Buying Car On-line

[scousegeezer]

Hi,
I am thinking about buying a new car and have been looking at on line suppliers - autobytel to be exact. Anyone with any experience of this company - or on line buying a car in general. Do they deliver on time etc.

Cheers - scousegeezer

[freakyleaky]

Personally I wouldn't but a car on line as I would like to see it and test drive it first. Sorry i can't be of more help but maybe someone will give you more advice now.

[Conniff]

Is there such a vast difference in the on-line price and the dealer price that your considering buying on-line and not from a dealer?

[Rob S]

Get a test drive with local dealers first and see if you like the car. When you have got a quote from the internet supplier then it might be worthwhile going back to your local dealers to see what they can do.

A lot of the internet dealers will put you in touch with a UK dealer with a franchise for a particular manufacturer and you would pay the dealer in the normal way. An example of one of these is Buy a Car, Deals on New Cars, drivethedeal.com, New Car Discount, Car Deal Online. You order the car through them, but you would pay the supplying dealer.

[scousegeezer]

Connif,
Yeah, the car I am buying is coming with a music pack ( nine speakers, Ipos connector, multi play cd etc.) To buy it through a dealer would cost £3,500 more than I am paying on line. I understand what Freakyleaky says about test drivcing , but I have done that through a local dealer. You can never test drive the car you are buying unless it is a second hand one. Buying a new one you have to see what its like when you get it, thats why there is a three year warantee. I have checked out a few on-line dealers and Autobytel were by far the cheapest.

Cheers - scousegeezer

[leicesterlad]

Autobyetel are a broker that put you in touch with a dealer who is prepared to sell a car with a good discount 99% of the time it will be a uk main dealer however most main dealers have an inernet site offering unbeatable deals. my best advice to you would be to get your very best online price bearing in mind most will charge delivery and go to your local dealer. if they want the deal they WILL match it

[jampot]

Originally Posted by leicesterlad

Autobyetel are a broker that put you in touch with a dealer who is prepared to sell a car with a good discount 99% of the time it will be a uk main dealer however most main dealers have an inernet site offering unbeatable deals. my best advice to you would be to get your very best online price bearing in mind most will charge delivery and go to your local dealer. if they want the deal they WILL match it

Agree totally. Shop around for the best price you can find for the car online, as most places simply 'bulk order' through 1 or 2 preferred dealers, so get access to cheaper prices (fleet prices) than your average punter. You can also shop online for finance, too, if you are going to take it out. And GAP insurance.

Then take all of these to your local dealer. He will be making money in 4 or 5 different ways from you:

1) purchase price of the new car
2) part-exchange price of your old car (possibly)
3) commission on finance
4) revenue from 'extras' eg Supaguard, GAP insurance, Accessory fitting
5) Servicing

So you can pick and choose what you buy from the dealer. I've gone armed with my own finance for the last couple of cars I've bought. It slows things down a little, but saves me a fortune in the long run. But I still give the dealer chance to 'bid' against it.

Take your 'best price' for the car, your 'best price' for the finance, and your 'best price' for any extras, and see what your local dealer can do. Unless it is a rare model which he can't get ordered or can't get access to, he should do a deal. If he won't, it probably means he is hitting targets and doesn't need your sale - so find another localish dealer who DOES.