Discussion
Hi All,
Apologies if this is not in the right section.
Looking to by a nearly new (2020) A3 Sportback TFSI 35 in Sport Trim with low mileage. There are not too many about so I would consider new.
So far the general attitude of the (West London) dealers that have spoken to has been to try and sell me PCP or Gap Insurance before even mentioning the car or a test drive!
Has anyone got recommendations for a good dealership for either approved used or new in the London/ SE area?
Raj
Apologies if this is not in the right section.
Looking to by a nearly new (2020) A3 Sportback TFSI 35 in Sport Trim with low mileage. There are not too many about so I would consider new.
So far the general attitude of the (West London) dealers that have spoken to has been to try and sell me PCP or Gap Insurance before even mentioning the car or a test drive!
Has anyone got recommendations for a good dealership for either approved used or new in the London/ SE area?
Raj
nope, all the dealers i use are exactly the same, only interested in flogging products not the cars
3 dealers couldnt even be bothered to ring me back to sell me an RS3 ...
BMW the same
audi after sales is just the same, trying to invent as many new serivce types as they can, or adding service items that used to be included on as extras ...
i dumped the brand after they created the 'inspection serivce' £200 to check over the car to find anything they could bill as work with ZERO actual service work ... i was paying them to find work forthemselves ...
3 dealers couldnt even be bothered to ring me back to sell me an RS3 ...
BMW the same
audi after sales is just the same, trying to invent as many new serivce types as they can, or adding service items that used to be included on as extras ...
i dumped the brand after they created the 'inspection serivce' £200 to check over the car to find anything they could bill as work with ZERO actual service work ... i was paying them to find work forthemselves ...
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Thursday 22 April 12:07
Had 3 Audi's on the trot but have now stopped buying them. When it comes to service the main dealers are always doing you a favour and of the two independents near me one is useless and the other will lie and rip you off at every opportunity.
Have now moved to Mercedes, so far so good.
Have now moved to Mercedes, so far so good.
Similar experience with Skoda servicing - everything apart from the basic oil and filter change seems to be an extra:
Brake fluid
DSG gearbox oil
Haldex (4wd) oil
Sunroof lube
Cam belt
Spark plugs
If the car is set up for annual servicing, and nearly all the above are done every 2, 3 4 or 5 years, why not just have an all-inclusive price for each service, depending on the age of the car?
"Hello Mr. Dealer, my car is x years old, how much for a service?"
Kia dealer just asked if I was paying "cash" or wanted finance when we started the paperwork, and mentioned gap insurance right at the end, and was fine with me saying no.
Different story with a Ford dealer - I had to sit through a 15 minute presentation by the "business manager" halfway through the paperwork.
Brake fluid
DSG gearbox oil
Haldex (4wd) oil
Sunroof lube
Cam belt
Spark plugs
If the car is set up for annual servicing, and nearly all the above are done every 2, 3 4 or 5 years, why not just have an all-inclusive price for each service, depending on the age of the car?
"Hello Mr. Dealer, my car is x years old, how much for a service?"
Kia dealer just asked if I was paying "cash" or wanted finance when we started the paperwork, and mentioned gap insurance right at the end, and was fine with me saying no.
Different story with a Ford dealer - I had to sit through a 15 minute presentation by the "business manager" halfway through the paperwork.
Edited by clockworks on Thursday 22 April 12:37
clockworks said:
Kia dealer just asked if I was paying "cash" or wanted finance when we started the paperwork, and mentioned gap insurance right at the end, and was fine with me saying no.
Kia were good for us as wellTesla have it nailed
no slimey sales people at all, order on web
your cars here
do you know how it works, yep, ok see ya
In the modern world it's easy to find the car you want at the best price, so the margins that were once present in cars seems to have diminished massively.
That means that whilst a generation ago the salesman was mainly looking to sell you a car, for them to really make any money now it's based around the kickback they receive for selling a PCP deal, tyre protection, GAP insurance, smart repair 3 year cover etc.
Prestigous brands take significantly better care of you because the constant drops in pricing from other dealerships are less of (or not at all) an issue. Unfortunately it doesn't look this is going to change any time soon so you just need to learn to play the game - Which sucks.
That means that whilst a generation ago the salesman was mainly looking to sell you a car, for them to really make any money now it's based around the kickback they receive for selling a PCP deal, tyre protection, GAP insurance, smart repair 3 year cover etc.
Prestigous brands take significantly better care of you because the constant drops in pricing from other dealerships are less of (or not at all) an issue. Unfortunately it doesn't look this is going to change any time soon so you just need to learn to play the game - Which sucks.
