BUYING a new car can be a minefield, often leaving customers in a muddle.
A car salesman has revealed the biggest mistake that people make when looking to buy a new motor.
The expert stressed the importance of being direct when browsing.
Remaining anonymous, he told This Is Money: “The best way to approach a sales exec is to be fairly upfront.
“Say what you want, as asking questions like ‘what is your best price?’ is too nebulous – and at that point the best price is the one on the sticker.
“Bear in mind that if a car has been on the forecourt for a while it’s probably already been discounted and there won’t be much margin left in it, so you may not get the deal you imagined.”
He also suggested visiting dealerships at the end of sales quarters as it’s more likely they will cut a deal if it means hitting their targets.
The sales exec said he’d once sold a van for a £1,000 loss, but it meant he earned a better commission.
Another tip is to drive sensibly when taking the car for a spin before buying.
He said that at the dealership he works at, 20 percent of test drives result in a “moment of concern” and about 10 percent are “properly scary”.
This comes as Stuart Masson, editor of consumer motoring advice site The Car Expert, sat down for an exclusive chat with SunMotors on how to buy your next car and avoid being ripped off.
He explained that just a little bit of research before even making your way to a showroom can prevent you from being sucked down a rabbit hole of extra charges.
The car sales whizz said: “The first thing that will make the biggest different to whether you’re likely to get a good deal or a bad deal is taking the time to work through everything properly.
“So many people get caught up in ‘I need a new car, I need to do something quickly’.
“You are asking for trouble.
“There are hundreds of thousands of cars for sale, so there will always be good deals.
“A few hours of work saves thousands of pounds.
“Most people won’t make thousands of pounds in a few hours so you are making money.”
