Cash buyer, main dealer, realistic chance of discount?

Cash buyer, main dealer, realistic chance of discount?

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Discussion

CopperBolt

Original Poster:

892 posts

74 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
Ive motorwayed my last car, got 10k for it. (Mazda 3) now looking for next car, SUV type up to £20000.

Ive found a 2021 Seat ateca at a SEAT main dealer in Poole not far from me. £18,750, ish. Its a colour I like and a higher spec Trim, Xperience. Lowish mileage 34,000

Have I realistically any chance of getting money off the forecourt price? If so any tips on how?

Thanks

Jamescrs

4,852 posts

72 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
Realistically very little, dealers don't particularly like "cash buyers" they make more money from selling you finance packages, GAP protection, Paint protection etc.

You may get a better deal if you take the finance offered and pay it off within 14 days using your cash. Sometimes if you take the finance they will offer extras such as deposit contributions or servicing packages

GreatGranny

9,326 posts

233 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
They will make more money from finance than cash.

That's been the way for years.

However there's no harm in asking if they knock some off.

If they say no are you prepared to walk away?

Shappers24

852 posts

93 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
With internet pricing, most cars are benchmarked against other dealers so there is usually very little wiggle room.

Again you’re more likely to get a discount if you take their finance products.

MattyD803

1,839 posts

72 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
As above, they won't be remotely interested in offering much discount to a cash buyer, unless you happen to be there at a time when they want shot of said vehicle and/or they need to hit a sales target.

Could you not take a finance package in order to reap the associated rewards such things bring (negotiate for a discount, extended warranty, maybe a few goodies thrown in), then pay off the finance in full within the first month and hence zero interest?

(Of course you'd need to check the Ts&Cs with the finance house before hand, but I am pretty sure VWFS are pretty good with this.


Rough101

2,279 posts

82 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
The usual retort is ‘I know it’s the best priced one out there’ and that’s usually why you are looking.

I got £500 off £30K and a half tank of gas a while back, I’d looked at others and they wouldn’t budge.

Unless it’s overpriced compared to Autotrader here and EBay, you may only get a small amount, or nothing, but no harm in asking, ‘cash’ makes no odds to them and as others say, may remove finance incentives, especially if a big chain.

Muzzer79

11,027 posts

194 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
I bought a BMW AUC from a main dealer 6 years ago, so pre-Covid and the associated shift to 'fixed' pricing.

Even back then, as a cash buyer, I got £500 off a £30k+ car.

Their argument is that the cars are all benchmarked online against others so they are consequently all priced at market level.

I think your only case for a reasonable discount is if the car has been in stock for a long time - there are bolt-ons, I believe, for sites like Autotrader, to check this. You may get lucky and find a dealer that is more willing to take a hit in order to move it on and create space.

Save Ferris

2,703 posts

220 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
It looks like that one has a 'Good Price' marker on Autotrader, and its only been advertised in the last week, so I doubt you'll have much chance of a discount.

Don't worry if there is one 300 miles away for £250 less, it'll cost you that in time and money to go and see it!

If the car is priced right, and you like it, go for it!

CopperBolt

Original Poster:

892 posts

74 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
Save Ferris said:
It looks like that one has a 'Good Price' marker on Autotrader, and its only been advertised in the last week, so I doubt you'll have much chance of a discount.
Ok thanks. incidentally what do these 'Good price' 'great price' 'low price' all mean on AT? Ive never yet seen 'high price'

Save Ferris] said:
Don't worry if there is one 300 miles away for £250 less, it'll cost you that in time and money to go and see it!
Indeed.

Save Ferris] said:
If the car is priced right, and you like it, go for it!
I guess so. Will go and see it tomorrow I think if its not gone by then. No heated front seats though apparently Sheesh. Need that in June!

Thanks all




Edited by CopperBolt on Thursday 13th June 09:17

Greenmantle

1,454 posts

115 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
OP

you are looking for a car purchase at the correct time (quarter / half year end)
you have about a week to lob in a price to the dealer which you are happy with.
Let them stew on it for that time.
If they are serious about getting rid then they will budge. It may take 1 or 2 returned calls by them to nail a price close to your ideal.
Always have options when discussing with the dealer.
I'm looking at buying this month and I have seen:
(1) Cars being moved from dealer branch to dealer branch so they look like new adverts
(2) AT adverts going and being replaced by Manufacturer approved advert on the manufacturers website
(3) Manufacturers adverts going being replaced by dealer website advert.
(4) Artificial price inflation - if you are familiar with Amazon CamelCamelCamel you will know what I mean.

Keep a list of vehicle regs and WBAC prices and dealer price.
Also have the AT price tracker (chrome add-in)
Good Luck

Zippee

13,571 posts

241 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
I recently bought a new to me, 70 plate Volvo S60 as an approved used.
After some negotiation I managed to get a grand off screen price (that was over a couple of days back and forth so don't expect much on the day).
I was a cash buyer, however, if I took out their PCP finance I also got 2 years approved used warranty, 2years servicing and 2 years MOT.
Took that deal and paid the finance off in full a couple of weeks later.

