When to buy a new car?

Killa_ken · 12 May 2008 at 17:05

My dad wants to go and negotiate on a new car at a dealership, he asked me when would be the best time to go and I would guess end of the month as they'd be desperate to meet their targets?

When do you lot go to buy a new car?

timbob · 12 May 2008 at 17:14

Personally, never. Unless it's a brand new Ferrari/Porsche or whatever, I'll never buy a brand new car. For a run of the mill every day car, 2nd hand, even just a year old and you'll have a car that's still in warranty, still as good as brand new so reliable etc, but you'll save a good 25% off the purchase price.

If you are set on buying a brand new car though, I guess good times of year to go are just before the new registration plates come out, as there's stock to be shifted. I don't really think there's a lot be gained at any other times of the year, most places run fairly close to their profit line anyway, and they're not going to let you negotiate them into making a loss on a new car!

[TW]Fox · 12 May 2008 at 17:20

Buy a manufacturer approved pre owned (For the American term). As good as a new car, great warranty, all the dealer backup you get from new, for a fraction of the price.

Killa_ken · 12 May 2008 at 17:21

You dont have to convince me to buy a used car. My dad refuses to buy one though. He says he will only drive a car that nobody else has driven.

Since we dont have "new registration plates" I guess it doesn't really matter when he goes then

[TW]Fox · 12 May 2008 at 17:23

Killa_ken said:
You dont have to convince me to buy a used car. My dad refuses to buy one though. He says he will only drive a car that nobody else has driven.

He needs to be stood on the production line for when it comes off then otherwise it will have been driving with varying degrees of sympathy by many people. New cars dont teleport.

moss · 12 May 2008 at 17:25

[TW]Fox;11673269 said:
He needs to be stood on the production line for when it comes off then otherwise it will have been driving with varying degrees of sympathy by many people. New cars dont teleport.

Yep, they unload the cars from the ships at a dock near here, the majority of the people who drive them are young males, who hammer the hell out of the cars.

panthro · 12 May 2008 at 17:51

Anyone seen that programme King of Cars? The car buying market looks much more fun than the UK market! Apart from everyone over there buys their car on finance, and its always down to how much youre will to pay per month.
Judging from that programme, I dont think it matters when you buy a car, as long as its at the end of the day and all the sales people are desperate to sell.

mjt · 12 May 2008 at 17:53

moss said:
Yep, they unload the cars from the ships at a dock near here, the majority of the people who drive them are young males, who hammer the hell out of the cars.

they have to unload the ship as quick as possible

i've seen them unloading volvos and saabs off the boat in ghent
they floor them down the dock from cold.. not particularly nice

as for the whole new vs used - who cares, it's not your problem.
i'd rather have a new rather than used car, but atm its not viable

as for the best time - doesn't make any difference

Firestar_3x · 12 May 2008 at 17:54

moss said:
Yep, they unload the cars from the ships at a dock near here, the majority of the people who drive them are young males, who hammer the hell out of the cars.

Unless the guys sit on the dock for 30 mins thrashing the engine doing burnouts and handbrake turns, which i very much doubt, limited amount of damage if any you can do to an engine in <5 miles.

[TW]Fox · 12 May 2008 at 17:59

Firestar_3x said:
Unless the guys sit on the dock for 30 mins thrashing the engine doing burnouts and handbrake turns, which i very much doubt, limited amount of damage if any you can do to an engine in <5 miles.

There is also very little damage you can do to an engine in 5000 miles as well, yet he's put off by that..

mcc49 · 12 May 2008 at 18:03

and back on topic..

I would like you said try near the end of the month and call several garages in your area and see which of them are willing to negotiate, then play them against each other and see which of them are willing to give the best deal.

EddScott · 12 May 2008 at 18:05

moss said:
Yep, they unload the cars from the ships at a dock near here, the majority of the people who drive them are young males, who hammer the hell out of the cars.

My bro used to unload cars from Southampton docks while at Uni there. Think he drove all manner of cars and he had driven scoobs before as he remembered the noise whilst in mine. Passed him by completely as he has no interest in cars whatsoever.

Best time to buy I would think is just before a new reg is coming out as said. Other than that I would say as late in the day on a very hot day preferably a Friday so they aren't paying attention and the boss is out filling the secretary

paradigm · 12 May 2008 at 18:14

[TW]Fox;11673538 said:
There is also very little damage you can do to an engine in 5000 miles as well, yet he's put off by that..

Really? I'm pretty sure 5000 miles of thrashed from cold abuse, hitting the redline, over-revving by changing down a gear whilst going too fast, and generally abusing the car will take its toll, even over 5000 miles.

[TW]Fox · 12 May 2008 at 18:16

paradigm said:
Really? I'm pretty sure 5000 miles of thrashed from cold abuse, hitting the redline, over-revving by changing down a gear whilst going too fast, and generally abusing the car will take its toll, even over 5000 miles.

Yea and the chances of that being the case on the nearly new car you buy is really high....

paradigm · 12 May 2008 at 18:19

[TW]Fox;11673644 said:
Yea and the chances of that being the case on the nearly new car you buy is really high....

So what you actually meant to say is:

"The likelyhood of that much engine damage in 5000 miles is very slim as well, yet he's put off by that.."

If you're going to be a pedant, do it properly

mattpc · 12 May 2008 at 18:42

Maz · 12 May 2008 at 19:17

We get given lower targets by the manufacturer on months before new reg releases and they are easily achievable.

Best time to get a good deal on a new car is towards the end of a registration month because they will have a huge target and need as many units possible to achieve it and are willing to do better deals.

Danger is you might go in and they have over achieved their target and are only interested in selling cars to make money so not prepared to do silly deals.

timbob · 12 May 2008 at 19:44

mattpc said:
xmas

Xmas is the best time of year for buying privately I reckon, but I'm not so sure about brand new from a dealership?

Maz · 12 May 2008 at 19:47

timbob said:
Xmas is the best time of year for buying privately I reckon, but I'm not so sure about brand new from a dealership?

Again dealership targets are reduced by the manufacturer, so dealers aren't desperate for the deals.

Dandle · 12 May 2008 at 19:51

My pre owned BMW only had 2230 miles on it was 8 months old and I saved 13K off list. With price drops like that you have to bonkers to buy one new. Saying that we paid £27k for our new Audi and the only dealer ones would be ex demo cars which i wouldnt have wanted(part exed it for 18k at 18 months old, so we lost a packet on that).