Driving green could take you into the red

Car makers and their franchised dealer networks are facing a dilemma; they want to sell “green” cars that help the planet and reduce co2 emissions but in reality are still failing to appeal successfully to the majority of the car buying public and are thus still some way from getting buyers to consider them in any great numbers.

I wouldn’t presume to know the overall affect that dirty cars have on the environment and whilst I think most of us appreciate that something must be done, the products on offer should be far superior and more desirable than they are at present if the average beleaguered car driver is to respond favourably.

It seems that the car driver is clobbered from every angle, whether it be an increase in prices or (more…)

Kia exceeding expectations

In the past here on MTI we have tended not to do too many car reviews. This was mainly because we thought the web was awash with them and our contributors preferred to voice their opinion about what they saw as other more pressing matters. Despite this the reviews we have done have all proved popular so we know there is an appetite for them.

At a recent editorial meeting it was decided that we should carry out more car reviews but with a difference. We would not use the approach of a somewhat cynical motoring journalist and certainly not from that of an equally cynical car retiling professional. What we wanted to do was take normal cars that most people might end up driving and review them from the perspective of a real owner and driver. (more…)

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Q couldn’t make it up!

We always scratch our heads when we don’t receive good service, OK we probably don’t we just get upset, but for the purposes of this article we scratch our heads. A situation which happens far too regularly and doesn’t seem to go away maybe illustrates why getting the service part right is so vital.

Here’s the story, see if it sounds familiar; a customer who just happens to have a few quid decides he wants to change his 4wd. He currently drives an X5 and quite fancies another one although he is pretty open minded for suggestions on alternatives. He goes on-line to do a spot of research and now his wife is involved they decide they could consider the Audi Q7. Obviously this is something we would encourage as it’s always good to see 2 heavyweights up against each other – may the best man win. (more…)

Order takers stand aside – it’s time to get back to selling cars

As September approaches dealers are scratching their heads thinking about how to encourage sales, which have been affected by various events. Last year the scrappage scheme was in full flow and was being marketed very well by the government and for many dealers it basically led to a procession of what we in the trade call ‘hands up ‘ customers coming into the showrooms and signing on the dotted line.

The volumes achieved therefore masked the underlying situation which was bound to happen once scrappage ended i.e. we are still in the middle of a period of economic uncertainty and, with factories around the world having reduced production and losing staff, it’s made buying a new car and having it delivered in a reasonable timeframe almost impossible in some cases.

Dealers are telling us that taking the scrappage scenario out of the equation the order bank is not disastrous for the remainder of 2010, however because of the extended lead times – sometimes as long as 6 months – September has just not “happened” so far. (more…)

Will VW say adiós to Seat?

How much has changed at Seat in the last 60 years? Not a great deal it appears since its humble beginnings. A tie-up between the Spanish government and Fiat saw Spain’s first car manufacturer take off. By re-badging the Fiat 600 and later the Panda, Seat struck a chord with cheap and affordable motoring and by 1967 Fiat increased its shareholding from 6% to 36%.

Production hit an all-time high with 282,000 cars rolling out of its Barcelona plant whilst the 70’s saw Seat branch out with the launch of Lancia’s Beta Coupe and HPE a-la Seat.

However, by the early 80’s Seat needed more investment but it seemed Fiat wasn’t prepared to budge and talks to try and seek the capital needed to keep it afloat began. Fiat eventually withdrew and without its Italian backer Seat desperately tried to forge on. (more…)

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