I agree with Morendil’s points. A few bits and pieces I’ve picked up about the purchase price:
Some dealership tactics:
find out who advertises the cheapest price on your wanted model, then call up everyone else who has it. Chances are somebody will try and compete on the price, the dealers will shift a fair bit.
usually upgrades are a poor investment, and might sometimes be used by dealers to try and cloud comparisons between other dealers. don’t fall for it.
In Australia, I’ve found the “dealership test cars” are usually good value. You get pretty much all the guarantees of a new car but with some of the “shiny and not broken” new car premium taken off. I’ve seen at least one instance of an 11% discount on an otherwise perfect condition car.
As a new car buyer who doesn’t know much about second hand cars, you would do really well to find something with some manufactures warranty left, ensuring most severe problems will not be a hindrance.
REALLY consider depreciation. Whatever your buying, see what an older model costs relative to the one your buying. This is usually a good gauge of future depreciation values (in my opinion, commodores and falcons have pretty good residual value simply because there’s so much information available about past prices ad reliability in oz, being an oldish car)
if going second hand,
see the car first
inspect everything like hawk
ensure you have comparable prices to know your not being shafted.
WARNING ANECDOTAL : I’ve seen a few guys in your situation go for oldish Mercedes and BMW models, it usually ends badly because of the maintenance costs despite whatever joy you get from the badge. You will be several times better off with a spanking near new corrolla.
I agree with Morendil’s points. A few bits and pieces I’ve picked up about the purchase price:
Some dealership tactics: find out who advertises the cheapest price on your wanted model, then call up everyone else who has it. Chances are somebody will try and compete on the price, the dealers will shift a fair bit. usually upgrades are a poor investment, and might sometimes be used by dealers to try and cloud comparisons between other dealers. don’t fall for it.
In Australia, I’ve found the “dealership test cars” are usually good value. You get pretty much all the guarantees of a new car but with some of the “shiny and not broken” new car premium taken off. I’ve seen at least one instance of an 11% discount on an otherwise perfect condition car.
As a new car buyer who doesn’t know much about second hand cars, you would do really well to find something with some manufactures warranty left, ensuring most severe problems will not be a hindrance.
REALLY consider depreciation. Whatever your buying, see what an older model costs relative to the one your buying. This is usually a good gauge of future depreciation values (in my opinion, commodores and falcons have pretty good residual value simply because there’s so much information available about past prices ad reliability in oz, being an oldish car)
if going second hand, see the car first inspect everything like hawk ensure you have comparable prices to know your not being shafted.
WARNING ANECDOTAL : I’ve seen a few guys in your situation go for oldish Mercedes and BMW models, it usually ends badly because of the maintenance costs despite whatever joy you get from the badge. You will be several times better off with a spanking near new corrolla.