Helped a friend also buy a used Fabia form a Skoda dealer ;ast month. Car was up for £9,750. Cash buyer - best they'd do was £250 off. PCP - £250 off as negotiated, additional £750 deposit contribution and also Skoda too were offering same as Volvo for warranty, servicing etc. So total price £8750 plus the extras not available unless you took finance - again finance paid off in full within a couple of weeks.

Moral is don't overlook the power of the PCP deals if they have any.

Chamon_Lee

3,896 posts

154 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
Unfortunately outright purchase doesn't have the same power it used to.
If you catch them coming up to a target deadline and they have the added benefit of knowing the sale WILL go through as no reliant on finance then you can get a chunk off depending on how long its been in stock.


Harry H

3,527 posts

163 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
Zippee said:
I recently bought a new to me, 70 plate Volvo S60 as an approved used.
After some negotiation I managed to get a grand off screen price (that was over a couple of days back and forth so don't expect much on the day).
I was a cash buyer, however, if I took out their PCP finance I also got 2 years approved used warranty, 2years servicing and 2 years MOT.
Took that deal and paid the finance off in full a couple of weeks later.

Helped a friend also buy a used Fabia form a Skoda dealer ;ast month. Car was up for £9,750. Cash buyer - best they'd do was £250 off. PCP - £250 off as negotiated, additional £750 deposit contribution and also Skoda too were offering same as Volvo for warranty, servicing etc. So total price £8750 plus the extras not available unless you took finance - again finance paid off in full within a couple of weeks.

Moral is don't overlook the power of the PCP deals if they have any.
Bought a BMW used/approved motorcycle recently. Paid half cash half finance to take advantage of the £500 deposit contribution then paid it off 6 weeks later. Worked out as a 5% discount for the sake of a bit of paperwork.

Sheepshanks

34,929 posts

126 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
Harry H said:
Bought a BMW used/approved motorcycle recently. Paid half cash half finance to take advantage of the £500 deposit contribution then paid it off 6 weeks later. Worked out as a 5% discount for the sake of a bit of paperwork.
The usual drill is to Withdraw within 2 weeks then you only pay few quid interest - in fact, VWFS waived it on a car I bought a few mths ago.

If you wait longer then you're Settling, and there will be a surprising amount of interest - could easily be a few hundred quid on a £20K car purchase.

ChrisH72

2,346 posts

59 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
I think it's all about timing.

I bought a lightly used mx5 at the end of last month. It had only just come into the dealers as part exchange for a new one and needed nothing doing to it other than a fresh MOT. They were very keen for it to go out before the month ended so offered a decent discount of £600 (£21k car) even though I was a cash buyer. In fact they didn't even talk to me about finance. Within 3 days of viewing it I'd paid for it and taken delivery.

If its a car they don't mind hanging on to or if they're under no pressure to make sales targets you might struggle. Go and see the car, if you want it just tell them you'll think about it. See if they offer anything.

CopperBolt

Original Poster:

892 posts

74 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
ChrisH72 said:
If its a car they don't mind hanging on to or if they're under no pressure to make sales targets you might struggle. Go and see the car, if you want it just tell them you'll think about it. See if they offer anything.
Sounds good. WiIl do, thanks. And to the other posters also.

clive_candy

698 posts

172 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
So they cut you a deal on the basis they, or someone, will make some money on the finance you're buying but you then pay it off so they, or someone, make nothing on the finance. What's in it for them?

MattyD803

1,839 posts

72 months

Thursday 13th June
quotequote all
clive_candy said:
So they cut you a deal on the basis they, or someone, will make some money on the finance you're buying but you then pay it off so they, or someone, make nothing on the finance. What's in it for them?
The sales people in the dealership get the kickback from the finance house for making the finance package sale, regardless of whether you go on to pay it off within 1 month or 1 year. They've done 'their bit' by that point.

66HFM

491 posts

32 months

Friday 14th June
quotequote all
I think most of the dealers are less keen to a deal on the price of the car but its what else you can get included in the overall deal - next service free etc

Good luck and if its the car you want and there aren't that many around go down there and make them an offer in person

Greenmantle

1,454 posts

115 months

Friday 14th June
quotequote all
66HFM said:
I think most of the dealers are less keen to a deal on the price of the car but its what else you can get included in the overall deal - next service free etc

Good luck and if its the car you want and there aren't that many around go down there and make them an offer in person
Actually I think its better doing it on the phone. Noted that the OP said the dealer was local but if you go down they can keep you waiting before the main person is free. In that time body language and sizing you up will come into play. It also says to them you have made the effort to come down so you really want THIS car over any other.

Best to say on the blower. "I'm genuine, ready to place a deposit ready to settle by the end of the week". This is a main dealer so any issues with the car you just bat it back to them as part of the warranty.