|
Post by PetrolEd on Feb 27, 2023 10:00:25 GMT
Having had a weekend of car shopping, we're looking to replace the Ovlov with something smaller, I have come to the conclusion that many dealers just can't be bothered.
In Guildford handily they have one of those industrial areas with probably 50% of manufacturers representative. We did Audi, Merc, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Mini, Cupra, Land Rover, Jag & VW.
Audi - A rather dull range and I can't quite understand why everyone goes on about the interiors Merc - Again nothing that held any interest, the GLC looked 15 years out of date and the electric stuff was just a bit meh Nissan - Nice interiors with a splash of colour and mix of leather and cloth. Only problem is the missus liked the Ariya! Hyundai - First dealership where someone actually approached us and got our details, I quite like the Tucson but the specs all seem a bit over complicated. Kia - Like the EV6 but too big, everything else was very meh. All the cars in the showroom were used which probably speaks volumes. BMW - Half empty showroom, so ended up having to go to another dealer which was even worse, all the normal stuff was missing and then only had M models in. Spoke to the receptionist about X1 and X3 for someone in sales to just shout out from their desk, "Ain't got none, try outside" Mini - Looking at the countryman, nice car, bit expensive for what it is but was approached by sales guy who did a good job of qualifying our needs and offered a test drive and they had all the models available. 10 out of 10 Cupra - Quite like the Arteca. Fast and good value, spoke to sales guy but that was about it. Might follow this one up. VW - Just a sea of grey, grey interiors, grey cars and nothing exciting at all. I like the look of the Tiguan but the one in the showroom was Billy basic so didn't really excite Land Rover - Evoque is nice so is the Disco Sport but the horror stories put me off as we'd be buying used. They have a truck load of showroom appeal however with lovely interiors and a great range of models. Jaguar - Couldn't even get into the showroom, there was a sign on the door that said, if you would like to view please go over to Land Rover and someone will let you in. This is a prime site in the town centre of Guildford. Madness, tells you all you need to know of how the delaer is treating the brand.
In conclusion, we are looking at a Countryman Cooper S or JCW, a Top of the line Tucson, Still need to view an X1 & X3, Will have to try a third dealer to see if we get lucky, a Cupra Arteca and a risky Evoque. Might still be brave enough to go view a very used Macan as that would be perfect but has the bork factor.
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on Feb 27, 2023 11:03:37 GMT
Volvo XC60 T8?
|
|
|
Post by Big Blue on Feb 27, 2023 11:30:27 GMT
Was that Vines that were shite? Normally ok. Berry Cobham and Cooper Thames Ditton are both different companies (Vines and Berry are privately owned and Cooper is Inchcape).
Try Partridge in Eastleigh as well.
|
|
|
Post by PetrolEd on Feb 27, 2023 14:26:17 GMT
Was that Vines that were shite? Normally ok. Berry Cobham and Cooper Thames Ditton are both different companies (Vines and Berry are privately owned and Cooper is Inchcape). Try Partridge in Eastleigh as well. Yes, looked at Vines and Barons, next nearest is Marshall in Hook. To be fair there is no shortage of BMW dealers they seem to pop up like Ford in the 80's.
|
|
|
Post by PetrolEd on Feb 27, 2023 14:28:24 GMT
Nice car but seems a little too similar to our XC90 to warrant the change.
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on Feb 27, 2023 15:49:22 GMT
Lexus NX or RX?
|
|
|
Post by PetrolEd on Feb 27, 2023 15:51:29 GMT
I shouldn't say it but I just don't feel that we're old enough to run a Lexus.
|
|
|
Post by ChrisM on Feb 27, 2023 21:10:39 GMT
^ If you'd kept going in Guildford, where the main road in the estate (Slyfield) bends to the left there is a Lexus dealership next to Toyota, and then Ford. I wandered round there in the festive break when I was looking at trading the Polo for something automatic, but all the dealerships seemed disinterested in talking let alone trying to sell. I think that the sales people are making hay whilst new and used cars are in such short supply, and aren't bothering to make much of an effort as they know they can sell everything they've got without much effort. Can't wait for things to turn around again. Meantime I'm very happy indeed with my turquoise mode of transport
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Feb 27, 2023 23:01:48 GMT
At least dealers knew you were a private buyer so might possibly be worth their time. Try looking at new cars when you're a company car buyer. Honestly most make you feel as welcome as a bad smell.
Having had a Hyundai I do find the product is easily better than what the Germans offer in terms of kit. The Tucson will never out drive a BMW but that's not what you buy it for. I found the new one looked a bit brash at first but actually having seen a fair few I think it looks rather good. The Kia Sportage which is the same car seems just that much more ubiquitous.
|
|
|
Post by PG on Feb 28, 2023 11:18:09 GMT
I'd make sure you try a Mini Countryman JCW before you buy one - the suspension is very firm. OK on a hot hatch 3 door Mini but not so sure it's really needed on a min-SUV. I think a well specced Cooper S is a better bet. But if you are buying second hand, you'll probably find what we did with the 3 door Mini - the JCW's are all way better specced and feel much more "special" than a lot of the Cooper S's that either have weird colour combinations or lack FG.
|
|
|
Post by Boxer6 on Feb 28, 2023 12:36:32 GMT
I'd make sure you try a Mini Countryman JCW before you buy one - the suspension is very firm. OK on a hot hatch 3 door Mini but not so sure it's really needed on a min-SUV. I think a well specced Cooper S is a better bet. But if you are buying second hand, you'll probably find what we did with the 3 door Mini - the JCW's are all way better specced and feel much more "special" than a lot of the Cooper S's that either have weird colour combinations or lack FG. Despite so many people commenting how good the various iterations of MINI are, they've never really appealed to me very much. It may stem from the very first models, and a (very dodgy) dealer of my acquaintance speccing a JCW for his wife as her "forever car", then selling it on less than 6 months later simply because she caught him shagging around (again) and let him know she wasn't happy! I know, it makes no sense at all not to like something for such a bizarre reason, but there we go. As an aside, how many folk remember what 'FG' actually stands for?
