Van purchase

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Scottishdave

Joined
Jan 16, 2015
Posts
17
Likes collected
31
Location
Hampshire
Funster No
34,773
MH
Carthago Compactline
Exp
Since 2008
Good morning Funsters. I’m off to look at a VW Grand California 680 today. It’s at a main dealer and is a pre reg demonstrator that arrived with them just before lockdown. It has less than 100 miles on the clock and is on a 20 plate. The ‘windscreen price’ is £70k.
How much discount do you think is it reasonable to try to negotiate?
 
Do you know how much the list price is?
How much has it already been reduced by to take in consideration it is not brand new?
 
I could build two crafters for that dosh. And customised as well.
Good luck with the negotiation, I would try to haggle starting at 10% off and see what’s the reaction. The vans are great, new to the market and ppl are attracted to them. I seen few and one went go 82k. Some are really really beautiful.
 
Wizz said:
Do you know how much the list price is?
How much has it already been reduced by to take in consideration it is not brand new?
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A quick tot up of the list price and fitted options makes it around £84k so already considerably reduced however fitted with some expensive options I wouldn’t have chosen like habitation area air con and satellite dish. Some essentials missing too like a spare wheel! I’m not a fan of the goo.

Raul said:
I could build two crafters for that dosh. And customised as well.
Good luck with the negotiation, I would try to haggle starting at 10% off and see what’s the reaction. The vans are great, new to the market and ppl are attracted to them. I seen few and one went go 82k. Some are really really beautiful.
Click to expand...

I know there are a lot of self built crafters for a lot less money and some are really beautiful but not with manufacturers warranty and the quality of a production line vehicle.

I’m thinking 10% would be a good starting position and see if the dealer starts laughing.



lorger said:
It’s there a particular reason you want one of these, for the money you’re talking you could get so much more.
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They are lovely vans and so nice to drive compared to Sevel vans. That and they are production line vans that are just put together so much better than converters can do it.
I had looked at a Westfalia Sven Hedin that was on a 6 metre chassis but the dealer couldn’t tell me the payload and wasn’t interested in getting it weighed. It was a couple of years old and was offered with a six month warranty. It was the same price as the GC and for my money not as good a buy.

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As a consideration I'd note the cost of the options you would not have wished for in the first place and then possibly consider deducting the cost.
I'd then think of a total price you'd reasonably be happy to pay, without being unrealistic, and start there.
So long as you're not ridiculous or insulting with your offer I'd say you have absolutely nothing to lose.
I know very little about this van, but regarding the actual numbers, I'd suggest a start price of around £65k is reasonable and hopefully very tempting. But don't be scared to go lower......
 
Never seen one before, have to say they look nice, but £70-80k??

Don‘t see it myself.

Good luck hope you get a deal and enjoy owning it
 
Scottishdave said:
Two wheel drive. 4 motion adds another £7k to the list price. It’s something I would have considered though if I was ordering from new.

Thanks for all the replies. Off for breakfast now and then going to see the van.
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Good luck today, just switched GMB on and you can today win a brand new Grand California worth 85k in today's competition plus 40 grand cash. How ironic is that?

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Scottishdave said:
A quick tot up of the list price and fitted options makes it around £84k so already considerably reduced however fitted with some expensive options I wouldn’t have chosen like habitation area air con and satellite dish. Some essentials missing too like a spare wheel! I’m not a fan of the goo.



I know there are a lot of self built crafters for a lot less money and some are really beautiful but not with manufacturers warranty and the quality of a production line vehicle.

I’m thinking 10% would be a good starting position and see if the dealer starts laughing.






They are lovely vans and so nice to drive compared to Sevel vans. That and they are production line vans that are just put together so much better than converters can do it.
I had looked at a Westfalia Sven Hedin that was on a 6 metre chassis but the dealer couldn’t tell me the payload and wasn’t interested in getting it weighed. It was a couple of years old and was offered with a six month warranty. It was the same price as the GC and for my money not as good a buy.
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I always start with a very low offer, see how they react, when he tells you his best offer and that’s final, just walk and say you will think about it , then say if you do it for this price I’ll sign now
 
Get best price from the dealer you're visiting then start phoning around other dealerships to see if they can do a little better. If you're persistent you might be pleased with the results?
Having said that, it's a brand new model and demand appears to be high, so who knows??
They're lovely vehicles, I'd be interested to hear how you get on...
 
Scottishdave said:
Good morning Funsters. I’m off to look at a VW Grand California 680 today. It’s at a main dealer and is a pre reg demonstrator that arrived with them just before lockdown. It has less than 100 miles on the clock and is on a 20 plate. The ‘windscreen price’ is £70k.
How much discount do you think is it reasonable to try to negotiate?
Click to expand...


