any tips on haggling price of a new car?

evening all

thanks again to every one who posted on the VW or Skoda thread

decided for the price, would spend 2K extra and get a brand new Skoda Fabia estate, for piece of mind and hopefully years of trouble free motoring

......so the question is, how best to haggle to get money off? any one got any tips?

We went in today looking at a basic 1.2 petrol Fabia S for about 11K, but I asked if they had any deals or pre registered stock they needed to shift. We were dealing with the manager rather than the salesmen, and he said they get 4 'exclusive' cars per 1/4 ....not limited editions but basically they are the next model up (Fabia SE) 1.6 diesel with air con ....just what we wanted ....for £10,999 - might be a 13 or 14 plate he wasnt sure, but they are brand new

As this is the first time we would have bought a brand new car (and not clued up to haggling for new) what are the chances of getting any money off or getting a good deal seeing as these are in the book for 14K originally? ...no chance? or try it on?

any tips or advice is much appreciated as always

 

Always try near the end of a month, the sales people always have a target. If they have a floor demonstrator they can often be good value if the dealer wants to roll it over for a newer one.

 

& don't get conned into the "extras" like paint protection or fabric protection treatments, huge profit margin.

 

What do you have to lose? When I bought my mercedes I tried it on big time and they weren't playing at all so I said "fair enough pal" and off I walked out the showroom door. It wasn't 20 mins before he called me to come back in and the deal was done. Be under no illusion, they make a lot of money even when they say its rock bottom price?

 

cheers guys

I was thinking that even this price might be a bit like the pirate code

more of a guide line

 

Internet!
I bought both my brand new cars from internet dealers, got £5k off one and £6k off the other (when I had money!).
Amazingly both of them were then supplied by local dealers anyway!

 

Try everything, start with money off, if no luck ask for free servicing and tax, or free mats tank of fuel, there is always a deal to be done and be prepared to walk away "to think about it"

 

When buying any car or bike it only takes a small amount of time to draft an email and send it to every dealer of your chosen vehicle within a 150 mile radius. Sounds daft I know, but bare with me, a train journey can be relatively cheap compared to the savings you can make. For example, I saved 2k on my last bike purchase because I travelled to Birmingham from Cardiff. The dealer in Birmingham even offered to collect me from the station. Every dealer will call you and that's when you play one against the other, even down to daft things like mats or a free first service.
Try it, it'll cost you 20 minutes but can save a lot.
Good Luck and be cheeky! You've got nothing to lose!

 

Diddyman Hi, here's my thoughts have a plan or rather a good convincing story

1. As said above beginning of the last week of the month is a good time to haggle more so if they are a couple of cars short on that months target.

2. Last time I bought new I went in on my own and discussed what they could do price wise, said I would have to phone my wife to discuss (wasn't married or with Mrs at the time) sat on the wall outside and pretended to have a chat with a non existent person on my mobile, came back in and said sorry wife says it's too much so we will have to look at our other options. Look Mr salesman the best i can do is …. and if that doesn't do it leave but make sure they have your contact details.

3. Have other options or at least make the salesman think you have other options, I said I like it it's too much and I need to think, I have a test drive with so and so garage tomorrow trying out the xxxx and then the day after I am trying the xxxx at another.

4. What car magazine have a target new car price or at least they used to. Check that.

5. Having walked away from two dealers both called me the following day wanting to do a deal … remember if they are desperate then you may even be able to haggle a bit more i.e. yes I was interested at the price but I have seen the xxxx and my Mrs prefers that so unless you can make the deal more attractive then I might have to go with the other can you chip another couple of hundred pounds off or throw in some car mats and a boot liner?

Have fun

 

Bear in mind the VAT Free deal that was on last summer. Look at how the price you've got stacks up against this, I'm guessing it's similar. So, if you are getting a newly registered car, that's probably pretty good. If you are getting something pre-registered or ex-demo, I would be looking for a bit more. The dealer won't be able to tell you what deals are coming later in the year, this comes from Skoda UK, so it's up to you to take what's on offer now or wait and hope. Before you talk further, put your ideal spec in on the internet brokers and see what kind of prices come out. You will be armed before you go to haggle. ALWAYS be prepared to walk away if you don't get what you want - the final £400 of my recent purchase was on the basis that they said no, sorry, not possible. Sales guy want to the manager and still said no. I was walking, then they caved in. As suggested, try for some free services as well.

In the end, £11k for a new car is value for money. It's got to be good for 10 years if you look after it, so £1,100 a year depreciation and no hidden history / abuse / mileage .........

 

I'd say don't try fancy tricks on folk who've been selling cars for years. Just tell them what you reasonably want to pay, and walk away if they can't agree to it. Not being desperate to buy it is your best weapon.

PS As Owen says, £11k for a decent new motor sounds good to me. If you want it, pay it...done.

 

cheers guys

I guess if you dont ask you dont get

I'll try on price, if that doesnt work, servicing, fuel and mats

....I'll try the walking away too

 

Get in, buy an £11k car, ask for a tank of petrol. Drive off. Done.

PS On the way home, stop off at a VW dealers and reflect on what a cracking car a Golf is...

 

when i bought my work van i phones every dealer with in 200 miles and asked for their best price

once i found the one at the best price i asked why i should in this case drive 50 miles to buy off them rather than my local dealer

i got a free tank of fuel and front mats thrown in as well as a roof rack and tow bar at cost price

 

Bear face cheek buddy! U got the upper hand if you have the money. Ask for everything, they can only say no. My partner was ready to but a new car, I got Money off, servicing for 5years and mats. Boyfriend of the month!

 

When we bought a Renault new quite some years back I went to a few dealers and asked on price. At the final garage I said I can get said car 200 cheaper 20 min away - he wasn't interest.

I think what I'm trying to say is - try a few dealers, go in all cocky and tell em you got cash and not interested in messing around, your there to buy a car - be prepared to walk, if they offer you a cracking deal 'if you sign now gov' they'll give it to you again if you go back a few days later.

I'd guess buying towards end of feb might be advantageous - new reg comes out in march.

 

it is worth getting internet broker quotes, looking at What car target price. They also have a phone service which is decent. Once you have a good idea of what the going rate is then you know if the deal on offer is the right money. Some cars have mega discounts available and some are rare as hens teeth. Your research ought to tell you.

The other thing is dealers do vary. I bought a new car last year and my local dealer was pretty hopeless but I found one in Nottingham who didn't mess about, could see I had done my homework and I got a way better deal than the internet brokers could do.

That said we ordered a new mini for Linda just before Xmas and after all the research the best deal anyone I could find would do was £1000 off as minis are so popular. Went back to our local place and without much prompting they opened with a price £1500 off and wouldn't budge. That was a fair deal and we shook hands on it.

I'd you know what the going rate is you know when you are onto a good thing.


Hope that helps

 

I personally would never buy a new car, especially not a Skoda, for the simple reason that they are very popular with older drivers who tend to buy new, have it serviced by the dealer, then trade it in after three or four years.....Skoda dealers should have some excellent low mileage, fully serviced examples in Spring, if you can wait that long....these will be about 1K cheaper than the depreciation you lose as soon as you drive out of the showroom

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fab...9808709?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2c7879cac5

bet he'll take £7 dead...shifting stock for end of Jan

 

When the old folks trade the car for a new one, the used car ends up as Skoda approved used at an inflated price. If you can find a genuine car being sold by an old dear with FSH at a good price, go for it, but there are loads of rubbish used cars out there and loads of over priced ones as well. Small cars are the area when new can be good value for money as depreciation is slow. Get a good deal and keep the car for a long time and the maths works out.