I am currently considering buying a new LR Discovery 4 3.0 litre GS. I have been checking prices offered online through various brokerages/agents eg Broadspeed.com, DrivetheDeal.com and uk-car-discount.co.uk.
Naturally the prices they quote in comparison to the Manufacturer's Recommended Retail Price are very tempting (even if their deal involves retention of the VO5 and consequent potential issues with insurance).
List is £35,048 including metallic paint. Prices from the agents/brokerages range from £31,000 up to £32,500.
I have seen some (by no means all or even a majority) of reviews of the brokers/agents on line by actual car buyers based on their experiences of ordering through the brokers which make me concerned that should I order through them, 8 weeks or more later my order may be cancelled if the car cannot be sourced by their dealers.
This would thus cause me problems having to source a car from somewhere else especially since I need a 7 seater before January (new child on the way) and the 2.5% increase in VAT from 1st january.
Alternatively, I could order myself through a main dealer and thus end up paying a higer price compared to the broker/agent.
Does anyone have experience of purchasing a similar car through one of these brokers/agents that they would care to share?
Many thanks for any and all replies.
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I've looked at this quite carefully, although stepped back from the top step and didn't proceed...but...
the difference in some of the internet broking companies is that:
some facilitate your purchase by putting you in touch with the manufacturer's main dealer, having already arranged what discounts are available...and all your dealings subsequently e.g. deposit are with the main dealer...and you buy it in the normal way, so you are the first owner in the V5 etc
others would have them take your deposit and your vehicle would be registered elsewhere i.e. other than you, for a while so they can grab a fleet discount as part of the discount providing process
I didn't fancy the idea of option 2, mainly because if you paid a deposit to an internet outfit who went bust, you'd be knackered...whereas if you pay your deposit to a main dealer for a manufacturer, i can't imagine that manufacturer allowing poor publicity like that to leak out. The other thing is dealing direct with a main dealer you don't get the situation you've mentioned, whereby they can't source the vehicle, the dealer is more likely to know the score. Thirdly you don't own a car where you're the second owner on the V5.
Just my opinion and i'm definitely no expert.
Edited by Westpig on 16/09/2009 at 10:31
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I can recommend Autobytel, I bought my Touran through them last year.
The supplying dealer was VW Bridgnorth, about a 150 mile drive back home.
After the first initial contact with Autobytel, it was all done through that dealership.
I saved £6k on list price, from £25k down to £19k.
Having done it once, it's a no-brainer, I'd do it every time I could purchase a new car!
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Get the best prices via brokers.
Select 3/4 LR Dealers and go and visit them, ask for del details and best price.
Produce the on-line quote and ask them to match it!
In the next few months a deal can be done so the Jan deadline can be met!
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Drive the deal and UK New Car are both reputable, and will both put you in touch with a main dealer direct. All monies go to the dealer, they pay the broker after the deal is done.
I used UKNewCar with no problems at all for my last car - recommended.
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Many thanks for the helpful replies :)
I am currently talking with a main dealer to see if he can come down to an acceptable price.
Richard
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