Hi all!

This is my first post here but I've been browsing for a few weeks now!

Last week I ordered my Citigo, a 60PS SE in Spring Green, with the P.I.D. Paying on PCP finance, I put down a £500 deposit and was due to be paying £130 a month, on the 0% APR deal. I was told I may be able to have my car in 4 weeks if there was one in the country.

Today I get a phonecall saying that unfortunately there are no SE's that I can have in the country, and so I am looking at a 12-16 week wait. Bit miffed, but fair enough. They then go on to say that the 0%APR finance probably won't be available then! Great. That was the main reason why I chose Skoda!

They then told me that they have a 75PS Elegance, in Spring Green, that has just arrived to be a Showroom Car, but that I am welcome to it if I want...for an extra £12 a month. So £142 a month overall, and I can drive it away by Monday. I went down to look at the car and it is lovely. However I'm pretty sure I'm being taken for a bit of a ride here so they can make some more money off me.

What I'm really asking is, in you guys opinion, is the £12 a month extra worth it for the difference between the SE and the Elegance? This model also has sunset glass, and a spare wheel.

My problem is, I feel a bit cheated really! They know that I wanted a car soon to avoid having to pay the £100 to tax my little Matiz, and so I didn't have to faff with my insurance company. I'm only 21 and this is only my second car. I have three part time jobs, one of which is commission based, and so I'm just worrying if the extra £12 is going to put a strain on me or if it is worth it for all the extras?

Sorry for the rambling, I've been in such a grump today over this but thought I wouold ask on here as you all know the most of anyone about Citigos

Thanks, Jaycee x

First of all, Welcome to Briskoda

 

Ok, my opinion...

 

I would have the Elegance personally, but make sure they know how you feel about the whole situation.

 

Your only young and potentially you could be buying another car off them after this one, so they may want to keep you on side.

 

If they have anything about them, they should throw something into the deal for you.

 

£12 (or £3ish a week) wouldn't be that much of a strain for the extra spec would it?

 

Hope they sort you out, and you end up happy, as that's what getting a new car should make you feel

 

Best of luck

 

Regards

 

Damo

When I bought my S  they told me when I went in exactly whether the car I wanted was available and where it was and approx when it would be at the dealer. Their computer system knows where all the available cars are and they really should have been able to tell you when you did the order if the car was available. That said, I would have the elegance, but the insurance will be more, and I would press them hard over the price. 

If you don't think you can afford it then you probably can't. Saying it is only £3 a week is like an old salesmans trick (anyone see the Dealership on telly last week?) times that £3 by the number of weeks you are planning on paying over then you decide if the car is worth it and if you can afford it.

If you cant afford £3 a week more for the enhanced spec, then I would seriously question whether to commit financially to a new car in the first place. 

 

What is that, a pint of lager? A big mac?

 

I would go without something to cover the extra cost myself, and lets be real here, its not a fortune is it.

 

Just my opinion of course

 

Cheers

 

Damo

I think it's a matter of principle, if the 0% ended next month skoda would honour it as you signed the paperwork for that particular offer. I have had this before on a polo, the 0% ended but the offer still stood as I had paid my deposit. The dealer wants you to have the one in his show room so he can get the deal for this quarter, but only take it on your terms! They should be able to reduce the price to bring the monthly payment down to what it was originally for the SE

I don't know what your options are for dealers, but I would certainly try shopping around. At the very least the car buying experience shouldn't be a worry or a headache, and the dealer is at the heart of that experience.

From what I've read, it won't be 12-16 weeks for custom builds - more like 7-12.

Also, what masserator said. Tell them you'll walk away unless they knock off the £100 for the Matiz tax cost AND give you the 0%. Alternatively, visit the next nearest dealer and ask them whether they can beat the price (presumably a reduction from RRP was previously negotiated?), with the 0%, then get the current dealer to match that.

Personally, the dealer would have lost my trust by this point anyway. I have my nearest Suzuki dealer on my ignore list because they were extremely rude, along with my nearest Skoda dealer who are absolutely horrible to deal with.

When I agreed to buy my Elegance 4 weeks ago, they checked the Skoda database while I was waiting to see if there were any of my desired spec in the country, and I signed up to the finance there & then, and the finance application was approved (pending production of ID docs etc) the day after. There is no need whatsoever to keep you waiting - it's just plain rude and not at all a good sign of the customer service you might expect in the future.

Edited 13 August, 201312 yr by smargh

i was told on our PCP it is the deal active when you sign the paperwork and accepted by VW finance is the one you get or they would have to go all through the acceptance process as the payments and loan amount would have changed,

 

could always ring VW finance and confirm, then tell dealer they are talking load of old tosh, or are they trying to push you into a quicker sale for a car they have standing or make a sales target

Welcome to the forum!

 

I personally would tell them to stick it. It sounds to me like a load of old bull. They happen to have a 75 Elegance in stock and you are a prime target to get it shifted.

 

Having worked in the motor vehicle trade and being in a similar trade now, it sounds like the sort of story pushy Sales Managers tell the execs to try to shift stock.

 

Phone a couple of other dealers to see what they offer you in terms of delivery date and ask about how the 0% works if you factory order and delivery date runs out.

 

If they really want it gone and you are happy to take it, dig your heels in and get them to reduce the monthly....they can do this by adjusting the GFV without having to extend the term or reduce you mileage allowance.

 

THe dealers will be keen to get cars shifted in the last few weeks of August as the vast majority of people will wait for the new reg this close to the 1st Sept.

 

Good luck!

Try another dealer and see if you get the same answer regarding the SE?...

I'd certainly speak to another dealer. If I'd ordered a car to be built I was told 3 and a bit months but was told I could have the 0% deal. In the end I ordered one that was in stock, I couldn't wait, lol.

