I went used car shopping and the experience was eye opening
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 มิ.ย. 2024
- I’ve been exploring the used car market for a new motor and after surfing Autotrader and engaging long distance with many dealerships, I have a few strong thoughts about the experience beyond what I already knew about used car shopping.
In this video, I’ll share my thoughts on a few things to do with buying a used car in 2023 in the hope of stirring up some debate.
DISCLAIMER: This is just light-hearted take on my own experience, the points won’t be new information to some of you and no doubt contestable.
I AM NOT A FINANCIAL EXPERT SO THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE EITHER.
If you enjoy this video, please give it a LIKE, feel free to SUBSCRIBE and hit the notification bell if you don’t want to miss another video.
Time stamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:40 - Autotrader Information
05:36 - Customer service
06:27 - Distance buyer restrictions
07:29 - Negotiating
11:18 - Part exchanges
11:53 - PCP Balloon payments
15:03 - PCP “illustrated example”
16:01 - summary - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
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This is absolutely true. You start asking questions that every advice article tells all buyers to ask and the seller freaks out and ghosts you half the time. It's like, even if you were trying to scam people, wouldn't you be prepared for the standard questions? Are there people who buy whole vehicles without asking any questions about them? It does sometimes feel as though some of these sellers don't really want to sell the thing.
No doubt! I think you to remember that they are not there to sell you a vehicle at a fair price, they are there to make themselves as much money as possible. Some just do it more cleverly than others.
There certainly are buyers who ask no questions, there are buyers who are prepared to pay via bank transfer without seeing the car on the basis of a few photos or a walk around video. For me, I need to ask questions before I’d consider going to see a car, and if the seller isn’t prepared to get back to me or answer a few questions then in my mind they have things to hide and are only interested in blind buyers. My sister in law bought a car once that was the worst example imaginable, poorly repaired write off, terrible paint job, no service records and an engine that smoked and overheated, the car had tyres that were totally bald on the edges as it didn’t steer straight. She didn’t test drive it because she said she had driven a friends car before that was the same model so she knows how they drive. She asked nothing and checked nothing, it’s like her only purpose in meeting the seller was to hand over cash and pick up a key.. there are a shocking number of buyers like that.
I can't imagine buying a car like that, but I'm careful with my money and I also usually think people are trying to swindle me. @@andrewstones2921
Most salesmen get seriously offended when I point out to them that not only are they making money on the car sell me (Finance) but making 1-2k on my part ex. It's a complete rip off.
Good video mate and your so true about the way they advertise the cars, I’m in the market for a ford galaxy 17 plate and I want the titanium x , I’m not a cabby but I’ve had galaxys for the last few years, I saw this one on auto trader and it stated it had every possible Ford extra / Sony system, remote boot opening, rear aircon and the family pack with 240v inverter plus heated and cooled massage seats / 19” wheels with Michelin tyres all round etc etc so all the extras , I called the dealer and he confirmed all these bits , when I got there some 45 miles away the car looked superb but as I opened the front doors I noticed no Sony unit and after looking there was nothing extra at all it only had the std 17” wheels with bloody Avon tyres
I confronted the dealer and his back went straight up and said it’s got the spec that auto trader listed and it wasn’t his fault , I said surely you looked at this when you confirmed to me on the phone ? But he came out with it was being valeted when I asked so he couldn’t be sure , I then said well let’s have a talk about the price cos there’s £3000 worth of extras that ain’t here and he just said nah mate the price is the price , I said thanks and goodbye , he phoned me the next day and said maybe he could drop £500 but I told him sorry mate you had your chance , can’t stand the lies
Hi Adam, glad you found it useful and thanks for the detailed feedback. It really is remarkable how not cut out for sales some people are that work in sales, but it sounds like you had a real cowboy situation on your hands there. Hope you left a belter of a review.
Avon tyres I've found to be decent. I used to run Avon tyres on a Ford Focus St-2 (247Bhp) which I drove in a spirited manner. The worst I found on that car for overall value was Bridgestone tyres, I literally went through a front set of those in 8,000 miles.
