How much did you pay for your Jetta/Golf?

[STV4SYT]

Car i got was floor price $47450 i got it down to $40750, $6700 off so was quite happy with that one.

I didnt do salary sacrifice for it either, my company isnt prepared to take the FBT hit on cars, so there is no advantage to having the car in their name.

I think any company that owns more than 25 cars is eligible with a letter frmo CFO or a director etc.

[kaikor]

there you go, even a walk in deal can still get $6k-$7k discount easily, i guess it really depends on your bargaining power ...

[Jarred]

when me and dad were looking and talking to the guy were were thinking "Ge the prices can't realy be this high..."

It's good to know if dad get's serious that we should be able to get a few more K off the tag. anyone got any good advice on bargaining??

[mark4323]

anyone got any good advice on bargaining??

Make an offer and if they don't take it - walk away. Definitely go to a few dealers and see the best you can get. When they walk off to 'talk to the manager' about the deal they are usually listening to you via a hidden microphone, always mention out loud the good deal that xyz dealer offered you so if this doesn't work out you can go back there.

Why didn't I listen to my own advise??????

[kaikor]

DON'T ever show them you're desperate to get the car ASAP, my tactic is always threaten them not to force me to sign any contract even they said they're going to give you the best deal, what the hell if some other dealers can beat them ???

[STV4SYT]

there you go, even a walk in deal can still get $6k-$7k discount easily, i guess it really depends on your bargaining power ...

yeah, i also went to about 4 dealers and figured out the lie of the land before i jumped in so knew i was not far off the mark, according to the computer screen on the salesman desk it was down to $0 profit for them on the car. how accurate that is or not i dont know, could be an old trick but i did see it with my own eyes.

[kaikor]

exactly !!! they always bull to me that they only make $50 bucks profit of selling a car to me, they don't intend to make a profit but just need to meet their monthly quota, and they can't really go below this or that price, i guess your other observation is if they always try walk off and talk to their manager, that means you always still have a margin to go further, i got a case that they stop negotiating with me, ask me to think about this final offer and let me walk out the shop, then you can pretty sure that's their bottom price, then just take that price and go other dealer and see if they can beat that ...

[pinzvidz]

When they walk off to 'talk to the manager' about the deal they are usually listening to you via a hidden microphone, always mention out loud the good deal that xyz dealer offered you so if this doesn't work out you can go back there.

Mate, you're dreaming. There's no hidden microphones, because it's illegal. They wander off to ask the manager, because they don't have the authority to drop the price below the figure they're allowed to sell at. If a dealership got caught using microphones, they'd be fined a sh_itload of money, and they'd probably lose their VW dealership licence as well.

[spawn]

Hi Guys,

Paid $44k for a MY08 Jetta TDI with electric leather seat, sunroof and metallic paint. Tried very hard to squeeze the dealer but this is all I could get out of them.

Initally the order was for a MY07 TDI because I didnt know the difference between them and no one offered to explain the difference but luckily I found information about the difference from the net and from this forum (what will I do without the net). After finding out how the MY08 came with the full MFD and MP3, I was set to get the MY08. No regrets.

[mrx]

Mate, you're dreaming. There's no hidden microphones, because it's illegal. They wander off to ask the manager, because they don't have the authority to drop the price below the figure they're allowed to sell at. If a dealership got caught using microphones, they'd be fined a sh_itload of money, and they'd probably lose their VW dealership licence as well.

Agree about there not being microphones, but these guys sell these cars every day, of course they know what they're allowed to sell them for! Asking the manager is a twofold tactic. One, it makes the purchaser think "I must be getting a good deal if the salesperson has to ask special permission from the manager". Two, they are wearing you down. After ages spent at the dealership, with sales person going back to the manager every five minutes, you are more likely to sign - just to get out of there.

