A few years ago I had to buy a car in a hurry, and looked at a few little local car-sellers, not the big huge places. Here's my advice when doing that.
1) Trust your instincts. If there's anything about the place that feels a bit "off" then walk away.
2) Do your research, as stated above. Go to more than one place and if there's a car you like look at its MoT history, available free on the internet. Fails are not necessarily bad news if it's just wear and tear, and advisories may just be a picky examiner.
3) That's about it.
Cazoo
- JimmyDee
- Registered user
- Posts: 7864
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:12 pm
- Location: Maidstone
Re: Cazoo
"You don't have a world-view by just saying you hate Trump" - Norm Macdonald
"It seems as if every time I turn the station on at the moment this fucking mouth breather is polluting the airwaves with untrammeled bollocks." - MGA99
"It seems as if every time I turn the station on at the moment this fucking mouth breather is polluting the airwaves with untrammeled bollocks." - MGA99
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 2367
- Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2021 4:17 pm
Re: Cazoo
There is a website called Car Gurus which covers many cars on dealers forecourts.
It provides 2 useful bits of info-
1. It will tell you if the price is above, equivalent or below the market
2. It will tell you how long the dealer has been promoting the car, and if the price has been dropped before.
My car before last I went to the dealer knowing the car was about on market price, but they had been offering it for over 6 weeks.
When they made their "best" offer I pointed out that they could have the car gone and cash in the bank next day instead of costing money sitting outside. The sales person seemed surprised I knew how long they had been offering it , and "went to see her manager" for the (second time) and came back with a deal. I then threw in a request for a couple of small extras and a full tank , which were within her decision-making limits, and we did business. That last bit, overall, saved me about £300.
Be prepared to walk away. They will probably come after you.
If you have a private buyer for your car, sell it. Most big dealers don't really want p/ex . Motorpoint won't even do it.
WeBuyAnyCar may seem attractive, and when you make a deal "subject to inspection" the local guy is expected by them to knock you down for anything trivial he can find.
It provides 2 useful bits of info-
1. It will tell you if the price is above, equivalent or below the market
2. It will tell you how long the dealer has been promoting the car, and if the price has been dropped before.
My car before last I went to the dealer knowing the car was about on market price, but they had been offering it for over 6 weeks.
When they made their "best" offer I pointed out that they could have the car gone and cash in the bank next day instead of costing money sitting outside. The sales person seemed surprised I knew how long they had been offering it , and "went to see her manager" for the (second time) and came back with a deal. I then threw in a request for a couple of small extras and a full tank , which were within her decision-making limits, and we did business. That last bit, overall, saved me about £300.
Be prepared to walk away. They will probably come after you.
If you have a private buyer for your car, sell it. Most big dealers don't really want p/ex . Motorpoint won't even do it.
WeBuyAnyCar may seem attractive, and when you make a deal "subject to inspection" the local guy is expected by them to knock you down for anything trivial he can find.
- Sadact7
- Registered user
- Posts: 16911
- Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:59 am
- Location: Highland, TX
Re: Cazoo
I'm with you there. If there's any nagging doubt in your mind, it's usually for a good reason. It's an attitude which has served me well throughout my life.JimmyDee wrote: ↑Fri Oct 27, 2023 10:56 am A few years ago I had to buy a car in a hurry, and looked at a few little local car-sellers, not the big huge places. Here's my advice when doing that.
1) Trust your instincts. If there's anything about the place that feels a bit "off" then walk away.
2) Do your research, as stated above. Go to more than one place and if there's a car you like look at its MoT history, available free on the internet. Fails are not necessarily bad news if it's just wear and tear, and advisories may just be a picky examiner.
3) That's about it.
Oh Five - Oh Two - Twenty Four
In a bit Foam Moe
In a bit Foam Moe
- The Ghost of Alex Higgins
- No longer the Bridesmaid
- Posts: 39302
- Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2010 1:35 pm
- Location: Cunt
- Contact:
- Sadact7
- Registered user
- Posts: 16911
- Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:59 am
- Location: Highland, TX