If you ask "how much a month is it?" you'll get a much better response from dealers.
I learned this quite late - last couple of cars I've lapped up the PCP spiel, then paid it off a few days after getting the car. On the VW Tiguan I got for my missus, as well as the PCP and its £2750 deposit contribution, plus about £3500 of discount. I asked the salesman what was important to him of the add-ons and he said paint protection so I said I'd take it if he lost most of the price in the deal.
Best car buying experience I've had by a long way - I think he would have turned himself inside out if I'd asked him to.
I learned this quite late - last couple of cars I've lapped up the PCP spiel, then paid it off a few days after getting the car. On the VW Tiguan I got for my missus, as well as the PCP and its £2750 deposit contribution, plus about £3500 of discount. I asked the salesman what was important to him of the add-ons and he said paint protection so I said I'd take it if he lost most of the price in the deal.
Best car buying experience I've had by a long way - I think he would have turned himself inside out if I'd asked him to.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 22 April 14:53
Went to a dealership on Sunday who have 6 branches around the UK, and were absolutely heaving. It was my first experience of going to a dealer to view a car post-lockdown, since all the covid stuff started.
Firstly, I was 10 minutes later than my appointment time, and expected to be hurried into a test drive. Boy, was I wrong. Was told to take a seat in a waiting area and spent almost an hour there before being called up. Then had approximately 2 hours of paint protection and how essential their 2 year warranty is thrown at me. Was never interested in either, and when negotiations kicked off, the salesman was adamant to include at least a few options until I was walking out the door and he finally gave me a price without any extras (still didn't take the car for other reasons though).
Was absolutely exhausting, doing a 40 minute drive each way, yet leaving my place at 12:30 and arriving home at 17:30, just to view one car!!!
Fortunately the one I viewed locally yesterday was very straightforward and didn't have any extra products to sell, didn't try to push the extended warranty etc. Gave me a bit of hope that they're not all like that.
Firstly, I was 10 minutes later than my appointment time, and expected to be hurried into a test drive. Boy, was I wrong. Was told to take a seat in a waiting area and spent almost an hour there before being called up. Then had approximately 2 hours of paint protection and how essential their 2 year warranty is thrown at me. Was never interested in either, and when negotiations kicked off, the salesman was adamant to include at least a few options until I was walking out the door and he finally gave me a price without any extras (still didn't take the car for other reasons though).
Was absolutely exhausting, doing a 40 minute drive each way, yet leaving my place at 12:30 and arriving home at 17:30, just to view one car!!!
Fortunately the one I viewed locally yesterday was very straightforward and didn't have any extra products to sell, didn't try to push the extended warranty etc. Gave me a bit of hope that they're not all like that.
Sheepshanks said:
If you ask "how much a month is it?" you'll get a much better response from dealers.
I learned this quite late - last couple of cars I've lapped up the PCP spiel, then paid it off a few days after getting the car. On the VW Tiguan I got for my missus, as well as the PCP and its £2750 deposit contribution, plus about £3500 of discount. I asked the salesman what was important to him of the add-ons and he said paint protection so I said I'd take it if he lost most of the price in the deal.
Best car buying experience I've had by a long way - I think he would have turned himself inside out if I'd asked him to.
So, assuming you have the cash, is this the absolute cheapest way of acquiring a new car then? Gobble up all the PCP discounts, then call and settle the full balance within days?I learned this quite late - last couple of cars I've lapped up the PCP spiel, then paid it off a few days after getting the car. On the VW Tiguan I got for my missus, as well as the PCP and its £2750 deposit contribution, plus about £3500 of discount. I asked the salesman what was important to him of the add-ons and he said paint protection so I said I'd take it if he lost most of the price in the deal.
Best car buying experience I've had by a long way - I think he would have turned himself inside out if I'd asked him to.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 22 April 14:53
david-j8694 said:
So, assuming you have the cash, is this the absolute cheapest way of acquiring a new car then? Gobble up all the PCP discounts, then call and settle the full balance within days?
Probably - unless there's a cheap leasing deal and you're happy to return the car at the end of it.But if you do want to acquire (as in own) the car and there's a hefty deposit contribution then taking the PCP is the only way to get it. We even got a deposit contribution on a 0% PCP on one car - salesman said the manufacturer wanted all its customers to be on PCPs and was prepared to bribe them to take it. I did let that one run - be daft not to - but it was annoying to be "forced" to take the PCP as a I was buying a car for one of my kids,
DaSam21 said:
Went to a dealership on Sunday who have 6 branches around the UK, and were absolutely heaving. It was my first experience of going to a dealer to view a car post-lockdown, since all the covid stuff started.
