TMW - Car pricing and why you should keep away from main dealerships, or should you ?

Buying a new car is probably the second biggest purchase the majority of people make in the UK, so, making sure that you buy the best car, at the best prices is something that you should take your time in working out, so, where is the best place to get your nice new car from ?

The Dealership

Buying from your main dealer is always a consideration, they like to make out that you can not buy your car any better than from them, but they have to make money so they will try and make out they are the best, but that's not strictly true, the dealership, will have a lot of overheads, they will have to abide by the brand's terms and conditions, the way that building looks, how many cars they have in the showroom, decoration and so on, all this has a value, and this has to be paid for.

And it is you, the customer that pays for this out of your nice new car, so when you see that sticker price, advertising your nice new car, you are paying for far more than the car, however, you get the backup of that brand, when you have any issues, or you would like to think you do, if you have any issues within the warranty period, the dealership should be the first point of call to go to, to get your issue sorted, but these days, you will find a lot of dealers will try their best to get out of repairing the fault, especially when it is a recall issue, time is not your friend in that case.

The Car Supermarket

The Supermarket is a relatively new way of buying a car, up until the last few years these businesses have mainly dealt with second hand car sales, but more recently they have been selling new cars, MG is one brand that has moved into the Supermarket arena to sell cars, unfortunately number are not available to see if this is working or not, but for a Supermarket like Motorpoint to have a brand on their books it gives them some kudos.

But can it work, well, it is far harder to sell a nice brand new car from these sites that from a main dealer, why, well, say for argument sake you have £10k to spend and you go to one of these sites, do you buy a nice top of the line MG3 or do you buy a 2015 (65 Plate) Volkswagen Polo, personally I know which one I would go for, a supposed quality brand, with the remainder of it's warranty

Online Purchase

The best way to get a car in my opinion, as I have gone the route and purchased a car online, quite successfully, the dealership was dire, but the online company could not have been any better, it was simple, to the point and you have the price take it or leave it, as an example for this report I have chosen one car make and model, the 1.5 Litre. TDCI, Ford Fiesta Five door, 

Dealership      -   £16,795

Supermarket   -   £12,699 -£4,096
Online Purchase £12,252 -£4,543

So you can clearly see the price difference, £4,543 difference between the dearest and cheapest for the same car, all three are brand new, unregistered, UK cars, with only one option, the city Pack, and the this is just the tip of the iceberg, there are other differences that amount to in excess of £10,000 in savings, in fact, a quick check found this car, the AUDI A8 with a discount of nearly £20,000 on dealership forecourt pricing.

But just because you can get a discount online, does not mean that you can't take that figure to your dealership and get them to match it, or, to offer a range of benefits to equal the price through Zero % APR, free servicing, free grade uplift etc, not that I am saying every dealer will be able or willing to do this, some are able, others are not, so, it depends on the relationship you have with that dealer.

If you don't have a relationship with a local dealer, and are happy to buy at the best price possible, and you don't mind travelling to collect your car, then online is probably your best bet, like I said, the Online company, Carfile.net, where we chose to purchase our car through could not be any better, unfortunately the Citroen dealership, Bristol Street Motors, could not have been worse. 

The lack of communication, the lack of pleasantries, the general rudeness of the salesman and the fact that we didn't even get anything as a gratitude for spending so much money with them, shows the total lack of care and concern from this dire business, we won't be using them again, even if it means spending more elsewhere, they put enough fuel in just to get us to the petrol station, as the low fuel signal was on as soon as we started it up, there was NO hand over.

The salesman refused to even show us, yes REFUSE to show us how various switches, dials and buttons worked, his comment that because we bought it through the Internet, we were not entitled to be shown how the car worked, was really dangerous, and to be honest if anyone has asked us to rate the dealership, they get told without any shadow of doubt that these people should be avoided at all costs.

Overall Verdict

Online is the way to go, regardless of the issues we have had, the pricing is simple to understand, you can get all the info on the car from the brand's website, and then from there you can get a price from the main dealer, which you can use to compare against the supermarket, if you have one local to you, or online, if you chose that route, but this is the route we will take next time around when we are due to change cars.

