I think I might go for it and order my furby vrs sooner rather than later, I was gonna wait until I qualified in September but I have done some Maths and I might be able to still do it even if I don't get a job straight away.

I'm quite anxious about doing this as I have never ordered a brand new car before, have bought a demonstator but that's as far as it has got. I know it will have to be ordered because I want heated seats and when i went for the test drive I discussed this with the dealer.

I'm kinda stuck too because where I live there is only one dealer, I would have to do an hours expensive ferry crossing to go somewhere else and I know it may benefit me initially but if I had to make any trips back afterwards for any reason, well then it becomes a hassle.

Basically I'm looking for guidance to make this a smooth transaction and i have heard stories on here about cars arriving damaged or dodgy repairs that nobody admits have happened. So, what is the survival technique of ordering my car, getting it all in one piece and having peace of mind knowing that i have done everything for my benefit.

scarey

Don't forget that you don't need to go back to the same dealer for servicing so you can buy further afield to save money and then use your local garage for everything after that.

As for damage to your car , just check it very carefully when you collect it and resist the temptation to jump in and drive off asap

Hi Pixi,

I'm a little unsure about you presuming you will get a job straight away - maybe it's just me - but that's a pretty big risk. Are you financing or paying outright (in which case ignore my comment )

Ordering a new car is fun as YOU are the customer and the dealer wants YOUR business. You are in control of the deal and should be prepared to walk away should you not get the right deal.

Ordering a factory build is not a problem apart from the wait (it's been 12 agonising weeks for me so far!). And I wouldn't worry about the car being damaged in transit - you ordered a car in perfect condition and if upon delivery this is not the case, then you are well within your rights to reject the car.

Just because you only live near one dealer, doesn't stop you picking up the phone and benchmarking him/her with another. Then if you get a better offer go back to your dealer and see what he can do. And don't listen to their sob stories about low markups etc etc. They are designed to make you feel bad about the "great discount" you're already getting and not persue anything further (a bit harsh, I know).

As a guide, once you've specc'd your Fabia aim for 8-12% off the total price. 10% is a good figure to settle on. And also blag a full tank of diesel. Oh, and make sure it includes 12month road tax - some dealers can sting you for only 6!

But overall just enjoy the experiece. I have probably portraied a gloomy picture of car dealers but this is not so. Just make sure you drive a hard bargin and get what you consider a good deal.

Hope this helps and if you need any further advice please feel free to reply or PM me.

Cheers

i was thinking of taking a print out of the drivethedeal.com price from the web with me to show him, but i might ring a couple of dealers around the southampton and portsmouth area too. I know i can go anywhere for a service but I was thinking more along the lines of if I had to go back to the actual dealer for any reason, I have read on here when people have had problems sometimes the advice is to go to the dealer where it was bought from.

when i order it i take it that i will be paying a deposite and then do I pay the rest when I go and pick it up? If so, then obviously this stands in my favour if there is any damage etc (please correct me if I am wrong)

is there a company that works independently that could do the delivery inspection for me? and how much do they normally charge?

I just can't help fretting over handing over that amount of cash without knowing I am prepared.

cheers guys

Corinne

Definitely worth checking out several online ones as I found a grand (!!) difference between them based on different sets of options.

Find the cheapest online one which does the options you want. Then ring around the dealers a bit perhaps

when i order it i take it that i will be paying a deposite and then do I pay the rest when I go and pick it up?

Yes that is correct.

If so, then obviously this stands in my favour if there is any damage etc (please correct me if I am wrong)

I think you slightly mis-understand. You are buying a brand-new car. As such it should be in brand-new condition. If, upon the inspection, you notice absolutely anything wrong with it (even down to the smallest scratch or dent) then the car can be rejected and you can negotiate the next course of action with the dealer. This can be having the dealer fix the damage for you and compensating you with some money off the total purchase price or even ordering you another new car. But once you have accepted the car, you've accepted it. Therefore if you get it home and find damage that you missed upon initial inspection, then you do not stand in as strong a position.

I would take along a family member or friend if you feel uncomfortable inspecting a car on your own. It would be very easy to miss something when all you can think about is getting in and driving off!!

Hope this helps.