Firstly, I was 10 minutes later than my appointment time, and expected to be hurried into a test drive. Boy, was I wrong. Was told to take a seat in a waiting area and spent almost an hour there before being called up. Then had approximately 2 hours of paint protection and how essential their 2 year warranty is thrown at me. Was never interested in either, and when negotiations kicked off, the salesman was adamant to include at least a few options until I was walking out the door and he finally gave me a price without any extras (still didn't take the car for other reasons though).
Was absolutely exhausting, doing a 40 minute drive each way, yet leaving my place at 12:30 and arriving home at 17:30, just to view one car!!!
Thanks for posting that.Firstly, I was 10 minutes later than my appointment time, and expected to be hurried into a test drive. Boy, was I wrong. Was told to take a seat in a waiting area and spent almost an hour there before being called up. Then had approximately 2 hours of paint protection and how essential their 2 year warranty is thrown at me. Was never interested in either, and when negotiations kicked off, the salesman was adamant to include at least a few options until I was walking out the door and he finally gave me a price without any extras (still didn't take the car for other reasons though).
Was absolutely exhausting, doing a 40 minute drive each way, yet leaving my place at 12:30 and arriving home at 17:30, just to view one car!!!
Experiences like this is why Cazoo and Cinch will do well.
I'm sure they'll offer all of this stuff but it'll be tick boxes online.
Then the car get's delivered to your door?
This will be the future.
clockworks said:
Similar experience with Skoda servicing - everything apart from the basic oil and filter change seems to be an extra:
Brake fluid
DSG gearbox oil
Haldex (4wd) oil
Sunroof lube
Cam belt
Spark plugs
If the car is set up for annual servicing, and nearly all the above are done every 2, 3 4 or 5 years, why not just have an all-inclusive price for each service, depending on the age of the car?
"Hello Mr. Dealer, my car is x years old, how much for a service?"
Kia dealer just asked if I was paying "cash" or wanted finance when we started the paperwork, and mentioned gap insurance right at the end, and was fine with me saying no.
Different story with a Ford dealer - I had to sit through a 15 minute presentation by the "business manager" halfway through the paperwork.
I. An understand dsg and haldex being a extraBrake fluid
DSG gearbox oil
Haldex (4wd) oil
Sunroof lube
Cam belt
Spark plugs
If the car is set up for annual servicing, and nearly all the above are done every 2, 3 4 or 5 years, why not just have an all-inclusive price for each service, depending on the age of the car?
"Hello Mr. Dealer, my car is x years old, how much for a service?"
Kia dealer just asked if I was paying "cash" or wanted finance when we started the paperwork, and mentioned gap insurance right at the end, and was fine with me saying no.
Different story with a Ford dealer - I had to sit through a 15 minute presentation by the "business manager" halfway through the paperwork.
Edited by clockworks on Thursday 22 April 12:37
But everything else should part of a major service
This is why I just lease cars now for my partner.
Order on the web, the price is the price and no sales pitch.
Making people sit down for a 90 minute sales meeting must be counter productive? Most cars are just ‘white goods’ and could be sold accordingly.
Pick up the car a few weeks/months later.
One of the positives of having a company car is that when you go the dealership there is no up sell on servicing as they know they can’t justify it to the leasing company..
Order on the web, the price is the price and no sales pitch.
Making people sit down for a 90 minute sales meeting must be counter productive? Most cars are just ‘white goods’ and could be sold accordingly.
Pick up the car a few weeks/months later.
One of the positives of having a company car is that when you go the dealership there is no up sell on servicing as they know they can’t justify it to the leasing company..
ksAll,
An update.
Gave up with London Audi dealers in end after visiting/ speaking to four of them. Dissapointing.
Took my chances with BMW and was was treated well. No hard sell of finance or extras. Simple 15 min negotiation on the phone resulted in more than 10% of list. Car ordered and delivery expected in July. So far so good.
Shouldn't have been such a drama but that's that they way it seems to be.
Thanks for all your comments and advice.
Raj
An update.
Gave up with London Audi dealers in end after visiting/ speaking to four of them. Dissapointing.
Took my chances with BMW and was was treated well. No hard sell of finance or extras. Simple 15 min negotiation on the phone resulted in more than 10% of list. Car ordered and delivery expected in July. So far so good.
Shouldn't have been such a drama but that's that they way it seems to be.
Thanks for all your comments and advice.
Raj
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