|
|
|
Post by PetrolEd on Feb 28, 2023 12:54:52 GMT
I'd make sure you try a Mini Countryman JCW before you buy one - the suspension is very firm. OK on a hot hatch 3 door Mini but not so sure it's really needed on a min-SUV. I think a well specced Cooper S is a better bet. But if you are buying second hand, you'll probably find what we did with the 3 door Mini - the JCW's are all way better specced and feel much more "special" than a lot of the Cooper S's that either have weird colour combinations or lack FG. Despite so many people commenting how good the various iterations of MINI are, they've never really appealed to me very much. It may stem from the very first models, and a (very dodgy) dealer of my acquaintance speccing a JCW for his wife as her "forever car", then selling it on less than 6 months later simply because she caught him shagging around (again) and let him know she wasn't happy! I know, it makes no sense at all not to like something for such a bizarre reason, but there we go. As an aside, how many folk remember what 'FG' actually stands for? I believe it would frippery LBGTQ+ nowdays
|
|
|
Post by Andy C on Mar 1, 2023 12:36:02 GMT
Sportage and Tucson are the same Car underneath , but the sportage to me Looks better, has a nicer interior and longer warranty
|
|
|
Post by chipbutty on Mar 1, 2023 12:54:23 GMT
For a reliable and pleasant family truckster - I'd be looking at Skoda.
A Kodiaq or Superb estate - but if the Superb is too big, then an Octavia VRS estate.
|
|
|
Post by Andy C on Mar 1, 2023 16:01:17 GMT
Kodiaq vrs also
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Mar 1, 2023 19:30:50 GMT
Good luck getting one! I'm now 15 months into a wait for an Octavia and no sign yet of a build date let alone delivery.
|
|
|
Post by racingteatray on Mar 1, 2023 19:43:41 GMT
I had no especial interest in Minis until I had one of the current generation hatches, Cooper D, as a holiday rental for two weeks a few years back. Notwithstanding that it supped from the devil’s pump, I was totally convinced by the way it drove.
And now that we have our own one that I’ve driven half way across Europe, I’m ever more convinced.
|
|
|
Post by ChrisM on Mar 1, 2023 19:54:09 GMT
I have a feeling that a Mini is more than a little smaller than a Volvo XC
|
|
|
Post by chipbutty on Mar 1, 2023 20:23:43 GMT
Good luck getting one! I'm now 15 months into a wait for an Octavia and no sign yet of a build date let alone delivery. Skoda have 32 Octavia estates available immediately, 4 of which are vRS models
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Mar 1, 2023 22:21:24 GMT
Be nice if they could look to start building mine then!
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on Mar 1, 2023 22:26:13 GMT
I remember having to wait nine months for my Superb estate back in 2011.
|
|
|
Post by PetrolEd on Mar 1, 2023 22:35:46 GMT
Yes a kodiaq and Octavia vrs are on the list however the missus wants something a little raised like the kodiaq and I am massively worried of chronic Skoda depreciation. They really aren’t cheap
|
|
|
Post by ChrisM on Mar 2, 2023 0:07:23 GMT
Be nice if they could look to start building mine then! You must have something in the spec that is in very short supply. Have you tried asking to see if delivery time can be shortened if you change the spec or colour?
|
|
|
Post by bryan on Mar 2, 2023 5:34:06 GMT
Yes a kodiaq and Octavia vrs are on the list however the missus wants something a little raised like the kodiaq and I am massively worried of chronic Skoda depreciation. They really aren’t cheap If it is anything like the Yeti they hold value really well
|
|
|
Post by ChrisM on Mar 2, 2023 7:13:32 GMT
The Yeti is a bit of a cult car, and used prices are insanely high. I started looking when I decided to change the Polo for an auto, but 6 to 7 year old used auto Yetis weren't much cheaper than 3 to 4 year old T-Crosses despite having much higher mileages
|
|
|
Post by bryan on Mar 2, 2023 7:24:20 GMT
Our 2017 1.2dsg Yeti SEL drive (easy 50mpg, all the toys, leather, nav , heated seats, windscreen etc) with 44k on it is trading for about £14.5k and retailing about £16-17k. Lower mileage ones are pushing high teens and it only cost about £21k new!!
We paid £16300 at 9months old from a Skoda dealer and I can think of nothing I'd want to replace it with.
|
|
|
Post by chipbutty on Mar 2, 2023 12:20:36 GMT
Not sure what deals are hot at the moment - but a decent spec Kodiaq on a 3 year, 10k per annum personal lease (with 3 months deposit) looks like this after a 5 min search.
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Mar 2, 2023 12:28:12 GMT
I have a Mini Countryman as a courtesy car today and I really like it. It's petrol and goes reasonably well and its jacked up suspension gives a moderately high position on the road. It feels really well screwed together and the suspension is both firm and supple at the same time. The clutch is a bit heavy and it has the common Mini crunch from first to second unless you take a brief pause half way through the shift. It has full leather and it is a very comfortable place to be.
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Mar 2, 2023 20:29:41 GMT
Be nice if they could look to start building mine then! You must have something in the spec that is in very short supply. Have you tried asking to see if delivery time can be shortened if you change the spec or colour? I think it's the hybrid drivetrain Chris so changing that out will only be of benefit to the taxman!
|
|