How did you get on, bought it? Good discount?
 
It's a sellers market at the mo. Good luck with the discount.
 
Lenny HB said:
10% discount is the absolute minimum I would expect I would start at 20%.
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Me too Lenny, but I don't think either of us would want to buy a VW Grand California.

Like it or not there are a lot of VW fanboys from the iconic campers of their youth (like my Son) who want one when they eventually grow up (at about 45). I suspect snowballs chance in hell on getting anything off given the huge hike in prices across all ranges of motorhomes this year because of the pandemic. They may chuck in a full tank of fuel though if you are nice to them :ROFLMAO:
 
Scottishdave said:
A quick tot up of the list price and fitted options makes it around £84k so already considerably reduced however fitted with some expensive options I wouldn’t have chosen like habitation area air con and satellite dish. Some essentials missing too like a spare wheel! I’m not a fan of the goo.



I know there are a lot of self built crafters for a lot less money and some are really beautiful but not with manufacturers warranty and the quality of a production line vehicle.

I’m thinking 10% would be a good starting position and see if the dealer starts laughing.






They are lovely vans and so nice to drive compared to Sevel vans. That and they are production line vans that are just put together so much better than converters can do it.
I had looked at a Westfalia Sven Hedin that was on a 6 metre chassis but the dealer couldn’t tell me the payload and wasn’t interested in getting it weighed. It was a couple of years old and was offered with a six month warranty. It was the same price as the GC and for my money not as good a buy.
Click to expand...
Normally the California's have a good resale price, its possibly their demo model the showrooms had them deiverd late last year early this year. Don't get to hung up on no spare wheel, most cars and many vans no longer have them.
 
Hope it doesn't attract all the negative comments if the OP has done the deal today.

I think the GC is a lovely quality built van.
 
My spare wheel is on the back door. It used to be underneath, but that space has been taken by the underslung Lpg tank. It’s a lovely van and the drive is superb.

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Raul said:
My spare wheel is on the back door. It used to be underneath, but that space has been taken by the underslung Lpg tank. It’s a lovely van and the drive is superb.
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Is yours a VW? and did you convert it yourself?
 
“Demonstrator” is dealer jargon what you are buying is basically a used van, used by many people treading in and out poking every little bit, sitting on the seats. Hopefully not using the loo. Having said all that I think the dealers hold all the cards at the moment. Do you have a PX if you have you may be able to negotiate a good deal that.
Spongy
 
CazPaul said:
Is yours a VW? and did you convert it yourself?
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Yes we bought the van used and converted it to suit our needs. I have posted on self build the photos of the hole conversion. We have made small modifications since, and I will post some new photos once I change some windows. We need more daylight at the back.
 
Raul said:
My spare wheel is on the back door. It used to be underne
Click to expand...
Raul said:
Yes we bought the van used and converted it to suit our needs. I have posted on self build the photos of the hole conversion. We have made small modifications since, and I will post some new photos once I change some windows. We need more daylight at the back.
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Nice one, I will have a look on self build.

Does the VW 2.0 have a good reputation for reliability?
 
Boys your all in dream land. VW 10% off asking price. Motorhome. This market
Good lick with that

Get real

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Monty don said:
Boys your all in dream land. VW 10% off asking price. Motorhome. This market
Good lick with that

Get real
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If you don’t ask !! Why not try . An old maxim, don’t regret what you have done , regret what you haven’t.
 
The engine it’s new for crafter and the hole van is its own vw built, not partnership with sprinter anymore. The 2.0L lump comes in 100 I think 140 and 160 bhp, or close to that. We have the 140, 6 speed manual euro6 with the add blue. The torque is amazing And a realistic 35-38mpg is easy. It will do 130 km on cruise all day long at just over 2000rpm and the cabin is very well built. We had one recall for software upgrade and upgraded fuel filter. It’s coming up to 3 years in December for first mot. VW commercials are very helpful and you are treated like a king while you get the service done. I have been impressed so far and I think I made a wise choice over sevel base. We are used to travel far and reliability is needed.
 
So....... tried my best not to look too excited. Stay cool I kept telling myself, you can get a big old lump off of this. Hmmm. £500. I’m clearly rubbish at negotiation. He wouldn’t budge more than that and as it was £4K cheaper than the next cheapest one for sale in the UK that I could find I folded like a cheap pack of cards. 😊. Picking it up next Saturday. 😁. Thanks for all the comments good and not so good. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I find it gorgeous.
 
Sounds like that's the best you could do in the circumstances, faced with the prices of others for sale.
It's difficult to argue a good case in the light of compelling opposition from elsewhere.
Most importantly you gave it a go and left happy.
Well done.
Now enjoy (y)
 

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