Buying my first car.

[Foxhound5366]

Don't lose a great car because you don't want to pay the standard on-the-road fees. A dealership with a good deal won't care, and your principles will lose you the car. The less desirable the car is, the more room you have to negotiate.

I've paid from R1 500 all the way to R5 000 depending on the car, and whatever... it's part of the cost of the transaction.

 

[Gallodeep]

Don't lose a great car because you don't want to pay the standard on-the-road fees. A dealership with a good deal won't care, and your principles will lose you the car. The less desirable the car is, the more room you have to negotiate.

How much do they charge for the fees ?

 

[semisane1987]

After what happened to my Honda Brio I learned my lesson, make sure parts are available everywhere so you wouldn't be at the mercy of a dealership. If something goes wrong also please, inspect the car for accident damage.

 

[Foxhound5366]

How much do they charge for the fees ?

In my post above ... and sometimes you pay that and you still only get half a tank of delivery petrol. Dealerships have to make their margins somehow.... I've heard that dealerships make almost no profit on the sale of vehicles. Their money comes from finance commission, on the road fees and the workshop.

 

[stroller]

Don't lose a great car because you don't want to pay the standard on-the-road fees. .

What are "standard" on-the-road fees?

Not just the amount but a breakdown.

 

[stroller]

In my post above ... and sometimes you pay that and you still only get half a tank of delivery petrol. Dealerships have to make their margins somehow.... I've heard that dealerships make almost no profit on the sale of vehicles. Their money comes from finance commission, on the road fees and the workshop.

Why not sell a car at a price that has all these racketeered charges incorporated in the selling price instead of add ons?

For instance, I buy at a large hardware store. Do I get charged a trolley fee, a product display fee, a transaction fee, a credit card fee and all these mythical added costs in addition the advertised price?.

Please read the attachment I've posted in post #18 . Even those closely involved in the trade are against this exploitative practice.

 

[crackersa]

So I had a red 2012 Suzuki Swift and I have to admit I loved driving that car.

Only 2 things I didn’t like, the small boot and when it got into an accident, the repair parts had to be imported as the new shape was new to the country.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Lol stroller, is that really what you want? Less visibility on what you're being charged?

I can guarantee that the reason this happens is because vehicle manufacturers stipulate what vehicles cost. They demand reflecting the lowest possible sticker price to consumers due to the amount of price sensitivity, and they also need uniformity in that pricing all over the country.

Different dealerships are owned by different dealer groups, and have different overheads and income streams and requirements for profit to break even.

How does one reconcile those different competing needs, between keeping the vehicle prices low and fixed, and yet giving dealerships the independence to determine their own margins? Answer: locally-applied on-the-road fees.

 

[stroller]

Lol stroller, is that really what you want? Less visibility on what you're being charged?

I can guarantee that the reason this happens is because vehicle manufacturers stipulate what vehicles cost. They demand reflecting the lowest possible sticker price to consumers due to the amount of price sensitivity, and they also need uniformity in that pricing all over the country.

Less visibility, absolute nonsense. I want to see the price the vehicle is being sold for and I'll negotiate around that. I couldn't care a continental ..... what their cost structure is.
I've bought many cars and I've paid the price that I had in mind.

Your comments in your second paragraph are not true. I'm assuming that you mean "stipulate what vehicles sell for.
Price fixing is illegal.

There is a "suggested" or "recommended". Any enforced pricing or price fixing "stipulate what vehicles sell at" will land the dealer and OEM into huge legal shyte and fines.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Ok stroller, more strength to your arm. Your online attitude is terribly abrasive, so I'm out ... you keep giving a continental, or not, as it suits you.

 

[Splinter]

Don't lose a great car because you don't want to pay the standard on-the-road fees. A dealership with a good deal won't care, and your principles will lose you the car. The less desirable the car is, the more room you have to negotiate.

I've paid from R1 500 all the way to R5 000 depending on the car, and whatever... it's part of the cost of the transaction.

That is silly advice. It's an age-old trick from car salesmen to negotiate a price with someone - and then add the "on the road" fees.

You simply negotiate a cars price by saying quote me on the road cost. End of. Walk away otherwise.

 

[Splinter]

Lol stroller, is that really what you want? Less visibility on what you're being charged?

Say what? Stroller was advising the complete opposite?

 

[Splinter]

How does one reconcile those different competing needs, between keeping the vehicle prices low and fixed, and yet giving dealerships the independence to determine their own margins? Answer: locally-applied on-the-road fees.

Are you a car salesman?

 

[Splinter]

I can guarantee that the reason this happens is because vehicle manufacturers stipulate what vehicles cost. They demand reflecting the lowest possible sticker price to consumers due to the amount of price sensitivity, and they also need uniformity in that pricing all over the country.

Can you guarantee this? I've always thought a job I would really like is in the Competition Commission South Africa.

 

[stroller]

Ok stroller, more strength to your arm. Your online attitude is terribly abrasive, so I'm out ... you keep giving a continental, or not, as it suits you.

You made a losing case for new car sales.
I can fully accept should the new car deal that includes optional extras and extended warranty be added on to the selling price but what took me to war was when I was quoted extra for metallic paint (included in on-the-road-fees) yet this particular model only comes in metallic paint.

Care to explain why a dealer should not include these costs in the selling price of a used car deal? What reasonable justification is there to on-the-road-fees when selling a used car? He knows what it stands him in for. He calculates his margin and arrives at a selling price.
No, the bastard lures you into the dealership by advertising a very attractive price and then when all the buying signals are positive, then comes the on-the-road costs. Been there and got the bra, never mind the T shirt. :twisted:

 

[stroller]

Hey Quinton,
I apologise for derailing your thread.
The car that you are considering appears to be good value. Why don't you ask the dealer for the details of the previous owner and find out more details from him?
Did you also post on another forum?

 

[Ghost1293]

Hey Quinton,
I apologise for derailing your thread.
The car that you are considering appears to be good value. Why don't you ask the dealer for the details of the previous owner and find out more details from him?
Did you also post on another forum?

Hi Stroller,

Will do that perhaps, thanks for the info.

Only posted in the Swift Speed forum and asked the guys there for some advice as well, but nowhere else.

Why?

 

[stroller]

Hi Stroller,

Will do that perhaps, thanks for the info.

Only posted in the Swift Speed forum and asked the guys there for some advice as well, but nowhere else.

Why?

Just checking to see if you are the same guy.
There seems to be very, very little activity on that forum.
Compare what has happened here and nothing has happened there.

My advice to you is to shop around, don't rush, a Swift is a sensible buy. Many others will tell you that they have bought better, buy sensibly, and my advice is very simple: Buy what you can afford.

 

[Ghost1293]

Just checking to see if you are the same guy.
There seems to be very, very little activity on that forum.
Compare what has happened here and nothing has happened there.

My advice to you is to shop around, don't rush, a Swift is a sensible buy. Many others will tell you that they have bought better, buy sensibly, and my advice is very simple: Buy what you can afford.

Thanks, really appreciate the advice.

I must say, it is a very scary step to take to be honest, to think this needs to last me another 5 years till i pay it off etc.

Yes seems that forum has gone very quiet.

 

[Ghost1293]

Got the results.

Monthly will be R2600 for 72 months, forgot to ask what the interest rate was.

I think that's a bit too much and i wanted to pay off in 60 months not 72 months.

So i guess I'll be walking away, toldthem i can afford between R2000-R2300 because insurance is a lot.