Comments on: How to buy a car guide questionnaire

By: Car Parts Finder

Car Parts Finder — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:17:49 +0000

Hey,

Maybe its just a little late tonight but I can’t find the ebook? (or has it not been made yet?)

I am pretty interested in reading it!

CPF

By: SteveC

SteveC — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:51:53 +0000

This is a great idea.

The key areas I always look for in a new car is:

•The way the dealer deals with me and my wife regardless if the car is for me or her.
•Service intervals – I drive a lot, in a Corolla, I’d be in the workshop on a monthly basis. With my current car, it’s quarterly. And servicing it isn’t too much more expensive. So it’s a saving as well.

In relation to how to buy a car? I give myself a budget, then I research (online) the cars I can purchase with the money I have, including insurance and anything else. Then I test drive each car more than once. Then once I have narrowed down what I want, I start to visit dealers talking about deals, never agreeing or committing to anything until you are ready, because as we know most of them are pushy.

From that, I pick a dealer who is willing to negotiate a price that’s realistic, because the asking price never is. I also look at how I was approached at the dealership the first time. It’s a start of a relationship, albeit short term, but it may well turn out to be a longer lasting one if they play their cards right. Since my new car purchase, I have said as long as the sales manager I dealt with is there, I’ll always come back to the same dealer.

While this leaves me a bit brand loyal, I don’t have that problem, otherwise I’d be driving a different car. So that’s not such a bad thing.

In fact, I think picking the right dealer is more important than picking the right car. And for that I have found myself a pearler that is happy to help me with anything. I once dropped my car off for a service and they accidentally gave the loan car to someone else. I was happy to call a mate to pick me up or catch a bus home (only having to turn around and bus it back because the car would be done). Alternatively I was going to wait around as long as I had net access on my laptop. The sales manager walked passed, remembered my name, said hello and asked me how things are going.

When I mentioned I was going to hang around, he asked me about the loan car and I told him what happened. I was then asked to follow him and was given a demo car for the day.

I sent them a high quality bottle of vino for Christmas last year because they looked after me so well I know what they would have had to go through to bend over backwards for me to stay happy.

I do the same for my clients and they all appreciate me and my efforts too.

The bonus is my car is reliable and well looked after. Sure I might pay a premium for servicing, but it’s no where near the headache you can feel if you get a car back that’s been apprenticised and you’re in the workshop more than on the road.

I think we can all pretty much see a wanker sales person when they come trundling towards you. Best thing you can do is walk the other way. If you have your heart set on a brand and car, go to another dealer of the same marquee.

I’ve actually thought about comprising a list of dealers I went to for my search for the right dealer, and I can tell you. I wonder how a lot of people even stay in business with their crap service and lack of human qualities that make you feel comfortable forking over your hard earnt for a piece of metal that will inevitably end up as scrap.

SteveC

By: Yanzo

Yanzo — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:02:28 +0000

well now i know to see how good the speakers work. ah… how easy it is to customize. well idk you can just look up a heap of revies of the car on youtube before you buy it but if it’s a second hand car then… as long as you can test drive it it’s all good. just tell em to pop the hood and ask em where everything and how to replace it and how often it need replacing and servicing. service history.

idk

By: Flying High

Flying High — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:35:27 +0000

With respect to your e-guide, I think it would be useful to know the following – perhaps more for buying from a dealer – esp a new car:
* What a person needs to do and look for when taking the car for a test drive, where the dealers have set routes and a person has all of 10-15 minutes to make a decision on how it drives
* The typical add-ons (accessories) that a person can easily get negotiated into the car without paying extra (e.g. window tinting, good quality rubber car mats, head light protectors etc some of which were mentioned above)
* Negotiating down the cost of the over-priced extras such as dealer fitted accessories e.g. in dash sat-nav, rear parking sensors etc, to bring the price more in line with the after market costs. The advantage of having a dealer fit is they are normally all under a manufacturers warranty for ‘..X..’ years same as the car
* Facts on whether buying at the end of the month is really better from a pricing point of view
* Facts on buying a car from a car broker and whether it is really a better deal
* What to look for when picking up your new car such as
– Inspect the car in full sun, and never in the late afternoon or evening or when it is raining
– Has some hack being hired to detail the car and left the paint full of fine scratches – how do you get the dealer to fix up that sort of thing
– Typical things that might not be right – e.g. irrespective of the model of the car, body kits are normally painted by a local spray shop in Australia and fitted to your car by the dealer. Look for quality in the fitting and paint job and ensure there are no paint runs

I look forward to your guide. Great idea

By: mazdaman

mazdaman — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:50:18 +0000

I think buyers need to know the age of the technology and when new models or updates are coming.
Also explain more to people about the 5 star crash rating. Obviously everyone with a brain should buy a 5 star car but understanding the frontal crash score and how much your life could depend on it, there is a too bigger variance from a 12.5/16 and a 15+/16 score.

I’m in the middle of trying to buy a Mazda 6 and I am astounded by how crooked car dealers still are in this day and age. They still lie cheat and decieve buyers even at supposedly reputable dealers.
I’ve learnt that I can trust Mazda (I hope) but not their dealers.

And warn buyers about the blantant ripoffs on accessories.
Headlight protectors and bonnet protectors have a recomended retail price of $71.00 from Mazda, some dealers are charging up to $125.00 – thats $54.00 for the 5 minute job of fitting them.
The mats are even more ridiculous, Mazda RRP is $175.00 (bloody dear mats to start with) but the dealers are trying to charge up to $230.00 – thats $55 to fit MATS, even a 5 year old could do that job.
I can buy those 3 items from the Mazda parts for their true prices then spend 15 minutes fitting them myself and save over $150.00

The car industry is still VERY shonky

By: Devil666

Devil666 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:05:48 +0000

Few add ons:

Techno-capabilities
Techno-ease of use
Kid-friendliness
Interior unique features/gimicks

Last but not least, the Cock-o-meter!

By: The Original Tom

The Original Tom — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:09:22 +0000

I may be wrong, but I think CA asked for what sorts of things are complicated or worrisome when buying a car.

I don’t think they are going to publish a book of comprehensive statistics for every car sold in Australia for you.

I believe this is merely to provide a guide on where to find information about cars, what is the process you go through at a dealer to buy one, and what sort of questions you should ask.

So for example they might include: “You should ask around at mechanics to see what sort of problem the car commonly experiences”. Not “Car X has the following problems”.

By: Jase

Jase — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:56:04 +0000

For used cars, definetly the common problems that owners have had with the car. For example i had a very early BA Falcon from new as a company car, and it was riddled with problems, like brake shudder, headlight bulbs continuosly blowing, seat belt sash not retracting, hand brake stick having to be pulled back into the back seat to be applied.

By: Urabus

Urabus — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:53:42 +0000

how about
- a scaled rating or dB for NVH (interior noise at say 60 or 100kph)
- % of warranty claims or issues by model/brand
- inclusion of JD Power customer satisfaction surveys (could be copyright/permission issues here but worth a try)

By: Bavarian Missile

Bavarian Missile — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:52:57 +0000

Mr Brooks I dont think it really matters if the books are all up to date you have it checked out and no ones done a Speedo George on it you shouldnt really have a worry.

Do a rego check on it to verify its owners if your worried……..