First trip to the dealers.....

[ifti]

Hi all

Although Ive still got plenty of time on my hands (I was initially looking to buy around June time, but not sure I can wait that long now!), I decided to pop into the local VW dealers today to see what they had available, and what prices I'd be looking at - knowing full well to expect higher prices then private purchases etc. I guess with a dealer you have the comfort in knowing you can go back to the dealer should you spot a problem early on.

Anyways, I walked into the dealer and sat down with a VW saleman. I informed him I was after a MK5 ED30 DSG, in silver or grey, with a few additions, mainly Xenons, MFSW, Highline, and Centre Armrest.
I have plans of adding a RNS510, rear camera, Bluetooth prep, and Cruise Control later down the line, so they didnt concern me for now.

He asked me how much I was looking to spend, so I told him I would be expecting to pay well under £20k for what Im after, especially in the current economic climate. He had a little frown, maybe even a slight sigh, and continued.....

He tapped a few keys on his keyboard, clicked a few clicks with his mouse, moved around in his chair a little (he was a little on the hefty side I must admit ), and came back with the following...

He had only 2 ED30's available.

The first was a Black DSG - I ruled this out straight away since I currently have a Black car and want a change to silver or grey, as I had mentioned above.
The second was a silver demo car. However, it was a manual, and only had rear parking sensors with it. I asked about the price, to which he stated £21,000!!

Thats it, he said he had nothing else - just those two! He really wasnt very helpful whatsoever.

Now bearing in mind my first car was a private purchase, about 7 years ago, and I havent been to a dealer before - I did expect them to be a little more helpful. I mean, I thought dealers searched across a UK database etc, so if a car was with another dealer in the UK they could get it transported over?? Am I incorrect in assuming this?? It seems like he searched his own 'garage' and that was it.

I was then given a few brochures for the MK6 Golf, told the new GTI comes out in a few months, and shown the door!

Fair enough, I wasnt there to do a deal this day, just for info, but I really expected a little more helpfulness! Maybe he sensed I wasnt there to do a deal today?? Then again, he didnt really keep me interested or make me want to go back!

Should dealers be able to search a UK database, or is it me who needs to try several dealerships myself?
Any advice on how to deal with these people??!!!

[Jkctr]

He can source cars from any other VW dealer (within reason)

he just didnt want to sell you a car for under 21k.

Ring his manager and complain, say he may well lose a customer. He will rather make some money than none!

[stealthwolf]

When I was looking to buy the GTI last year, I went to the closest VW dealer. Told him I wanted a black GTI, used, cost was dependent on spec + mileage. He went off and came back with a printout of a 2-year old base spec GTI for £15k.

I went to another VW dealer (who was recommended by a relative). The guy was so helpful. He showed me all the GTIs on the forecourt but none of them matched what I wanted. Was willing to knock £2k off a fully-specced GTI. The only thing wrong with it was that it was red! He looked some more on the VW database and then let me use his computer. That's right - he let me loose on the system and I found a nice black ED30 for the right price. Even though it was at another dealer, they transported it down and gave it to me for the price at the other dealer.

Seriously, I'd never been so impressed by how helpful he was, especially in comparison to the first dealership.

Have a look round the dealers. Go to the VW database and have a look at the used models. Bear in mind that since you're not buying new, it's going to be difficult to find a car matched to your spec and at the right price. I wanted Xenons and a lux pack and I had to compromise on those to get my ED30. No regrets.

[pazz]

I trawled the VW stock list online myself, I'd suggest you do the same just to get a feel of what a fair price is for what you want.

The salesmen I spoke to at two VW dealerships both said that they could search the VW "internal database" and find me the "right" car, however I only heard back from one of them and he hadnt even bothered to search for anything.

Just for curiosity sake, I've had a lot better experience with the two Audi dealerships near me.

[stealthwolf]

Have you had a look on the vw website?

Just seen a steel grey ED30 08-plate for £20k.
Has armrest, cruise control, no idea if highline's fitted.

WP08YJY

No MFSW but this can be retrofitted elsewhere.


Remember to be realistic with prices. A slightly used ex-demo will save some £££ from a brand new one, but not as much as something that's a 1 year, 2 years or even 3 years old!

Have you thought about the Pirelli edition?
Like I said above, be prepared to make compromises. My dealer said he could get some fantastic deals on silver/grey GTIs, again some with all of the features that I wanted. I eschewed all those for a black car. Think about what you really want and what's "nice to have" but isn't essential.

[joesgti]

im sorry but this kind off attitude vw dealers infurates me,

i went into my local dealership a few months back looking for an R32, they wouldnt look as i was 'too young' to drive one 

sent a very angry email to vwuk and the manager called me up within 1 hour to apologise, 

[No Golf Clubs at all]

Two words........

1) lazy
2) barsteward

I would just never go back, that's their attitude before you give them money!!! What will it be like after? If you feel strongly mail and complain and show all the other cars around via VW for less!!!

Bad customer service makes my blood boil, quite amazing in this day and age where thousands of hectares of land are filled with unsold and rusting new cars!!

There a loads of nearly new cars around for way less, check autotrader and pistonheads and motorpoint!!! It's not all that buying from vw and you will still get vw warranty.

[R32UK]

Phoned VW Leeds 2 weeks ago to arrange a test drive in a rocco. Was told they have one in stock and he would phone me back to arrange a time to test drive.

1 weeks later no call. So I phone again and speak to the manager. He says he is very dissappointed in their level of service, and that should not have been the case. I explain to him that the same thing has happened on 2 occasions and in the end I took my business elsewhere, should he wish to avoid the same situation, then he should call me back on Monday morning to arrange a test drive (In a car I know they have!)

Its now Wednesday.... Place your bets on if they have called or not??

I know that in reality I should maybe have chased up the sales staff... but surely its is their job to try and sell a car rather than trying to get me to get them to try and sell me the car.

[ub7rm]

Just a point on transferring between dealers.  They should be able to get something from UK stock easily but transfer between different dealers might be different.  Most dealers are a franchise and from my experience are not willing to deal with a rival franchise group ie say lookers vs specialist cars.

[ifti]

Thanks for all the advice guys. It was just that I didnt know what to expect from a main dealer, and assumed (and rightly so!) that they would be able to search a UK database etc.
I'll keep my eye on the VW used car site. Ive already been checking Pistonheads and Autotrader pretty often and have no problems buying through there, whether its trade or private, since most ED30's are still under warranty. I would like a years warranty at least - especially if i do buy private