got To love them offered me a trade in value on my car ! Told them to shove it low and behold phone call fifteen minutes later improved by a £1000 
Audi approved
- Thread starter bokoboy
- Start date
Yup, every thing they have costs a fortune, all our cars are worth "next to nowt". BUT when it goes on the forecourt its all of a sudden worth £3k more, go figuregot To love them offered me a trade in value on my car ! Told them to shove it low and behold phone call fifteen minutes later improved by a £1000
The car I’m looking at sitting at 32k god knows what they gave the poor sod that traded that in
There’s a reason VAG are worth $72.9 billion...
I keep saying it. Need to set up a site that matches people looking to part/ex with people looking to buy nearly new cars! Cut out Audi as the extortionate middle man!
I keep saying it. Need to set up a site that matches people looking to part/ex with people looking to buy nearly new cars! Cut out Audi as the extortionate middle man!
Basically go elsewhere mate there's dozens of nice used Audi S3's on the private market, but some like the security of a approved used Audi, they sell them by the bucket load ye take yer choice ye pays yer dosh play the game if not take your business elsewhere, bmw, Mercedes all of them are the same not just Audi, the only good thing about buying a approved used Audi apart from the obvious is they have far more variation in colour, spec model variants
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2017
- Messages
- 54
- Reaction score
- 87
- Points
- 18
What a great idea.
My recent experience with the sales dept has left me shell shocked. They wouldn't even enter into P/X negotiations until I would fully commit to buying the car we went to look at. A totally new approach to me and the wife was highly disgruntled too. It was very much like a car supermarket set up, even wanting me to pay an administration fee.
Not a pleasant visit and very unprofessional for an Audi main dealer to say the least.
Bad time of year to buy any car...... Walking into a showroom Salesman easily reach there targets week in week out til the end of march ergo hence buy or leave,be forceful and be real.... They get dozens of time wasters a week
they probably do! Suppose everyone think their car is worth more than it is but to up my offer by a grand in fifteen mins just sums them up
Not so sure about salesman easily reaching their targets... More like struggling every week to reach targets. Of course there are exceptions and different dealerships do better than others but still...
Source : My dad has worked in dealerships my entire life, currently BMW and several years at Audi prior. In recent years it seems like even March and September aren't crazily busy.
As for the part ex, well..i guess they have to earn money hey.
Source : My dad has worked in dealerships my entire life, currently BMW and several years at Audi prior. In recent years it seems like even March and September aren't crazily busy.
As for the part ex, well..i guess they have to earn money hey.
Just for that I'd tell them to shove it, you now know what you can get for it, so go to another dealership!got To love them offered me a trade in value on my car ! Told them to shove it low and behold phone call fifteen minutes later improved by a £1000
When I was selling mine I thought exactly the same, the main problem with selling privately is that you are worried about who turns up at your door/what time they turn up...3am with a balaclava on!!! Just act as a 'safe' middle man and take a small cut off buyer and seller!
Audi told me it would costs them £2k to get my 17,000 mile 2.5 year old S3 prepared for sale! Yeah OK, as you can see most of that would have been spent on detailing it I suppose!!!!
Yep exactly that, after I test drove the S3 he gave me their price for what I wanted and said "Do you want to go home and talk to the wife and have a think about it?", I said "No, I want to go inside and talk figures". He looked shocked and we went inside, at this point I took out my lowest carwow quote and said "If you can match that I'll order the car today", after a few phone calls they agreed to match it and the car was ordered there and then.
The same with the A5, I sent them my lowest quote and asked them to match it, she said she'd have to speak to the business manager, the next day she called me to say that they would match it! She was as shocked as me
I was down there like a shot before they changed their minds 21.4% off the A5
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2016
- Messages
- 831
- Reaction score
- 788
- Points
- 93
You could try selling to an independent dealer you'll probably get a slightly better price but they still have a living to make, carry some risk, repair/service/change tyres warranty etc.
I suspect most cars available up to three years old are ex lease/PCP and up to a year old are ex rental, where there is an arrangement with main dealers to supply replacements/sell the used ones to keep them out of the auctions and keep prices up.
You mean like Auto Trader used to be - private sales. Great if you want to change cars every few months, no dealers to support, £30 advert, £10 HPI check, trade cars for cash or bank transfer. You have a different car and have lost nowt. That's the theory.
Unfortunately there's usually a good reason people sell expensive cars privately and it's not that they just fancy a change. A living nightmare if it turns out you buy a ringer, stolen, crashed/repaired, tuned to 500BHP, regularly dyno'd, thrashed to death, put back to 'stock' and throwing up codes, invalid warranty etc.
As for selling privately, you have no idea who will turn up. Joy riders, test pilots, car jackers could easily turn into another nightmare.
