I honestly didn’t think it would be this hard. Having had some hints and tips on here (thanks!) about maximising my PCP deal, I’ve been trying to buy a car all week.

I’ve been trawling approved used, trying to find the perfect sweet spot of spec vs price vs GFV. I’ve found about five but can I get a dealer to speak to me/ ring me back/ show any interest at all? NO!

I started a conversation on Monday. Told a sales manager on the phone I was serious about buying but needed a PX price. He SEEMED interested and said he would get straight back to me but that’s the last I heard. Sent a few emails and even rang twice and left messages. Out of desperation yesterday I asked if a different salesperson could ring me (they were all on dinner ) - Nobody rang me back.

Ive tried contacting some of the others as well and had zero response from any of them. Tried on “live chat” thinking I’d be speaking to a salesman only to end it with the question “can we get a number and I’ll have someone from sales call you straight away”. We all know how that ended (no call!)

I honestly don’t know what else to do, it’s like none of them want £50k FFS! I would love to walk in and discuss in person but they’ve all been miles away.

Seriously looking at X5’s  Range Rover Sport HSE DYnamic SDV6 Velocity blue 2020 MY
Range Rover sport HSE Dynamic P400e Silver
Range Rover Sport 3.0 SDV6 HSE Dynamic 2016 MY
Range Rover sport 3.6tdv8HSE 2007 Gone
Range Rover sport 2.7tdv6SE 2005 Gone
Range Rover sport 2.7tdv6SE 2007 honey
Range rover Vogue 2005 4.4 - GONE and missed
BMW 535d M sport 2006 - GONE not as missed
BMW X5 4.4 2004 sport - GONE

I got fed up with the LR customer service and dealers attitudes, followed by all the engine problems, when looking to change my 2012 sport to a 2015/2016 model. I'm now in a late 2016 model X5 and VERY happy with it. So glad I got that instead of the RRS, what comes standard is much more, such as head up etc. Tech wise is much better. I would at least go and test drive and see what you think, that was enough to seal the deal for me. The fact they're about 10k cheaper helps too. 2012 RRS SDV6
2014 BMW 320d X-Drive Touring
1999 VW Polo stage rally car

It’s really amazing, new car sales have collapsed, used Diesel engined cars sales are collapsing yet when you want to buy one nobody wants to sell you one........ surely things are not THAT good at JLR and dealers that they can be so snooty about making a sale? 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Last edited by Tim in Scotland on Fri May 04 2018 8:13am. Edited 1 time in total

That is a little surprising, when I was looking up until very recently for a pre-owned RRS2 every one I contacted was very eager to talk more, get me on site for a chat and a test drive.

Every time I asked for spec sheets, indicative p/ex values etc. they were happy to oblige.

Maybe it's just my animal magnetism. Or maybe not.

Last edited by kismet110 on Thu May 03 2018 8:29pm. Edited 1 time in total

I know! Bloody fed up with it!

I’m obviously too hard to do cos I have a px to sort out. It’s a frigging 3 series though, it’s not like I’m trying to swap a Chiron! Range Rover Sport HSE DYnamic SDV6 Velocity blue 2020 MY
Range Rover sport HSE Dynamic P400e Silver
Range Rover Sport 3.0 SDV6 HSE Dynamic 2016 MY
Range Rover sport 3.6tdv8HSE 2007 Gone
Range Rover sport 2.7tdv6SE 2005 Gone
Range Rover sport 2.7tdv6SE 2007 honey
Range rover Vogue 2005 4.4 - GONE and missed
BMW 535d M sport 2006 - GONE not as missed
BMW X5 4.4 2004 sport - GONE

And there’s me thinking it’s something to do with me and I’m the only one experiencing such bad dealer service - likewise, I have never known a franchised dealer network not wanting to sell a car.

I live in Herts - I used my networks to connect with a dealer in Doncaster, local dealers such as Grange Welwyn, Barnet, Lookers Chipperfield...not a sausage...I did a “walk-in” into Barnet last week...no one interested in speaking with me...eventually a chap came and said hello - was only keen on selling the Indus Silver AB RRS 2014 with the OO07 number plate and missing RANGE ROV*R lettering on the back - at £52k... I wasn’t interested - shared my requirements...no contact...they had a few cars on their group web site I would have bought.

No contact from Lookers in Chipperfield - had to chase...still nothing....Neil at Stratstone Mayfair was eager to start with then gave up....so my last resort was another “walk-in” to Stratstone Aylesbury....karma felt good as I walked into the dealership first thing on a Saturday morning - pleasant chap at reception - asked for a sales contact and a decent chap appeared quickly - couldn’t do enough to be helpful...specified the car I was interested in...and the rest is history - he received a £500 deposit from me and also offered £1k more for my part-ex....salesman name is Oliver Harris.