However we will enquire more so, into the dealership that is selling the car, and to make sure that they are better suited to dealing with customers from an online sale way, so, whatever option you chose, you can see that there are savings to be had on virtually every single brand and model, if you are willing to put in some time and effort, and we wish you luck in whatever option you choose, and please do let us know what option you chose and how much you save.

The Motoring World Blog

Jon Mower

No brand, model, Car Supermarket or Online sales outlet are being promoted within this report, all pictures are used for illustrative purposes only, and no affiliation is to be considered as part of this blog post.

Kia announces the Second quarter offers, with significant savings, contributions & 0%APR, it's time to get a Kia

• Competitive 4.9 per cent finance deal, with no deposit required across entire Kia range
• Exclusive deals on all-new Optima, cee’d and SR7 range
• Excellent deposit contributions and customer savings now available

Kia Motors UK Ltd is continuing to offer a strong range of customer offers across the entire line-up, available from 188 dealers across the network.

Customers can save up to £1,400 on selected models and enjoy 4.9 per cent interest across the entire Kia range, with no minimum deposit required and a generous selection of deposit contributions on most models. Zero per cent is also available on ‘SR7’ derivatives’ two-year Personal Contract Purchase agreements. Offers are available on Kia’s new models: the all-new Optima, all-new Sportage and the newly introduced ‘Soul Urban.’

The whole Kia range is available with 4.9 per cent finance, with no customer deposit required, and attractive customer savings on selected models. Kia’s superminis in particular continue to offer amazing value. The Picanto ‘1’ can still be purchased at an unbeatable price, thanks to a £450 customer saving and a £1,000 deposit contribution when purchased on PCP. The Rio offers a customer saving of £1,000 across the board and a deposit contribution of £600 available with 4.9 per cent PCP.

Offers are also available on mid-sized vehicles like the new cee’d, which includes customer savings of up to £900 in addition to a £1,500 deposit contribution on every new cee’d financed on a 4.9 per cent PCP agreement.

Kia’s popular ‘SR7’ range of vehicles, which includes the Picanto, Rio, Venga, cee’d and Carens, is available with zero per cent PCP and zero per cent deposit on PCP, lowering the entry to ownership level significantly. The zero per cent PCP offer on Picanto also includes £500 deposit contribution, whilst Rio’s offer comes with a £250 deposit contribution.

Kia’s new models also lure customers with strong offers. The all-new Optima is available with £1,500 deposit contribution on 4.9 per cent PCP whilst the all-new Sportage boasts 4.9 per cent finance, with £500 deposit contribution on PCP agreements.

The funky new ‘Soul Urban’ will make its debut to the line-up from 1 April. This model includes the ‘Urban’ SUV styling pack seen on higher grade models, but for a more accessible price starting from just £15,500. The ‘Urban’ comes with attractive offers too in the guise of a zero-per-cent APR on two-year PCP contracts as well as a Care-3 that covers the vehicle’s first three services for only £99.   

Kia’s popular Care-3 servicing plan will continue to be on offer for customers. This highly competitive service package deal means your first three services, normally due over the course of three years, costs only £99 for all ‘SR7’ grade customers – similar rates are available for other model specifications.

Jeep believes that black Friday offers should be any colour and any day of the week, so that's what they are doing.

An exciting special promotion on the stunning new Jeep Renegade, using a twist on the famous ‘Black Friday’ sales event, has been launched by the iconic SUV brand.

Under the banner ‘It doesn’t have to be Black, and it doesn’t have to be Friday’, the new campaign seeks to offer a great deal to customers considering the new Renegade small SUV, but allows them any day of the week to sign up for one – until 19 December.

Following on from the record-breaking Black Friday last week (27 November), the new Jeep campaign expands and develops the nationwide mega-discount promotion and offers an extra £750 off a new Jeep Renegade for the special limited period. The promotion is valid atparticipating Jeep dealers and on selected stock vehicles.

The advertised suggestion is to use the £750 to reduce monthly payments to just £169 per month , for example, on a Renegade 1.4 140hp Longitude, using a Jeep Horizon PCP at 0% APR representative, with customer deposit of £3986 and optional final payment of £10,272.

