[cheryl ward]

So I've found what looks like a super cheap exclusive.
But my trust radar is twitching...
It's a Jan 21 registered 70 plate, main dealer sale.
Now with some rudimentary dvlc checks, the car was untaxed 2nd week of March, change of owner showing end of Feb.
I'm thinking this is not a pre-reg, looks more like someone has got rid pretty quick.
Waiting on a callback from dealer, website says 1 owner.
Thoughts anyone?- I'm dubious could be on wrong software and an unhappy punter has taken it back.
Crappy repair on body? (been there before and rejected a brand new one, so know what I'm looking for there).
Wouldn't trust a dealer as far as I could throw one due to many bad experiences- they'll most likely give a bull story.
Am I right to be wary or is it worth listening to what they say- I realise people do take them back occasionally but something doesn't add up.

 

[mikegs]

Am I right to be wary

Yes. But still worth a look.

 

[ArthurGreenWorld]

If it bothers you now it might be a niggle in the back of your mind after you buy it.. walk away if that's the case

 

[AndyG]

So I've found what looks like a super cheap exclusive.
But my trust radar is twitching...
It's a Jan 21 registered 70 plate, main dealer sale.
Now with some rudimentary dvlc checks, the car was untaxed 2nd week of March, change of owner showing end of Feb.
I'm thinking this is not a pre-reg, looks more like someone has got rid pretty quick.
Waiting on a callback from dealer, website says 1 owner.
Thoughts anyone?- I'm dubious could be on wrong software and an unhappy punter has taken it back.
Crappy repair on body? (been there before and rejected a brand new one, so know what I'm looking for there).
Wouldn't trust a dealer as far as I could throw one due to many bad experiences- they'll most likely give a bull story.
Am I right to be wary or is it worth listening to what they say- I realise people do take them back occasionally but something doesn't add up.

Whats super cheap?

 

[mikegs]

Whats super cheap?

If she published that, someone might jump on the bargain before she decided

 

[cheryl ward]

Correctomundo!

 

[AndyG]

If she published that, someone might jump on the bargain before she decided

I am not asking for the address of the dealer, just a ball park..... If the price is £1000 less than list then don't take the risk, if its half price then thats a different matter......

 

[cheryl ward]

It's under 20k for a Jan 21 registered exclusive.
Cheapest I've seen for a while.
Does make me think are they clearing out for the facelift which I do know is coming, although not that much different looking and bigger battery which doesn't bother me.
Suppose if that comes in autumn we could see similar deals on that next year, which off course will reduce price further of these
But then there's usually never a good time to buy a newish car.

 

[Mrklaw]

main dealer, you’ll get full warranty - get them to confirm it will be updated to latest software and ask directly what the history is. But shoudl be a safe enough purchase I’d have thought?

 

[cheryl ward]

I think I'm naturally suspicious of main dealers in general due to quite honestly some ridiculously poor experiences and frankly bare faced lying.
I once drove over 100 miles to collect a Zoe from a Renault dealer. The car had had such a poor accident repair it was laughable, and they said it wasn't a problem because it was 2nd hand and on PCP and I would just be giving it back anyway??!
Another I got a train 300 miles to collect a brand new car. On arrival it was on the forecourt all ready waiting for me. Lovely. Closer inspection and the roof was literally covered in pitted paint, exposed welding joints with very poor panel alignment.
When asked what the hell and how did that get through the factory check, let alone their own, they offered to have it resprayed and delivered to my home. Yeah, right. On a brand new car. Or they kindly offered me a lower spec one they had in stock that I could drive away, for the same price. They actually paid me £200 for that experience.
Another, I paid for a service and they literally didn't even change the oil or filter despite being charged for them.
These are all well established, main dealer garages.
So forgive me, but I just don't trust car dealers, full stop.
I look on, say, autotrader and see the same dealer offering the same plate/year car in the same colour for sometimes over 1k more than the other-why??
Certainly is the case here with the same dealer having a higher mileage 20 registered one offered at significantly more than this one??

 

[AndyG]

It's under 20k for a Jan 21 registered exclusive.
Cheapest I've seen for a while.
Does make me think are they clearing out for the facelift which I do know is coming, although not that much different looking and bigger battery which doesn't bother me.
Suppose if that comes in autumn we could see similar deals on that next year, which off course will reduce price further of these
But then there's usually never a good time to buy a newish car.

A friend of mine has just bought a brand new one with the cherry red paint and had it delivered for about £22k
Try talking to......
@Miles Roberts

 

[cheryl ward]

Well this is 10% less but possibly 2 owners- worth the risk or not?
Until the dealers re-open I can't see the whites of a salesperson's eyes, so hard to get a feel of what's achievable brand new, but that's helpful, thanks.

 

[Mrklaw]

I understand your pain although haven’t had quite as many bad experiences as you. I just assume they’re all doing the least they can get away with to sell stuff so at least I go in eyes open (as do you it seems) and if I have a bad experience I’ll never use that dealer again (and often try and skip the entire group if practical).

But I’d still prefer that than buying private or from a used non-franchise dealer - just the added peace of mind of a proper manufacturer warranty and escalation available if needed.

 

[cheryl ward]

I've bought loads privately over the years, and can honestly say I've never had a problem once.
I think generally a private seller is more likely to trade a car in If it has a problem than risk selling it to someone that might come back and take his head off.
Personally I'd rather trade a perfectly good car in to a dealer that yea might cost me, but at least you don't have to deal with all the timewasters, my time and well being is more important than money.
Having said that you do have some peace of mind buying direct from garages-if they're reputable and have a conscience, however that car with a problem ends up on a forecourt without their knowledge of that problem- it's how they deal with that later that matters.

 

[Blackeunos]

If its a dealer pre-reg, once they've registered it, they'll then cash the tax in, so that they don't lose that money. Then when they sell it as a pre-reg, it gets taxed in the new owners name.

That could be one reason that it will have been registered and then untaxed.

If the V5 has the garage name on as the first owner, then that would prove it.

Worth checking, but I reckon that's probably what's happened.

 

[dk6780]

I appreciate that you have had bad experiences previously, and the question is whether the "10% saving" is worth the risk. Only you can answer that, and no-one on the internet without knowledge of the dealer or car can answer that for you.
10% is not a huge saving for a pre-Reg and previous owners will reduce resale when you come to sell unless you hold it for a long time.
Good luck, I'd go for it but then I like a bargain. My Wife would take the opposite view and pay more to mitigate the risk.

 

[cheryl ward]

.gov just shows activity on v5c at end of February, Registered mid Jan. so until I talk to dealer I don't know.
As stated earlier one owner but I take that with a pinch of salt as this does suggest 2.

 

[cheryl ward]

This is exactly what I'm trying to decide.
On the face of it this looks good value, just rung dealer again, they are "ringing back".
If anyone has a Zoe or ZS they want to sell, I'm all ears.
And I do keep my eye on the classifieds here.