Is This The Clever Way to Buy a Car?

Everyone wants to tell you the best way to buy a car. Everyone’s a Clarkson.

Shamefully the people who won’t tell you are car salespeople. They go with the wind. So here goes - how a real world car sales person sells cars to his friends and family.

The advice you’ll mostly hear is don’t buy a new car because you’ll lose thousands the moment you take delivery which is true. I might add they keep depreciating in what’s known as an acute depreciation curve. Buying a new car at retail price or anything near it is said to be a BAD INVESTMENT. It is. They say look at late models with modern performance, economy, comforts, reliability, and safety.

The next piece of advice you’ll hear is buy at an auction. I’ve been selling cars since 1966. I’ve sold thousands upon thousands of cars at auction but never bought a car from an auction. I‘m not brave and I‘m not stupid.

The next source of supply to avoid is friends and I have to say - family. Say no more.

One way or the other the general advice is buy a near new car and save 25% off the retail value. These used cars are mostly in excellent condition because dealers look after their demonstrators as do hire car companies and body shop repair garages who are the source of these near new cars.

They go on to advise these cars will have only recorded 10-20,000 miles. Can I point out that’s all of your front brakes used up and half the rear. Plus a service is due or overdue. Not to mention a set of front tyres with the rears half worn. Also 6-12 months of the 36 months warranty will have expired.

So let’s work this out. Here’s an example. A new Renault Clio 3 door Expression 1.2 16V 75bhp manufacturer’s retail price is £9,610. Add £360 for metallic paint and the total cost is £9,970. Let’s call it £10,000. If your target is to save 25% by buying used/near new that’s £7,500. Although I think you’ll find it’s likely to be £7,995. It doesn’t matter because I could sell you a new/unused Clio Expression - same specification for £8,114. You have to add the cost of metallic but then you get to choose your colour.

Remember the front brakes are £100 plus as are tyres. So that’s 7.7k to 8.2k. Plus a £200 service = 7.9k to 8.4k. Add the fact the rear brakes and tyres are half shod so now we’re up to 8k or £8,500. Not to forget £500 of warranty value has expired. So the near new car’s eventual cost is £8,500 to £9,000.

You’ve NOT saved 25%, you’ve only saved 15% at best - more like 10%. Plus the fact the car is used. Check out our prices. They’re a whole lot better than a 15% off new price.

So my advice is don’t buy near new. Buy unused with at least a 15% discount.

Hand on my heart, I’ve never sold a relative a near new used car with mileage. I’ve only sold them deeply discounted new cars or pre-registered cars with delivery mileage.

Check out our prices because all exceed 15% discount off the price new. Check our prices with our internet competitors because we are incredibly cheaper - sometimes double the discount. It’s only believable because of our experience of both the internet, retail motor trade and importantly our knowledge of car distribution.. And we are talking about unused, delivery mileage cars. New tyres. New brakes. Service due as with new. Only days or weeks having expired on the warranty unless specified otherwise.

Remember the added value in the new car. One it’s new and unused. You won’t have to spend money on front brakes and tyres in the near future and the same next year for the rear. You won’t have to pay a service bill. And the warranty will be 36 months not 24 to 30 months which is worth £250 to £500. That’s a minimum of £750 value.

The cost of the discounted new car is £8,114 plus £360 for metallic which is £8,474. The cost of the used car is £7,995 plus £750 value and costs making £8,745.

Regards
Ralph
http://www.carbuyersinfo.co.uk/renault_clio_price_list_with_super_savings.htm