So Rolfe have you decided and taken the plunge yet then? What's it to be Blue Graphite with the DSG box or something different? Let us know what deal you strike with whoever and good luck!! 
I think I have a result.
As I said, the DealDriver person on the phone sounded very genuine, and I have no reason to doubt that the deal on the web site was snapped up just before I contacted him. He was going to get back to me with another deal that was still available, and I don't doubt his sincerity. Indeed, I think this route is well worth going if you don't mind travelling to pick up your car. However, I have just emailed him with my thanks, but to tell him I'm fixed up.
As I said, I knew I would be passing a Verve dealership on my way back from taking my Mum for her regular eye clinic checkup. The premises are only about 25 miles from my home, not really much further than Western VW - I only went to Western first because they were near work and I could sneak out at lunchtime. The Verve is the dealer Mum bought her Polo from way back when, before her eyesight forced her to give up driving. Indeed, my late father knew the previous owners of the franchise. However, although I did remark that mother had bought her Polo there, namedropping did not appear to be necessary. Unless you count dropping DealDrivers' name!
I got hold of a salesman and told him I'd already has a test drive and was looking for a deal. He started off about how new the car was and how few deals were available, but when he saw I already had my specs more or less picked out, he cut to the chase very quickly.
He said he had a 5-door DSG in Blue Graphite available right now, but it was a base model without any extras. I said no, I really wanted some extras. He said OK, it will have to be a factory order, let's see what we can do. I had a piece of paper with the list price typed up, and the deal I was offered by WesternVW, and the DealDrivers' price. I told them straight up that I had contacted DealDrivers because I couldn't really believe it, and that in fact that vehicle had gone, but I was waiting for them to contact me again. I said plainly that I didn't see how such a deal was possible and that I wasn't expecting him to match it.
Nevertheless, he asked if he could copy my notes, and I said yes, sure. He was away a bit longer that I would have expected for a one-page copy, and another guy came over to the desk just after that. They discussed the DealDrivers' price, and the original salesman said that's what we're up against. The second guy said something which I took to mean that at the DealDrivers' price, there was only £100 profit left. I repeated that I didn't really expect them to match that price, I just wanted to see what they could do for me. I indicated I'd prefer to deal with someone local, all else being reasonably equal.
He took all my details and said he'd get back to me with a price. I said fine, expecting him to phone me tomorrow. I'd only gone about 10 miles when my mobile rang. I had to cut the call short as the level crossing lights changed and the traffic began to move, but I thought I heard a good number! When I got home, I called him.
Here is the deal.
5-door DSG, Blue Graphite, with ACC, sunroof, winter pack, luxury pack and flat tyre indicator. (Right. No boys' toys - if I can plug my iPod into the standard system I'm happy, and I
can park a car, thankyouverymuch.) With scrappage deal for R-reg Peugeot 306.
£22,500.
That is just just under £4,000 below list, and a discount of £1,995 on top of the scrappage £2,000.
I am a happy camper.
I intend to call Western tomorrow morning to tell then they've been gazumped. The salesman there was very nice indeed and gave me a good test drive, but I really don't see them matching that price. They're in the middle of Edinburgh, and even with the banking crisis they probably have enough yuppies willing to pay higher prices that they won't need to discount too keenly. Verve, on the other hand, are geographically speaking on the other side of the tracks.
I'm half-scared to type this in case I wake up in the morning and the pot of gold has turned to dry leaves! But the message is that there are deals if you go to the right place (didn't another member get a good deal from Verve in Glasgow?). Also, that DealDrivers are taken seriously. Oh yes, and my impression is that DealDrivers themselves are genuine, and I didn't encounter anything that would dissuade me from dealing with them.
My only remaining hesitation is the leather seats. I only saw the cloth seats for the first time this afternoon - the Verve showroom model had cloth, while the Western VW one had leather. They are very nice, and have a lighter appearance than the leather. The little red stripe sets off the other red detailing nicely too. I still like the leather. I'm just not sure I like it £1,600 worth.
I wonder what the black leather would look like with the sunroof....
I'm never going to sleep tonight!
And there
will be pictures - eventually. And will I choose a name?
Rolfe.
