To Buy from AD or PI ??

[Guest ckchua]

Hi there, I'm considering changing my C180K to an E200 CGI - any advice if one to go to AD or PI ? Obvious concerns are :-

1) AD - higher price (approx 10% I think)

2) PI - what if the PI close down - warranty ?

3) PI tends to have a different specs from AD - so the price comparison is not really true. In one case, by the time I added back what was missing from the PI unit, the price is almost the same (including the risk one is taking from a PI point of view)

4) Servicing

5) Resale value afterwards

Any comments or suggestions appreciated.

Thanks.

[Guest kepiting1sg]

ckchua wrote:

Hi there, I'm considering changing my C180K to an E200 CGI - any advice if one to go to AD or PI ? Obvious concerns are :-

1) AD - higher price (approx 10% I think)

2) PI - what if the PI close down - warranty ?

3) PI tends to have a different specs from AD - so the price comparison is not really true. In one case, by the time I added back what was missing from the PI unit, the price is almost the same (including the risk one is taking from a PI point of view)

4) Servicing

5) Resale value afterwards

Any comments or suggestions appreciated.

Thanks.

Click before

What you Need to know - When Buying A PI Car.

IMHO,

Do as much homework as possible to do the comparison bet PI & AD.

Yes! Some PI has this & dun have that and AD has that but non have this.

U could be right with some PIs by the time U add up the bottom line dun look look much diff.

[Guest Raskie]

ckchua wrote:

1) AD - higher price (approx 10% I think)

2) PI - what if the PI close down - warranty ?

3) PI tends to have a different specs from AD - so the price comparison is not really true. In one case, by the time I added back what was missing from the PI unit, the price is almost the same (including the risk one is taking from a PI point of view)

4) Servicing

5) Resale value afterwards

Any comments or suggestions appreciated.

Thanks.

Seems (1) is always the reason why PI comes into frame but if you have doubts over (2)-(5) and unable to convince yourself, stick with AD.

Put it this way, assume PI and AD has the same spec, same price, same resale value and also PI offers same reputable w/s that is well received, who will you go for ?

My Take:

1) AD - higher price

Yes

2) PI - what if the PI close down - warranty ?

Choose a bigger/established PI, $ more? but no one can guaranteed you a PI will not close down

3) PI tends to have a different specs from AD - so the price comparison is not really true. In one case, by the time I added back what was missing from the PI unit, the price is almost the same (including the risk one is taking from a PI point of view)

For conti cars, all options ARE killers ... for the fun of it, take a look at Porsche's option list vs $

4) Servicing

Lots of w/s with varying opinions

5) Resale value afterwards

if (1) is 10% more, PI resale should be 10% less ?

[Guest ckchua]

Many thanks to all. Great info.

[Guest Gasman]

Bros

Correct me if I am wrong.

If you buy from AD, and you dont service with AD, then the warranty is compromised.

AD charges almost $500 for a simple oil change and oil filter for W211! I can do it for half the price outside.

Am I right to say that?

[Guest ckchua]

You are probably right - except most of the AD now tend to bundle in "service credits" which I'm sure is part of their pricing - so the buyer is paying for it either way. I believe someone like Jag actually gives 3 years of free service. Given the typical car owners in Singapore, they tend to change their cars every 3 years anyway

[Guest ACSLK]

ckchua wrote:

Hi there, I'm considering changing my C180K to an E200 CGI - any advice if one to go to AD or PI ? Obvious concerns are :-

1) AD - higher price (approx 10% I think)

2) PI - what if the PI close down - warranty ?

3) PI tends to have a different specs from AD - so the price comparison is not really true. In one case, by the time I added back what was missing from the PI unit, the price is almost the same (including the risk one is taking from a PI point of view)

4) Servicing

5) Resale value afterwards

Any comments or suggestions appreciated.

Thanks.

Buy from AD (safer) after all already spend so much (why spend to stress)

cheers

[Guest Gasman]

For your info, I used to own a Ford Mondeo. There was 5 year warranty.

The Servicing with AD cost $600 for a simple service!

Failing which, they will void your warranty and they are very strict.

Sometimes, you calculate, with all these expensive servicing, its cheaper to heck the warranty.

[Guest Raskie]

but if buy marque, then i believe we want our service to be top-notch right ?

depends on individual, some people are very fussy and particular and no one but AD can touch their cars

some dun give a hoot and slap on mods once their cars are delivered !

Ad spends more on other aspect of the brand and hence their higher service charge. Marketing, advertising, training, quality showroom with amenities and workshops etc etc etc.

when you are buying a Lambo or Ferrari, would you ask and be overly concerned about the servicing cost and fuel consumption ?

[Guest Luci Ride]

ckchua wrote:

Hi there, I'm considering changing my C180K to an E200 CGI - any advice if one to go to AD or PI ? Obvious concerns are :-

1) AD - higher price (approx 10% I think)

2) PI - what if the PI close down - warranty ?

3) PI tends to have a different specs from AD - so the price comparison is not really true. In one case, by the time I added back what was missing from the PI unit, the price is almost the same (including the risk one is taking from a PI point of view)

4) Servicing

5) Resale value afterwards

Any comments or suggestions appreciated.

Thanks.

(1) If diff only 10% & specs same, then buy AD.

(2) PI doesn't gives warranty, they buy Warrany fm wkshops but don't trust too much in these wkshops as some are 'crocs shops' :becky:

(3) Make sure PI sells you MIN 15-20% lower than AD plus Higher Specs than AD or else walk away & look for another PI. Make sure you tell PI max loan you'll take is 70% for 7 years if they insist on you taking loan for 'Sweet Deals', any more, walk away also.

(4) Depending on which MARQUE you are after, if it's POrsche/Audi/ Beemer then expect to pay S$10k 'Registeration Fees' before they work on your car plus lots of hassle. If it's Merc than S$500 & VW S$3k. If you intent to Mod engine "aggressively" & worried that Engine go 'POP", then PI car way to go, however most Marque AD also will not honor warranty if you do 'Light Modification' like Intakes/ ECU Mapping/ Exhaust but these could be stripped & replaced with originals when making warranty claims (Catch 22, make sure when you do General servicing, mods parts are not on your car :becky:)

If you want to maintainstock then AD better, but POint 3 applies 1st