The best advice I have heard when buying a new car is to work out the price you are prepared to pay beforehand, and stick to it (obviously it must be somewhat reasonable). Don't believe all the sales crap, what's on the computer screen etc. If they do it for the price you want, then you're happy, if they don't then go elsewhere. Never ever let it be known that this is THE car you want - then they've got you. Always make out like it's not the end of the world if you don't get the car - perhaps make out like you're still undecided between the VW and something else and whoever gives the best deal will get your business.

[STV4SYT]

Agree about there not being microphones, but these guys sell these cars every day, of course they know what they're allowed to sell them for! Asking the manager is a twofold tactic. One, it makes the purchaser think "I must be getting a good deal if the salesperson has to ask special permission from the manager". Two, they are wearing you down. After ages spent at the dealership, with sales person going back to the manager every five minutes, you are more likely to sign - just to get out of there.

The best advice I have heard when buying a new car is to work out the price you are prepared to pay beforehand, and stick to it (obviously it must be somewhat reasonable). Don't believe all the sales crap, what's on the computer screen etc. If they do it for the price you want, then you're happy, if they don't then go elsewhere. Never ever let it be known that this is THE car you want - then they've got you. Always make out like it's not the end of the world if you don't get the car - perhaps make out like you're still undecided between the VW and something else and whoever gives the best deal will get your business.

It didnt seem to matter with me, i had actually already bought a car of the same spec as mine, but it had delivery date of mid - late feb, which was too late, i had interestin teh car i was selling and knew where the exact model i wanted was on the floor, he beat the original price by a couple of hundred bucks and i had the car a month early. win-win situation.

[Greg Roles]

exactly !!! they always bull to me that they only make $50 bucks profit of selling a car to me, they don't intend to make a profit but just need to meet their monthly quota, and they can't really go below this or that price, i guess your other observation is if they always try walk off and talk to their manager, that means you always still have a margin to go further, i got a case that they stop negotiating with me, ask me to think about this final offer and let me walk out the shop, then you can pretty sure that's their bottom price, then just take that price and go other dealer and see if they can beat that ...

The fact is that IS all a junior car sales person gets as an after tax bonus. I worked for a short time in car sales back in the 90's, and back then it was $38. Seems $50 -$150 pr so is the going rate these days depending on the deal they are on. I know fleet guys get stuff all, and it is ALL about volume to them. The sales rep IS the microphone, they don't need to tape you to get you impatient and worn down. The formula they use works, sadly.

Walking back and forth to the manager is indeed ALL about wearing you down and getting you impatient. As I was only new, I had to walk because I DIDN'T have wholesale prices so I honestly didn't know what I could discount, but shifty managers use this tactic as they know what they can discount but tell me "that's it" and I believed it. I'd go tell the client totally honestly, they'd sign, and I'd walk back in to the manager laughing about the few thousand he just made. It's why I left. i was being played as much as the customers.

They often show next to no profit on computer screens, again a sales trick. On selling a car they often get bonus from the manufacturer, and there are other areas of profit called "backdoor". It takes a quite rude offer, or a lot of time negotiating to truely get a car at a bargain price where the dealer only makes a few hundred or so. End of the month at a dealer where cars have been sitting around is the best bet.

Dealer delivery and those sort of charges, especially fitting of accessories are seen as sheer profit, as the mechanic is being paid anyway, and the workshop doesn't see much, if any of that, but depends on the dealer.

I'm sure there are dealers with better stories, but my rather limited experience was very poor. Not a career choice for me.

[bombsquad21]

Deal just proposed!!

Help!

2007 plate, black comfortline 2.0 TDI manual with tint and mats..

$33,000 with a full tank of gas??

[mrx]

Help!

2007 plate, black comfortline 2.0 TDI manual with tint and mats..

$33,000 with a full tank of gas??

That equates to a discount of $0, based on the price on carsales.com.au - tell him he's dreamin'!

[bombsquad21]

Is that right, it's for a friend $5000 trade on a 2001 Vectra and a $28000 changeover..nil onroads??

What is a good price for 2.0 comfortline?