Pergidah

Hi Everyone!

Thinking of buying either a Toyota Camry Altise (Auto) or a Corolla Conquest (Auto)... Heard it's about the same price drive away...

Anyway, can't bear the thought of wheeling and dealing with the dealers... Anyone used a car broker (A1, Private Fleet, etc) to buy a car before? How much does it cost? Any recommendation on who to use?

Any response is much appreciated.

Thanks and Cheers!

Pergidah

Er... anyone at all?

flip

Sent you a pm.

mbike

We used A1 a while back and they were really good. Due to impending family addition, we are now looking at getting a 7-seater - probably a Hyundai Santa Fe and we will use them again. Just the thought of dealing with the slimy sales rep who shook my hand at the local dealer when I went into to get a brochure makes me shudder.

Mark

GinaUK

How long before you flew out to Australia did you order the car with A1?

Could you write a bit more about the process, if you don't mind? Anything you'd do differently with hindsight?

Gina

Pergidah

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the information. I'm looking at car brokers because I can't stand the thought of dealing with slimy sales reps as well

Rgds,

Perg

Pomster

I used Carbrokers and also checked for offers directly with dealers.
Carbrokers managed to beat them fractionally, but better than nothing and the dealer was offering a great deal at the time.

I would use them again. The ones I know of are Carbrokers and cars4u (I think this is the right name!)

Nic938

Sorry to jump in - but how much does the car broker charge and is it only on new cars they have this service?

Nic

mbike

Hi Gina and Perg,

I asked Chris at A1 how they went about getting the best price and this is what he wrote back:
<starts>
To obtain the absolute lowest price, we use the following proven best method:
1. We establish a Reserve Price, and communicate this to you. It is below the retail price and as close as we can confidently get to the final price as we can.
2. If you approve of the Reserve Price, we then conduct a reverse auction where each dealer will be aware of what the current lowest bid is, and we continue to solicit lower bids.
3. Once we get to the point where no dealer is prepared to go lower, we conclude the process and place your order.

As you can see, this is much like any other auction, and we have found that dealers will respond with aggressive pricing.

If your new car purchase is contingent upon the sale of a trade in, we organise for a Licensed Valuer to assess it and ascertain the highest price for immediate disposal. Our aim is to make your transaction completely seamless in regards to the trade in.
<ends>

When I used them it cost 30 odd dollars, now it seems to cost only 4.95 (?!). Chris was straight up and honest with us and got us a top spec Grand Vitara (OTR price then was 36k) for 32K OTR. Hence my enthusiasm.

We did everything in a week after we had arrived here. All via the net and email. We test drove before we contacted A1 and then picked up the car from the "winning" dealer at the end of the process.

I think they can also do it if you are still in the UK but you would need to check.

Hope this helps

Mark

GinaUK

Hi Mark,

thanks for your brilliant post! That really helped. Will send you some karma .

We're thinking of test driving the car here in the UK and then contact Chris to see if he can get us one. If possible for our second day in Oz, then we can save ourselves the hire car charges.

Thanks again for your post.

Gina

Pergidah

Mark and Christine, thanks for the replies!


I've looked at the A1 website again and they seem to be the same as Carbrokers... ?

Anyway it does look like it cost $4.95 now. It that for real?!!!


Nic, on the website, there's an option for used cars as well


Gina, good luck with your car!


Cheers,

Perg

Nic938

Hi Perg

Thanks

Nic