And it doesn’t only have to be on a black car – Jeep’s advertising campaign suggests ‘Alpine White Monday’, ‘Colorado Red Tuesday’ and ‘Solar Yellow Wednesday’, but there are 11 colours in total to choose from.

“This is an outstanding promotion which brings further savings to an already excellent value for money car,” says Damien Dally, head of brand, Jeep UK.

“We enjoyed the fun and excitement of Black Friday, but we also wanted to show that good deals on a great car should not just be for one day. With this new campaign I hope we can help our customers into a new Jeep Renegade before Christmas!”

The Jeep Renegade range starts at £17,295 OTR for the 1.6E-TorQ Evo Sport, rising to £28,595 for the 2.0 MultiJet II Trailhawk.

DS Brand gets set for UK plate change with a full range of offers throughout the models, the DS Push is on !

TMW THOUGHTS

It is plain to see that Citroen are determined to get the DS brand recognised the world over, these offers in the UK, are just the tip of the iceberg, with other models available elsewhere in the world, and in Spain and Italy, other marketing initiatives are in full swing, it has to be said, why is DS not in the USA.

The brand would, in our opinion, do very well there, you have a European brand, that has luxury, sportiness and design fully at the heart of the brand, it no longer has the stigma of having Citroen tagged around it's neck, not that, that is a bad thing, but to have a new stand alone brand, like Lexus, Acura and Infinti, away from the parent company, in this case would give it a better kudos.

As long as the brand imports all the models, from the DS3, DS4 and DS5 to the DS5 L and the stunning looking DS6 SUV, then they have a fair chance of doing good business in the states, after all, who does not want luxury, sportiness, style and European design know how.

---------------

With 20 days to go until the introduction of the new 65-plate registrations on 01 September, DS Automobiles has put together a range of attractive offers on models across the entire DS range, including the highly popular DS 3 which can now be ordered from just £13,295 OTR, or from £129 per month on Elect 4 Personal Lease finance.

Having sold 550,000 models globally since launching DS 3 in 2010, DS Automobiles has confirmed a competitive package of retail offers to continue to drive the success of the distinctive range, including: 

• DS 3 available from £129 per month on Elect 4 Personal Lease
• Up to £1,500 deposit contribution with Elect 3 & Elect 4 finance
• DS 3 DStyle models available with 0% APR representative with Elect 3 finance with no minimum deposit
• DS 3 Cabrio available from £165 per month on Elect 4 Personal Lease
• 0% APR representative finance for 3 years with no minimum deposit available on selected models
• DS 4 available from £205 per month on Elect 4 Personal Lease
• 0% APR representative finance for 3 years with no minimum deposit available on selected models
• New DS 5 available from £249 per month on Elect 4 Personal Lease
• 0% APR representative finance for 3 years with no minimum deposit available on selected models

The Big ŠKODA event and is offering a host of amazing deals to buyers.

• The Big ŠKODA event takes place 4-9 June, 2015
• Zero per cent finance deals across the entire ŠKODA range
• £500 fuel card with every new car purchase
• Used car buyers get two free services worth almost £400

ŠKODA retailers across the UK are preparing for one of the busiest weekends of the year with the launch of The Big ŠKODA Event. To celebrate the brand’s successful start to 2015, ŠKODA is offering a host of amazing deals to buyers, including zero per cent finance across the entire range, along with extra treats for those ordering a new or used ŠKODA over the course of the weekend.

As part of ŠKODA’s commitment to maximising value for customers and taking the hassle out of buying a new car, the brand is offering its popular zero per cent finance package on all models in the current range. Acclaimed for their simplicity, ŠKODA’s zero per cent deals are offered from Citigo to Superb models, and offer buyers an affordable way into ŠKODA ownership.

For example, buyers can pick up the multi-award-winning Fabia for as little as £99 per month. The finance offer also applies to the new Rapid Spaceback range that has recently benefited from a generous price cut across the line-up. With prices now starting from just £13,500, it represents outstanding value for money.

And that’s not all. To help new buyers get the most out of their cars, ŠKODA is offering £500 worth of fuel. At current prices, that equates to 90 gallons of diesel or 94 gallons of unleaded – enough to keep a new Octavia 1.6 TDI GreenLine III going for 7,947miles.

