Buying a nearly new GTI

[gti2015]

Hi all,

First post here:

After a lot of deliberation I'm about to pull the trigger on a MK7 GTI. (essential options - PP, DCC, DNP)

I'm thinking of buying nearly new with 5,000 miles on the clock but have some concerns:

1. I suspect a lot of those currently listed are ex-demonstrators and reckon they've probably not been run in properly. Should I be worried about this?

2. The used prices, at least on the VW used website seem to be holding their value extremely well (approx 1.5k - 2k difference from a new one vs used with 5k of similar spec). Should I try for a decent discount? (Some great discounts on new cars seem to be available from carwow). Are used prices likely to come down at all soon?

3. I've read a lot of horror stories about VW dealerships recently. If anyone can recommend a good one in the south of England or elsewhere, (that has the reach and inclination to source what I'm after) I'd be grateful.

Any thoughts on the above would be really appreciated.

Thanks

[matchboy]

Welcome 

1. Me personally, I would never buy a demo.  I would buy second hand, but not a demo as it will have been thrashed.
2. Yes, for sure!  10-12% is easily obtainable if you're willing to spend a few hours in a dealership!
3. I recently bought from Citygate in High Wycombe - ask for Alister - he was excellent, and I would defintely buy from him again.  Also, my original order before I sourced a car quicker was with Rosh at Vindis in Sawston (Cambridge) - he also was excellent.  Both those dealerships were first class in terms of keeping me updated, finance stuff etc etc.  Ones to avoid (in my experience) are Lancaster in Letchworth (Herts) and Inchcape in Romford - I won't explain my reasons why but suffice to say I won't be giving them any business again in the future!

[dubber36]

The dealers will have some pretty hefty margins in their used cars. They have the monopoly on the nearly new new stock, so will artificially inflate the prices to, A- make more money, B - give the impression that they hold their money well, or C - try to get you to buy a new car instead. They will also use their high used prices as a reason to not discount a new equivalent.

The deal you get will also depend on what you have to trade in. If it's a car that they can retail, they won't get their money back until they've sold it and in some cases, sold the car they take in px against that. If you have no px or a £500 banger, you'll be able to negotiate harder on either a new or nearly new car, especially if you go in armed with a quote from a broker like Drive The Deal etc.

[Mark V GTD]

Or just use Drive The Deal and support what they are doing....

[AndyG]

If buying new you want 12% discount.It may be cheaper buying new than second hand with this discount.
Put your car spec into orangewheels and weigh it up.Of course you will have to wait a few months for a new one.Try your local dealer and ask them to match orangewheels,if they won't try another dealership.Where do you live,someone on here will let you know a dealership nearby that offers discount.

[Mark V GTD]

As I said earlier - or use Orange or Drive The Deal.

Stop using brokers prices to leverage deals with dealers or the brokers will no longer be in business and everyone will pay more....

[corgi]

1. I suspect a lot of those currently listed are ex-demonstrators and reckon they've probably not been run in properly. Should I be worried about this?

I have bought ex-demonstrators before (not from VW though) and had no issues. I am wary though, before I bought my Ed30 I went to test drive one at a local dealership. I arranged for a test drive first thing on a Saturday morning. I arrived early and saw the car outside on the forecourt, the car had not been run that morning. Met the sales guy and we got straight into the car, he bounced it hard down the kerb and then from stone cold thrashed it to the red-line in first and second... Suffice to say, I didn't even consider that one...

2. The used prices, at least on the VW used website seem to be holding their value extremely well (approx 1.5k - 2k difference from a new one vs used with 5k of similar spec). Should I try for a decent discount? (Some great discounts on new cars seem to be available from carwow). Are used prices likely to come down at all soon?

They take the p!ss in my experience. Overprice the car your buying (because they have control of the supply) and often as not under-value yours. I ended up buy my Ed30 through a broker for approaching £5K less than the demonstrator, I drove. The only difference was that the one I bought didn't have DSG... and I got substantially more than anyone to that point had offered for my trade-in from the dealer the broker used...

It is a case of shop around to see what deal you can make.

In the end, as others have stated, you may be able to buy a new one for similar money to a nearly new example  but you may well have to wait for it...

[AndyG]

Gti2015,how much is the car your considering?
I am refusing to suggest that have you considered an R.

[mrlapou]

I picked up from main VW dealer, my 6mth old 4k mile GTi PP with about £4k options for approx %20 off list. One private owner moving up to a Golf R....

[peterdoherty]

Just go via Drive The Deal or JCB Medway in Kent for a new one with 10-12% discount