Small car dealers

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Sat 19 Mar 2011 14:00
Small car dealers - jmo21

First post, be gentle, I couldn't find a similar question through searching the forum.

I've seen a car I like at a good price at a small independant dealership.

I've always bought cars from so called "big" dealers.

What are the pro's and con's of the small dealers?

Are you likely to get a better deal as they need the sale more, or can the big dealers give you a better deal as they sell much more?

thanks!

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Sat 19 Mar 2011 14:55
Small car dealers - Graham567
I asked a small car dealer friend many years ago about where to buy the best cars.He told me that the best place to buy is the main dealers.I took his advice and have always bought from main dealers ever since.
My experience is as follows.When i bought from small independant dealers i never had the car for more than a year due to many problems and repairs etc.Once i bought from the main dealers i have had the cars for 4 years and 6 years+.
He told me that when people trade in their old cars at the main dealers,the dealers chooses the best for his forecourt to sell and passes the rejects onto the small dealers and auctions.
This then means that the small dealers have the main dealers rejects.I know that not all small dealers cars come from the main dealers but this theory certainly rung true from my experiences.
You pay more for the main dealer car but ,in my opinion,its well worth it.
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Sat 19 Mar 2011 15:23
Small car dealers - Avant

It's difficult to generalise, although Videodoctor is basically right - yer pays for wot yer gets.

But there's a difference between a back-street dealer buying oldish cars, cleaning them and putting them on the forecourt (or temprary site) and a small independent specialist.

My Z3 came from James Paul, a BMW specialist near Horsham but not a main dealer - they were and are excellent in every way but their prices reflect the care they put into the cars they sell. Many of these might be main dealer rejects. but that can be because either they are more than x years old or a different make from the one exclusively sold by the dealer. Nothing wrong with those.

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Sat 19 Mar 2011 15:28
Small car dealers - jc2

Not necessarily rejects but they normally have to get their stock thro' a main dealer so their profit margin will be less and any discount will reflect this.But that is for new cars-for "pre-used",it's dependent on what they paid for the car you're buying.

Edited by jc2 on 19/03/2011 at 15:30

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Sat 19 Mar 2011 19:28
Small car dealers - jmo21

thanks everyone!

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Sat 19 Mar 2011 21:10
Small car dealers - Matt@

I always look at it this way - if you buy a car and the engine goes bang who's most likely to fix it, the small dealer or the main dealer? the small dealer might be willing but won't be able to afford it whilst the main dealer has deep pockets and a reputation to consider....

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