Off to look at a used VW Golf later - how much discount should I ask for?

[kennysarmy]

I've got the afternoon off to go test drive a used VW Golf.

 

It's a MK7 Facelift 1.5 TSI GT EVO 150PS 5Dr

 

Mileage 7,901 miles*

Petrol

1st reg. date Sep 2017

Transmission Manual

5 Doors

 

Metallic Blue Paint

 

It's screen price is £18,950

 

I'm trading in a Honda Civic which according to VW (https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/used-cars/part-exchange#/valuation) is valued at £5,500 (Good Condition)

 

 

£18,950 less £5,500 is £13,450

 

I was going to try and get the cost to change down to nearer £12,000 - do you think that's realistic? That's £1,450 discount on £18,950 - which is only 7.5 % !

[sippo]

Down to the dealers discretion. If you don't get what you want, are you happy to walk away? You can always make an offer, and leave it with them.

 

How long has the car been on the forecourt. So many deciding factors. Are you paying cash or finance through the garage. Finance would get you a better deal with them as they commission on that. Cash isn't key anymore.

[kennysarmy]

Down to the dealers discretion. If you don't get what you want, are you happy to walk away? You can always make an offer, and leave it with them.

 

How long has the car been on the forecourt. So many deciding factors. Are you paying cash or finance through the garage. Finance would get you a better deal with them as they commission on that. Cash isn't key anymore.

 

Not sure about how long on the forecourt, but suspect not very long as they have n't got photos updated on their website yet.

 

I'll be paying cash - finally able to get out of the "car loan" scenario, I've been saving for the last four year....

 

And absolutely, I always go with the attitude that they need to sell me the car more than I need to buy it.

 

Plenty more dealerships and cars to look at, but would just like to be realistic in what mark-up is on the screen price so I can haggle!

[bald_pig]

Offer your car and £10k and work your way up. They are probably more inclined to agree if you have cash

[SpuffMonkey]

Hard to say - have a check on AutoTrader to see how much they are going for. Haggle for a long MOT, or Car Tax (don't forget its non transferable now - so you'll need to get it before you drive away!)

 

Shame though - I'm thinking of buying a used Civic - dunno where you are, but we could've had a chat!

[JordanT91]

I don't know about main dealers, but in general smaller local garages will not budge much, if at all. There just isn't enough profit in used cars anymore. You're more likely to get things like the tax, a full tank of fuel, a year warranty (remember there are often different levels), mats etc.

[christhetech]

Take the test drive, sit down with the salesman, tell him what deal you want, and listen to what they are offering. If it's not the deal that you want, thank him for his time, shake his hand and walk away. If there is enough money in the deal for them to give you what you want, you won't even make it to the door without him calling you back.

 

Whatever you do, don't let the salesman know that you have your heart set on taking this particular car. Let him know that you have other cars to look at if the deal is not right and be prepared to walk away if they won't budge any more on price.

 

Also, could you get £5.5k privately for your Civic and offer them cash with no p/x. The Civic may be worth £5.5k to you, but to a dealer, it's probably worth a lot less as they will most likely sell on to a trader or send it to auction, especially if it's a VW main dealer that you are dealing with.

[kennysarmy]

Hard to say - have a check on AutoTrader to see how much they are going for. Haggle for a long MOT, or Car Tax (don't forget its non transferable now - so you'll need to get it before you drive away!)

 

Shame though - I'm thinking of buying a used Civic - dunno where you are, but we could've had a chat!

 

Autotrader just has the screen prices though, not what they are actually sold for.

[sted]

Offer your car and £10k and work your way up. They are probably more inclined to agree if you have cash

 

im not sure thats the case anymore dont they make more off financing now than they do from cash sales?

[bald_pig]

im not sure thats the case anymore dont they make more off financing now than they do from cash sales?

 

Depends how creative their accountants are.

[Localtechie]

They get a bit more commission for finance so something to bear in mind.

 

OP what I did was find a similar car and have it loaded on your phone which is significantly cheaper (mine was £600) don't go in saying you love the car just you looking for a car in this price range. When you start negotiating if your not getting anywhere show them the ad from your phone say your looking for around this price. If they won't budge get up and begin walking away. Your not there to make a friend so be firm but fair - good luck!

[kennysarmy]

Well it did n't quite go according to plan.

 

Phoned the garage I was planning on going to (Worcester) and the car that was on their website had n't actually been delivered yet!

 

Ended up going Bristol to another VW franchise and they had a similar car, lower mileage, couple of months newer but still a 67 plate, but it was on at £20,750 instead of £18,950

 

Had the test drive and went to talk numbers.