Customers opting for ŠKODA’s comprehensive range of approved used cars also benefit from The Big ŠKODA Event. For every used car sold between 4-9 June, ŠKODA is offering two free services (one major and one minor). This means that owners save up to £400 on current Simply Fixed prices. 

Ssangyong adds free servicing to Rexton SUV

• 0% finance offer also available from participating dealers
• 3 tonne towing capability
• 5 years limitless mileage warranty

SsangYong is introducing a 3 year free servicing offer on all Rexton W models purchased during August and September, and applies to the 4x4 Rexton W SX, EX and EX automatic models, as well as the CSX commercial registered by 30^th September 2014.

Combined with the existing market leading 5 year limitless mileage warranty that protects all SsangYong cars, this brings three years free servicing (or three services, whichever comes sooner) to give customers complete peace of mind.

The Rexton W range is also currently available with 0% finance from participating dealers.

Rexton W

Built on a steel ladder chassis and with a 3 tonne towing capacity, the new SsangYong Rexton W is a serious off-roader and tow-car, yet with all the equipment and creature comforts expected of an urban cruiser, including cruise control, air conditioning, electrically operated & heated door mirrors, and CD & RDS radio with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity.

Powered by SsangYong’s own 2.0 litre Euro 5 turbo charged e-XDi200 diesel engine offering a level of performance and NVH control that has already been tested, proven and praised in the marketplace.  Delivering maximum power of 155ps/4,000rpm and maximum torque of 360Nm/1,500-3,000rpm, it is designed to provide low end torque whatever the conditions on or off road.

Acclaimed for being an extremely competent off-roader, Rexton W uses a body on frame construction for maximum strength - the accepted approach for a serious off-roader - and features double wishbone and coil spring suspension to the front, and a five link rigid axle with coil springs at the rear.

Available with either 6-speed manual or 5-speed Mercedes-Benz T-Tronic automatictransmission, prices range between £21,995 and £25,995, with the commercial at £18,495 (ex VAT).

5 year limitless mileage warranty

All models in the SsangYong range are covered by a best-in-class 5 year limitless mileage warranty.  Designed to be totally transparent and give customers complete peace of mind, ‘limitless’ means just that: not a maximum mileage condition that some brands impose in their small print.  All the major mechanical components are covered including wheel bearings, suspension joints and bushes, steering joints, shock absorbers and even the audio system.  Wearable components such as clutch discs and brake friction materials which could have their life reduced by poor driving are covered for one year or 12,000 miles, and the battery and paintwork for three years.

The Vauxhall big event returns to encourage people to buy their cars, WHY !?!?

• The Big Event for new Vauxhall cars and vans runs 16^th to 19^th May
• £500-worth of free fuel with all vehicles sold*
• Available in addition to a range of market-leading finance offers
• 20% off all Vauxhall accessories

Vauxhall retailers nationwide are hosting The Big Event, on the weekend of Friday 16^th May to Monday 19^th May, where new car and van customers get £500-worth of free fuel with all purchases.

And if that wasn't enough, Vauxhall is also offering a range of market-leading finance offers in addition to the Big Event offer.

For example, customers can benefit from up to five years 0% APR Flexible Finance and up to £2,000 Vauxhall deposit contribution – with no deposit required by you.

The free fuel offer is even available on hot Vauxhall newcomers including the full-size Cascada convertible, the fashionable ADAM and the Mokka compact SUV.

Vauxhall’s £500 free fuel is in addition to its other great offers including 0% APR Flexible Finance. Flexible Finance allows customers to tailor their finance to suit their budgets, putting them in the very best car they can afford.

All customers have to do is choose and specify their new model at www.vauxhall.co.uk, decide on a deposit, which can be from zero upwards and select any term between 24 and 60 months. In most cases, Vauxhall will even add a deposit contribution of up to £2,000.

Customers can also take advantage of a 2.9% APR representative Flexible Personal Contract Purchase Plan (PCP), available on ADAM at just £99 per month and Mokka at £199 per month.  

There’s even a newly-launched 0% APR PCP that makes Vauxhall’s top-selling Corsa even more affordable starting at just £179 per month with a £179 deposit, with one year’s free insurance on either a Corsa Excite or Limited Edition model.

