To really hate the process of buying a car?

[Whirliwig72]

Currently trailing through auto-trader but what I'd hoped would be a pleasurable experience is turning into a bit of a nightmare. Despite doing my research and being very set on price Im really hating ringing up dealers - so much so that my hands and voice shake during the call. Very prejudiced of me I know but I just get it into my head and think that they hear a fairly posh female voice and think I'm clueless and ripe for ripping off.

Last chap I phoned was downright rude and really unhelpful about the fact I'd have to bring my children with me to view otherwise could
not arrange a look till weekend. Also the registration of the car was not recognised by my valuation AP - does this mean it's a dodgy car? Arrggh hate hate hate this!

[openerofjars]

There is no rule shut up, DH that says you have to go and visit hundreds of cars, especially with DC in tow. 3yo DS was such a PITA the first time we went looking that only DD (10 weeks old, asleep and strapped into infant carrier therefore helpless, bwahahahaha) and I went on the test drive. DH and DS had to stay behind at the dealership and Have Words (or actually, read stories and eat biscuits). At the second place we looked, DS repeatedly tried to run round the car park. I ended up letting him play in the boots of cars I was looking at.

The second time we went out we left DS with his grandma and I bought the car I test drove the other time. It is ace and I secretly don't care if it's a bargain or a ripoff because it has loads of cool gadgets, isn't trying to kill me okay, it doesn't totally adore hill starts which is a bit of a fucker because we're on the Pennines here but I'm sure I can talk it round to my way of thinking and is the first car I've ever had that doesn't make people feel sorry for me.

[HauntedLittleLunatic]

I dunno if it is worth me waiting a month tho if I am planning to buy nearly new...what with the new plates coming out early Sept and dealers clearing part ex stock?

[LastMangoInParis]

Thanks, Whirli - forgot to say, BTW, bear in mind that sellers advertising on Autotrader etc. will expect buyers to try and argue prices down a bit, so do mark down a bit from 'averages', IYSWIM.

Also, if you can hang on in there with the old car until January, then that's a great time to buy (and don't let any dealer tell you otherwise). New Year is when traders are generally trying to shift last year's stock and the market's quiet, so good time for bargain cars.

[HauntedLittleLunatic]

No chance of me buying from Available Car.

Was talking to my mechanic this morning and they see a lot of cars from Available Car and some of the stories they tell really put me off.

I shall aim to look at dealerships and there is no way I will be looking at car supermarkets.

Sorry.

[poocatcherchampion]

I hate it too! And fwiw, I just rock up with the baby and say and load her in, car seat, pram and all, cheerfully announcing that she needs to try it out too! Want my business, be nice to my baby I say!

[Whirliwig72]

Last Mango and Olympic: class advice here thank you

[LastMangoInParis]

Whilrli -

1. do your Autotrader research, work out what you think is the value of the car you're going to see, offer what you think is a realistic price for it, and if the dealer won't budge, turn around and walk away. It doesn't matter what you're wearing or how posh your voice is. It's buyers' market out there, remember that!
   

1. If you know a dealer/mechanic who you can trust and s/he is willing to go to another dealer with you to check out the car you're interested in, you could make a saving that way. Have you found a dealer who'll buy for you, for example? There are a few around who'll then re-sell you the car - and you'll still be paying less for it than if you went yourself and paid the asking price - and as you're buying from them they should offer you a warranty, so if it's not reliable it won't be you who pays the price for it.

[Olympicnmix]

Whirliwig what about using a broker to source what you want rather than doing the leg work yourself?

[Olympicnmix]

There are more on that site for less than 10k but are a bit older. They also have a range of Tourans.

[Olympicnmix]

Haunted, in terms of reliability the Touran would win it for me hands down, however, they do like to put the bells and whistle on Citreons. This is the same spec, I think, about a year's less mileage and £500 cheaper here

[notactuallyme]

Poor you op. I did a speculative application thro an on line loan company, and a week later I have a new car, spent a day at a load of dealers and found a secondhand berlingo multiplex. Luckily, it was all painless. Looking round dealers with two bored kids, not so much.

