Buying a new car

B

broken1

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2006
Messages
1,686
Reaction score
1
Location
Sandton Area
Once you have decided on the car to buy, how many dealers do you visit for trade in offers and how many quotes to you get?

I usually attempt 3 trade in offers and 5 quotes - the last two quotes are usually just emails fired off asking for approximate trade in values to complete the deal.

When I eventually decide to buy, the dealers are all shocked that I have shopped around as I am quiet happy to say I am buying from this dealer because of xyz or abc.

The dealer I buy from is not always the cheapest, but I always ask them to match or get very close to the best quote I got. I would buy based on liking the sales guy, the dealership being convinient, if they had the car I want in stock and my general experience and feeling towards the transaction at that dealership.

Thoughts?
 
I visited about 4 I think, ended up getting around 10% more than trade in offer. If your in Pretoria go to Menlyn Retail Park on sunday morning, the dealers go there to buy also then they are all in the same place and you dont have to drive around. I spend R250 on Autotrader add and got R10 000 extra...so worth it. Just dont sell privately in my opinion, too many safety issues.
 
I have a oldish car (1997 Toyota Corolla with 290k on the clock). I'm also looking at getting a new car. Does a car like mine qualify for trade in? I should get the best price by selling private, but if I dont want the admin, what other options is best? Second hand car dealers?
 
Bought my last car at a unknown dealer (to me) without seeing the car. Sales man was more than competent and even organized the financing.
Only test drove the car after the paper work was signed. Car was in for a service and wash. The model and price and condition of car was right and had been looking for one for a while.
Still enjoying my 2002 Range Rover 4.6 HSE Vogue. :love: :D
 
Went to test drive my car, loved it, took some time to think about it and signed the papers. I let the dealership handle the trade in etc etc. My laziness may have cost me a bit, but less stress and issues. Meh.
 
Stefanmuller said:
I have a oldish car (1997 Toyota Corolla with 290k on the clock). I'm also looking at getting a new car. Does a car like mine qualify for trade in? I should get the best price by selling private, but if I dont want the admin, what other options is best? Second hand car dealers?
Click to expand...

It should still qualify for trade in, usually the dealer you are buying from phones around finds another dealer that sell that age cars and then pass your car on to them. This however is all work done on their side and no issues for you.
 
spiderz said:
Bought my last car at a unknown dealer (to me) without seeing the car. Sales man was more than competent and even organized the financing.
Click to expand...

They usually all would do that as the bank has to pay them commission for every car they finance. This also means the bank charges you a higher interest rate to make up for the commission they had to pay. So try and arrange the finance with the bank yourself you should have a lower interest rate than what they dealer would get you.
 
I got 3 quotes from dealers online or over the telephone and compared it to the dealer where I test drove the vehicle. After test driving the vehicle I negotiated a deal then went and spoke to the sales manager. He looked at some of the figures and gave me a better discount.

It is easier to negotiate and bargain in person. The online or telephone thing doesn't work as the salesman knows you are going to play his quote up against another dealer and get a better deal at the next place.
 
Dryad said:
They usually all would do that as the bank has to pay them commission for every car they finance. This also means the bank charges you a higher interest rate to make up for the commission they had to pay. So try and arrange the finance with the bank yourself you should have a lower interest rate than what they dealer would get you.
Click to expand...

This can be debated as I have often gotten better finance at the dealership that trying privately through a bank myself, and then if the rate I get is better, the dealership F&I always manages to match it.
 
I was test driving a couple days. When I found the car I wanted I mentioned I could get x car at y interest rate from dealer z. So they beat it.

I was happy. Still am :D
 
broken1 said:
This can be debated as I have often gotten better finance at the dealership that trying privately through a bank myself, and then if the rate I get is better, the dealership F&I always manages to match it.
Click to expand...

True it is very debatable. At least if you go to the bank and get a quote you can use it to try and negotiated a lower rate through the dealer.
 
You can test drive as many cars as you like, but what pisses me off is the customer who comes in and drives every variation of a model, spends 2 or 3 hours with you, then phones around for the cheapest quote and buys from a salesman who did nothing more than pick up the phone and type out a quote.

A couple of answers:

1.The guy with the 97 Corolla will get far more for it selling it privately, than trading it in. You should easily get 10k more by going the Gumtree route.

2. It is a salesman's job to help you with finance. He is not allowed to quote you actual figures, but should introduce you to the F&I and see that you get the best deal. If you can, come armed with a financial quote from your bank - the F&I then has to match it or beat it.

3. Be careful of testing too many cars - do your research, narrow it down to what really appeals to you, test them if need be and then make up your mind.

Hope that all helps.
 
Fazda said:
You can test drive as many cars as you like, but what pisses me off is the customer who comes in and drives every variation of a model, spends 2 or 3 hours with you, then phones around for the cheapest quote and buys from a salesman who did nothing more than pick up the phone and type out a quote.

A couple of answers:

1.The guy with the 97 Corolla will get far more for it selling it privately, than trading it in. You should easily get 10k more by going the Gumtree route.

2. It is a salesman's job to help you with finance. He is not allowed to quote you actual figures, but should introduce you to the F&I and see that you get the best deal. If you can, come armed with a financial quote from your bank - the F&I then has to match it or beat it.

3. Be careful of testing too many cars - do your research, narrow it down to what really appeals to you, test them if need be and then make up your mind.

Hope that all helps.
Click to expand...


I am still waiting for a quote from Toyota on a fortuner. The chick was so eager to help, but haven't heard a word from her since Friday :rolleyes:
 
Fazda said:
3. Be careful of testing too many cars - do your research, narrow it down to what really appeals to you, test them if need be and then make up your mind.
Click to expand...

+1
That is why I bought it without even seeing it.
The price was very good for the specific model.
 
Grimspoon said:
I am still waiting for a quote from Toyota on a fortuner. The chick was so eager to help, but haven't heard a word from her since Friday :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Bugger! is it a 2.5 or 3.0? 4x4 ? A/T?

Phone her and gently remind her if you enjoyed dealing with her, otherwise try another dealer.

Our quotes are all on line and easy as hell to do, so she actually needs a kick.
 
Fazda said:
Bugger! is it a 2.5 or 3.0? 4x4 ? A/T?

Phone her and gently remind her if you enjoyed dealing with her, otherwise try another dealer.

Our quotes are all on line and easy as hell to do, so she actually needs a kick.
Click to expand...

2.5 4x2. She verbally quoted R321 000 with the discount. I am not in a rush, still shopping around. But would probably try another dealer next time.
 
Grimspoon said:
2.5 4x2. She verbally quoted R321 000 with the discount. I am not in a rush, still shopping around. But would probably try another dealer next time.
Click to expand...

Strange - they are not difficult to get, so she's a bloody idiot for not getting back to you.
 
Grimspoon said:
I am still waiting for a quote from Toyota on a fortuner. The chick was so eager to help, but haven't heard a word from her since Friday :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Thanks. Lets say I am hoping for R30k for my car, but will take R20k. Will a trade in come in at R15k?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X