As well as passenger cars, the offer is also open to commercial vehicle customers across Vauxhall’s multi-award winning van range including Corsavan, Combo, Vivaro and Movano.

Big Event customers can also get 20% off all Vauxhall Accessories including a vast array of equipment including sat-navs, iPhone/iPad cradles and cargo liners.

“Vauxhall’s Big Event gives customers the opportunity to take advantage of a range of fantastic offers and incentives, from helping to cut costs at the fuel pumps to discounts on accessories,” said Tim Tozer, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “Vauxhall customers can make big savings on new cars and vans including new-to-market models such as Cascada, ADAM and Mokka.”

All new Vauxhall models offer peace of mind long after their purchase, thanks to the manufacturer’s industry-leading Lifetime Warranty. Available to the first owner of all new Vauxhall cars, the warranty is valid for the lifetime of the vehicle up to a maximum of 100,000 miles.

*£500 including VAT Free Fuel offer applies to car and commercial vehicle orders from 16^th to 19^th May 2014, which are then registered by 30 June 2014. Exclusions, terms and conditions apply. Refer towww.vauxhall.co.uk/offers for more details.

USA - Ford raises incentives on Fusion to cut inventories

Ford Motor Co. has been raising incentives on the Fusion sedan to help clear out growing inventories, just months after it started building the car in a second North American plant to keep up with demand.

In many parts of the country, the Fusion is now offered with zero-percent financing for 60 months plus $1,000 cash back. Ford also is offering leases with no money due at signing and no first payment, or discounts of as much as $3,000 for buyers who decline the financing and make a trade-in.

Dealers and analysts said they are the most generous deals on the Fusion since the current generation was introduced in 2012.

"The car is selling, but not as fast as they're building them," said Larry Taylor, the owner of Beau Townsend Ford in Vandalia, Ohio, and a former member of the Ford dealer council. "They've buried us."

Taylor said he has sold 17 so far this month and has 90 more on his lot, plus 100 more on the way.

Ford had a 97-day supply of the Fusion as of Feb. 1, up from 84 days a month earlier, according to the Automotive News Data Center. Fusion sales declined 8 percent year-over-year in January, though it outsold the Honda Accord by 113 units.

Sales of the Fusion -- and mid-sized cars in general -- have weakened in the past six months, coinciding with when Ford began building it at a plant in Michigan to ease inventory shortages. The segment topped 200,000 units a month from February through August 2013 but has fallen short of that mark in each month since then.

In addition, snowstorms and cold weather slowed sales of many new vehicles in January, allowing inventories to grow.

Ford's chief sales analyst, Erich Merkle, said he is confident Fusion supplies will thin out as the weather warms up. He said Ford plans to be disciplined with incentives, yet "maintain a competitive position." After accounting for incentives, the Fusion commands the segment's highest transaction prices, he said.

"The midsize sedan segment is the most competitive segment in the industry right now," Merkle said. "The good thing is average transaction prices are still very healthy."

Ford has been spending about $2,900 in incentives on each Fusion since December, up from an average of roughly $2,200 for all of 2013, according to Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst with Kelley Blue Book. Both the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima still have higher incentives, he said.

Even though Ford now has enough Fusion production capacity to keep up with the segment's leaders this year, Gutierrez said the company would be ill-advised to get into a discounting war to try to knock off the Camry.

"When you know that Toyota has already committed to doing whatever it takes to keep the Camry No. 1," he said, "I think it would be a risky proposition for Ford to try and make a statement in this segment right now."

Mitchell Dale, the owner of McRee Ford in Dickinson, Texas, said he doesn't see the Fusion incentives as a worrisome sign. Dale said he actually could use more Fusions than what he has on hand now.

"They're being proactive to increase the sales pace of the car," he said. "I don't think it's a panic. I think they're trying to get the dealers moving them at a faster pace. That car is a tremendous value and stacks up well against the competition. I think they're trying to jump start it."

REPORT HERE

Vauxhall does it again, 200PS Astra GTC, its most powerful non VXR model.

• 200PS GTC now most powerful non-VXR model in Astra range
• Innovative Intellilink infotainment system now available on all Astra GTCs

A new Astra GTC is now available with a powerful new 1.6-litre direct injection petrol engine, priced from just £20,995 on-the-road.

