Coko wrote:

Nick there are still some dealers who have not realised the hard times. Especially, after they have introduced the governmental support for car sales in Slovakia (EUR 2000 if you scrap your old car), you can not get any discount on most of the new small cars (up to a value of around EUR 25K). Which is really silly
I know that this specific example does not apply to most of the people here but more broadly I can not agree more with what you said, no matter what cash you have it is about the thrill of buying
On all cars I have ever bought I was able to knock more than 20% of the list price

I paid full book for my RRS - 0% discount and I was delighted when I got it

alot of people said they have been to the land rover dealership in debry and have been gettin crazy prices for new ranges any one else heard this?

Coko wrote:

On all cars I have ever bought I was able to knock more than 20% of the list price

I'm sorry, but unless you are talking of buying through Employee Purchase schemes, outside the UK, or National Fleet terms, I don't believe that! UK dealers can not even get that much discount from the manufacturers - even with marketing bonus applied.

The only exception to the above that I can think of is Fiat and Citroen - so is that all you've ever bought new?

Giving people the expectation that they should be able to negotiate 20% discount does absolutely nobody any good at all... If people succeed all that happens is that residuals go down the pan and you still suffer at the back end of the deal. If you fail, it ruins the relationship between you and the dealer and often you and the car (as you feel ripped off every time you drive it).

If you don't think something is WORTH the asking price, don't buy it... If it is worth it, then why should you get a discount?

If i was buying new, on perhaps most cars i would maybe want 5%...and when the new RRS is out, I still think there will be scope for a very small %....but never any more than 5%. BMW say they don't need to give any discounts, whereas a freind of mine just got a new SLK, it came with free auto and metallic paint, 5K dealer contribution (factory promo) another 2K direct from dealer and then 5.8% APR - now thats a deal.

I just can't get why some dealers are still coming in at 12% APR - I asked my bank to give me a figure, and as much as I like to think I'm a good customer - their rate was still 15% APR...thats crazy....

I've just ordered a new car with a £250 discount (less than 2% let alone 20%)! It's the thought that counts.

James

Nick - high rates are just a sign to say don't borrow from us - if a high street bank stopped lending, people would panic hence they just raise the rates instead. The vast majority of loans being taken at the moment are to refinance existing bad debt so they are right to be cautious - it's just hard on everyone at the minute.

Personally a little 5% offer is perfect IMHO - personally I'm getting sick and tired of people thinking businesses aren't allowed to make a decent profit - it just shows total ignorance to what makes wealth go around imho. I have started making a point of shoppng in my home town and telling them why. Have started a good relationship now with many traders.

Rant over

Last edited by Kaine on Sun Apr 19 2009 6:10pm. Edited 1 time in total

Guys, tell me how is it possible that for the very same car in the UK the list price is sooo much higher than in Europe? As a matter of fact I have been recently looking at MINIs. For the same car you would pay in the UK GBP 29.000 and in Germany EUR 39.000. Tell me how is this possible?

I admit that I have never had anything to do with car dealers in the UK and hence do not know the "habits".
But as I said, to get 20% off (from a car of this value and above) is in Germany really possible. Ask anyone who owns a car dealership and he will confirm what I am saing.

AnotherSW, I have never mentioned anything about ruining a relationship. I think that you have to close a satisfactory deal for all parties. However, have you ever had anything to do with the automotive industry? You would be surprised how high the margins on some vehicles are. Plus how do you measure something being "worth it"?
It is very relative. I do not mind to pay couple of grand more or less, what I am saying is that it is all about the atitude. The dealer is there for you and not the other way round. He will make his money anyway so why to make the small leap forward when selling the car?

But anyway it is only my opinion

And to add to my last post, did you know that if a dealer sells and registers X amount of cars in his/hers region he gets special benefits from the manufacturer (or importer) for promotianal purposes and hence can (if he wants to) knock off further couple of grand of the car price?

Good point Kaine....I have some clients who keep arguing about my rates and saying it's a recession it's a recession - it's these people that lower the mood in the country.......a few weeks ago, as i have said before, the FTSE went over 4000 points, showed small rise in house prices (very small) and the sun was shining - thats what raises the mood.....

But onwards and upwards - personally if I get excellent service from a dealer, and they don't feed me any crap and treat me like they really want my business, then who cares about a discount even......If Stratstone offered me 5% and CHPR didn't - I know who would still get my business.

Coko wrote:

AnotherSW, I have never mentioned anything about ruining a relationship. I think that you have to close a satisfactory deal for all parties. However, have you ever had anything to do with the automotive industry? You would be surprised how high the margins on some vehicles are. Plus how do you measure something being "worth it"?

Only for my whole working life, mate

I know EXACTLY what the margins are on Land Rover cars in the UK, including marketing bonus, etc... and it ain't anywhere near 20% on a RRS...

As for something being "worth it", if no discount were available from anywhere in the World, would you still pay the price? If so, it's obviously worth the price - TO YOU... What has been destroying this industry for years is the practice of indiscriminate discounting by weak salespeople and greedy managers... Now, you never know whether you could have got more somewhere else and so there is always mistrust between customer and dealer - not a good basis for a long term business relationship really.

The problem (not only in this industry) lies somewhere else mate. Not in the "weak" attitude of sales people as you call it Look around you, what is value? Everything became sooo relative in the second half of the last century after dollars started to be produced endlessly... Money market has meaning only to very few people, all the rest of us are just little boys on the playground of the large guys. It is really silly

But in any instance so what? We make what we can for living and at the end of the day live a happy live if we can afford to buy an RRS regardless of the discount

Agree?

Coko can you explain what you are talking about? 29k in the uk or 39k in euros =35k pounds at todays exchange rates! plus i find that the cheapest cars at the moment are in the uk, especialy RR s.

Mate what I was saying is that the cars here in the UK are way cheaper than in i.e. Germany...
You need to search very carefully to get a good deal anywhere in continental EU
By the way what are you after? Might be able to point you in the right direction (if interested)

Sorry Coko , i thought you were saying they are more expensive here in the uk!