 

They offered me £5,100 for mine which I negotiated up to £5,450 but they would only drop £250 of their price.

 

I offered £13,500 plus my car, but that was a long way off their cost to change of £15,050 - I was prepared for negotiating up and would have been happy at £13,750 - but they did n't even try so I walked away.

 

If the car at Worcester is still available on Sunday I might go look at it, last day of the month will be in my favour, but they've not had the car long so may not be open to doing much of a deal.

 

I did show the Worcester car to the Bristol dealership and they agreed it was a good price!

[RobD]

We had to buy a car recently due to my wifes car being written off. We had cash from the insurance but the dealers just wouldnt budge on the price at all, not even a small discount. We walked away a few times but they really didnt seem interested.

[Localtechie]

It's September so new plate month, which means most sales people have hit their targets so don't need to offer the deals they might previously.

[3s-gtech]

Discounts are on the new, rather than used stuff at dealers. It has shifted away from the old days where the margins were steep - dealers are having to cut the margin on each used car to shift them because new cars with PCP etc are so attractive. That £1500 you may be trying to knock off could well be their entire profit (and more). They also have to honour a limited warranty as all traders do, plus that car will have been gone round to touch up scuffs and scrapes. It's not an easy time making money from second hand cars.

[kennysarmy]

Discounts are on the new, rather than used stuff at dealers. It has shifted away from the old days where the margins were steep - dealers are having to cut the margin on each used car to shift them because new cars with PCP etc are so attractive. That £1500 you may be trying to knock off could well be their entire profit (and more). They also have to honour a limited warranty as all traders do, plus that car will have been gone round to touch up scuffs and scrapes. It's not an easy time making money from second hand cars.

 

Thanks.

 

I presumed I'd still have the remaining part of the manufacturers 3 year warranty? So a dealership warranty would be unnecessary.

 

Well if the cars are priced with a lower margin then I guess I'll just have to lower my expectation as to what they might come down to.

[3s-gtech]

No, don't assume that. It doesn't always transfer from the first keeper (it does with some marques like Kia, and dealers love them for it!) It seems to transfer on VWs though https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/warranty/new-car/terms-and-conditions Edited September 25, 2018 by 3s-gtech

[Clevertouch_Rob]

I've struggled to haggle with VW recently. there is a car shortage at the moment due to the new emissions regulations. The new Polo GTI is nearly impossible to get - Golf GTI is a bit easier.

[Jaan]

I've struggled to haggle with VW recently. there is a car shortage at the moment due to the new emissions regulations. The new Polo GTI is nearly impossible to get - Golf GTI is a bit easier.

 

I have a mk6 TDI 1.6 for sale.... can't give them away! lol

[PotNoodleTech]

Being honest, car sales is not like it used to be. All they want to do now is get you on a finance deal, that's literally all they care about. they don't care about part ex, and they don't care about cash any more. Neither of these will help you in any way.

 

I doubt you'll get a decent price for your Honda, and I doubt they'll care if you buy it or not. I would like to be proven wrong!

 

Me dad walked into the skoda dealership to buy a Superb Estate, cash. They wouldn't even let him have a test drive. I couldn't believe it. IF it aint on finance for VW/Skoda you don't exist as a customer.

 

BMW on the other hand, were more than happy to take his cash.

 

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[3s-gtech]

Just a heads up for @mavhc to convince you that you need an EV as well

[mavhc]

Just a heads up for @mavhc to convince you that you need an EV as well

 

You'd be crazy not to, soooo cheap to run, plus gotta love the acceleration from 0, and the not filling your lungs with pollution, plus the whole not drowning thing

[kennysarmy]

You'd be crazy not to, soooo cheap to run, plus gotta love the acceleration from 0, and the not filling your lungs with pollution, plus the whole not drowning thing

 

Until I can make the trip back home (Gloucester -> Berwick Upon Tweed) with an E-car they aint no good for me

 

And I mean without an overnight stop for charging

[christhetech]

Until I can make the trip back home (Gloucester -> Berwick Upon Tweed) with an E-car they aint no good for me

 

And I mean without an overnight stop for charging

 

Hybrid not an option?

[sted]

Hybrid not an option?

arnt hybrid worse the ice as you still have the ice pollutants plus you end up with a lot of extra weight being lugged round increasing that and still have a nasty set of batteries to dispose of at the end of the cars life and they are way more complex and more likely to go wrong than either ice or proper electric?