How do you know if a dealership is good?

Running Fool

Hey,

So I'm looking to buy a used car in the new year. Personally my instinct is to go with a dealer because it's less hassle and comes with a warranty.
But doing research on here it seems the Naas Rd dealers are a no go area, smaller dealers can be cowboys who just set up, bigger guys like Windsor can be too corporate and the warranty means very little etc.

Now I'm generalising but that's all from various threads on here I've found. There's probably no magic answer, but I'm wondering how do you suss out a good dealer? Online google reviews must be worth something? I thought with Windsor since they're so big and a known brand there'd be some safety there.

Thanks

Allinall

Running Fool wrote: »

Hey,

So I'm looking to buy a used car in the new year. Personally my instinct is to go with a dealer because it's less hassle and comes with a warranty.
But doing research on here it seems the Naas Rd dealers are a no go area, smaller dealers can be cowboys who just set up, bigger guys like Windsor can be too corporate and the warranty means very little etc.

Now I'm generalising but that's all from various threads on here I've found. There's probably no magic answer, but I'm wondering how do you suss out a good dealer? Online google reviews must be worth something? I thought with Windsor since they're so big and a known brand there'd be some safety there.

Thanks

In my opinion, it's important to remember you're buying a car. Basically just a lump of metal.

Once you satisfy yourself that the car is good and the price is right, off you go.

This holds true no matter where you are thinking of buying. It's far more important than so-called reputations, or anecdotes from threads here.

bazz26

But you need to look beyond the day you buy the car from the dealer too, their reputation regarding after sales is important when you go back to them with a problem later on otherwise why pay a premium over a private sale? How the dealer rectifies a warranty issue is certainly important. There are lots of good and bad dealers out there and the warranty is only as good as the dealer honoring it.

Toyotafanboi

Allinall wrote: »

In my opinion, it's important to remember you're buying a car. Basically just a lump of metal.

Once you satisfy yourself that the car is good and the price is right, off you go.

This holds true no matter where you are thinking of buying. It's far more important than so-called reputations, or anecdotes from threads here.

I couldn't disagree more.

Generally, they say after your house, tyour car is the second most expensive thing you'll ever purchase so you want to be dealing with someone reputable.

As Bazz says above, good aftersales is key. It's always good fun buying the car but you want a dealer who will stand over it if something unfortunate happens.

Google reviews is an ok indicator IMO. Not perfect as people are still more likely to go online with feedback from a bad experience than a good one but any dealer with 4+ stars on google would be some reassurance to me.

Mintoe

Find the car you want first then research the dealer

Mintoe

Mintoe wrote: »

Find the car you want first then research the dealer

I'd have normally said the same. However, I've had many cars, and many issues. My most recent purchase was from a dealer in Dunboyne (unsure if im allowed name) and I found them so decent and good to deal with, that I find myself looking at their stock to see if anything interesting appears, and my brother is also looking at them for his next car.


So if you do actually treat people well, it can come back to you. I know I'd be more inclined to use this dealer, unless there was something specific i wanted, or i was too tight on budget to get anything of worth off them.

Del2005

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'd have normally said the same. However, I've had many cars, and many issues. My most recent purchase was from a dealer in Dunboyne (unsure if im allowed name) and I found them so decent and good to deal with, that I find myself looking at their stock to see if anything interesting appears, and my brother is also looking at them for his next car.


So if you do actually treat people well, it can come back to you. I know I'd be more inclined to use this dealer, unless there was something specific i wanted, or i was too tight on budget to get anything of worth off them.

Don't forget that staff change, so a good dealer could become a bad one if the wrong staff member leaves.

Atlantic Dawn

Expectations should be very much dependant too on the price of the car that is for sale, you can't expect much beyond the minimum possible legal warranty on any used car below about €5k, there's simply no margin in it. Most will have been washed and given basic preperation for sale and that's it, a private purchase may be more beneficial for people.

kirving

These days though, the likelihood of something major (€2k+) going wrong is minimal really, and very unlikely to happen in the warranty period.

It can happen of course, but in a ~€20k car, you could very well save €5k by buying private.


Most of what is likely to go wrong, is unlikely to be covered by a basic secondhand warranty anyway. You really have to be prepared, with any secondhand car to have maintenance costs above and beyond normal servicing.

People are very often outraged that their 6yo, second hand car needs a few hundred quid of suspension and brake work and think they were sold a lemon.


That said, my experiences with main dealers have been mostly positive, and they're more flexible in many ways too, as the sale is more important than haggling the last €50 quid.

Bought a €7k secondhand car from Audi Waterford, and as a matter of course, it was serviced, NCT'd, 4 new premium tyres, and a full tank of fuel, no questions asked. I just can't see a private operation doing that as it would hurt the bottom line.

Del2005

Kevin Irving wrote: »

These days though, the likelihood of something major (€2k+) going wrong is minimal really, and very unlikely to happen in the warranty period.

It can happen of course, but in a ~€20k car, you could very well save €5k by buying private.


Most of what is likely to go wrong, is unlikely to be covered by a basic secondhand warranty anyway. You really have to be prepared, with any secondhand car to have maintenance costs above and beyond normal servicing.

People are very often outraged that their 6yo, second hand car needs a few hundred quid of suspension and brake work and think they were sold a lemon.


That said, my experiences with main dealers have been mostly positive, and they're more flexible in many ways too, as the sale is more important than haggling the last €50 quid.

Bought a €7k secondhand car from Audi Waterford, and as a matter of course, it was serviced, NCT'd, 4 new premium tyres, and a full tank of fuel, no questions asked. I just can't see a private operation doing that as it would hurt the bottom line.

Don't forget the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act. That means that if you get a 2nd hand car with shot suspension it's up to the dealer to fix, buying private it's tough luck.