Who is offering the best deals on cars at the moment, i need a smallish, newish sort of thing. Have looked at carcraft but seems expensive and a bit pushy. I'm usually a cash buyer but sick of buying ancient and temperamental bangers, so will be looking for beat finance deal. Advice would be great!!!!!!!!!!!!

Direct cars are very good and would get my vote!!

:thumbsup:

www.directcars.co.uk

They all can be pushy, but if you stick to your budget and dont let them push you, you can get some good deals.Heard some bad things about carcraft, but never been myself. Depends on where you live, i got my car from Blakes of Chesterfield, on Whittington moor some good 206s. always had fords for years but this is nice and the wife likes to drive it as it is small

Another vote for Direct Cars, no pressure as the staff aren't on commission.

Don't go to Carcraft, heck of a long story but we had a bad experience with them.

Although all depends on the deal but avoid Carcraft.
I bought from Directcars and am happy with their service.

I got my Volvo from The Pitch (which is near Meadowhall) and am happy to reccomend them, got some nice clean cars there. They have a bigger branch out at Stocksbridge as well.

Another vote for Direct Cars, no pressure as the staff aren't on commission.

Not mine. Went to look at a car, was told "here's the keys, it's up there somewhere", wouldn't open when I finally found it. Battery was as flat as a pancake. Eventually got someone to help as I was still interested in it (must have been daft). Eventually got into it, got it started. Had a look round it. Noticed the brake discs were rusty, so had been in stock for quite a while methinks.

So obviously wanted a test drive. Car was at top end of price range for what it was (Nissan Primera, nothing fancy). Wouldn't do a test drive until we had discussed finance.

Discussed finance. I was lucky, I thought, in that I was paying cash. Part exchange? Sure. What you got? Deep intake of breath, sucking of air through teeth etc.. Price they wanted me to pay less px was barmy. Perhaps if they had got me into a finance deal the price would have been better, I suspect.

As for Carcraft, won't go near the place again. Rang up to see if they had any so-and-so's in after looking at their ad. Oh, yes, got loads of those. So I went to see some. When I got there, was told there was one of those I was interested in, but it was in deepest Lancashire. They effectively suggested I buy it unseen. Yeah, right! They are in your face all the time you are there as well.

Pick a medium sized local firm which has been around for a fair number of years. If they were no good, they would have dissapeared by now.

Heard by word of mouth that Bickerton/Gordon Lamb Toyota seem to be OK.

Got my last one from Chris Noyland-Bill Rhodes. Happy with it so far, they fixed a couple of niggles with it straight away. Apart from that, got a good car at a fair price.

If you are prepared to travel a little , go to Fords of Winsford in Cheshire.

http://www.fow.co.uk/2006/index.asp

They have won the What Car , Car supermarket of the year award for past few years.

Current issue of What Car has a free guide to car supermarkets up and down the country.

Direct Cars gets an OK result but is criticised for lack of test drive (unless you are ready to do a deal).

Another no vote for Carcraft - very pushy and over-priced.

Direct Cars we're fine when we went in, as were City Motors. Neither were pushy and neither bugged-us with sales calls either.

The best place to get a small car in decent nick is off the old woman across the road. They always want to get rid of them!

Who is offering the best deals on cars at the moment, i need a smallish, newish sort of thing. Have looked at carcraft but seems expensive and a bit pushy. I'm usually a cash buyer but sick of buying ancient and temperamental bangers, so will be looking for beat finance deal. Advice would be great!!!!!!!!!!!!

all cars at Carcraft are about 40% Overpriced!

I've been there a few times before because it's a good place to look around every type of car you can think of - but i'd never buy from there!

Big NO NO to Reg Vardy - conning F*ers!

also heard Direct cars are quite good.

Buy a Parkers price guide and take that with you - then you can batter them down on price!

Bought 5 times from Direct Cars.
Only problem we've ever had with them is having to force them to honour promises about mats etc.

