What Car? Q&A - How much discount can I get?

Q: I am in the market for a five-door Audi A3. My Audi dealer (in London) says his margins are 6% on the cost of a new car, so is unable to discount much.

I believe it is more likely to be in the region of 15%. This is the discount I achieved on my Golf GTI many years ago. Can you clarify this situation?
Michael Taylor

A: Dealer margins, and the discounts available as a result, vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and over the course of the year (let alone over many years).

So while you may have got 15% on a Volkswagen Golf many years ago, that doesn't mean you're going to get the same on an Audi A3 now.

Our latest Target Prices - the most we think you should pay for a new car - show the dealer is being stingy, however. Our researchers and mystery shoppers reckon you should get at least a 7% discount, so his margin is certainly more than 6%.

You should be able to beat this 7% discount target and get a bigger saving, but certainly don't accept anything less.

If you think you might do better on a Volkswagen Golf, you'd be wrong. Current Target Price discounts stand at 6% on this range. For more information on Target Price, click here.