I can't get Avon tyres on my current BMW so I'm having to buy more expensive brands, currently using Michelin Pilot Sport ZP (Runflats) on all 4 corners. Cost a fortune, around £900.
Completely agree. Underhand tactics are rife in the used car industry. Franchised dealers are safer but many of those still use cowboy tactics, especially the volume brands. Phantom cars, incorrect specs, undervaluing part-exes by sneakily down rating condition in their CAP valuation tool, unlisted bodywork defects that they'll fix as a "favour" to put right, bad finance terms, aggressive sales techniques. There are good ones out there but the less suspecting buyers must get absolutely shafted! Private sales can be such a nicer experience.
Hi Adrian, thanks for the comment. Did/ do you work in the trade? Some interesting points there! Definitely quite easy to get diddled!
@@car_babbleno just bought a number of cars and seen the tactics. Definitely need to be prepared!
Interesting watch 👍
There seems to be an inherently cynical view on car dealers all the time that we're all trying to hide things, take advantage of people, rip people off etc etc.
In the most part, dealers, especially independent, are simply trying to make a living, there isn't always a hidden agenda.
We use number plate covers because they look good, it's as simple as that. We provide the registration number in all our write ups so people can do their checks.
In terms of negotiating, Autotrader, as you will know, provide price markers now so the public can see if they are getting a 'great', 'good', 'fair' deal. As dealers the vast majority of us don't like but that's an argument for another day. Anyway, the fact they have these markers in my mind negates the need for negotiation. If you're ringing a dealer & the car is at a great price & you've done your checks, you're happy the spec is correct & the condition is as you'd hope then why should there be a need for negotiation? Also, surely as a dealer we should be able to sell the car for the price that we wish to sell it for? We own the cars in the same way that you own your shoes or your underpants so surely if we feel as though that is what the car is worth then we should be entitled to sell it for that price & not feel awkward about it or expected that we have to give a discount. You don't go into a Waitrose & ask for a discount on a loaf of bread because you found one 10% cheaper elsewhere.
I do, however, agree with your point on dealers not returning your calls, emails or enquiries. That is just poor practice & they don't really deserve your business if they aren't prepared to communicate. We reply to every single enquiry whether we feel it has legs or not, it's just common courtesy.
It's interesting to see views from the other side of the fence! 👍
As a point of reference we're a small independent (40 cars) who have been going for 12 years.
Genuine private sellers can be great, but the worst are traders pretending to be private. If a car is advertised as private then my first question is “is the car registered in your own name” and then “ can I view the car at the address shown on the V5” But good dealers who don’t pretend to be private can be great, dealers often add value to a car before selling and they rarely overvalue a car.. top tip is never buy from a dealer who has “trade” in the business name, and I tend to like dealers who trade under their own name and have a reputation to uphold.
If you watch Chops Garage you’ll see that being messed around and the cost of transport makes distance selling an absolute pain for sellers. He won’t do it anymore and he’s a genuine, honest seller .
I now live in Republic of Ireland, used to live in UK. I can tell you that it’s so much easier to find good used cars in UK than it is in Ireland. For a start virtually every “private” seller is a trader pretending to be private, and I literally do mean more than 80% of ads that say private. Next the majority of dealers just flat out lie, I have lost count of how many dealers have said a car has full service history and the it turns out it had one oil change 6 years ago. So I buy my cars in the UK and import to Ireland myself.. for me, my friends and for my wife. It’s so much cheaper to buy cars in UK and the quality is generally so much better. To be fair I’m usually a buyer of 7-10 year old cars and I really only ever buy cars that have proper service history. For me the UK does include Northern Ireland, it’s shocking the difference in price and quality that invisible border makes.
Interesting feedback mate...
Great video - really enjoyed that!
Thanks Rob!!!
Im a new subscriber really enjoyed your video. Very helpful 👍.