Good luck with your search.
Prashan

Just sell your 3 series either privately, or more likely for ease and speed, via webuyanycar / tootle / evanshalshaw etc. If you've got a good deal on the RRS then the WBAC price will be very similar to that the dealer will offer you. RRS MY17 SDV6 AB
Evoque MY17 TD4 AB

Even though the 2 dealers here in Perth are owned by the same company so little apparent competition, so far their service has been excellent.

Not much help to you blokes in Blighty though. Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

I had the same problem when buying my first L494,I called Guy Salmon Wakefield & asked to speak to the salesman who I’d bought 3 of my previous L320’s from,,only to be told he is in a meeting & will get back to me,he never did so I tried again a few days later & he was in another meeting & never got back to me again so tried a 3rd time to be told,,,,yes you guessed another meeting.By this time I was off so called Farnell’s in Bradford Wednesday afternoon who had a my14 AB in white & the spec I wanted so I left deposit went over Saturday morning & did a deal.

Andy. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

I had exactly the same experience a couple of months ago when I was trying to buy a RRS a couple of months old. Because all of the cars that met my criteria were miles away it meant initially negotiations had to be made over the phone. F*** me, having teeth removed has been more straight forward and pleasurable. I just gave up after the third dealer did the same as the other two. Initial phone call from them and an email and then followed by F*** all. It was like they had all closed down. To save the stress and hassle after that I just order a new one..... Surprisingly they now seem happy to talk and to email me....... 2010 RR 5.0 Autobiography
2020 F-Pace SV
2018 RRS HSE Dynamic 3.0
2015 Disco XXV
2011 Disco 3.0
2008 RRS HST V8

Avoid the main stealers then and contact someone like Redline or Alexanders Prestige who have tons of top spec LR's and will do a deal in a heartbeat! Current

McLAren 720s
2019 G63 AMG
2018 Bentayga

---------------------------------------------
Previous

2019 AMG GTR
2018 Urban SVR
2018 Urban FFRR
2018 AMG E63s Edition1
2018 SVR Rejected from Stratstone Teesside !
2017 G63 AMG 463 Edition
2017 M3 CP
2017 C63s AMG Edition 1 Motorsport
2016 RRS SVR
2016 Bentley GT Speed 626
2015 Audi RS6
2015 FFRR
2014 Bentley GTC V8
2014 Audi RS7
2011 Lumma CLR GT558
2014 BMW M3 F80
2010 BMW X5
2006 FFRR SC
2005 RRS HSE

JPR wrote:

Avoid the main stealers then and contact someone like Redline or Alexanders Prestige who have tons of top spec LR's and will do a deal in a heartbeat!.......

Seems like everybody is having similar experiences. There is no contrast, it’s either excellent or abysmal (the latter being the more common).

I’ve also suffferred from the ‘meeting’ thing quite a few times now. I’m assuming it’s some high powered input on how to improve sales. They could start by picking the fu*#ing phone up!

Did eventually get a call back but the dealer offered me £1k less than WBAC which Is also £1.5k less than I need! Back to the drawing board it seems  Range Rover Sport HSE DYnamic SDV6 Velocity blue 2020 MY
Range Rover sport HSE Dynamic P400e Silver
Range Rover Sport 3.0 SDV6 HSE Dynamic 2016 MY
Range Rover sport 3.6tdv8HSE 2007 Gone
Range Rover sport 2.7tdv6SE 2005 Gone
Range Rover sport 2.7tdv6SE 2007 honey
Range rover Vogue 2005 4.4 - GONE and missed
BMW 535d M sport 2006 - GONE not as missed
BMW X5 4.4 2004 sport - GONE

It isn’t just JLR dealers who play this game, my local Volvo, Lexus, Mazda, BMW and Audi dealers all needed a poke in the eye with a sharp stick to respond. Even if you make it patently clear that you want to order today/now/ on the spot they will not get back on the phone or by email. Worst I have had was being told last week by reception at the local Volvo Dealers (Arnold Clark Group in stirling) that the sales team were all in a meeting at 1:45pm I could see through the glass wall that they were sat eating lunch and hadn’t even bothered to drop the blinds ............ 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Buying these cars is not an enjoyable experience any more just been through this carry on once again and soooooo frustrating and exactly the same as the other comments above. MY18 SCV8 Satin flux silver
Gone:
MY19 SV VELAR AUTOBIOGRAPHY firenze red
MY18 SCV8 Yulong white- perfect 👍
MY16 SDV8 SANTORINI BLACK - perfect 👌
MY64 SCV8 DARK BLUE - nightmare car
MY64 SCV8 FIRENZE RED - loads of annoying issues
MY15 SDV6 FIRENZE RED - perfect 👌
MY12 SDV6 DISCO4 IPANEMA SAND - perfect 👌
MY09 TDV6 SPORT BLUE - lots of issues