Part exchange issues

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Fri 20 Apr 2007 00:06
Part exchange issues - lucyandneil
Hi there, first post, please be gentle!

Am looking at buying a used car from an approved dealer.

I have been to the dealer and had a look at the car, and also asked how much they'd give me for my VW Polo. The initial valuation they gave me was £1700, which I thought was about what they'd offer. Anyway, the next day, the salesman had a quick look at my Polo, and said that the engine management light was on (which it was, and had been for a while) and the engine was making a nasty rumble. They'd only be willing to offer £1500.

So I went away, got the engine management light seen to, and was also told that there were some other more serious issues with the car. I asked the mechanic to leave these.

I'm slightly concerned about what to say to the dealer if he quizzes me in the morning when I go down to get another valuation for my car. Do I lie about the condition of it? And say the mechanic said it was nothing serious? Or do I just plead ignorance? Does the dealer have any comeback with me if the car is not in a satisfactory state?

Any help would be appreciated

Cheers
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Fri 20 Apr 2007 00:32
Part exchange issues - concrete
If you are buying a new or nearly new car at a high value then the chances are the dealer couldn't care less about your Polo as he will 'punt it' through the trade down the line. Look around his forecourt, if all his stock is fairly new and decent he would not put your Polo on his forecourt anyway. He is in the trade and he has seen your car and examined it and is still willing to give £1500, so what are you waiting for? It is nearing the month end mind and if you are feeling brave you can haggle them down, they may have a monthly sales target to meet and be willing to bargain. Nothing ventured! You can always walk away, there are literally thousands of cars out there so don't cry if you can't cut a deal, you will next time. Don't be afraid be direct, you will not hurt their feelings as long as you give them money at the end of the deal. The dealer has no comeback at you provided you did not make false claims about the car, tell him he buys as seen, if he looks ascance point out he is supposed to be the professional here, and as stated you can always walk away. Good luck. Concrete.
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Fri 20 Apr 2007 10:04
Part exchange issues - M.M
All cars traded in at under 2K will need an amount of work... the dealer knows this. He has offered £1500 knowing the light was on and the engine was noisy compared to the initial offer of £1700. Take it back to him and say you've had the light done and will accept £1600. That is assuming the rest of the deal and the new vehicle is 100% what you want.

As concrete says the dealer probably doesn't care one bit about the condition of the Polo as he will punt it out to the trade anyway and it is just a nominal p/x price he has in the deal.
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Fri 20 Apr 2007 13:04
Part exchange issues - Aprilia
**Most** dealers know as much about the mechanics of cars as they do about double-glazing. They can recognise a fault light and body/trim damage, but that's about it. The dealer will have factored in an amount for prep., or more likely just be planning to send it to auction anyway. I would not lose any sleep over it.
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Fri 20 Apr 2007 13:50
Part exchange issues - SjB {P}
**Most** dealers know as much about the mechanics of cars as
they do about double-glazing.


I though most car salesmen used to sell double glazing? ;-)
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Fri 20 Apr 2007 14:12
Part exchange issues - bell boy
if someone comes in with a saleable p/x and they accept an initial low offer for it then you normally find that greed comes in to play and the usual sensible checks are dismissed apart from a hpi and a look on the screen to see what cap values it at
the do hits the fan when the deal is done and then its too late

so lucyandneil guranga
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