Negotiating price on a new car

Qboot · 30-07-2019 10:01AM #1

Hi,

The missus and I are in the market for a new car. We know the exact model and specs we are after, and we are meeting the sales rep tomorrow to discuss our options.

We are very excited, but the thing is, we have never owned a new car before, and this will also be our first experience with a dealer (we've always bought second-hand from private owners). Consequently, we've absolutely no experience in dealing with car salesmen, so I would like to ask if the price of a new car - once all the specs are agreed upon - can be negotiated at all? And if so, can we possibly look at a better price or extra specs, or perhaps better financing options? What is your experience? What to watch out for? I would appreciate any tips.

Thanks!

GustavoFring · 30-07-2019 10:18AM

Can definitely be negotiated, some models more than others.

Best tactic for negotiations is get prices from multiple dealers - this validates any other pricing you get and allows you to play dealers off each other.

BoardsMember · 30-07-2019 10:22AM

Always a good idea to go to a few dealers to get some quotes.

Worth noting too that the financing allows them to mark things up, ie finance calculators often allow them enter their commission, within a certain threshold. You might be better borrowing elsewhere, or at least asking them the APR/IRR and the commission built into the finance they quote.

colm_mcm · 30-07-2019 12:48PM

What make/model are you looking at?

Qboot · 30-07-2019 01:20PM

That makes sense. It looks like I will be paying a visit to another dealer, see what they say. Thanks.

colm_mcm wrote: »

What make/model are you looking at?

Skoda Octavia, 1.6 Diesel. So far it's a toss between a significantly customised Active or basic Ambition trims. All comes down to the more affordable option for the specs I need.

Idbatterim · 30-07-2019 01:22PM

what about the option of waiting a few months and bringing in from the uk?

Qboot · 30-07-2019 01:25PM

Idbatterim wrote: »

what about the option of waiting a few months and bringing in from the uk?

Unfortunately, this option won't work for us for a variety of reasons. I'm afraid Irish market it is. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

bazz26 · 30-07-2019 01:48PM

Qboot wrote: »

That makes sense. It looks like I will be paying a visit to another dealer, see what they say. Thanks.

Skoda Octavia, 1.6 Diesel. So far it's a toss between a significantly customised Active or basic Ambition trims. All comes down to the more affordable option for the specs I need.

There is a new model Octavia due early next year so you could use that in negotiating on the price?

Lantus · 30-07-2019 02:01PM

Qboot wrote: »

That makes sense. It looks like I will be paying a visit to another dealer, see what they say. Thanks.

Skoda Octavia, 1.6 Diesel. So far it's a toss between a significantly customised Active or basic Ambition trims. All comes down to the more affordable option for the specs I need.

Active trim is very lean. I would get ambition as a minimum as this is the big seller and you often get free extra tech packs subject to offer.

Have one myself, great car.

Henry Ford III · 30-07-2019 02:51PM

1/. Tell the salesman what you want, and get him tot up the list price. Get it on paper.

2/. Ask him "what's the best you could do that for?"

3/. Repeat at another couple of dealers.

4/. If you need finance tell them that's a possibility.

Geuze · 30-07-2019 03:13PM

Qboot wrote: »

That makes sense. It looks like I will be paying a visit to another dealer, see what they say. Thanks.

Skoda Octavia, 1.6 Diesel. So far it's a toss between a significantly customised Active or basic Ambition trims. All comes down to the more affordable option for the specs I need.

We got 8.26% off the list price of a new Octavia diesel in 2015.

This year I think the dealer offered maybe 5-6% off, with no haggling on our side, Octavia petrol.

Qboot · 30-07-2019 03:39PM

Henry Ford III wrote: »

1/. Tell the salesman what you want, and get him tot up the list price. Get it on paper.

2/. Ask him "what's the best you could do that for?"

3/. Repeat at another couple of dealers.

4/. If you need finance tell them that's a possibility.

Thanks Henry. A very sound advice.

Geuze wrote: »

We got 8.26% off the list price of a new Octavia diesel in 2015.

This year I think the dealer offered maybe 5-6% off, with no haggling on our side, Octavia petrol.