I suspect most cars available up to three years old are ex lease/PCP and up to a year old are ex rental, where there is an arrangement with main dealers to supply replacements/sell the used ones to keep them out of the auctions and keep prices up.
You mean like Auto Trader used to be - private sales. Great if you want to change cars every few months, no dealers to support, £30 advert, £10 HPI check, trade cars for cash or bank transfer. You have a different car and have lost nowt. That's the theory.
Unfortunately there's usually a good reason people sell expensive cars privately and it's not that they just fancy a change. A living nightmare if it turns out you buy a ringer, stolen, crashed/repaired, tuned to 500BHP, regularly dyno'd, thrashed to death, put back to 'stock' and throwing up codes, invalid warranty etc.
As for selling privately, you have no idea who will turn up. Joy riders, test pilots, car jackers could easily turn into another nightmare.
Yep a member on here has his jacked during a test drive, they got the guy in the end
RichardT
Registered User
I think a couple of grand margin on a 25 grand used car at a main dealer is not outrageous really. They have overheads and risks and they are in business to make a profit. And they get plenty of business so by definition their profit margins must be about right.
And telling the dealer no deal and them upping their offer is car sales business - that's what it's all about. I wouldn't describe that as sharp practice really.
And telling the dealer no deal and them upping their offer is car sales business - that's what it's all about. I wouldn't describe that as sharp practice really.
hmmm not sure I agree with your estimation that most people selling nearly new cars is because they have some sinister reason...read any number of threads on here and the amount that trade in cars 1/2yrs after getting them brand new is quite staggering...!
But yes absolutely, all your points are of course right! I was thinking of some sort of WBAC type business model that deals in bulk. So there is a 'safe' place that does the checks and holds the money etc. but it doesn't operate at the same margins, because that's all it does (i.e. it's not producing cars).
It's probably a ***** idea, just always thought I would be keen on buying a P/X directly from a member on here at a good price for me, and a good trade price for them.
As you say always a risk, but I don't think it's that substantial personally. Mods are easy to see and HPI checks can let you know of finance.
Besides....it's not as if buying from Audi is a guarantee that it's not been in an accident or been modified either, but as you say, you at least have some come back....
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2016
- Messages
- 831
- Reaction score
- 788
- Points
- 93
I agree Doc, It's a great idea in principal. I've bought and sold many cheap cars privately over the years and never had any problems.
But as a seller of a very expensive car, 95% of buyers would be put off because they need finance. I'm also selling a highly stealable car, known to be favoured by some highly dodgy characters. Do I want to tell anyone who contacts me where I am, where it's kept and possibly put myself in a position where I'm taking three menacing heavies for a ride in it when they turn up, risk them kicking me out or worse in the middle of nowhere then driving off in it? At best, most private buyers would expect it for at least a grand less than the advertised price, then how do I insist on bank transfer when they've come with envelopes full of possibly dodgy bank notes?
Or as a buyer I'd want it at a rock bottom price because there's no come back, I'd want to see it at the address on the V5C, weight the owner up, drive it and then if it's ok want it thoroughly inspected by a specialist, check the history and not hand over any money until I collected it.
90% of the time I'm sure everything would be ok and we could both be a grand or so to the good, but is it really worth all the stress for the savings, when you consider the risks involved and everything that could possibly go wrong?
Spot on Richard.
Last edited:
hallm26
Registered User
- Joined
- May 15, 2016
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 50
- Points
- 18
I recently sold my S3 through Anthony at Mantis Cars near Colchester. Thanks for the recommendation @DrEskimo Cannot fault the service there, I’d highly recommend them. As it was only 14 months old on a PCP I knew I would lose money but even with the fee I gave him to sell it on my behalf I only lost £1k vs the settlement figure. Audi offered me £4K less so I saved a fortune going down the sale or return route. As @S32B said I didn’t want strangers turning up on my doorstep.
From last January to the end of March 3 working months where the last 3 months my son sold cars for Audi, he's now a general manager with BMW.... But for them 3 months his wages clear was.... £15000, now at bmw and they can't sell enough of them just now business is booming, he earns less now as a manager than he did when he was in sales, when cars salesman are flush.... They kinda take it easier they won't let you cut there profit by much at all, if on the other hand there chasing the dosh then you'll get a better deal better service, my son tells me his staff do this..... He done it as well whilst in sales , targets are easy to achieve the first quarter,May June, July, no they ain't and that's the best time to buy a car, l ordered my current car at the end of May last year, l got roughly 14% off l didn't even haggle one bit so I could have got maybe another 1-2% more but hey l was happy with 14% buying midway between registrations is better all round so l found
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2016
- Messages
- 831
- Reaction score
- 788
- Points
- 93
Find a dealer in a less affluent area who struggles to meet their targets, will value you as a buyer and try harder to cut you a better deal.
