Prepare to be ruthless when buying a new car
In the same week, I was approached by my partner's best friend and one of my old university lecturers – two people I was more than willing to assist with car buying (especially when they admitted that their know-how was somewhat limited).
One had sadly seen their beloved Vauxhall Corsa written off due to a distracted lorry driver (thankfully nobody was injured), while the other needed a replacement for their trusty but ageing Citroen Xsara Picasso. After a bit of discussion, as well as a few test drives, they respectively decided on a Vauxhall Crossland and a Volvo XC40. So far so good.
However, once it was time to talk money, a dealer sensed one of my car-buying apprentice's knowledge-gaps and used it as an opportunity to pile on the pressure. When I received a panicked phone call regarding the Crossland, I was troubled to hear: 'I need to put the deposit down today because the salesperson has to meet a target'. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
My advice to the Crossland buyer at that moment is the same advice I'm going to give you right now: if a seller is piling on too much pressure, hold your ground and say no, or simply walk away. Either way, their targets are simply not your problem. Advertisement - Article continues below
Maybe I sound a bit harsh, but please hear me out. Salespeople and dealerships have targets to meet, and this concept isn't an issue, nor would I ever dream of preventing someone from achieving some kind of bonus to help pay the bills.
However, what I can't tolerate is guilt-tripping and ultimately piling unacceptable levels of pressure on a buyer – especially one who's anxious about handing over thousands of pounds.
Whether it's a deposit you're not certain about, a finance contract that's unsuitable, or anything else you don't wish to fork out on, never be afraid to say no to a salesperson, no matter how insistent they might be.
The good news is that my Crossland buyer walked away and ended up with a better example at a different dealership.
In the majority of cases, your buying experience will be stress-free, and the salesperson will be professional and polite. However, if for any reason you feel uncomfortable, please don't be afraid to say no or even walk away. It's your money and your decision. Of course, for the smoothest buying experience you can always use our Auto Express Find a Car service.
Take the faff our of buying a car! Our dealer network has some fantastic cars on offer right now with new, used and leasing deals to choose from...
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Daily Mail
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Local police forces have been reacting to the increase in reported Hilux thefts over recent months, urging owners - particularly farmers - to invest in vehicle trackers, steering wheel locks and additional CCTV coverage. While the report is more bad news for the Japanese manufacturer - whose sister brand Lexus has been already named the most targeted mainstream car brand by thieves in 2024 - it will be welcomed by Jaguar Land Rover. JLR received praise for its efforts to reduce instances of thefts having invested millions upgrading its vehicle security systems in the last 18 months. The Hilux is widely recognised as one of the most reliable motors on the planet. The workhorse pick-up truck was made famous in the 2003 Top Gear series when an older example proved indestructible, even surviving tumbling from the top of a demolished block of flats. 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Reuters
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BBC News
33 minutes ago
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Residents say 'killer' kerb is causing a 'hubcap graveyard'
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