Car buying; does anyone enjoy it?

[raysablade]

Is that for the GR Yaris? That is an absolute hoot to drive. I almost bought one, but alas I was put off by the absence of a rear window wiper.

That's the price on the dealers "on the road" quote for for a top of the range Yaris Hybrid, i was amazed. Her current Polo is a 200hp GTI. Best to keep the GR Yaris off the radar
The Seat Ibiza FR she is looking at has a sports suspension and 18 inch wheels. She never ceases to surprise me

 

[stevec67]

Is that for the GR Yaris? That is an absolute hoot to drive. I almost bought one, but alas I was put off by the absence of a rear window wiper.

Is that all? You could surely have fitted a wiper and switch from a cooking version, no?

 

[Tony Lockhart]

Rain-X is good enough for attack helicopters, so a car’s back window must be a cinch.

 

[AnilS]

Is that all? You could surely have fitted a wiper and switch from a cooking version, no?

I think the rear screen is bespoke and shallower than a std Yaris so the wiper would foul I believe

 

[stevec67]

I think the rear screen is bespoke and shallower than a std Yaris so the wiper would foul I believe

Makes sense, but I'd have thought that there was a solution of sorts, even if it meant a stubby wiper and restricted wiped area. It's only the back, after all.
Edit - upon looking at the spoilers etc it isn't straightforward to get in there at all, so I can see why. My A5 coupe lacks a rear wiper too, it's a bit of a pain.

 

[Tony Lockhart]

Looking on forums just quickly, Rain-X is popular with GR owners, with another recommendation being to put the heated rear window on if there’s rain/spray.

 

[AnilS]

Makes sense, but I'd have thought that there was a solution of sorts, even if it meant a stubby wiper and restricted wiped area. It's only the back, after all.
Edit - upon looking at the spoilers etc it isn't straightforward to get in there at all, so I can see why. My A5 coupe lacks a rear wiper too, it's a bit of a pain.

It annoys me that my Arteon doesn't have a rear wiper too because they wanted to call it a fastback, not hatchback! I use the heated rear screen combined with rain X.

Looking on forums just quickly, Rain-X is popular with GR owners, with another recommendation being to put the heated rear window on if there’s rain/spray.

Indeed. As above, our GR is given the same approach.

Back on thread, I helped our youngest son but his car last week, after a few weeks searching. Dealers were a PITA, so bought privately.

 

[Nic Robinson]

I quite like buying cars. I just choose what I'd like and buy a nice used example. Mind you, I can't imagine paying 30k for a car.

 

[Tony Lockhart]

I quite like buying cars. I just choose what I'd like and buy a nice used example. Mind you, I can't imagine paying 30k for a car.

I can imagine paying a lot more than a million for a car, but only if I had 50 million or more in the bank

 

[Nicholas]

I would contribute to this thread, but first let me ask my manager. And, Oh are you interested in finance?

Buying cars is hell. I hate it with a passion. Tried to buy a new car on-line once but the manufacturer forced me into the dealer. It's worse than the dentist!

 

[richardg]

Controlling various features by voice control is a slight redeeming factor with the Volvo courtesy car I have at the moment. Certainly beats navigating the touchscreen while on the move.
“Steering wheel heater Up one”

Must say I like my voice controlled sat nav in my BMW. Remember typing it in by spinning the wheel for each letter?

 

[Paul L]

I hated buying too until a mate put me into a different mindset, basically along the lines of:

• Do your homework to create a shortlist of cars/essentials
• visit the dealers to make contact, try the cars and leave your details. You’re not there to negotiate so you’re not stressed and you’re not there for their interrogation or mind-games
• make it clear you’re looking for the right car at the price and leave it that
• be prepared to wait days or weeks for one of them to call

Why this sort of approach? Because the industry works on manufacturer incentives and discount bandings so no matter how good you are at negotiating you want the dealer who needs to make the numbers at the end of month/quarter/year and that doesn’t necessarily mean the salesperson wants that, sometimes they do but the dealer doesn’t need it.

When I last did this I had the usual responses of can’t get that, very popular and you’ll pay for the privilege, our online prices are already as low as we can go, you should order now as prices are rising imminently. All from an industry that has cars in fields or sometimes on container ships floating around in the waters. Within a couple of weeks one dealer was on the phone to me with the right deal and over the next month others followed offering heavy discount contrary to everything they said on the day.

Maybe it’s changed in the past handful of years but I’d be surprised as it car buying seems to be about understanding the dynamics of their industry and therefore how to play their game.

The narrower your choice, urgency or highly desirable must have target then the less this works of course.

 

[RJohan]

I hate idiotic car sales persons.

- When the Volvo/Daf 480 hatchback was new I was a bit interested and went to a dealer to check it out. I sat down in the front seat and quickly found out there wasn't enough headroom for me. A sales person hovered up from no where (they always do when you're the least interested) commenting: 'You sit very well there!'
'No I don't,' I answered while climbing out. 'There isn't head room enough.'
'No?' He swinged himself into the car and showed that HE fitted nicely.
I just went without any further comment.

- Or at a Porsche dealer. I was checking out the then new Boxster. After the usual dealer blurb, blarb about the Boxster, the sales person asked what I had now. 'An MX-5.'
'Well, you are better off selling it your self.'
Negotiations ended there. No deal.

Etc. etc. etc.