DIRECT CARS!!! dont go to carcraft, the hassle you whilst your there take your number, then dont leave you alone for weeks after, i had 2 swear down the phone at them to get them to leave me alone

depending on what age of car you are after, i found STB Motors in hillsbro really good...

lots of nice cars anywhere between 2 and 6 years old... all really low mileage and excellent condition

its opposite SWFC on penistone road..

really friendly chap, nice cars, decent prices, good negotiable discount for cash...

i bought a beauty of a renault clio from him just last month - really cant fault the service...

In reply to the rusty brake comment, wash your car, wait half an hour, look at the discs - they'll be rusty. As soon as you use the brakes it goes. It happens because they need to generate friction so have no stainless/protective coating.

wow, thanks everyone who has replied, will take a look at direct cars as there seems to be a generally good feeling, going to carcraft to 'try' some cars on, husbands idea, as i don't care as long as it goes and will match my handbag, wish me luck and thanks again!!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Arthur-Daley-book.jpg

why dont you get a bank loan ( Much cheaper then most fiance ) and go to mainheim car auctions in ( Rotherham Wed & Fri @10:30)? Most trader (including the buyer of direct cars) buy their cars from there ! they clean it up and put £2000 on top of the price they paid at auction, i have brought 5 cars from there now and everytime i had no problem with car drive it for 1 year and sell it for very little lost, As most of them are 3-5 years old with full service history you cant really go wrong with morden cars!

The likes of Carcraft aren't selling you a car; they're offering you a finance package (usually spread over a long period) which may feel to be a bargain and which ends up costing a lot of money.

Having said this, I purchased a Rover 75 (before they went bust) on Carcraft's finance (Black Horse) and phoned up for a settlement figure about a week after I'd purchased the car.

Suspicious into why I was after a settlement figure, they immediately reduced the interest rate and for about three years I was running the car which was costing me about £100 a month which I didn't think was bad at all.

(The car's been sold since - it cost a fortune in major engine repairs.)

I have got 2 cars from BDS in town and have been very pleased with both, had no problems, good after sale service and very reasonably priced. They also have contacts for car insurance. Let me no if you want their contact number?

Rob

In reply to the rusty brake comment, wash your car, wait half an hour, look at the discs - they'll be rusty. As soon as you use the brakes it goes. It happens because they need to generate friction so have no stainless/protective coating.

Errm, no. I know what you mean, but these were far worse than that. It was old rust.

Where is a good place to buy a car?
Autotrader

Errm, no. I know what you mean, but these were far worse than that. It was old rust.

I still don't know what you mean. Where on the brakes would rust build up if the car was stood where it wasn't if it was moving? The only contact parts are the face of the disc and the pad, the rest can rust equally as much whether the car is used every day or has been stood for 6 months.

John holland car sales..see johnhollandsales.co.uk some good cars at reasonable cost

I still don't know what you mean. Where on the brakes would rust build up if the car was stood where it wasn't if it was moving? The only contact parts are the face of the disc and the pad, the rest can rust equally as much whether the car is used every day or has been stood for 6 months.

The face of the discs were covered in rust. Not just your usual few streaks after washing the car and not using it for a few days. That's generally a yellowish rust. No, the discs were coated in rust on their faces indicating the car had not turned a wheel for months.

i got my car from BDS car sales. it over the road from that big fire station in town just off weststreet. really happy with the service. No insurance quote ive ever had even came close to how much im payin now. he got me insured on a 3 series bmw 2 litre and im only just 18. VERY HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE. no probs with car either. i have number for them its: 0114 2634008

cheerz jamie

For the cost of a nearly new car, you could buy a brand new car imported from europe. The vehicle would be right hand drive, UK spec, and be the colour of your choice.

I bought my car from The Car People at Wakefield. The car was priced within the Glass' guide and the APR was brill. I found the car via Autotrader. The warranty packages were reasonably priced, includes roadside assistance and covered loads of parts (I'm a girl I don't know what it doesn't cover but my boyfriend said it was good :) ). The salesmen don't push you like at Carcraft- you approach them and they have a good choice of cars to test drive. Its worth visiting to have a look at all the models.

I have a friend who went to Carcraft and the exhaust fell of his car after 2 weeks- they wouldn't do anything to help him- STAY AWAY!!!

Always had a good deal from Gordon Lamb Toyota nr Sheffield United ground.
also have good customer relations etc