Best time to buy a new car from a dealer?

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750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#941707 27-Nov-2013 13:26

I’ve just bought a NZ New, used car (45,000km) today so I figure end of month might be good.

I got 10% off list price, plus new tyres, full service, parking sensors, new WOF, retouched paint, minor repairs. Its off a dealer so I also have CGA protection. Paid cash and I drive away in what lools like a brand new vehicle complete with 4WD, ASB, Traction Control, Full Airbags, Lock/Immobilser etc etc for around 1/3rd cost of new.

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#941709 27-Nov-2013 13:28

I thought the end of the tax year was the best time. I have got more than 20% off the price of a new car, which maed it better value than buying second hand, especially with the new warranty, and the fact it was new. Also buy a model that has only come out within the last year or so, and isn't due to be replaced within the next year or two. Buying an old or run out model may mean less when you try to resell it in the future. I have made that mistake before.

ilovemusic

1439 posts

Uber Geek

#941715 27-Nov-2013 13:34

BinaryLimited:
langers1972: Never.

As soon as you turn the key you've lost $5k minimum, better off buying a near new one that's already suffered that fate IMHO

Does that come with 3 yr warranty etc etc?
If it weren't new, whats the best time? i know the sales guys have targets to meet at the end of the month which gives one a lot of negotiation power. :)

maybe not a full warranty but if you look around there are plenty that have a substantial balance of new car warranty plus we have the cga to fall back on for out of warranty problems.

:)

Batman

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#941717 27-Nov-2013 13:36

minimoke: I’ve just bought a NZ New, used car (45,000km) today so I figure end of month might be good.
I got 10% off list price, plus new tyres, full service, parking sensors, new WOF, retouched paint, minor repairs. Its off a dealer so I also have CGA protection. Paid cash and I drive away in what lools like a brand new vehicle complete with 4WD, ASB, Traction Control, Full Airbags, Lock/Immobilser etc etc for around 1/3rd cost of new.

What car and how many years old?

old3eyes

9120 posts

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#941724 27-Nov-2013 13:43

BinaryLimited: Morning All

Whats the best time to buy a new car from a dealer? ( Mercedes, BMW ).
Lots of people have mixed views on this subject so was hoping to clarify this once and for all.

so far iv heard :
1) End of the month
2) Wait for after Christmas?

Any other suggestions? Thanks

Between Xmas and New Year as the dealers / salesman commission is based over a calender year and they will throw in extras to get their end of year sales up and get the bonus. Things like 5 year warranty, free tires for the life of the original owner, 5 years free servicing..

Regards,

Old3eyes

Loismustdye

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Ultimate Geek

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#941731 27-Nov-2013 13:47

After our last car buy in an April/MAy period, watching prices for the following few months it appears that there was an influx of stock around Aug/Sep from lease vehcicles etc, also noticed the prices drop a bit around this time perhaps as a result of the stock influx, meaning cash buyers would probably get some good deals.

Hammerer

2476 posts

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#941734 27-Nov-2013 13:49

Here's some tactics that I haven't read anybody mention for getting good prices on used vehicles.These are very easy to do if you can electronically monitor the prices.

Where the dealer gets imported used cars in bulk shipments some will try to clear the lot to free up some cash by dropping prices substantially. I've seen 30-40% discounts over the original sticker price - basically they forego any margin.
Some dealers try to clear cards quickly when a car has sat on on the lot for a long time. We got a car this way with a 33% discount.

These methods do require patience because you are waiting on dealer-initiated price changes so it is not much use if you are driven by some date you need it. More often than not the dealer has priced the cars a bit too high perhaps because the dealer thinks it is something special. In the end they are often keen to get rid of them.

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jnawk

176 posts

Master Geek

#941787 27-Nov-2013 15:14

BinaryLimited: Morning All

Whats the best time to buy a new car from a dealer? ( Mercedes, BMW ).
Lots of people have mixed views on this subject so was hoping to clarify this once and for all.

so far iv heard :
1) End of the month
2) Wait for after Christmas?

Any other suggestions? Thanks

1. Don't buy on an empty stomach, because.. oh, wait, this is a car, not your groceries.
2. Don't go to them with a trade in, and don't get finance from them - this deprives them of places to hide potential savings. They'll do a better deal if you are paying cash, and their finance offers often contain hooks like early repayment fees, so don't be sucked in by "interest free" periods without first reading the fine print
3. You can usually get the ORC included, or substantially reduced.

Regs

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Snowflake

#941897 27-Nov-2013 20:29

if you're keen on the mazda 3, soon is probably a good time to buy. the new model (new styling, engine) is due in february so the dealers will be doing 'run out' deals. there was also a 'cancelled fleet order' recently where they were selling the vehicles reg'd for about $8k less than RRP+ORC.

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nickrout

219 posts

Master Geek

#943714 1-Dec-2013 15:24

A day or two before provisional tax is due.

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#943717 1-Dec-2013 15:27

Regs: if you're keen on the mazda 3, soon is probably a good time to buy. the new model (new styling, engine) is due in february so the dealers will be doing 'run out' deals. there was also a 'cancelled fleet order' recently where they were selling the vehicles reg'd for about $8k less than RRP+ORC.

I would probably be looking at a better deal than that though, especially as it is using old tech, and it's resale vaule will be less, being an old model. The new version is a vast improvement, over the old model, and I think the old one looks ugly with it's front grill.

alasta

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#943727 1-Dec-2013 15:50

mattwnz:
Regs: if you're keen on the mazda 3, soon is probably a good time to buy. the new model (new styling, engine) is due in february so the dealers will be doing 'run out' deals. there was also a 'cancelled fleet order' recently where they were selling the vehicles reg'd for about $8k less than RRP+ORC.

I would probably be looking at a better deal than that though, especially as it is using old tech, and it's resale vaule will be less, being an old model. The new version is a vast improvement, over the old model, and I think the old one looks ugly with it's front grill.

I think the big overbearing grill on the new Mazda 3/6/CX5 looks ugly. Not as bad as the new Ford Fiesta though - what were they thinking!

BinaryLimited

796 posts

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#943747 1-Dec-2013 17:29

Well this weekend was an experience!!!

Dealt with about 5-6 different dealerships ( looking for Mercedes ).
Landed up dealing with Mercedes Coutts New Market, not sure if i will go back to them.
Basically the car i want is $10,000 over what its worth....according to other listings on the internet and dealers in Auckland.
Contacted the sales person and informed him about this this morning....well i think he blew a fuze.
He went all ape on the phone and the started throwing personal attacks.

On top of all of that, they wanted to take my current car for wholesale value ( way below value ), great!

Don't think I'll ever go back to them lol.

Binary Limited - Safe. Secure. Simple. ™
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nickrout

219 posts

Master Geek

#943803 1-Dec-2013 19:13

Value is what you can get for it on the day. Natuarlly a dealer will want to make a profit off your tradein, they aren't going to give you retail.

You can of course buy the new one and sell the old one privately, but in the meantime it costs you to keep it in terms of reg, warrant, interest on the money that could be in the bank/not borrowed to buy the new one.

Yeah if you aren't happy with them, certainly don't buy from them. But expect a car dealer to want to make money out of you.

Batman

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#943806 1-Dec-2013 19:27

Go toa merc dealer and cut the price by 10k and up the trade in by 5k what do you expect!

They are used to people who pay 10k more to get leather seats and another grand to get an extra key.

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