[Ellie]

Hello

New to this forum - hello everybody.

I'm intending to buy a Focus C-Max, and getting confused with all the offers - pre-registered, delivery mileage only, demonstrator models, brand new, nearly new private etc.

My local Ford dealer has big discounts on the 1.6 Style (petrol), but the reviews recommend a Diesel. I started looking at New because although I went into my local dealership to look at nearly news, the prices for new seemed the same as for one year old cars....

Any advice/tips on what model to buy/where to buy would be great.

Thanks in advance ..... Cheers

Ellie

 

[dazzer]

Hi
If you do lots of miles then go for deisel ,but if less than say 12,000 a year the petrol would be fine .I dont do a lot of miles ,less than 10,000 a year most of that is the wife driving to work.so have settled for 1.6 zetec ,thats a big come down from a focus st 2.5 turbo.The model level depends on how much creature comfort you want .went for zetec because of the free bluetooth offer at the mo.which means you also get the upgraded stereo.and it looks better with nicer wheels ,fog lights ect.also your budget comes into it.your right about new and used ,sometimes the new can come down to meet the used.but used have less leway and cannot discount very much because of the discount already given when car was new.

 

[Richard G]

At the moment with our 1.6TDCI we save about1 gallon of fuel for every 100 miles compared to our previous petrol focus

From next April those vehicles that emit less than 130g CO2 per KM will only pay £90 VED (the 1.6TDCI gives out 129)

Against a diesel, is those with the particulat filter need a very expensive service at less than 100,00 miles

Consider that new cars may lose about 50% of their initial value in three years

Would suggest that dealers are likely to get very nervous and likely to discount SOME more if present economic state continues

Would consider that you should look to have the heated front screen either as standard to the trim level or where it has been specified as an option as per thelower trim level(e.g.54 reg LX spec)

 

[Ellie]

Thanks - both replies really helpful, and any more welcome.

I was going to see if I could get a good deal by the end of this month (as recommended in the car mags) but I think I've got a lot more background research to do.

Ellie

 

[PeterT]

It isn't very kind to the dealer but if you check the Internet suppliers first, it can really help with the bargaining process. I searched a variety of sites and found the best price. I went in to the dealer and asked for the exact same model at the internet price and they laughed at me. I asked them to humour me and type in drivethedeal.com and see what price came up. 10 mins later I had my new car ordered from the main dealer at the internet price and saved thousands. You feelmean doing it BUT the car arrived exactly as I wanted much much cheaper without any haggling! If you have a car to part exchange this won't work nearly as well though!

 

[RUSSBUS]

HI I JUST BOUGHT A 8 MONTH OLD NEW SHAPE C MAX WITH 5300 MILES ON IT , I SAVED A THIRD ON THE NEW PRICE FROM A DEALER . GOT IT FROM AVALIABLECAR.COM CAR SUPERMARKET . ITS A 1.6 ZETEC PETROL , HAPPY WITH IT BUT DONT LIKE NOT HAVING A SPARE WHEEL AND JACK THERE IS A CANISTER KIT IN THE BOOT . I AM THINKING OF GETTING A SPARE AND JACK , IF I HAD A SIDE WALL DAMAGE OR LARGE HOLE PUNCTUE IT WOULD BE A RECOVERY JOB , THAT CAN THAT HOURS AGAINST 15 MINS AT MOST TO CHANGE WHEEL . ALSO I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE OLD TYRE IS NOT REUSABLE AFTER PUTTING THE SEALANT IN SO A NEW TYRE IS NEEDED . HOPE YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT AT A GOOD PRICE .

 

[postie]

hi all we got a ghia 2.0 tdci 54 plate with only 29k on and full fsh from a main ford dealer and we came to a good price which i was happy with butthe next morning i was bored at work and had a look on autotrader.co.uk for the same car in the local area and all where about the same price.my mate came in and told me to do the same search butthis time put the search by distance to national so i did and up pops a couple of cars like mine but 2k cheaper and only 120 miles from where i leave so i phoned up about one and the price was right.i went straight on the phone to my dealer and told him to lower the price or i would go somwhere else all i got was grief from them and they would keep my £500 deposit so i told them to keep the money as i was still going to make over 1k on the same car.said they would take me to court for loss of money so i told them to go ahead as i would win asmost people have had bad dealings with the motor trade.lots of phone calls by them later and we got our car for the same price as was in autotrader so i saved 2k

.they say they lost money on the deal but i have not lost any sleep over it. ps said i would come back and buy another car of them they did not look to happy.