 

[PaulMB]

My experience of attempts to buy a new car was being told that I cannot have any of the features that I would like, but must have all those that I do not want. So I didn't.

 

[raysablade]

I hate idiotic car sales persons.

'Well, you are better off selling it your self.'
Negotiations ended there. No deal.

Etc. etc. etc.

I'm sure some cars would still be on her list if the dealers behaved differently. Mini's couldn't care less was the worst but 3 follow up passive/ aggressive calls from Honda in a week, when she told them she was going to try a few over the next couple of weeks, was plain rude.

I hated buying too until a mate put me into a different mindset, basically along the lines of:

• Do your homework to create a shortlist of cars/essentials
• visit the dealers to make contact, try the cars and leave your details. You’re not there to negotiate so you’re not stressed and you’re not there for their interrogation or mind-games
• make it clear you’re looking for the right car at the price and leave it that
• be prepared to wait days or weeks for one of them to call

Why this sort of approach? Because the industry works on manufacturer incentives and discount bandings so no matter how good you are at negotiating you want the dealer who needs to make the numbers at the end of month/quarter/year and that doesn’t necessarily mean the salesperson wants that, sometimes they do but the dealer doesn’t need it.

When I last did this I had the usual responses of can’t get that, very popular and you’ll pay for the privilege, our online prices are already as low as we can go, you should order now as prices are rising imminently. All from an industry that has cars in fields or sometimes on container ships floating around in the waters. Within a couple of weeks one dealer was on the phone to me with the right deal and over the next month others followed offering heavy discount contrary to everything they said on the day.

Maybe it’s changed in the past handful of years but I’d be surprised as it car buying seems to be about understanding the dynamics of their industry and therefore how to play their game.

The narrower your choice, urgency or highly desirable must have target then the less this works of course.

That's seems to be as true as it ever was. I'm impressed by the power of the, now tatty, bit of paper she hands them all with her essentials highlighted. less impressed by the contents.
It's clear that with the exception of Mini, who have no stock and nothing to test, they all try to create a fear of missing out.
I guess victory will be sweet, it's the attritional battles I can't stand.
On the subject of incentives is there any kind of web resource to show when the dealers pressure dates are?

 

[PaulMB]

I hate idiotic car sales persons.

- When the Volvo/Daf 480 hatchback was new I was a bit interested and went to a dealer to check it out. I sat down in the front seat and quickly found out there wasn't enough headroom for me. A sales person hovered up from no where (they always do when you're the least interested) commenting: 'You sit very well there!'
'No I don't,' I answered while climbing out. 'There isn't head room enough.'
'No?' He swinged himself into the car and showed that HE fitted nicely.
I just went without any further comment.

- Or at a Porsche dealer. I was checking out the then new Boxster. After the usual dealer blurb, blarb about the Boxster, the sales person asked what I had now. 'An MX-5.'
'Well, you are better off selling it your self.'
Negotiations ended there. No deal.

Etc. etc. etc.

Yes, usually they are so idiotic that they think they can treat you like an idiot who will believe any nonsense they tell you. And that they would be doing you a great favour to sell you one of their exquisite and exclusive products.

 

[Ellenor]

I hate buying them
I hate maintaining them
I hate driving them
I hate selling them

Just something I need for a purpose.

 

[AnilS]

I generally find, if going into a dealership, that I know more about the car they are selling, than they do.

All I do, is a little research beforehand.

 

[Paul L]

Sorry Ray, no idea on the pressure dates but I guess time is and patience are the key with it needing the one that must make the numbers on a particular occasion. I know a mate went into a dealer shortly after I bought and they were offering nothing as if to prove the point of the system. Good luck with your lady’s search.

 

[richardg]

I hated buying too until a mate put me into a different mindset, basically along the lines of:

• Do your homework to create a shortlist of cars/essentials
• visit the dealers to make contact, try the cars and leave your details. You’re not there to negotiate so you’re not stressed and you’re not there for their interrogation or mind-games
• make it clear you’re looking for the right car at the price and leave it that
• be prepared to wait days or weeks for one of them to call

Why this sort of approach? Because the industry works on manufacturer incentives and discount bandings so no matter how good you are at negotiating you want the dealer who needs to make the numbers at the end of month/quarter/year and that doesn’t necessarily mean the salesperson wants that, sometimes they do but the dealer doesn’t need it.

When I last did this I had the usual responses of can’t get that, very popular and you’ll pay for the privilege, our online prices are already as low as we can go, you should order now as prices are rising imminently. All from an industry that has cars in fields or sometimes on container ships floating around in the waters. Within a couple of weeks one dealer was on the phone to me with the right deal and over the next month others followed offering heavy discount contrary to everything they said on the day.

Maybe it’s changed in the past handful of years but I’d be surprised as it car buying seems to be about understanding the dynamics of their industry and therefore how to play their game.

The narrower your choice, urgency or highly desirable must have target then the less this works of course.

I learnt this year that the car supermarkets do no negotiate at all. I spent weeks getting ready to ask for 8% off a Fiat Spider. Waited until I had the cash in the bank to pay immediately. I drew my shortlist up, printed each one out to write notes after each conversation. I contacted 5 dealers, most were supermarkets, but 1 was Fiat and 1 was a small specialist. Best I could get off a 12 grand asking price was £200. So in the end I realised I can't have wanted the car that much as I wanted a big chunk off to motivate me, couldn't get it, so didn't buy it.