First seen in the Cascada convertible, and packing 200PS and 300Nm of torque, the all-new, four cylinder unit allows the GTC to achieve a top speed of 143mph and 0-60mph time in 7.3 seconds, making it the fastest non-VXR model in the Astra range.

Peak power and torque are increased by up to 30 per cent over the previous 1.6-litre turbo model, yet fuel consumption of 51mpg combined and emissions of 154g/km have meant a 13 per cent improvement in efficiency.

The new engine brings sector-leading refinement to the Astra GTC range.  It is the only unit in its class to feature twin balancer shafts for smooth running, while a host of sound engineering measures have been made for low noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

Priced from £855, Vauxhall has also introduced the innovative Intellilink infotainment system to the Astra GTC range. Intuitive and user-friendly, the system features satellite navigation, voice control, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, picture viewer and Gracenote album art, all via its high-resolution 7-inch touchscreen display.

In addition, the top-of-the-range Navi 950 IntelliLink contains Europe-wide street level mapping with updates easily downloadable via USB. Drivers can also have incoming text messages read out to them, as well as integrating their smartphones’ own voice recognition functions.

“We’ve strengthened our Astra GTC offering with a strong and powerful 1.6-litre petrol engine and the cutting-edge Intellilink infotainment system,” said Stuart Harris, Vauxhall’s Head of Carline Brand. “Vauxhall is really throwing down the gauntlet to UK coupe sector rivals with these enhancements to our Astra GTC range.”

Astra GTCs with the new engine and Intellilink are available to order now with first deliveries expected in the spring.

With the Astra GTC and all models in its passenger car range, Vauxhall gives peace of mind for the life of the vehicle via its industry-leading Lifetime Warranty. Available to the first owner, the warranty is valid for the lifetime of the vehicle up to a maximum of 100,000 miles.

Vauxhall tempts buyers with a weekend of offers.

• The Big Event for new Vauxhall cars and vans runs 14th to 17th June
• £500-worth of free fuel with all vehicles sold*
• Free insurance on a range of Corsa models
• Nil deposit, up to £2,000 manufacturer contribution and zero per cent APR finance
• 20 per cent off all Vauxhall accessories

Luton – Vauxhall retailers nationwide are hosting The Big Event, on the weekend of Friday 14th June to Monday 17th June, where new car and van customers get £500-worth of free fuel, as well as the fantastic offers currently available.

And if that weren’t enough, Corsa customers can also take advantage of free insurance on most models of the top-selling supermini.

The free fuel offer is even available on hot Vauxhall newcomers including the full-size Cascada convertible and the fashionable A-sector ADAM.

Customers with a budget in mind can now purchase the sylish ADAM with one year’s free insurance on a Flexible Personal Contract Plan (PCP) plan.

New car buyers can also take advantage of Flexible Finance, a zero per cent APR representative, nil deposit and up to £2,000 deposit contribution offer.

Flex Appeal

Flexible Finance allows customers to tailor their finance to suit their budgets, putting them in the very best car they can afford.

All buyers have to do is choose and specify their new model at www.vauxhall.co.uk, decide on a deposit from zero upwards (Vauxhall will even contribute up to £2,000) and select any term between 24 and 60 months, or 24 to 48 months on ADAM.

The website’s easy-to-use Flexible Finance Calculator means you just enter a deposit then adjust the slider until the monthly payment figure and the payback duration are right for you.  Customers also benefit from zero per cent APR. The popular Corsa 1.2 SXi is available at £179 per month, over 60 months with a £500 Vauxhall deposit contribution and a £2,280 customer deposit, for example.

Accessorise More

Big Event customers can also get 20 per cent off all Vauxhall Accessories.  A vast array of equipment including sat navs, iPhone/iPad cradles and cargo liners can be incorporated in to your Flexible Finance package with monthly payments from an additional 86p per month!

“Vauxhall’s Big Event gives customers the opportunity to take advantage of a range of fantastic offers and incentives, from helping to cut costs at the fuel pumps to discounts on accessories,” said Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “Vauxhall customers can make big savings on new cars and vans including new-to-market models such as Cascada and ADAM.”