This won’t come as a surprise to any of our frequent customers – but at Duffy Motors we eat, drink and sleep cars.

We don’t just service and fix motors, we dream about them. And when we come home from a long day in the garage, we like to tinker with our cars.

It will come as no surprise that Russell, Lee and the team have owned a lot of cars over the years. And some of us have even had stints of selling cars. So we like to think that we know a bit about both sides of the process.

Below are our top tips for buying the best quality used car at the best price.

Always haggle

This first tip might sound obvious, but you’ve got to start somewhere. And remarkably haggling still doesn’t seem to occur to some people.

The key thing to remember is that haggling WORKS. You will have more or less success depending on who you are buying from, but speaking broadly I would say you’d get a cheaper price in seven out of ten attempts. Even with the most minor attempt at arm twisting.

Dealers prices are never fixed and there are all sorts of things can make a difference to them.

Do your homework

Knowledge is the second most important ingredient when you’re trying to get the best deal, after courage.

Before you enter into the haggle, you should already know what car you want to buy. Read some reviews or chat to somebody who’s car judgement you trust (we’re always happy to offer advice to our customers) and narrow your options down to one.

Once you know the make, model and year you want to buy, get a price estimate with a service like Parkers, or browse AutoTrader for similar listings.

Again, it might sound obvious, but when choosing a car remember that you will pay a premium on cars that are reliable. If you are selecting your next car based entirely on price then be warned that the cheapest makes and models might also be the most unreliable.

Private seller or dealer

Private sellers are usually riskier than going to dealers, but you will usually get a better deal. Be war though, that problem car that they are desperate to get rid of could quickly turn into your problem car that you are desperate to get rid of.

If you are buying from a private seller then it is worth trying to organise a test drive with them. Sometimes customers ask us if they can bring a prospective car in for us to have a look at and we are always happy to help.

Be friendly

It can be tempting to treat the salesman like your enemy. And in this case that might be true, but you should still be friendly and polite.

Don’t reveal your budget

DON’T TELL THE DEALER YOUR BUDGET. Especially not your top limit.

If you are in doubt, silence is always the best course of action.

Don’t tell the dealer if you are paying cash

This might sound counter-intuitive because cash often equals a better price. But dealers make more profit from finance deals, so let the salesman negotiate on that basis.

When the deal is done (or close to done) you can always refuse the finance then.

Many car owners are still unaware that they can take their new vehicle to get serviced at an independent garage, even if it is still under the dealership warranty.

This means that thousands of people who own cars less than three years old are paying a lot more than they should to have their cars serviced.

Since 2003, EU competition law has stopped car manufacturers from forcing owners to only use them for servicing and repair work.

This should have stopped the big manufacturers from abusing their market position. But often, dealers still warn buyers that their warranty will be void if they use another garage for their servicing. This is incorrect and in some cases is illegal.

If your vehicle is under warranty (new warranties usually last for three years) then it can still be serviced at an independent garage like Duffy Motors, without invalidating the conditions of the dealership warranty.

As long as the service is carried out to the manufacturers specifications, using approved parts and techniques, then the vehicle’s warranty will remain valid.

Along with other good independent garages (find one close to you by using the Good Garage Scheme), Duffy Motors works within all the main manufacturer service specifications. And we have never had any issues with manufacturers refusing to honour the warranty on a vehicle after we have worked on it.

We will only use parts and fluids approved by your vehicles manufacturer, and we will update your service record is in line with the industry standard and can stand up to dealership scrutiny.

Five big reasons to go to your independent garage instead of a dealership

Better price

The biggest reason to choose an independent garage over a dealer service is because you get a better price. One of the major reasons that many of our new car warranty customers choose Duffy Motors is because they know we offer a much better price than most of the dealers in the area.

How much these customers save depends on the type and specification of their vehicle. On high performance cars like Audis, Mercedes and BMWs we can generally offer a discount of 30-40% of what a local dealership would charge.

For smaller cars the discounts are lower, but still significant. On a Ford KA, for example, we estimate that we are 20% cheaper than the local dealers.

Better service

Good service is important to our customers. We put a lot of effort into our customer relationships, and we live and die by the loyalty of our clients.

You shouldn’t take our word for it though. We have over 400 independent reviews on the Good Garage Scheme website, and a 99+% positive feedback score.

More convenient locations

Independent garages like Duffy Motors are more likely to be in a convenient location for their customers. Unlike dealers, that often choose to locate in cheaper premises on the very outskirts of towns and cities, independent garages choose to set up in more convenient locations where their customers can see them and get to them easily.

