I need a new car. Impending birth of new family member means my 2-seater won't do anymore, so looking at smallish 5-seaters, mostly the Kia Rio and the Ford Fiesta - nothing bigger cause our other car is an XC90 and the family only needs one tank.
I bought my last car 2 years ago as an ex-demonstrator. Good deal, good spec. Didn't haggle much then.
So on Saturday I went to Kia. Test drove the Rio - yeah, it would do. Discussing figures there's essentially no movement on the national offer price (rrp minus 1.4k). But, even "better" - he wants me to sign now but the 3-door Rio is no longer available in black (apparently being discontinued). So he wants me to buy in silver or blue. Uhm, no, if I'm buying a new car, I'm not going to buy it in a colour I don't like. Then he pushes the 5-door. Fair enough, 5-doors would be more convenient and black is available. But once again, no movement from the (more expensive) RRP minus the same national 1.4k-off offer. Oh, and that black 5-door would likely take 3 months to be delivered. I told him that that's just not good enough and left.
Then went to Ford to look at the Fiesta. Test drove it - yeah, like it marginally better than the Rio. When they ran me through the figures for the colours/spec I'd consider, not only was it 3k more than the Rio (ok, I guess you pay for the brand), but they would also not budge at all from the RRP. Then they started pushing finance deals. Uhm, hello? I'm not happy with your inflated prices, but that sure doesn't mean I can't afford it. Also, on finance I could get a (marginally) better deal. But, yeah, don't want finance. What makes them think I'd be any happier with the price on the basis of only paying 8k up front? You're still demanding over 15k for a not-at-all exciting small car! (automatic, since slightly more pricey than the normal offers).
Anyway, I didn't buy. I did ask both dealerships about ex-demos, but - surprise - none available.
Went home, checked autotrader, can get a 62-reg black auto Fiesta for under 10k with 2-5k miles on it.
I guess that's what I'll do then.
So, any recent car-buying experiences? Anyone managed to negotiate much on a cash purchase? Car dealerships really that much keener on pushing finance than cash-buyers?
I bought my last car 2 years ago as an ex-demonstrator. Good deal, good spec. Didn't haggle much then.
So on Saturday I went to Kia. Test drove the Rio - yeah, it would do. Discussing figures there's essentially no movement on the national offer price (rrp minus 1.4k). But, even "better" - he wants me to sign now but the 3-door Rio is no longer available in black (apparently being discontinued). So he wants me to buy in silver or blue. Uhm, no, if I'm buying a new car, I'm not going to buy it in a colour I don't like. Then he pushes the 5-door. Fair enough, 5-doors would be more convenient and black is available. But once again, no movement from the (more expensive) RRP minus the same national 1.4k-off offer. Oh, and that black 5-door would likely take 3 months to be delivered. I told him that that's just not good enough and left.
Then went to Ford to look at the Fiesta. Test drove it - yeah, like it marginally better than the Rio. When they ran me through the figures for the colours/spec I'd consider, not only was it 3k more than the Rio (ok, I guess you pay for the brand), but they would also not budge at all from the RRP. Then they started pushing finance deals. Uhm, hello? I'm not happy with your inflated prices, but that sure doesn't mean I can't afford it. Also, on finance I could get a (marginally) better deal. But, yeah, don't want finance. What makes them think I'd be any happier with the price on the basis of only paying 8k up front? You're still demanding over 15k for a not-at-all exciting small car! (automatic, since slightly more pricey than the normal offers).
Anyway, I didn't buy. I did ask both dealerships about ex-demos, but - surprise - none available.
Went home, checked autotrader, can get a 62-reg black auto Fiesta for under 10k with 2-5k miles on it.
I guess that's what I'll do then.
So, any recent car-buying experiences? Anyone managed to negotiate much on a cash purchase? Car dealerships really that much keener on pushing finance than cash-buyers?
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