General Where can I find a good deal on a new Ducato?

[Peter James]

Peter, what year and engine do you have, and if you don't mind what sort of useage?

Thanks

Mine is the Citroen Relay L4 H2 Heavy 120bhp, manufactured 2008, converted camper van, always weighs about 3.25 tonnes. I drive with a light right foot, seldom on motorways so very rarely go above 60mph (speed seems to be what makes it drink the most) but a lot of start stop driving with a cold engine so I guess good but not ideal for fuel consumption. Averaged 34.3mpg over 32000 miles - genuine, based on the fuel have put in divided by the mileage travelled - the dashboard computer shows the fuel consumption about 10% less than it actually is.

 

[friend of stouby]

Rayleigh essex? if so id avoid essex autos and go GLYN HOPKIN, i dont think chadwell heath do the vans so it would have to be romford i reckon. haggle for a fiatforum discount

Are you a prophet Dave?

Phoned Essex Auto Group to ask for a quote that should have arrived 9 days ago, but nothing...
Did someone say there's a recession on at the moment and you have to grab any business you can?

 

[Peter James]

Are you a prophet Dave?

Phoned Essex Auto Group to ask for a quote that should have arrived 9 days ago, but nothing...
Did someone say there's a recession on at the moment and you have to grab any business you can?

You have to let them know you are a serious buyer to get them interested. If you have only phoned rather than taken the trouble to go in they might think you are not that serious. Tell them you have the cash and are ready to buy today if the price is competitive. Google quotes online and print them off to use as a bargaining tool, but don't be aggressive about it - remember if you are negotiating a low price they won't lose much by turning you away. Be pleasant and say I like you and would rather deal with you than them but your price needs to be competitive.
But it may be they still cannot get near the online quotes - which are usually for old unsold stock / cancelled orders - because they can only do a new factory order.

 

[moodrater]

It makes me wonder whether this new idea of never even checking the gearbox oil level, or changing the oil, is part of the problem?

The long service intervals and no change routines aren't designed for longevity, they are designed to sell vans to fleet managers and bean counters counting the cost of servicing who will be offloading at low miles or before the end of warranty period anyway. From fiats point of view the vast majority of failures will occur outside the standard warranty period so they don't care.

Every gearbox will wear, everyone crashes the gears accidentally from time to time. Wear particles which will accelerate wear its a vicious cycle. £40 of quality synthetic oil every 30-50k miles is a lot less hassle and expense than a gearbox failure why wouldn't people change it.

 

[friend of stouby]

You have to let them know you are a serious buyer to get them interested. If you have only phoned rather than taken the trouble to go in they might think you are not that serious. Tell them you have the cash and are ready to buy today if the price is competitive. Google quotes online and print them off to use as a bargaining tool, but don't be aggressive about it - remember if you are negotiating a low price they won't lose much by turning you away. Be pleasant and say I like you and would rather deal with you than them but your price needs to be competitive.
But it may be they still cannot get near the online quotes - which are usually for old unsold stock / cancelled orders - because they can only do a new factory order.

Peter, you make some good points most of which I tried to counter with my phone call.

I can't call in as I'm in France until the end of October, but have assured the sales manager I can put everything in place re decision and deposit payment from where I am.

I am also an existing customer with a record with the company, although not for new van sales.

Yes I did mention I had cash and I knew the exact spec I wanted, don't know how to be more serious.

I agree there are a number of conservative or suspicious sales people that would find it hard to do business via phone and email, but three other companies did manage to give me detailed quotes and one is getting my deposit money tomorrow,

It is their option as to how they field enquiries, my point was there are very few businesses in the current financial climate who can afford to disgard potential customers, even if they think the enquiry isn't too serious.

 

[Peter James]

Ah I see. But if you have an exact spec it will likely have to be a new factory order, for which you won't get the prices quoted on the internet - they tend to be for old unregistered stock, I even managed to get another £400 off that because the dealer was desperate to meet his target before the end of August. I also wanted an L3 H2 but took an L4 H2 at a lower price because thats what they had in stock as a cancelled order. I was glad I did because I find the extra 2 cubic metres of space at the back very useful, and its bigger wheels and brakes and heavier axle loads more efficient. (the L4 only comes in the 'Heavy' version with bigger (16") wheels to accommodate the bigger brakes, can be plated at 3.5 tonnes or 4 tonnes)

 

[optimist]

I see you have bought 3.5 ton vehicle Peter. Not exactly sure but there is an issue with driving licences if under or older a certain age for driving this weight of vehicle.

 

[optimist]

Should read over certain age.

 

[Peter James]

It just happened to be the 3.5 tonne plated version as most of them are. I have a licence for all Goods Vehicles so that wouldn't be a problem. But I understand when you have them plated over 3.5 tonnes its a different MOT test, costs more for insurance, & some roads have bans on goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, especially on the continent. The road tax is a bit less for private goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes!! but then tax rates never did make much sense to me.

 

[Crossingkeeper]

But I understand when you have them plated over 3.5 tonnes its a different MOT test,

My understanding is that as long as the van is a motorhome then it can be tested as a class 4 regardless of weight (not sure if this still applies if it is over 7.5 tonnes)

 

[moodrater]

My understanding is that as long as the van is a motorhome then it can be tested as a class 4 regardless of weight (not sure if this still applies if it is over 7.5 tonnes)

http://www.ukmotorhomes.net/motorhome-mot.shtml

Seems only an issue if you have a garage with a motorbike / tools or summat they can claim its a living van.

Over 3.5tonnes in ireland goes through the hgv lane for testing, was watching one go through between two coaches - it was like the baby elephant in the herd. The extractor funnel for the smoke test is nearly the same size as the van lol

 

[Crossingkeeper]

http://www.ukmotorhomes.net/motorhome-mot.shtml

Seems only an issue if you have a garage with a motorbike / tools or summat they can claim its a living van.

Over 3.5tonnes in ireland goes through the hgv lane for testing, was watching one go through between two coaches - it was like the baby elephant in the herd. The extractor funnel for the smoke test is nearly the same size as the van lol

Thanks for the link, it's obviously a can of worms and I wonder if the terms 'living vans' & 'garages' are there to catch the racing boys who do high mileages at high speeds

When I first bought my 3850kg van (with garage!) I spent some time researching a Class VII station with easy access and a good attitude only to find my usual friendly garage could test it as a Class IV, and I've just been reminded that it's due again