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!

[Olympicnmix]

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

[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.

[Whirliwig72]

Last Mango and Olympic: class advice here thank you

[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!

[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.

[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]

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?

[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.