Car Supermarkets

[Panic Button]

Which ones are good and which should be avoided?

Where do they get their cars?

Are their guarantees any good?

Can you trust their descriptions, or is an RAC inspection worth being done before purchase?

[carlton23]

It`s always a good idea to have an inspection of any car done before you buy it , then you have some `come-back` should anything appear a little later that wasn`t bought to your attention at the time of purchase.

[Panic Button]

Presumably then they have a team of buyers at the auctions?

[ummmm]

It might have changed now panic but we use to have a contract with car supermarket. All the cars had to be RAC passed then. Even the paintwork.

[Panic Button]

Was that Car Shop, Ummmm?
I went past the Northampton one the other day, it looks huge.

[ummmm]

It is huge. It use to be car supermarket. I've never been to it though.

[TWR]

Hi Panic, the only drawback with the Big Boys, the price you see is the price you pay, you cannot barter with them, I would still check out a car before the purchase, my mate bought one local that had JUST been tested from what they said, it turned out that the N/S shocker was leaking, BEWARE. The cars are from all areas of the UK.

[mjwman]

I bought my Skoda Octavia Elegance 2.0TDi estate from Trade Sales in Slough.

I bought it on line while I was working in Cologne at an exhibition and paid a deposit.
It was not on site but "coming in soon".

I had previously been to the site and was happy with what I saw there.

The day came to collect and Mrs mjwman and I trolled off the 40 odd miles. It was waiting for me all clean and gleaming. 10 months old and spotless.

Happy with what I saw I paid by Switch! I know it is silly but I had not even driven one, just researched it on the net, Honest John and the like.

Anyway I drove off and that was the last I saw of Trade Sales.
The car has been wonderful. Fast comfortable and very economical.
It was registered to Inchcape but probably owned and leased by Skoda UK.

I saved about £3000 on main dealer price and still had over 2 years manufacturer warranty which was used once for a dodgy radio.( actually a makers recall as it drained the battery).

Mine was a good experience but as with anything I am sure others will have had bad ones.

[Panic Button]

Funnily enough I bought a car six yearsago from TradeSales - a brand new pre registered Opel Astra 1.6 at a fantastic price.

Admittedly I didn't get the smooth smarmy salesman, fawning over me. It felt like Easyjet rather than Singapore Airlines service, but who cares at a good price.

This time I am preparing in case my other older car falls at the next MOT hurdle.
I want an economical small car, not new, and am checking the water in case I have to act fast.