Ok guys, so here is how it went:
Arrived punctually at the dealer, was greeted by my very nice sales rep which I had spoken with on the phone. It was my first time inside a BMW dealer to purchase a car, so I felt a bit awkward walking around all those nice cars. They were actually running a sales event (I think until the 25th of January) and giving really good discounts (so it appears). While I was waiting for my rep, went around the showroom (feeling like I didn’t belong there) and was admiring a nice 2014 520D GT SE model, got inside of it, really a beauty. Amazingly they had it knocked off 8k and listed for 32,800. So I thought “wow, perhaps I will manage to get a good deal today!” well how innocent one can be
So rep comes around, offers me some cappuccino, shows me around all the nice cars and upstairs we go, where the used cars are. Just reminding you, the car I was after:
http://www.hmp-media.com/X5_2011.pdf
was not in the showroom as it belonged to a different dealer up north. Supposedly I would test drive a similar 40d to get a feel for it, and upon agreeing on a deal, he would be willing to bring the car from other dealer where I could try it out.
So we sat at the table, he offered me the print out of the car and started talking about his life with BMW, getting acquainted with me and the wife, etc etc…..with all honesty, a really nice and sympathetic guy, well I guess if you are salesman you have to be right? LOL
So I tell him, lets get to business, I reminded him that I really was after a 2012 model instead and he happily looked at his computer for a list of the ones matching my budget and specs (7 seater) and we ended up discussing the 2011 one being offered @ 35,850 As you can see from the link above, its got loads of features and although it was not a 2012, well, you have to sacrifice some things.
So I thought, “well let me get him to start”, well, he did. First thing (without actually talking about the car) he had a finance app form ready, started talking about how BMW does not do < 10% APR however Sytner uses BlackHorse and we would be able to get single digits APR and asked me what kind of deposit I had, how long would I be willing to finance, etc etc. At this point, I said, well, we could potentially finance part of it, however we need to negotiate first. He then replies “let me introduce to you our “Retail Manager”, he will give you some numbers to play with, etc etc” at this point I though, well guy wants to sell finance to me, let him come. Here comes this other lad, and started asking me the same questions. I told him “potentially I could do a 3 year term depending on what we negotiate” and his reply is “well 4 years is probably better, and all that chatter that involves trying to flog you a financial product. I could just have said “I don’t want any finance” but I would probably scare them off, so I say, well I could potentially willing to pay around 400quid a month, 3 year term with a substantial deposit but I insisted that we needed to negotiate first before talking finance and that they had to have some movement on the price.
Well he now asks me,so whats your offer on the car? I really thought that well, and without wanting to offend, I asked him, what is the price you can offer me?
They told me all the crap about we don’t make thousands on these cars you know, the best we can do is 35K. I was like, no way, thats way too high for a 2011 (hopefully I am right).
He now asks me whats your offer? I started at 29,500
At this point, My sales rep was downstairs (of course, I think this is a strategy to have left me alone with the boss ). Upon hearing my offer, he made this funny face, well something like “are you kidding me?” he said, “well, if thats your offer, Im not sure “Rep” will be willing to negotiate, let me go get him” then he goes downstairs. My wife kind of panicked but I told her, “if Im doing this right, I guess this is part of the game”. 5 minutes later comes my Rep and the so called Retail manager, both of them telling me we can’t work on this price, we don’t make thousands on these cars, etc etc. I pointed to them that I had done some research and just the day before (took my laptop with me with screenshots in it) there was this 2012 X5, same specs, color combo, 10k less miles, and supposedly sold for 33,850. They told me “you cant take this car as an example as it has bee sold”
I told them, “listen” 35k is way too much for the 2011. I paused for a little bit and increased my offer to 30,250 They go, “Im sorry we can’t work on this, theres no way you will find a car with such spec for this price”. Telling them again about the 2012 that had gone for 33,850 (thats what their system said, could be less) I told them that this car was not worth 35 at all, and gave them my last offer of 31k.
Again they didn’t budge, offered me a printout of another x5 that had arrived in stock (a 2011 30d with less features, 29k miles for 31,850 ) and then we ended our negotiation by them saying, this car is not for you then, we will have to find you another car. I said very politelyI “well don't want to waste your time and neither mine so I will go and if you can still consider my offer, just let me know. By this time, the “Retail Manager” had left and me and my wife said our good byes to our Rep reminding him to get in touch.
Well thats how it was guys, I must confess I left the showroom a little disappointed as I didn't even had the chance to drive a x5 (only got inside one in the show room
) but then again, I didn't get attached to the car as it wasn't there!!
So if you guys can give me some feedback and how did i do and what to expect, do you think they will contact me? My last offer was within the 10% less the asking price, so one hopes!
