[Mistercurly]

Hi guys, i have just ordered my first mini cooper from Sainsburys Bank.
it is pepper white with black roof mirrors and bonnet stripes. I went for the pepper pack and the 17" flame alloys, sports seats, roof spoiler and cream line interior.
I have opted for a pcp deal (I intend to get a new car every 3 years from now on) which i got at 8.9% APR with a GFV of £7609. How does that deal sound to some of you guys? My local dealer couldn't or wouldn't match this.
This is the first new car I have brought so i feel very lacking in negotiating experience. Also i was told that i would have to wait till the end of October for the car possibly even in to November, is this normal? One last question for yo guys i have been offered a maintainence package at 14.70 a month i do 15000 minles a year so i reckon i will get through 2 sets of tyres over three years. Do you think its worth it to take out the plan?
Thanks allot for your help guys.

[zyo]

If your maintenance includes the tyres then it would be worth it because after ordereing my first MINI in 03 i specced it with 17 s spokes and just before delivery I thought i would check how much the runflat tyres would be to replace, my local tyre fitter wanted £167 each(i believe that they are getting cheaper but a lot of people change to non runflats which are considerably cheaper)
I don't know how the maintenance thing works. Have you specced the TLC pack because that is £150 and includes your servicing for 5 years or 50,000 miles which ever comes first.Do you know what the maintenance includes?

[FergusM]

They should be able to quote you a build slot...

It took 7 weeks between placing an order and getting my car, though I called round several dealers till I got the quickest build slot I could....some were quoting another 4+ weeks on that...so could have been easily 11 weeks.

Maybe a bit busier now (I ordered mine in April) with everyone wanting their new cars in September.

I'd call a few dealers and ask for what build slots are available to get an idea of what a dealer could get you.

£14.70 x 36 months is £529.... assuming they get the TLC for the mentioned £150 it covers maintence...so that leaves £379....basically price of a new set of front tyres and a wee bit left over. I think you'll go through a set of fronts every year and probably a set of back ones every second at that milage per year...so sound good. Check there are not conditions to number of sets of tyres etc.

[sprite]

I ordered on Saturday and they reckon I'll be build week 38 - should get my car end of September.

[Mistercurly]

OMG just got an email from Sainsburys bank confirming that the order has been placed with there supplier.
The expected delivery date is 4/12/07.
Why would it be so long after other peoples who are ordering at the same time as me? Do you think they have loads of orders and there dearler cant get hold of them quick enough?
Also what is a build slot and how do i find out what mine is?

I dont really want to get the car from somewhere else because they might not be able to match the deal i got.

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mistercurly (original)

Also what is a build slot and how do i find out what mine is?

The Build Slot is the week that the car is due to be built.

We are currently in Week 31, so Week 38 (when sprite's is due to be built) is week commencing 17 September, for example.

You'll need to find out which dealer Sainsburys are buying the car from and see if they will tell you.

May prove to be difficult.

[Kaine]

Mistercurly,

Thats too long - personally I'd shop around the dealers for the best price and lead-time and place the order with them. You then have say 6-8weeks to sort out your finance deal - which is normally plenty of time

Kaine

[Scrogg]

I'm with Kaine on this...

Show a few dealers the supply price quote from Sainsburys. One of them will match it.

Then get yourself on the internet to find the cheapest available PCP quote.

[popey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

I'm with Kaine on this...

Show a few dealers the supply price quote from Sainsburys. One of them will match it.

Then get yourself on the internet to find the cheapest available PCP quote.

Me 3, Also its so much more fun spec'ing your car at the dealers. I almost made spec'ing my R56 a full time hobby or maybe even a new sport

Also 04/12/07 if you can wait that long its probably best to wait a bit more and get a 2008 car

[Mistercurly]

Thanks for your help and advice guys.

I got back in touch with the chap I was dealing with at Sainsburys and told him about the long delivery time, he said he would speak to the dealer and see what he could do, apply some pressure or whatever. Next day I got an email telling me the expected delivery date was now 27/9/07. I really hope there not feeding me B.S. now because I don't know what to do, i am happy with the new delivery date but not sure if there being honest? Is there any way I can check?

[Kaine]

Thats more like it - at the end of the day Sainsburys order via dealers anyway so the lead-times should be similar. The long delivery time quoted may have been due to the first dealers they approached have no allocations spare to sell to them (maybe?) and hence wanted to keep the allocation for their direct customers - I would imagine they have just shopped around the dealers to get a better lead-time. Just a shame they didn't do that to start with

Kaine

[Mistercurly]

I don't believe it. My local dealer has got in contact with me today with a new even more dicounted price, coming in £250 under sainsburys. They can get me the car in september. Why they didn't offer that in the first place i dont know, would of saved me plenty of hassle.
I want to get the car from them now but have already signed an order form, the chap at sainsburys said it wasn't binding anyway and I have paid no money but did he just say that to make me sign, its not been a week yet so its not as if they have built the car yet.
Also who quotes the gfv of the car is it the finance company or the dealer because she never mentioned that to me.

Any advice please,

Sorry I am so slow with all this stuff but its the first time I have got a car on finance let alone a new one.

[Scrogg]

As I've already said, get your self on the Internet and see if you can find a PCP quote that's as good as, or even cheaper than, Sainsburys.

If you can, get the car ordered with your Dealer!

There is nothing stopping you cancelling your order with Sainsburys (but don't expect your dealer to place an order for you without a deposit )

As for the GMFV, it's set by the finance company lending the money, and is not or cannot be influenced by the dealers.

[Mistercurly]

Thanks Scrogg you certainly know your stuff!
My dealer has already said that it wants £1000 up front to place the order. i will cancel the order for the car with sainsburys but let them have the finance if they want it. In the mean time look for some more deals on finance.

[Scrogg]

£1,000 deposit is a bit steep but if you can afford it you'll be borrowing less money from Sainsburys (or whoever you finance with) so your monthly payment will be lower

(Before you ask, the GMFV stays the same no matter what you pay for the car! )

Did your original deal with Sainsburys involve putting a deposit down?

[Mistercurly]

Yes £2000, I have an ideal figure I don't wont to go over on the monthly repayments, now I can get the car £250 cheaper and it means £250 less deposit to find, same monthly repayments.
Plus I would rather get the car from the local dealer and build up a relationship with them, there only 10 mins away!

[Scrogg]

In which case, everything has worked out well!

Make sure you get some pictures of the new car posted as soon as it arrives!

[Mistercurly]

Got a call today from Sainsburys to tell me my cars reg number and that it is at the dealers Not sure how but from the original delivery estimate of December it went to September 27th and now the delivery date (providing insurance cover note and finance is all done on time) is 10th of September, couldn't be happier

p.s. From the Reg number it looks like its going to be coming all the way from Portsmouth

[ru81]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mistercurly (original)

Got a call today from Sainsburys

Blimey! Supermarkets are selling everything these days!!

You must be very excited! Even though you now have a short wait, I bet time will go very slowly! Will be worth the wait though! Make sure you show us some pics when it arrives.