PI vs AD - New Car Buyer

[Damien]

Hi all,

 

I would like to seek everyone's opinion between getting Merc from PI or C & C



Parallel Importers -

• Pros
  • Tend to offer better specs vs AD
  • Lower cost vs similar model from AD
  • More Flexible Loans
• Cons
  • Warranty Concerns - Higher probability of poor after sales service vs AD
  • Servicing concerns (e.g. workshop might not have the proper diagnostic tools or proper training to service vehicle)
  • After sales service (Usually not as good as AD)
  • Car might not be made for Tropical climate

 

Authorized Dealers (See & See) -

• Pros
  • Warranty - Better after sales as company has a brand & reputation to maintain
  • Servicing - Generally better as engineers are properly trained and have proper diagnostic tools
  • After sales service (Better than PI to maintain brand reputation)
  • Car is usually made for tropical climate
• Cons
  • Specs offered not as good as PI
  • Higher vs same model from PI
  • Loans not as flexible vs PI

 

Any other points to add on? Will do updates to the original post (28 Feb 2015).
Seems like the main points are Cost vs Warranty and Servicing.

 

Thanks!

[blackmercs]

For me i m looking at total purchase package. So cost is top of my list.

[denwee]

My 2 cents ...

Last time price differential much bigger but now unless you looking at the top end models, price gap is not really very big

But off cos one consideration is See n See hv to comply with MAS on loans ... PI are more flexible as they more lobang.

Do also remember, when u sell subsequently, what u save now u aso hv to give back as discount in resale mkt vis a vis See n See merc

[NigelTan]

I bought my C200 from PI, OMV is $42,000, same car with SeeNSee is about $37,000

SeeNSee gave me 5,000 lower trade in than PI eventually offered me

but of course, I got no golf bag, no welcome gift, no service credit

I got Built-in GPS though which at that point SeeNSee don't offer

 

Last but not least, yes, after Sales Service sucks for PI

I did a software reset recently, the car is less than 6mths old, they charge me $400, not FOC

[arkaneslayer]

What is a software reset?

[Varero]

I bought my E coupe from PI. Main reason are cost n specs. The car I bought has very high specs n if I were to get from See, u have to add on a lot for these options. Moreover for cars on indent from See rather than their stocks or shipment coming in, they don't give attractive discount.

We see a lot of news that PI collect money runaway or never register car for buyers. To play safe, buy from a "Case Trust" certified PI.

Lastly of course service...which will never be compared to See. Sometimes certain parts have to wait as they don't keeps one spare parts, less sophisticated diagnostic tools, etc when u buy PI, u have to be prepared for these. But my PI come n collect my car n send back to me after service...this one I like....

[Damien]

Thanks for the sharing. See n see seems to be offering good overtrade, competitive to PI.

[blackmercs]

Before u ponk your hard earn money make sure the PI or used car dealer got the good title of the car. If they cant produce the proper document, walk away. Alot of people got scam nowadays, so becareful.

[Angchug]

For overtrade you are given a choice to sell to your own dealer and CnC still topup for you.

I got a $8k overtrade. I sold my car to a dealer and CnC topup $8k.

[solarvpower]

For overtrade you are given a choice to sell to your own dealer and CnC still topup for you.

I got a $8k overtrade. I sold my car to a dealer and CnC topup $8k.

 

Do you mean overtrade is real discount given to you or it will be added to your loan?

[Damien]

Hi Solarvpower,

 

It is an indirect discount given to your total purchase price when you have an old car to trade in.
If I'm not wrong, C&C would consider the overtrade if you have the ownership of the vehicle for 6 months.

 

 

 

Do you mean overtrade is real discount given to you or it will be added to your loan?

[Wishbone]

For overtrade you are given a choice to sell to your own dealer and CnC still topup for you.

I got a $8k overtrade. I sold my car to a dealer and CnC topup $8k.

 

 

That is odd...I always though overtrade is from CnC used car wing, not from CnC itself. Why will CnC used car wing give you overtrade when you did not sell them your car. Unless this is CnC discount masked as overtrade. 

[blackmercs]

That is odd...I always though overtrade is from CnC used car wing, not from CnC itself. Why will CnC used car wing give you overtrade when you did not sell them your car. Unless this is CnC discount masked as overtrade.

Yes i think so too maybe he got special deal?

[sunroof180]

overtrade is nothing more than a "pure cash" discount. Reason why they give it as "overtrade" is to mask the selling price of the car they report to LTA - CnC don't want to lower their brand premium vs BMW or similar makes. PA, PML uses the same "trick". Regardless of whether you trade your car in, the "discount/overtrade" applies to everyone, if you ask of course

[blackmercs]

Wow nowadays without trading your car overtrade is allow from See&See? Confirm? If yes, pm me the SE.

[jon]

3 years ago, I trade in my wife's old subaru for an additional overtrade price of 10k for a C class.

The subaru is under my wife name and not even mine name but they still allow.

Everything is possible.

[Wishbone]

When I brought my my c180K 3 years back, the listed price is $178K. The nett price I paid is $150K. The rest is offset by discounts and overtrade. All freebies and credits converted to cash. That time, I am only looking at the $$$, no need for freebies. However, there are some freebies which are quite standard like solar film and car mat. I did managed to offset these off, but end of the day, still got them free. Sometimes, I guess it also depends on the SE.

[Damien]

The overtrade is from dealer company associated with See&See as per what Wishbone mentioned, the used car wing.

[serenade]

I was issued recall notice by C&C to replace a rear seat belt buckle. As I did not act, C&C called me and made an appointment for me at their service centre. While there they also scheduled a software update to take place, followed by converting tires to nitrogen filled FOC.

 

The software upgrade was significant. Gear changes more definite and better engine response. Before the software upgrade, the 7G-tronic tended to hunt for gear at our mid speeds, cant make up mind to change down or up. After upgrade, it holds gears longer.

 

I cannot see a PI keeping track of software versions or recall notices as they are issued. Especially when the PI cars are UK spec and the factory will send upgrade notices to UK.     

 

Nitrogen filled tires improved the ride and grip around corners.