Looks promising. Good to know there's some wiggle room for discussion.

mondeo · 30-07-2019 06:24PM

I was looking at a new Octavia to, but have been aware of a new model coming so I decided to put the cap on it for now. Why buy new old tech I said to myself, unless the discount I get is worth it. I am also seriously looking at a new Hyundai Kona electric, took one for a test drive. To be honest it feels space age compared to driving a fuel powered car. I will hang around a bit and see what the new 2020 Octavia is like first.

colm_mcm · 30-07-2019 06:44PM

Skoda are steadily moving upmarket so I’d say the next generation will be more expensive. Look at the price of the Scala.

Shefwedfan · 30-07-2019 07:02PM

Idbatterim wrote: »

what about the option of waiting a few months and bringing in from the uk?

Not every car is Ireland needs to be imported from the UK

Everyone should buy a new car at least once in your life!!!!

R.O.R · 30-07-2019 07:43PM

Qboot wrote: »

Skoda Octavia, 1.6 Diesel. So far it's a toss between a significantly customised Active or basic Ambition trims. All comes down to the more affordable option for the specs I need.

I don't think you can factory order an Octavia at the moment so you'll be looking at stock models and most them are the Special Edition Soleil model.

Only €200 more than an Ambition I think and the extras are well worth it.

Aim for 6% off the total list price and settle for 5%. Decent discount for you and leaves a few quid in it for the dealer to keep them happy and interested.

bs2014 · 30-07-2019 10:29PM

If you are looking at a factory order, you will find it harder to get a discount. Most dealers and manufacturer will discount cars in stock. End of Jan/July and end of each quarter are good times to buy. For Skoda I would try Al Hayes Skoda, reputation of undercutting and doing great deals on straight buys.

Casati · 01-08-2019 09:13AM

Octavia Soleil is the model to go for - based on Ambition but LED headlights and half leather for 200 quid extra

If you need finance you can get 0% PCP and probably 6% off the retail price. The 0% finance is worth a lot to you versus finance via bank/ credit union.

If you have a scrappage trade in and don’t need finance you should get 4K off them - even if your scrappage car is worth nothing

New model will be more expensive for sure, Scala is actually dearer than Octavia with same engine/ spec and I don’t know if it will be a big step up from the current model

Qboot · 01-08-2019 10:44AM

Thanks everybody. All very sound advice.

Given that the new model is coming out soon, we may actually postpone the purchase of a new car another 2 or 3 years, and get it when the new tech is well established. And as someone earlier mentioned, it's stock models for the time being.

We need to think about it but postponing the purchase to get the newer model does seem appealing.

colm_mcm · 01-08-2019 11:31AM

Maybe look at the Scala?

Shefwedfan · 01-08-2019 12:12PM

Qboot wrote: »

Thanks everybody. All very sound advice.

Given that the new model is coming out soon, we may actually postpone the purchase of a new car another 2 or 3 years, and get it when the new tech is well established. And as someone earlier mentioned, it's stock models for the time being.

We need to think about it but postponing the purchase to get the newer model does seem appealing.

You only live once....

Why just Skoda?

Seat have really taken a step up...could be an option....also you dont have to drive a Skoda which is always a bonus :P

wowy · 22-08-2019 01:05PM

R.O.R wrote: »

Aim for 6% off the total list price and settle for 5%. Decent discount for you and leaves a few quid in it for the dealer to keep them happy and interested.

Apols for bumping this, but I presume that kinda ballpark discount is only available for straight purchase, without trade-in.

If you're trading in against a new car, I'm guessing most of the wiggle room/differences between dealers will just come down to value they're putting on the trade-in, and that they're unlikely to give much movement on the list price?

Shefwedfan · 22-08-2019 01:27PM

wowy wrote: »

Apols for bumping this, but I presume that kinda ballpark discount is only available for straight purchase, without trade-in.

If you're trading in against a new car, I'm guessing most of the wiggle room/differences between dealers will just come down to value they're putting on the trade-in, and that they're unlikely to give much movement on the list price?

What they do is offer you 16k for your car when in reality your car is only worth 14k....the 2k saving you would have made with cash is part of the trade in price......

wowy · 22-08-2019 01:46PM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

What they do is offer you 16k for your car when in reality your car is only worth 14k....the 2k saving you would have made with cash is part of the trade in price......

Thought as much. My problem is my trade-in is an 11-year old Volvo which has has little value, so there's not much scope to get much of a discount built into a generous trade-in price.