Thanks Matthew
Some interesting points, sometimes whwn there is only 5 pictures it might be waiting for a valet so some photos are better than no phoros , also with distance selling there are a lot more rules and there are some people who play the system and as a small garage we dont offer this due to people abusing . Consumer rights are completley different. Dealers have not haggled for some time but that is about to change as the used car market is now having a very tough time.
Thanks for the comment David and reassuring to get that sort of feedback from a dealer. I know cars get advertised sometimes saying "waiting for prep and photos to follow" or something, but there are examples where cars just don't have enough pictures and or poor ones at that.
Interesting what you say about the consumer rights and all that. I am ok with that, just not being treated differently for actually being a distance buyer. Thanks again...
Good stuff 👌👍
I've always bought private but I needed a car for the other half and it was advertised as having a full service history. It had *some* service history and the aircon didn't work. Ordinarily I would have walked so I knocked him down a bit and bought it because I just needed the car asap.
I'm in the market for a second-hand SUV. I notice some dealers offer a delivery with no quibble 14 day money back guarantee (I wouldn't normally buy a car without putting it through its paces) but this option seems to solve for that issue. Question: what's the catch? If it turns out to run like a tumbledryer full of rocks do you have to pay a fee to get it picked up?
Thanks coinman! A bit like saying "or your money back guaranteed", I suspect in most cases this sort of language is designed to make you feel safe and drawn you in, but they're just hoping you don't do it otherwise they'll have to refer to the microscopic T&C's to find a way to not honour it.
I honestly don't know if you'd have to pay a fee for collection but my guess would be yes.
It’s going to vary from seller to seller but it’s usually clear In the small print that this no quibble money back is only if the car is in some way not as described.
Acknowledges turmoil in the market then holds onto the idea that certain cars wont have such & such depreciation when that might easily be the case, of course they're going to try to hedge such a loss
Hi David, other than the fact I actually acknowledged this very point in my video, but I'm sorry, it's abundantly clear that some cars are not going to depreciate to the levels that finance companies are predicting.
Thanks
You're welcome!
Refreshingly different, yet still confirming, any real world legitimately cynical views,esp second hand car dealers
Thank you!!
Thank you!!
TBH I found your video, slightly misleading. Some points that you never covered. (A) Manufacturers offer a service to check the specification. (B) Spec changes, for example some manufacturers will do a mid cycle/life spec change. Hyundai did this with the IONIQ 5 in respects an electronic aid. (C) The value of any car is determined by what someone wants to pay for it. (D) SOme dealerships are NOT showing number plates to avoid Number Plate cloning. We are a small business with five vehicles, we ONLY Lease, by far the best deal from a financial point of view. (E) In respect of your balloon residual value, if it is just so low, then do it, buy it and sell it at the higher inflated pride. Good luck
Hi mate, thank you for taking the time to comment and I certainly made it clear I welcomed it in my video… I have a few things to say in response though…
Firstly, which part is specifically “misleading”? I take the point that there is possibly some elements of information that are mis-sing from this video, but if I covered every single point I could think of, the video would be rather long…
I didn’t specifically realise that manufacturers offer a service to check the exact spec of a car, but it makes sense that they could, however, if it wasn’t in the mind of someone like me, how many of your average used car shoppers will be aware of this and critically, would this be available from independent dealers selling a range of brands? I would be surprised.
I am fully aware of mid-life refreshes etc, and I am sure software changes or spec elements that are hard to visually see in cars will become an increasingly bigger issue to get right, but I don’t think that invalidates the point I was making that a. dealers make inexcusable errors on advertising cars and b. Autotrader cannot be trusted either. I actually saw yet another example today where a car was said to have a HUD and the pictures clearly show it didn’t. This was a franchise dealer too.
On your point about the value of a car being what people are willing to pay for it. Technically, that is right, but what is the point of a book value for it then? Also, I make clear in my video that the issue I have here is that if that point is true, then theoretically the same should be said of the value you put on your car for part ex, no? The example I gave was case and point… Dealer looks at the market of similar cars to set the price of the car they are selling and doesn’t seem to care what the forecourt book value is, but when it comes to your part ex, they offer an often pathetic amount and will direct you right to the book value to justify it.
