Car Dealerships, how long to wait?

Martynt74

Martynt74

Martynt74

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Hondon de las Nieves, Spain
I'm currently in the market for a new (used) car. I'll be trading in my Astra and hoping for around £4.5k from that.

The wife and i seem fairly set on the Alfa Giullietta, we love the look of them and the interior but haven't yet driven it.

I went to a local dealer last week and spoke to them and was told he'd call me back. I hadn't heard anything so popped in on Saturday, to be told that the guy i spoke to was off sick. I gave my details again saying i'm looking for a test drive and seeing what they had available.

Was told he'd call me early this week to arrange something. At what point do you think it's reasonable to chase them up?
They do have a very good car available thats exactly what i'm after but a bit newer and as such over budget. They suggested there wouldnt be much movement on price due to its age etc but i'm hopefull. Just don't want to appear to eager incase it affects my ability to try and knock down that price!
 
In all honesty if they had a car with the engine I was interested in available I'd expect to walk in that day and drive it - No harm giving them a call out of courtesy before heading down to ask that they pull it out if it's in at the back of several cars etc.

If they have now not called you back twice then my advice would quite simply be to go elsewhere
 
Yeah its the 2.0JDTM, not quite decided between the 140 or the 170. Would prefer the 170 but there seem to be more 140's around.

Rodenal - the one i'm hopeful of buying is a pre registered one that i've been told isn't ready for the road. He did say he'd have taken me out saturday but didnt have a 140 available and i was in a bit of a rush.

Would've thought they had others but with one guy being off sick i don't want to seem overly pushy. My main problem is that there are very few Giulliettas in Alfa Red available which aren't from 2010 and i'm hoping for a 2011 model.
 
Marvt74 said:
Yeah its the 2.0JDTM, not quite decided between the 140 or the 170. Would prefer the 170 but there seem to be more 140's around.

Rodenal - the one i'm hopeful of buying is a pre registered one that i've been told isn't ready for the road. He did say he'd have taken me out saturday but didnt have a 140 available and i was in a bit of a rush.

Would've thought they had others but with one guy being off sick i don't want to seem overly pushy. My main problem is that there are very few Giulliettas in Alfa Red available which aren't from 2010 and i'm hoping for a 2011 model.
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If you're looking at such a new car have you checked what the likes of drivethedeal etc can get the car for? I doubt it'll be that close to the year old price but if you're looking at a pre reg it's worth checking.

If it's just to drive an example dont you have another alfa dealer within reasonable distance who can get you a 140 or 170 to try?
 
Go elsewhere; I hate Alfa Romeo dealers. I've dealt with several and none of them seem interested in doing business.
Unless you really want to do the deal on that particular car, just hassle the **** out of him until he meets your demands.
 
rodenal said:
If you're looking at such a new car have you checked what the likes of drivethedeal etc can get the car for?
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Interesting site, a little over the price of the car we'd seen but a great website for the future :)

Perhaps he reads this site as he just called me offering me a drive tomorrow!
 
I had quite a different experience with Alfa when I test drove the guilietta, they were most friendly and accommodating and even had a car brought from the stoke branch to stafford so I could drive it. They also chased me several times after the drive and the manager even sent me an email (although I suspect this is automatically generated) asking me for my feedback vis-a-vis the service I had received.

It was Platts Fiat/Alfa Romeo in stafford - they have one in stoke but I don't know how big a chain they actually are.
 
To be fair he has been pretty good and with being on his own i cut him some slack. When speaking to him he's always been very friendly and helpful.

I have seen one thats exactly what we're after and a great price in Bristol. Obviously not wanting to make a 250 mile round trip twice, since i'll be PXing my car is there a particular way to go about this where i would only have to go down there once (providing the car was as expected when i got there)
 
If the car is at an alfa dealer they should bring it to your local dealer - may ask you to leave a deposit but you'll be doing so on the proviso that the car is exactly as described etc. If you drive the local one and like it there should be no problem.
 
jamief said:
Just as an aside, why do people say "I'm buying a new (used) car"? Why not just "I'm buying a used car"?!
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Thats a very good point, guess because its new to the posted but then i don't know why i wouldnt have just said a used car.
 
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