Buying a used car

[Bindy Badgy]

Can anyone recommend a reputable garage to buy a second-hand car from?

 

I'm looking for a bog-standard hatchback for my commute to work, so I do not need anything fancy.

 

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Bauld]

Arnold Clark get a bad write up from many but I've just got my 3rd used car from them a couple of weeks ago and never any real issues to speak of. I don't just let them take me through everything though. I make my own demands on price etc and get myself a good deal that suits me. If it doesn't suit me I walk away. It applies to no matter where you go. They're job is to sell you the car and make money, Your job is to get the deal that suits you. 

 

My new car is a diesel and I've had them knock a good chunk of their asking price, Full service, fixed the damage to one of the rims, replaced one of the speakers that crackled a bit and a whole new DPF emmision system put in. 

 

Previously I'd actually go up the car auctions and buy myself a cheap runaround. Cheaper but of course you need to pay the full amount up front and you need to make sure you know what to look for as they're sold as seen. Helpful if you know a mechanic or someone who is well educated on cars to go with you and look them over first.

[Bindy Badgy]

8 minutes ago, Bauld said:

Arnold Clark get a bad write up from many but I've just got my 3rd used car from them a couple of weeks ago and never any real issues to speak of. I don't just let them take me through everything though. I make my own demands on price etc and get myself a good deal that suits me. If it doesn't suit me I walk away. It applies to no matter where you go. They're job is to sell you the car and make money, Your job is to get the deal that suits you. 

 

My new car is a diesel and I've had them knock a good chunk of their asking price, Full service, fixed the damage to one of the rims, replaced one of the speakers that crackled a bit and a whole new DPF emmision system put in. 

 

Previously I'd actually go up the car auctions and buy myself a cheap runaround. Cheaper but of course you need to pay the full amount up front and you need to make sure you know what to look for as they're sold as seen. Helpful if you know a mechanic or someone who is well educated on cars to go with you and look them over first.

 

Thanks. How do you go about negotiating? It isn't something I have any experience with.

[Taffin]

5 minutes ago, Bindy Badgy said:

 

Thanks. How do you go about negotiating? It isn't something I have any experience with.

 

Just be really clear on what you can/cannot afford and how you want to pay for and what sort of condition you'll accept prior to going in.

 

Then stick to your guns. Also be cognisant that they probably won't really negotiate with you, it'll be broadly like it or lump it. If it doesn't work for you, lump it. They may call you back to discuss, or it may sell the next day and they won't. There are plenty more cars out there, but equally remember there are plenty more customers out there too.

 

Look at cars within your price range and see any savings or add on as a bonus and you won't get frustrated by it all. Aim slightly higher to try and negotiate them down and it'll be a murderously frustrating and protracted experience in my experience. 

Edited January 24 by Taffin

[rudi must stay]

12 minutes ago, Bindy Badgy said:

 

Thanks. How do you go about negotiating? It isn't something I have any experience with.

 

Sure you could do it online. Chatting would give them the upper hand

[Bauld]

17 minutes ago, Bindy Badgy said:

 

Thanks. How do you go about negotiating? It isn't something I have any experience with.

 

When looking for a car through Arnold Clark use their app if you can. The app updates quicker than their website and the car i got was £500 cheaper on the app compared to their website and in the dealership they go off website price.

 

The next thing I was very clear about budget not just as a whole but in terms of monthly payments and stuck to that with almost no wiggle room. I had a trade in, Argued a little extra on that. They gave me an extra 200. That helps with the deposit.

 

I test drove it and walked away. Didn't go for it. I test drove it on the Saturday. On Monday I went online and reserved it for 48hrs so they couldn't do anything with it for a further 2 days. Then phoned the guy I dealt with. I told him here's my offer, I want this, Don't want this and as I've worked it out if I get this and that it'll cost me X per month. 

 

He went away and spoke to his manager and came back to me about 5hrs later and said he can't do it for X but will be able to do it for Y and I accepted because monthly payments worked out only about £5 more per month. Done deal. 

 

I know it sounds like hard work and a bit of stress but that is just my way of doing things. For me it is worth it because I get something I'm happy with at the end. Some people are happy to walk into a dealership, see what they like, shake hands and pay the money. That's fine, if you're happy with that simple approach, I just prefer to squeeze as much out of it as I can.

 

Either way you've always got to stay in control and make sure no matter where you go and who you deal with you are the one getting the deal you want. If you don't feel comfortable, walk away. Only shake hands when you feel like you are getting what you want.

[The Gorgie]

Autotrader. Put in the exact details of what you want from a car and it will bring it up.

