Woohah

Thanks. I might be ok doing that with a new car as you did, but used ...

It may mean i cant drive car away and need to make another round trip London -Midlands. I guess its better to be safe on a 19k purchase?

A couple of scratches and i had forgotten to check tracking and emrgency stop

Im collecting an approved used on thursday and they want full payment 24hrs in advance. I test drove the car on saturday but there were a couple of things they need to do ahead of sale. I'll only find out if they're completed to my satisfaction when i check on day of collection when i would already have paid in full Your thoughts/ experiences appreciated.

I appreciate the responses. I really want to prioritise reliability cos I hate dealing with the repairs process. But I do fancy the auto. Given how few Superbs there are for sale I'll probably go with whichever I can get my hands on. Is there anything anything I should look out for when looking at a DSG apart from oil change if its above 40k?

Ive never owned an auto but did fancy one for the superb, however only about half of those currently available are auto so including manuals increases my options. I probably prefer no DSG "woes" too. So I'd be missing out on auto start stop? Am I missing anything else that recommends an auto superb?

It will be a Superb SEL and has Adaptive Cruise control

Its probably a silly question but does the manual superb have all the same self driving features - and if not whats missing. Also any other reason to get the auto. I understand the general benefits. Is the manual preferable in any way eg more reliable etc. Thank you

i really appreciate the responses here which have been very helpful, especially as its been ten years since i bought a car and it looks like a lot has changed (ill ask about whether im completely out of date re haggling elsewhere). I will investigate the scanner tool i guess it will be useful after purchase if not before?

Thanks for the info. It does seem that obtaining the complete service history is so hit and miss that it is impracticle as a means of ensuring the quality of a used car. Evenn if I can get the complete print off it doesnt necessarily show every service and or work done. That being the case what is one to do. especially given there arent that many for sale, If i wait for a complete service history I could be waiting for ever. What is one to do? Seriously, tell me. I asked Cinch if i could have the AA do the test drive and inspection and they said no. Im not sure yet how much the AA charge either, but perhaps other dealers will allow it. Is that overkill?

Just the reg. can you tell me the significance of the vin. Does that help me with the service history

Then they straight up lied because they told me they did not have the system and that I would need to go to a main dealer to find out if THEIR car had a service history. My assumption is that the car was not serviced otherwise they would tell me. I find it hard to believe they would buy a car without a service history, especially one thats not particularly old. I went back and forth with them and was very specific because i couldnt believe what they were telling me, but I had the same experience with two cars and two assistants. I know they have the history of some cars even if a bit vague on the work done from a previous enquiry. I have already lowered my expectation of the experience i will have buying this car to the floor, but it shouldnt be this difficult / seemingly risky to spend 20k on a used car. Heres hoping i can find one soon

HI, Yeah i queried that with them and they told me that some of the cars they buy from auction dont have service histories. When i suggested that this was info their customers needed they told me that some customers dont care and that they price cars without a service history accordingly. Ive just gone to check and I confused with a passat gte (which Im looking at as im struggling to find a superb) This was the case with two of them yesterday one 70 reg with 26+k their was another either passat or superb 20 reg which looks like its gone. Perhaps youll have no view on Passats but id still appreciate help re my original question about how to get the service histories of Superbs

I am having some difficulty getting dealers to advise me of the service history. Cinch have gone as far as telling me to go to the main dealers to check the history of their cars because they have no idea. Im not sure why main dealers would want to help me buy a car from their competitors. Not to mention the fact that that when I have enquired about main dealer's cars they have been vague about service history too. I have had some dodgy experiences so far with main dealers too so i really need to view the full service history and the work carried out. How do i do that? It looks like i might have to travel 100 plus miles so i dont want to go and see a car without first seeing the service history and works done including the gear box oil change which a few places havent been able to confirm was done. So am I reliant on main dealers sending me a copy of the electronic history? is there any means by which I can access the database myself. It looks like I might struggle to get anyone to provide these details without committing to travel to view the car first which would be a waste of time and petrol since I wont buy a car that hasnt been serviced in line with skoda recommendations. I finally drove a superb iv last week and am sold on the car. Thanks for your help on this

@Ootohere Thank you