They are, as the title of the publication suggests, just a GUIDE. Even the
professional price guides like Glass's are just guides. Often the best way
to value a car is via Autotrader - seeing what similar cars are making in
your area is the best guide of all.

Yes and no.

On the one hand you'll get a better deal faster if you can persuade the
salesman you're a serious buyer. Uttering the magic words "I'm a cash buyer
and I'll place an order today and leave a deposit if I get the right deal."
will usually get the salesman's attention.

Not having a PX makes the salesman's life easier but make sure you get a
discount on the car you're buying. It depends completely on the car in
question but often there's more discount available on used cars.

Apart from the above facts cash buyers have no great advantage over those
buying on HP. Dealers want you to buy on HP because finance commission is a
big source of profit for them. If you buy with cash they'll make less
money.

Some dealers will sell a car for practically no profit if you're having a
big finance deal where they make hundreds of pounds finance commission. If
you've got really big balls you might go in and say "I haven't got much
money so I can't afford to pay much for the car and I have to have it on
finance over 5 years." Haggle the price of the car down really low but
agree whatever extortionate finance deal the salesman suggests. Then, once
the deal is agreed (and before you sign anything), phone back the next day
and say "I've come into some money, I don't need the finance after all."
However, don't be surprised if they then won't sell you the car at the ultra
low price agreed previously! You might get lucky...


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Steve Knight wrote:

Autotrader doesn't tell you cars are making. It tells you what cars are
being offered for. Two very different things.

--
Ben Blaney
GSF1200 VFR800 CBR600 CD200
"We stopped only for fuel"

True, but it does give you an idea about what a realistic asking price is.
If there are, say 150 cars nationwide of the car/spec you're after, and
there are a few at, let's say £14-15k, a few more at around £13k, loads at
£11-£12k, and a small amount at £10k or a fraction under (all with similar
ages/mileages) then it's fair to say that around £11-12k should get you what
you're after. Depends on your viewpoint - some people prefer the "security"
of buying from a dealer, and the fact that there's someone to moan to if
things go wrong, but you pay a premium for it. If it's a car that's still
within its manufacturer's warranty I'd have no qualms about buying private.

Peter

"Steve Knight" <steve.kXnigXht1 (AT) bluXeyonXder (DOT) co.uk> wrote


It depends completely on the car in question but often there's more
discount available on used cars.


I am very interested in why steve feels that more discounts are available on
used cars.

John used car dealer

Because the margins are usually higher. But like I said, it depends
entirely on the car in question.

Steve new and used car dealer


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