[Cairneyhill Jambo]

I agree with The Gorgie.  Autotrader is a good starting point.  

 

Always check the MOT history of the car on the Government website. This will show up any major issues. 

 

Avoid cars with only a months MOT left unless the owner is willing to put it through the MOT for you. Most garages will happily do this. 

 

I normally buy my cars from my local garage, Saline Motors, who are really good and reputable. 

 

 

 

[hughesie27]

Is negotiating much of a thing these days? Maybe on the value of your car if trading in.

[heartsfc_fan]

11 minutes ago, hughesie27 said:

Is negotiating much of a thing these days? Maybe on the value of your car if trading in.

Not usually on the price of the car, but extras like free service, extended warranty etc can be negotiable.

[Taffin]

38 minutes ago, hughesie27 said:

Is negotiating much of a thing these days? Maybe on the value of your car if trading in.

 

Not really, no. Suits the dealers down to a tee but in their defence (🤮) used cars just don't depreciate like they once did due to the market being so hot (you'll notice used cars don't stick around long...albeit they also move them around dealerships so it's not always that it's sold). The salesman generally makes his cash off the finance and add-ons to my knowledge too. Knocking £500 off the price makes so little difference to the monthly payments it's not much of a tool and if buying cash then salesman knows he won't get money on finance so isn't going to budge on the price much.

 

Better pushing for MOT/service plans, any touch ups/dings fixed in my experience. You'll just end up speaking to them everyday for a while if negotiating on price and either getting nowhere fast or the car sells to someone else 😂

Edited January 24 by Taffin

[hughesie27]

I quote like the YouTube Channel Delivrd. US Car says very much the stereotypical industry you think itnis and maybe was 20 hears ago here.

 

The guy is brilliant.

[Craig_]

Just buy something with low mileage and don't buy a French car and you'll be grand. 

[The Maroon Jacket]

Volkswagen always seem to be good reliable cars 

That's all I've got 

[Jacques de Gauthier]

9 hours ago, Craig_ said:

Just buy something with low mileage and don't buy a French car and you'll be grand. 

Wouldn’t worry too much about the mileage. Something that’s only done motorway commuting v something that’s just pootled around town? I know which I’d rather have. 

[Ribble]

18 hours ago, hughesie27 said:

Is negotiating much of a thing these days? Maybe on the value of your car if trading in.

I negotiated around 10% off my last car, it was exactly what I was looking for but I could see it had been sat at the dealership for almost 9 months, knew they’d just want shot of it as they’d gradually been reducing the price anyway. Called up with an offer and they countered, I agreed that number but then had them waive their standard delivery fee. They got their headline sales price and I got close to my original offer when factoring delivery, both sides seeing a win which is key to the negotiation.

[Taffin]

55 minutes ago, Ribble said:

I negotiated around 10% off my last car, it was exactly what I was looking for but I could see it had been sat at the dealership for almost 9 months, knew they’d just want shot of it as they’d gradually been reducing the price anyway. Called up with an offer and they countered, I agreed that number but then had them waive their standard delivery fee. They got their headline sales price and I got close to my original offer when factoring delivery, both sides seeing a win which is key to the negotiation.

 

Where were they delivering from that is was going to cost 10% of the price of the car?!! 😱😱

[Ribble]

44 minutes ago, Taffin said:

 

Where were they delivering from that is was going to cost 10% of the price of the car?!! 😱😱

Car was 10k, I offered 9 and they countered 9.5 but waived the £500 delivery fee from Birmingham to Dunfermline, so they got their 9.5k and I saved a grand on what I would have had to pay

[Taffin]

51 minutes ago, Ribble said:

Car was 10k, I offered 9 and they countered 9.5 but waived the £500 delivery fee from Birmingham to Dunfermline, so they got their 9.5k and I saved a grand on what I would have had to pay

 

Ah fair, I picked you up as they only waived that fee which would have been a grand 😱😂

 

£500 is still excessive, though I'm sure absolutely the norm. That's actually the bit I hate about buying a car more than the sticker price...all the associated add on bollocks and hidden cost. That's where they are shit houses imo.

 

Good haggling 👍👍

Edited January 25 by Taffin

[Hømme]

As mentioned before the MOT history checker is important.

 

You'll see whole pass / fail history of the car and reasons for fail / advisories etc 

 

Stuff like worn tyres, brakes etc flagging up don't really point to the car being a dud but if it's quite often you may want to consider the type of person a previous owner was. Eg they clearly can't be arsed keeping their car in working order.