True but most Audi dealers are indeed either in Motor parks or intentionally in situ in affluent areas, but again the best way to buy a car now, is not by visiting a dealer its via the Internet, l purchased my car from Whetstone Audi l hadn't a clue where it was in England and it turned out to be in a affluent area, clients ranged from Joe blogs to footballers, actors, fact here walk in traffic to that showroom get less discount than cyberspace clients true @Daveotto got his car from them via the Internet as well
Not a £2,000 markup! They would be pricing mine to sell at £5,000 more than what they were offering me!!! Like you I said I'd expect a couple of grand extra on top of what they gave me and I'd be happy with that, but not five. That was when they said it would cost them £2,000 to prepare it for sale.
As for profit, they make most of it from the finance side of things.
No way would they have sold your car £5k more what was the book price for it at the time, the chap that purchased my car ended up selling for £2300 more than he paid me for it which is fair enough
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2016
- Messages
- 831
- Reaction score
- 788
- Points
- 93
As you know, it's all about numbers and targets. All dealers have someone who quote for carwow etc against their new stock. They either sell new cars cheap or end up pre-registering their new stock to keep the numbers up.
Their problem then is having to try and sell them without loss three months later.
Audi don't pre register cars well until 3 months they did just to stay as market leader, Audi register cars for staff, but in general not for punters
- Joined
- May 10, 2017
- Messages
- 159
- Reaction score
- 128
- Points
- 43
got To love them offered me a trade in value on my car ! Told them to shove it low and behold phone call fifteen minutes later improved by a £1000
But that's it though. Only a mug would accept their first offer. They are a business at the end of the day, and the dealership will try to buy in as low as possible. Just like any other business.
They will have some cost to prep the car for resale, depending on condition, age etc. Brakes / tyres / valet.
They'll then stick it on their forecourt for `X` Thousands of pounds more than what they bought it in for.
Again, they expect someone to haggle, so their sticker price will have wiggle room. They hope you don't haggle, but only a mug would buy a car without getting a discount off. New or used.
If you don't like there trade-in offer, sell elsewhere
If you don't like the asking price, buy elsewhere.
I guess also, once all these PCP deals run to an end, the market will become flooded with cars no one wants to pay the inflated balloon payments, so they may be reluctant to buy in more cars, hence the low offer.
alexyyyy
Registered User
Had a good read through this thread found it quite useful as I'm looking into a S1/3 later this year. 
You and I both know that, but they don't offer you book, they offer the lowest book price! lower than anyone else!
Let's say on a real world value of a £20k px, I'd expect them advertise it for £23k and them sell it for £22.5k, take out of that £500 to prep, leaving them with a £2k proffit which would be fine by me.
But they offer you £18k px (for your rwv £2ok car), then do as above @ £23k, so 5k markup to start. It's greed on their side.
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2016
- Messages
- 831
- Reaction score
- 788
- Points
- 93
They register them to hit their dealership targets then use them as demonstrators, staff cars and courtesy cars. Their problem then is that these cars are effectively dead money to the dealership for 3 months until they are allowed to sell them. When they do, they will always try to sell at a minimum of cost price so as not to lose out. So wouldn't they rather sell it brand new? That's why dealers quote a competitive price on carwow and why if you push your local dealer they can cut you a massive discount on new car from stock and still make a profit - and why there is little value in Audi ex-demonstrators unless you can find a highly specced showroom queen that was ordered to demonstrate the extras and the dealer willing to cut their own throat to get rid of it.
There was an A3 184 diesel ex-demonstrator for sale 18 months ago, list of extras as long as your arm, asking price was £50k, yes £50k for an ex-demonstrator.
- Joined
- May 10, 2017
- Messages
- 159
- Reaction score
- 128
- Points
- 43
Must have been a typo no A3 diesel can hit £50k list lol a S3 saloon black edition can just about get there
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2016
- Messages
- 831
- Reaction score
- 788
- Points
- 93
Could have been a typo, or could have been a ploy so that people noticed it and looked at the spec. But it was £50k. No way would it ever have sold for north of £30k though.
I remember a few nice cars in Glasgow Audis one in fact l nearly 3 years ago just now, it was a fully loaded sportback in racing mica blue was offered 14-5% it's too rich for me at the time, it out as a management car soon after, as did the TTRS Spyder l saw in showroom ended a demo
Their cars are worth more than they offer. But they are running a business and can offer you whatever they want. Dealership prices control used car value especially for premium brands.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Have to be careful of the "security" from Audi Approved, my A5 was approved but its had a new rear bumper and a new rear quarter panel whilst under the dealers ownership (it was an ex demo) which they didn't care to tell me about! Granted, I should have checked, but it's not something you expect from an approved car which you're paying top money for
It's probably acquired this damage whilst on loan to a customer...... etc