Shefwedfan · 22-08-2019 02:07PM

wowy wrote: »

Thought as much. My problem is my trade-in is an 11-year old Volvo which has has little value, so there's not much scope to get much of a discount built into a generous trade-in price.

Go to dealer, get a price for trade in against car

Go to another dealer, get a price for buying cash

Then sell car and try to make a few quid profit.....done deal those cars if anyway reasonable will sell.....dont be greedy :P

AMKC · 22-08-2019 11:28PM

Qboot wrote: »

Thanks everybody. All very sound advice.

Given that the new model is coming out soon, we may actually postpone the purchase of a new car another 2 or 3 years, and get it when the new tech is well established. And as someone earlier mentioned, it's stock models for the time being.

We need to think about it but postponing the purchase to get the newer model does seem appealing.

Wow 2 to 3 years. Maybe have a look at the Renault Megane Grand Coupe which is Renaults name for thee really good looking saloon or the new Peugeot 508. No idea what your budget is but maybe you could get a nice one in budget.
Kia Optima might be another option. Loads of choice need need to but your purchase off for 2 to 3 years. If you feel now is the time then go for it.

Shefwedfan wrote: »

You only live once....

Why just Skoda?

Seat have really taken a step up...could be an option....also you dont have to drive a Skoda which is always a bonus :P

Why whats wrong with driving a Skoda? I have no problem with Skoda or Seat and think they both make really good cars now. In fact they have been for at least the last 20+ years.

Shefwedfan · 23-08-2019 07:03AM

AMKC wrote: »

Why whats wrong with driving a Skoda? I have no problem with Skoda or Seat and think they both make really good cars now. In fact they have been for at least the last 20+ years.

People buy Skoda because they think it’s better to have a cheap 161 car than a good quality 141. Irish people are obsessed with number plates and it’s always get the newest and not the best

Post on here looking for any recommendation and you have people trying to convince themselves Skoda was a great buy, it’s better than a Passat/Audi and bmw c**p

At the end of the day Skoda is the base of baseline VW, best option for a taxi as you hopefully only ever have to sit in it for a few mins.

Queue loads of posts about how great Skoda is....

uck51js9zml2yt · 23-08-2019 07:12AM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

People buy Skoda because they think it’s better to have a cheap 161 car than a good quality 141. Irish people are obsessed with number plates and it’s always get the newest and not the best

Post on here looking for any recommendation and you have people trying to convince themselves Skoda was a great buy, it’s better than a Passat/Audi and bmw c**p

At the end of the day Skoda is the base of baseline VW, best option for a taxi as you hopefully only ever have to sit in it for a few mins.

Queue loads of posts about how great Skoda is....

Had an Octavia and now a superb.
Never had a moments issue with the Octavia in the 4 years I had it.
I do 500km a week in the superb and not a problem.

whippet · 23-08-2019 07:15AM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

People buy Skoda because they think it’s better to have a cheap 161 car than a good quality 141. Irish people are obsessed with number plates and it’s always get the newest and not the best

Post on here looking for any recommendation and you have people trying to convince themselves Skoda was a great buy, it’s better than a Passat/Audi and bmw c**p

At the end of the day Skoda is the base of baseline VW, best option for a taxi as you hopefully only ever have to sit in it for a few mins.

Queue loads of posts about how great Skoda is....

1990 is looking for its opinion back

Skoda is a stand alone brand within the VAG group.

malinheader · 23-08-2019 07:37AM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

People buy Skoda because they think it’s better to have a cheap 161 car than a good quality 141. Irish people are obsessed with number plates and it’s always get the newest and not the best

Post on here looking for any recommendation and you have people trying to convince themselves Skoda was a great buy, it’s better than a Passat/Audi and bmw c**p

At the end of the day Skoda is the base of baseline VW, best option for a taxi as you hopefully only ever have to sit in it for a few mins.

Queue loads of posts about how great Skoda is....

I was always of the opinion if taxis are seen to be using a certain make of car then this must be a good sign of a good car.

colm_mcm · 23-08-2019 07:46AM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

At the end of the day Skoda is the base of baseline VW, best option for a taxi as you hopefully only ever have to sit in it for a few mins.

Queue loads of posts about how great Skoda is....

You can hardly expect people not to respond to the drivel you posted there.
Have you been asleep the last 10 years?

Negotiating price on a new car

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