cars - trading down via dealership/trader

[emcf]

Hi Folks

more advice/thoughts wanted please.

I am selling my car on autotrader and am going to buy a smaller car once it sells. Hopefully i will have some cash left over.

the thought crosed my mind that it may all be easier if I could go to a car dealer and sell them my car and buy a cheaper one off them. But I can't see that the dealer would be too happy about giving out cash at the moment and as a result I would be royally screwed over by them.

what would the .org people do? go for the private route with separate sale and purchase or just go to a dealer and take the dealership profit gouge on the chin?

ta

[yorkie_chris]

Private all the way.

[Tom_the_great]

i would say private route if your wanting cheap old car to replace, or go to the garage and get a smaller car but newer/higher spec so your still getting the smaller car but your getting new an better so win win.

[yorkie_chris]

Nah you'll never win, you're still paying their overheads.

[emcf]

thanks guys, guess i just take my time and do the private route. I'm not bothered about a high spec/new replacement, just something the mrs can drive without being scared of trashing it. currently thinking a focus estate or a skoda ocavia/fabia.

if anyone is looking for a nice bmw 330 clubsport have a look on autotrader and i can give a .org discount !

[skidmarx]

thanks guys, guess i just take my time and do the private route. I'm not bothered about a high spec/new replacement, just something the mrs can drive without being scared of trashing it. currently thinking a focus estate or a skoda ocavia/fabia.

if anyone is looking for a nice bmw 330 clubsport have a look on autotrader and i can give a .org discount !

I'd avoid the Fabia, suffered 2 of them and the list of niggles would go on forever... Never again

[Dicky Ticker]

A lot of variables--if your car is fairly newish and you want to down grade for the same brand try a main dealer and see whats on offer. Alternatively sell and buy privately but you will not have the same protection over your purchase as if you bought from a main dealer
I have just traded my Accord in for a Jazz due to the fuel prices and the fact that I will have fairly high mileage over the next few months and was pleasantly surprised by what I got offered for my car[About £3-400 less than if I sold privately] and the deals that were available,both on new and used.
Depends on the urgency of your wanting to change as you do not always sell a car quickly,especially larger cars with high fuel consumption and the BMW isn't exactly a standard type car-----depends on the market and condition of your car

[Bluepete]

I'd avoid the Fabia, suffered 2 of them and the list of niggles would go on forever... Never again

Really?

Mrs BP is thinking of getting one, maybe the VRS so I'm interested to hear what was wrong. My '05 Superb has lived up to it's name.

Pete ;)

PS, please don't slag it off too much, if she changes her mind, her next choice is a BMW X1 :pale:

[Bluefish]

To Pete, superb, lol, it's like brilliant boilers, any thing but ;)

[-Ralph-]

My wife has driven a Seat Ibiza which is the same car as a Fabia for the last 8 years and it has literally NEVER missed a beat. Not so much as a flat battery, and it's never been on a charger. It still drives like new. I would buy any VW group car without hesitation.

[fizzwheel]

Pete, we had a Fabia before we got the Focus.

I liked it. OK ours was a budget spec one. So was short on Luxury, but it drove well and it handled OK to. Was thirsty on fuel being a 1.4 litre petrol for what Liz was using it for it wasnt ideal. But we never had any trouble with it.

If I wanted a small hatchback it would be something I would seriously consider. Just not a petrol one...

[-Ralph-]

If I wanted a small hatchback it would be something I would seriously consider. Just not a petrol one...

We have the 1.2 12v triple, it's not too bad on fuel.

[Bluefish]

my mum had a fabia a few , wrong a couple of years ago she had two changed when the first one got to about 150,000 miles she now has a roomster, aka pope mobile, don't think she had any problems with them.

[fizzwheel]

We have the 1.2 12v triple, it's not too bad on fuel.

Ours was on a W plate, 1.4 litre 8v, was thirsty, but then it spent its life on the A303 when Liz was commuting in it, which it was never really suitable for..

Around town it was OK, just on a run it used to drink it...

[skidmarx]

We have the 1.2 12v triple, it's not too bad on fuel.

This is what I have, I get around 45 mpg, possibly more on a long run, but far worse around town. Could do way better imo!

First Fabia, 1.4 8v 2000 suffered from persistant coolant loss, clutch failure, steering motor fault (which was dangerous) tracking problems, intermitant radio fault which drove me mad, Leaked water resulting in 2 inches of water sloshing around the footwell ( got in through the polen filter) plus loads of stuff I've long forgotten. Thought it was a 'Friday car'. So Got a.........

2006 1.2 3 cylinder job. Let me down twice with coil failure, electric switch for windows failed, unbelievable misting problems, and front discs needed replacing they were worn paper thin. Front seats not very supportive either and the clutch is juddering now. It's only done 20k!

All in all, never again! I just wanted something cheap and reliable, should have got the Micra.

[kwak zzr]

i'm in the same boat really :( i want to part x my beemer for something cheaper to run but dealers are offering me peanuts or they dont want it at all because of its engine size :(
my experience of selling private is a pain in the butt :(

[emcf]

i've had acouple of sniffs for the beemer, some cheeky wide boy from slough

-wide boy:'no messin' 'bout mate, whats your best price for cash?'
- me: make me an offer
- wide boy:what's your best price?
- me: make me an offer, you see the ONO price
- wide boy: ok, what about £5k
- me: haha! that's 2k below my ONO price, no thanks. get closer and maybe we can talk
-wide boy:'i'm offering you the easy route here, you won't have to deal with people asking for finance or what sort of warranty you are offering'
-me: errrrr....i'm a private seller, people can see that, why on earth would they ask me for finance or a warranty?
-wide boy:'well, you got my number anyway'
-me: yes, bye.

and also some normal guy, hopefully I can line up a viewing or two for the weekend.

TBH i've only heard good things about the (new!) skodas. not sure about fabia looks but i've got a purty bike (curvy naturally!) to more than make up for a fugly car. may give the fabia a miss, the focus may be the one but guess I'd best wait to make my mind up once i've sold the beemer and have cash in my hand.

[Dicky Ticker]

You will probably be a bit like myself and just have to bite the bullet down sizing to a smaller car but hey ho I will probably appreciate the 1000cc with two wheels more for the odd thrilling experience.--Good luck with the sale.

P.S.One of my reasons for changing,and not just for an economical diesel,was my wife only really likes the smaller car and a good small diesel is expensive compared to the new generation small petrol engines.Service intervals and the additional cost of diesel/diesel engine actually takes quite along time and many miles to recoup the extra money spent in buying one and I generally don't keep a car long enough for this to happen.

[metalangel]

New Furby Hatchback is ooogly, like a Mini gone wrong. The estate version is better.