I've been checking out the Citroen C4 Picasso for the last couple of weeks and visited a local Citroen showroom to look closer at it. I really like it and took a test drive today and have decided to buy one. I have haggled hard with the salesman and got the price reduced to £13065 from the list price of £16755.
I was given a price list which has all the specifications and models on it.
I was looking online at the car on the Citroen site and noticed a few discrepancies with the standard specification for the model I am interested in (1.8 petrol 5 seat VTR+).
According to the pricelist's specification guide, the car comes with as standard, a PARKING PACK (parking sensors etc.), a BOOT PACK (cargo nets and opening tailgate window) and finally a SECURITY PACK (upgraded alarm, glass etc.).
The website disagrees with this and says they are optional extras.
Upon rechecking the printed specification list where the options and standard specs are shown in a chart with the usual black dot representing the option as standard and optional as a circle etc. it would seem that for the model I want (VTR+) they must have printed the standard spec 'black dots' in the wrong places. It looks like all the dots need to move along the chart a couple of spaces to make the specs match those on the website. This is confirmed because the prices for the options are in the wrong column.
The thing is, that I was under the impression whilst haggling and spending more than 6 hours in total at 2 different showrooms haggling and waiting for their HO to say yes or no to the discounts that I would be getting all those extras as standard for my money. Suddenly it looks like I would get half the spec as shown on the specs sheet due to an error in the layout of the chart.
I've arrange to meet with the salesman tomorrow to finish the deal we struck but I want to say that I want those extras which were misleadingly printed but just know that they will decline to give them stating that they have already discounted the car a fair bit and that it's a printing error.
The specs sheet doesn't have an errors and omissions excepted statement, it just says that specifications could change to IMPROVE the cars specs or for safety reasons.
Can I argue that as it says on the sheet the extras are included that they should include them?
What would you do?
slight tweak to subject line and drop down menus engaged (seeing as its make specific)
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 11/02/2008 at 20:35
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I would tell the salesman that you are ready to do the deal and WANT to do the deal; but the deal has to be the one that you are expecting. Tell him that you WILL walk away if the deal isnt met.
If he knows you are seriously about to spend then he will do all he can to get the sale.
You can do no more than walk away if its not the deal you want.
Thats what haggling is about?
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Well, we went in today and pointed out the error. They were appologetic but said they couldn't thow in the packs for free as they had discounted the car as much as they could. I then said that the Parking pack was important to me and that there would be no deal without it. Eventually they offered the Parking pack for £150 instead of £350 which I was happy with. So I got nearly £4K off the price of the car and £200 off the price of an optional extra too. Very pleased and have ordered it.
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If you came out happy then that would be classed as good haggling in my book !
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Saw one locally today after reading your post. Looks very smart and given HJ's CBCB report re low speed impact damage to front/rear bumpers at over £1,350 each (ouch!!) that parking pack sounds essential. Best of luck.
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Just out of interest BB, which gearbox have you plumped for?
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Just out of interest BB which gearbox have you plumped for?
GB - I went for the standard gearbox. Would have liked the EGS but couldn't quite stretch to it.
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From the ones i've driven BB, you have made the right choice, that auto thingy box may be ok on the open road but is horrible at manoeuvering and town speeds IMO.
Just out of interest they now offer a proper auto in the vehicle, the only ones i've seen so far have been on the new 'lounge' model, it feels a lot better to me.
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i have the 7st 1.8vtr+ and i love it.very comfortable. pliant but not soft suspension and nice spec and interior
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