I hate buying a new car

[kernowjim]

It's such a hassle.  I have been considering swapping out my 22 Yaris for a Corolla but the whole process is so arduous these days, the dealers don't make it easy and adopt the position that they're doing you a favour by selling one to you.  Trade in prices are terrible, interest rates and RRP's are inflated.  They don't work for the sale anymore, it's literally there it is, take it or leave it.  This isn't confined to Toyota dealers either, a friend of mine wanted to change their Ford Kuga for a new version and that's a £40K car, low trade in offer, no follow up etc.

You read in the press that car sales are down massively but they behave like it's boom time.  It's hard to know what is the truth.  

[yossarian247]

I was called 'plain speaking' by a car salesman a few years ago, for telling him in no uncertain terms right at the start that I just wanted to buy the car, No HP, no paint protection, no upholstery treatment, no service plan, no GAP insurance, no extended warranty etc. I think he wanted to say something more rude, but 'plain speaking' was what he settled for 😆

I tend to buy cars online now wherever possible as car salesmen really wind me up!

[Flatcoat]

Don’t buy another car then. If you go into a showroom with a negative ‘attitude’ showing on your face, body language and in the way you discuss the purchase, you will attract exactly the response you don’t want. If trade in prices are so bad then I suggest you try to sell privately and rake in the cash. 

[BlueMike1972]

We bought our Yaris new and the two guys we dealt with at the dealership couldn't have been better- it was an excellent experience all round.

[Heidfirst]

I have recently experienced speaking to many, many Toyota sales people up & down the UK. Sadly, much of what you say is true (although I am not sure about the bad trade in values & interest rates, list prices certainly are high compared to just a few years ago). Many of them have little leeway  (although I think that  is mostly because frontline sales people have very little autonomy, needing 2nd line sign off for variance) but there are a few good ones out there still. However, if one is only going to the one or two local dealers (especially if they are part of a large group) unless you are lucky you may not encounter one.

I would strongly suggest getting quotes from Carwow etc. & then using that as a lever to open negotiations.

[dash]

Use CarWow prices as a bargaining position for a slightly used car. It will provide best prices for the same spec car at other dealers.

Edit: @Heidfirst beat me to it while I was typing!!

[kernowjim]

1 hour ago, Flatcoat said:

Don’t buy another car then. If you go into a showroom with a negative ‘attitude’ showing on your face, body language and in the way you discuss the purchase, you will attract exactly the response you don’t want. If trade in prices are so bad then I suggest you try to sell privately and rake in the cash. 

Some odd assumptions on my demeanour there, why would you reach that conclusion? 

[kernowjim]

36 minutes ago, BlueMike1972 said:

We bought our Yaris new and the two guys we dealt with at the dealership couldn't have been better- it was an excellent experience all round.

I have had very good experience in the past but lately it seems no one can be bothered....feels like a general malaise but then I guess that's the general mood of the entire country....i.e. in the doldrums 

[Brooke bond]

The dealership I used made the customer use a tablet computer, to process the documents, no paperwork, it was infuriating, and took time to complete.

 

[Heidfirst]

Just now, Brooke bond said:

The dealership I used made the customer use a tablet computer, to process the documents, no paperwork, it was infuriating, and took time to complete.

 

This seems to be the norm now - partly industry driven (lower costs for dealerships/manufacturers) & partly government (GDPR, DVLA etc.) I suspect.

[kernowjim]

4 minutes ago, Heidfirst said:

This seems to be the norm now - partly industry driven (lower costs for dealerships/manufacturers) & partly government (GDPR, DVLA etc.) I suspect.

Yes that's commonplace now, that part of it doesn't bother me.  It's the take it or leave it attitude that gets to me, especially after purchasing 5 new cars in the past 6 years

 

[yossarian247]

1 hour ago, Flatcoat said:

Don’t buy another car then. If you go into a showroom with a negative ‘attitude’ showing on your face, body language and in the way you discuss the purchase, you will attract exactly the response you don’t want. If trade in prices are so bad then I suggest you try to sell privately and rake in the cash. 

Certainly in my case there was no negative attitude, I'm always friendly and polite in such dealings. However laying your cards on the table on this way can save both parties a lot of wasted time. I have was an auditor in the motor trade in the past so I know full well what goes on behind the scenes at dealerships, and the sort of pressure they are under to sell 'extras'. In fairness, selling cars is not an easy way to earn your living.