[Whirliwig72]

This is exactly my position Opener. Our old Golf has done us proud for 13+ years but she's now getting unreliable and I've spent too many frantic minutes sitting repeatedly turning key in ignition begging her to start

[HauntedLittleLunatic]

I am midlands.

Twas a C4 Grand Picasso (not scenic - my mistake). 1.6HDi. 2 yrs old. 24Kish miles IIRC. Marked up at £12K. Think it was gorgeous colour and loverly inside.

I currently have a Xara Picasso so wouldn't want anything smaller but the new 5 seater MPVs seem so much bigger and then it makes the idea of a 7 seater sound attractive and then I feel I am getting carried away.

There is only me and 3 children so why on earth do I need 7 seats?

When I bought my current car I always wanted a Touran next...which is still my ideal - didn't realise they were 7 seats (the 7 seater used to be the Sharran).

Internet searching has revealed some Tourans at dealerships near me. Also 2-3yo around the £10K mark. They just don't seem to have the features of the Citroens, but then they are most likely more robust and reliable.

And the C4 was lush.

Haven't dared to test drive anything yet.

Budget - want a good deal and good value but willing to pay £10Kish less if I can get away with it (saw a nice 09 C Max for just £7500 which I was attracted to for the price buut it just didn't do it for me and the salesman was horrid about my car which might need a lot of work doing which I might not declare)

[openerofjars]

Fucking hate the whole process so I did loads of research on Autotrader, went to two garages with a fairly limited view on what I wanted (Corsa or Peugeot 207), test drove one, bought it. Job done. DH was a bit miffed because he loves a good haggle and because my new car is sexier than his , but I just wanted to part-exchange the terrifyingly crappy old car for a newer, less lethal one.

[Whirliwig72]

Hi Truth - that's really kind but out of our price range I'm afraid - we really do only have a max of £4k for this car. Sounds lovely though! I was admiring some Audis I saw today, they are beautiful cars

[Whirliwig72]

Hi Olympic - have narrowed car we are looking for down to either a VW estate (Passat or similar) or a BMW 3 series estate. We live in The borough of Greenwich.

The ap I mentioned is advertised on auto trader - for £1.50 you text CAPM followed by space then the car reg followed by space and then the mileage to 800 11 and you'll get a valuation back of approx car value.

I'm really not sure about the car that it didn't recognise though - its a beamer priced at £4k with a lovely low 21k mileage as its recently had a new engine put into it but I've got alarm bells ringing that it might be made up of stolen parts

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

[Olympicnmix]

What's the age/mileage on the grand scenic?

[Olympicnmix]

I test-drove 2 cars today and it was a pleasure.

Can you say what vehicle/spec you're after and very roughly where you are?

[HauntedLittleLunatic]

As of today I need a new car.

I hate making decisions. And now I am a lone parent so have to make the decision on my own.

I saw a lovely car today. About £2k overpriced, but could probably haggle over that.

But I don't know if its too big for me (citroen c4 grand scenic 7 seater). It's a BIG car...

I also don't know if I should spend so much or go for a smaller cheaper car.

And what's this about a valuation ap?...I need to know what I'm missing out on please.

[nocake]

Have you considered looking at Car Giant? They don't negotiate over the price, although you do have to sit through them trying to sell you extra warranties afterwards but I found that "no thanks" was a perfectly good response.

I bought a VW Golf from them a few years ago. It was a fully loaded V5 which was a real bargain.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

could be a military plate.

[JeezyPeeps]

It could be that the car had a personalised number plate that the owner kept, and the replacement plate isn't showing on the database yet.

[mellen]

Dress down if you are worried they will think you are better off than you are, and there is no need to accept rudeness.
Why do you think that you are getting anxious? If the worst comes to the worst then you could just tell them that you need to think about some aspect of it, and will call them back.

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

I can solve your problem: buy my car!