On the number plates… I literally said in my video that fraud i.e. cloning is the reason many dealers will hide the plates, but many also don’t. If that is such a risk, why don’t all dealers do it? The sceptic in me says it seems a convenient reason to stop people being able to run a report and learn more about the car’s value and history.
I agree that on finance, at least for a new car, leasing is the best way to go. The point I raised about PCP’s was specifically on the used examples I found, which in some cases have clearly shown the financier to set the final payment seemingly too low. I think you make a good point, however, which I admit I hadn’t really thought much about, on taking the PCP and then at the end, buying the car and then reselling at a much better price. The problem, though, is that monthly payments attributed to the examples I gave are not warranted by the age and value of the car at purchase. Monthly payments on any finance deal are everything and so no body wants to pay up to 25% more a month on this front than they really should be, or can afford, just so at the end of the term they can buy the car cheaper, sell it and make some of that money back. After all, you can guarantee 2-3 years into the deal the dealer will be calling and offering you an upgrade, so they have very little intention in ever seeing you get to the end of the term. Just set the balloon payment at a realistic level and the monthlies will be affordable, car will get off the lot quicker perhaps and if the buyer wants to buy at the end, they are financing what’s left of the car more in line with its actual value. But that’s the point, the finance companies make less money doing that, I suspect, hence it’s not a viable solutions for such examples I gave.
Thanks again for the comment.
Hi, As a dealer I know there are a few dealers that are bad but there are a few points I would like to make here. The reason we don’t give out number plates is numberplate fraud which is at epidemic proportions at this time, only customers that view cars will be given access. If you think a car is misdescribed why would you even contact that dealer in the first place it makes no sense. If you try and negotiate a price by email or phone without even having the decency to turn up and look at the car most dealers will just put you down as a tyre kicker and not reply, because they get it daily. If you want to get a fair deal go view the car test drive it and talk to the dealer but remember mileage, condition, history are everything on a used car there is always a reason a car looks cheap.
Hi Jon, thanks for taking the time to comment. My response to your points is below…
On the number plates, I did elude to fraud being a reason dealers hide this. I am just surprised if fraud is at “epidemic proportions” then why do only about 1 in 3 cars from dealers do it?
False advertising is illegal, so cars just shouldn’t be misdescribed and especially on purpose, so if they are, dealers should be held to account for it. That said, it is so rife that in my experience, if I never followed up on a car that had a questionable or inconsistent spec, frankly I’d be fishing in a very small pool.
I certainly won’t waste my time contacting dealers about cars who are clearly ‘at it’, but it is quite possible in some cases that the dealer clearly knows so little about the car they are selling that it’s accidental, but I’ve actually had cases where I can see clearly it has features that they haven’t even mentioned in their advert. This presents an opportunity.
Any salesman worth their salt will ever not follow upon a lead or get back to a prospective client when promised. We live in a world where its very easy to write a negative review online about a company, so it’s a risky play to not treat every lead seriously.
Your point about not having the “decency” to turn up to a dealers is pretty hilarious, though. If it wasn’t that clear from my video(s), I live in the North East of Scotland and next to Aberdeen, there is very few dealers within an hour or two’s drive. When I hunt for a car, I know what I want and the spec is important, so that often means needing to travel to find one that fits.
So what are you saying, anyone like myself should drive all over Britain to check out every car they like the look of on Autotrader before considering negotiating a deal? Furthermore, I’ve bought loads of cars from hundreds of miles away and in zero cases did I visit the dealer first. I also negotiated in every one of those situations because they obviously took the attitude of “a sale is a sale” and didn’t treat me any different because I was a distance buyer and couldn’t visit their showroom. So, most dealers haven’t put the phone down on me in those situations, just ones with seemingly a bad or lazy attitude to sales or maybe not willing to part with stock unless the deal is extravagant enough.
