruism.

carsfan2

spyderski wrote: »

As above, the price of many cars will actually be reducing in January - make sure yours isn't one of them, with the dealer trying to lock you into the current price. Car sales people are generally not renowned for their altruism.

Was going to make the same point.
However even if this is the case you will be getting the new reg which should benefit you when trading again.

okidoki987

It’s time to upgrade now. Last week I met with the dealer (a Volkswagen dealership) and agreed to get next years new model but collect it in November, registered as a a 202 car.

Don't know why you would agree to that?
If it was a 3 year PCP, it wouldn't mature until 2021 so if you took a car with a 202 reg, you are doing yourself out of getting a year newer model.
The 202 would be worth less than the 211.
In effect you are giving up a 211 car for an older model (202) for no reason and nothing extra?
Even if the price of your vehicle falls in January, it will be still be worth more than one with a newer year on the reg.
Take the 211 reg car and nothing else imo.
It's hard for garages to sell cars in last 2/3 months of the year as people want the newer reg in January and garages have to throw in extras or bigger discounts to get them off the forecourt.