I d also say if you can afford it go for an elegance, as when i was looking i got quotes for an SE with a PID and an elegance and there wasnt that much difference in the PCP. However I'd also say that if you are worrying about £10 a month you probably shouldn't be buying a new car.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your opinions those of you saying if I'm worrying about the extra money I shouldn't be buying a car- I can afford it, it's more the fact that I don't want the dealer to think they can just add money onto the finance and I'll just accept it!

I have emailed the dealership explaining I feel let down that they cannot definitely honour the 0% and rambled a bit about that, and basically tried to get them to offer me the elegance but throw in a few things for me. If they can't do that then I wil just take my deposit back and go elsewhere!

Fingers crossed they do you a good deal

Let us know how you go on

Cheers

Damo

Hi,

My father liked the look of the deal I am getting on my Citigo, so he went into the dealer last week and was told that there were Elegance and S models available on the system but no SEs, so they are telling the truth about that.  He was quoted 12 weeks delivery for an SE.  However It is a pack of lies about the finance.  You get the 0% if you sign up now regardless of the delivery time for the car.  I am quite surprised that it makes £12 difference as by the time you add a PID the difference in price between the SE and the Elegance is not that great (why I opted for the Elegance).  Also I was quoted a deposit of £595 plus £130 per month for an elegance in a flat colour.  Couldn't get a flat colour without it being a factory order and so am paying a bit more for the silver.

 

My father being impatient could not wait 12 weeks, would not pay the amount for an Elegance and so has bought a Dacia Sandero instead!  Now that car is big and roomy, but so basic.  Still he is 79.

Edited 14 August, 201312 yr by CitigoAli

Well, they have apologised for the badly worded email which made me think they wouldn't honour the 0%. But other than that, nothing.

The sales man has told me he doesn't have the authority to give me anything 'free of charge' or lower the payments.

So it's either have the SE and wait 12 weeks, have the Elegance and pay the extra, or ask for my deposit back and go to another skoda dealer.

Problem is, I really shouldn't have gone and looked at the elegance because now I've seen it in the flesh I really want it. Just don't want to give the dealer the satisfaction of me just saying yes and getting them more money when they've not exactly treated me very well!

I would be getting my deposit back and going elsewhere in that case

Unless you really need a car quick.

Poor customer service though

Shame they've ruined what should be a great moment for you

Hope you get something sorted

Cheers

Damo

Why not tax your Matix, get your deposit back from the dealer and go elsewhere for the SE (or Elegance)?  When your new car arrives, claim a refund on the unexpired portion of tax from DVLA.  This way you don't lose out, are not pushed into buying and can choose at a more leisurely pace.  You could have a 63 reg as well.  Don't jump to the dealer's tune at any cost. 

Why not tax your Matix, get your deposit back from the dealer and go elsewhere for the SE (or Elegance)?  When your new car arrives, claim a refund on the unexpired portion of tax from DVLA.  This way you don't lose out, are not pushed into buying and can choose at a more leisurely pace.  You could have a 63 reg as well.  Don't jump to the dealer's tune at any cost. 

The thing is that a combination of the attractive 0% finance offer, and the rediculous registration system on the mainland Uk causing a rush at thsi time of year, means that the most popular model the SE is sold out in terms of already built quickish delivery cars.  All he has to balance is the extra £504 against the agony of a 12 week wait (12 weeks bloody stupid, if it takes that long they need to increase capacity).

I would be very tempted to go for the elegance but at the original £130 a month, see how desperate the salesmen are to make this sale...

Yeah I am also very tempted by the Elegance. The latest is, they are offering me the Elegance, still at £142, but with a full set of mats (which I know is dead easy for them anyway), a full tank of fuel, and it's been professionally polished as it is currently in the show room. However, I'm off there this evening with my Dad to discuss it further, as they have a tendency to rip girls off if they go in alone so I'm hoping taking dad along will make a deal a little easier.

They've phoned me 4 times in 4 hours so they've started chasing me up desperate for a sale, which may hopefully bode well for me.

I'm not bothered about a 63 reg as I have a private plate anyway so the only difference would be that its just a few months newer.

Yeah I am also very tempted by the Elegance. The latest is, they are offering me the Elegance, still at £142, but with a full set of mats (which I know is dead easy for them anyway), a full tank of fuel, and it's been professionally polished as it is currently in the show room. However, I'm off there this evening with my Dad to discuss it further, as they have a tendency to rip girls off if they go in alone so I'm hoping taking dad along will make a deal a little easier. They've phoned me 4 times in 4 hours so they've started chasing me up desperate for a sale, which may hopefully bode well for me. I'm not bothered about a 63 reg as I have a private plate anyway so the only difference would be that its just a few months newer.

 

Sounds like your little bit of resistance to their sales "technique" is already paying dividends and you've put them on the back foot slightly. More power to you I say!

 

The mats are cheap as cheaps, full tank is about £45 and I I'd take their comments about professional polishing with a pinch of salt as it will only be one of their backroom boys with a rag constantly wiping off grubby customer fingerprints lol. 

 

I'd do some quick shopping around, such as pricing the car you want up with drivethedeal.com or similar, and see how you get on.

 

Good luck for tonight.

Well I've been down there with Dad and it just gets worse and worse!

The quote that they had given me was for a 3 door elegance, and the model they are offering me is a 5 door. The finance guy had priced it wrong and nobody had noticed.

So their current offer, if approved by the manager, is that they will give it to me at the price of the 3 door, so the price I was first given. So still no real discounts from the original price, just an apology that they got it wrong. We're waiting on a phone call tomorrow to see if the manager will honour it, and even then, I'm a bit dubious as I'm a little concerned what other mistakes they are going to make.

This is exactly what my dealer did and I got a 5 door S for the 3 door price. I kicked up and they held the price.