The story goes like this...

I live in N.I and spotted a car that I've been looking for (second hand - two years old) at what appears to be a reputable garage in England. Obviously it's a long way to go to test drive a car, so I had to do a deal before seeing it. So a deal was done and deposit paid on the basis that all is OK with the car.

Two days later, the same car is posted for sale on the dealer's website, Ebay and Autotrader - obviously an oversight by the admin (I must have phoned shortly after the dealer got the car in). However, on each advert, the car is £500 less than what was asked on the website where I saw it - a £500 discount online offer type of idea. Meaning that the deal agreed, I only received £45 discount for a straight cash sale.

I'm due to go and look at the car tomorrow but now I'm none too happy. What would you do?

We're now into May - the car will have been written down by another month's depreciation. Such as life.

Go and view the car and just be glad you haggled in the first place. Most garages don't really care if you pay cash. They get commission if you take their finance so doesn't make much difference anymore.

They are also treating a trade-in and a purchase as two separate transactions so even the buyer coming in with no trade-in isn't necessarily going to win.

every has to look for their own bargains. I guess the autotrader/ebay was the last resort so they probably dropped the price a bit

Even though they just got the car in...and I agreed the deal on Saturday yet all this appeared online on Monday?

The person you spoke to saturday may not have spoken to the people responsible for the website on time monday.

This kind of thing happens with houses, as in you arrange a booking, to find it was sold yesterday even though it's only just gone online!

If you think the deals good do it. otherwise walk away.

So a deal was done and deposit paid on the basis that all is OK with the car.

go view the car and if all is not ok with the car: i.e. they wont drop the price you're paying to match what's advertised then just walk away

If it's a long trip to see/buy the car phone them(e mail if you find it easier asking them to call you back), tell them what you've told us, be honest,calm and rational about the whole thing. If they won't budge on price decide how much you want it, be prepared to walk away(your deposit should be refundable under distance selling regulation rules) there will always be another deal elsewhere.

Let us know how you get on.

Even though they just got the car in...and I agreed the deal on Saturday yet all this appeared online on Monday?

Can I ask how you found out about the car?

My assumption (perhaps wrongly) was that they put it on ebay etc priced to sell as a last resort, with the price probably what it needs to be at for 4 weeks. I'm sure it's all above board, but agree it's unfortunate. Had they not put it up then you'd be quite happy, so nothing has really changed.

You had obviously done your homework, so if it's what other dealers are selling it for at the moment then just go get a nice long test drive and see what else they can throw into the deal as a gesture of goodwill.

Best of luck whatever you decide to do