At Duffy Motors, we are very proud of our Manchester city centre location. We are close to major transport routes, and popular business districts like Spinningfields.  Located in the shadow of the Beetham Tower, we are also close to Deansgate rail and tram stations so it is easy for our customers to drop their vehicles off on the way to the office and collect them at the end of the working day.

Support local businesses

Using independent garages is also a fantastic way of supporting local businesses. A lot of the main dealers hold lucrative contracts with some of the world’s largest motor manufacturers. Independent garages are still family-owned and often have deep routes within their communities.

Duffy Motors has been established for over 50 years. We initially had a site in Salford before moving into the city centre in the 1980s. We wholeheartedly believe in supporting local businesses and the local economy.

Honest advice

Dealerships and some of the bigger garages are renowned for offering bad advice and trying to upsell wherever possible. Customer relationships don’t mean as much to them and they don’t think much about trying to squeeze a few hundred extra pounds out of a deal.

At Duffy Motors, we subscribe to a different model. We always try to offer the best advice wherever possible. Whether its advice on what oil to use for your vehicle, or how to change a tyre – we are always happy to help.

We have even had loyal customers phone up for suggestions on what car to buy next.

Some of our feedback on the Good Garage Scheme

(Updated 6th October 2021)

At Duffy Motors we are incredibly proud of our location, right in the centre of Manchester. We’re really easy to find, just off Great Bridgewater Street and Deansgate and only a short drive away from major road links like the Mancunian Way, Princess Road and Chester Road.

Our city centre location, right underneath the Gmex Centre means that there’s a huge selection of things to do while you wait for an MOT or service.

Go to work

The vast majority of our return customers like to leave their car with use while they go to work in the city centre. They’ll drop their car off in the morning, head to work on foot or on public transport, and return to collect their car in the evening on the way home.

The garage is in easy walking distance of dozens of office blocks including busy business districts like Spinningfields.

Deansgate tram and train stations, with good links to Piccadilly and Media City, are just a five-minute walk away. And there are loads of good bus links on our doorstep too. Use the Citymapper app to plan your commute.

And the best part about leaving your car with us? You can avoid those expensive city centre car park fees.

Do some shopping or catch a film

The Great Northern Warehouse is the first thing you see when you pull up to Duffy Motors in your car. This huge shopping centre has enough shops and eateries to keep anyone satisfied for an hour or two.

You could even catch the latest blockbuster at the Odeon Cinema located inside the shopping centre.

Afternoon tea, with a view

Built 10 years ago, and visible from many of the major approaches into the city, the Beetham Tower has come to dominate Manchester’s skyline. It is also just a stone’s throw distance from our under-arch garage.

Located on the 23^rd floor of the tower, Cloud 23 is one of Manchester’s most exclusive night time spots. Daytime visitors can also enjoy the towers lofty pleasures with their Traditional Afternoon Tea, costing £23.00 per person.

Sample one of the 200 whiskies on offer at the Briton’s Protection

If you are a bit more down-to-earth, or you fancy something a little stronger, then this local pub is the place for you. It’s one of the oldest and most unspoilt in the city, with high quality local ales on tap and a 200 strong selection of whiskey bottles to choose from.

Make sure you have a designated driver if you mean to pick up your car afterwards!

Who’s tried our st George’s barrel by @englishwhisky? pic.twitter.com/y6zhb7CHoR

— Britons Protection (@BPManchester) April 27, 2016

Visit the Museum of Science and Industry

Also a short walk away, the Museum of Science and Industry tells a story of the industrial revolution which is inextricably linked to Manchester. Located inside the oldest surviving passenger train station, in the heart of the world’s first industrial city, the museum is a must see for anyone interested in science, technology and local history.

Get lost in Castlefield Urban Heritage park

In the same district as the Museum of Science and Industry, the Castlefield Urban Heritage Park is a slice of serenity away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This spot is great for a wander down by the canals and narrow boats, watch out for the geese though. They can be less than friendly this time of year.

Have a really fine dining experience

If you want a fancy bite to eat while you wait then we can recommend The French restaurant in The Midland hotel. Run by Michelin star chef Simon Rogan, the hotel eatery is one of the city’s finest dining spots. Be warned though, it won’t be as easy to book in here as it is in Duffy Motors.

Gordo’s Week: the French at The Midland @TheFrenchSR cor pic.twitter.com/o1w7nIayH0

— Mark Garner (@GordoManchester) February 13, 2016

Absorb some knowledge in one of Manchester’s fine libraries

Manchester has some fantastic libraries and we are lucky enough to be within walking distance of two of them. The most visually striking is the John Rylands library, just off Deansgate. The gothic structure was erected just before the turn of the 20^th century and is great for architecture nuts.

The recently restored Manchester Central Library, also within walking distance, almost always has a good exhibition on.