Of course, service history, mileage etc is relevant to a car’s value, but these are all things you can get verified over the phone, from pictures, videos and a report. It is obviously at the buyer’s risk to not test drive a car before buying, but I don’t see why you need to visit a dealer to be within your right to try and negotiate “a fair deal”, especially when you can clearly see that the price the car is being advertised seems at odds with its value.
If dealers do not want to entertain distance buyers, and I can’t see why they would turn away such business, then advertise stating as such. Otherwise, I can’t see how it would make any sense for a distance buyer to not have got their ducks in a row either before travelling, or paying delivery fees for a car.
The message I am getting from your response is basically that your attitude to distance buyers is that you don’t take them seriously and assume they are all time wasters and chancers. I stand to be corrected.
@@car_babble Thanks for the reply
I am situated in Surrey on the edge of London and tend not to get distance buyers as loads of Dealers in this area and find people round here tend not to travel more than 35 miles to buy a car unless it is something special but saying that I did some years ago sell an R32 to a customer from Aberdeen who drove down with his part exchange and was happy with the deal.
I have been in the trade all my life and will always follow up on an enquiry and can normally tell a time waster quite quickly but if someone tries to offer £1000.00 less without actually seeing the car I will always be polite but decline, but thanks for the offer. I don’t sell cars on line without the customer viewing the car test driving the car and thoroughly checking the vehicle over taking as long as the want making sure it’s the right car for them, and have always believed a good car sells itself and I will always advise people to buy a used car in this way as it avoids the disappointment of buying without seeing.
As for stock I only do low mileage good condition sports, 60k max all are prepped to a very high standard minimum 30 high definition photos in adds with honest descriptions, don’t use Autotrader left years ago as a very manipulative site with its add searches and only interested in pushing its own car finance, and I don’t do car finance because when working for a main dealer I saw what a total scam car finance was.
As for number plates we are close to London that has ULEZ so cloning numberplates is a big thing around here about 2 years ago I started to get parking fines from London for a car I had in stock and was not being used this built up to over £1,200.00 and ended up with me having to go to court to sort this out costing me time and money. We also had someone do an HPI check on one of my cars without us knowing and entered the wrong mileage doing so causing a mileage discrepancy to show up on the vehicle this also costing me time and money to sort out. We then had someone copy photos from our website to make spoof adds on a scam, so yes it is a problem. So from now on the only people that get to see the registrations of my cars are the customers viewing them and none will be given in emails or phone enquiries. But anyway good luck finding a car and have a Happy Christmas and great New Year Regards Jon
These used car dealers know shit about the cars they sell. They make $$$ on an extended warranty and just hope the car makes it past the 30 day bullshit 'warranty'.
I only want to add, do not buy a car on emotion or because it is cute and clean. All sellers invest in details wisely but not in timing belt replacement or oil changes. Car Babble, I could send you to a half mile industrial estate road in Glasgow that would blow your mind. I was removed from a lot for opening the bonnet and checking the oil and using a magnet when I did to obviously check for metals. The entire area preys on migrants trying to buy cheap economy cars and end up with lemons and no idea how to fight it.
Every industry has crooks just none as much as government and "private" sellers that are really traders.
Really interesting feedback Fuzzy - thanks.
Lot of good points mate. Nothing worse than a salesman not following up on a lead, criminal!
Cheers mate. Yes, criminal!
Criminal? Calm down you pair of idiots
2016 GS300h £23K??? No way, you need to correct your vid!
What would I have to gain by making that up?
I replied yesterday but it has been taken down, 2016 GS300h £14,000-16,000 on Autotrader.@@car_babble
What exactly was "eye opening"? Pretty much most of what he noted is stuff everyone ALREADY knows about.
Eye opening to me, which is why I shared but going by the majority of comments, it seems I wasn't the only one. But give yourself a pat on the back if none of this was news to you.
you talk too much
😂