Well that’s it, there is no more, the end of scrappage and it was certainly good while it lasted. With what could end up with a total of 400,000 units purchased through the scheme I think most of us agree, as insidious an individual that the prince (sorry Lord) of darkness is, if this really was his idea then he is to be congratulated. The … [Read more...]
Scrappage scheme ends
March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The UK government's car scrappage scheme has officially come to an end after at least 330,000 cars have been sold through the incentive. The government estimates that 4,000 jobs with manufacturers and suppliers were supported by the scheme. "I am pleased to see scrappage has delivered the results we aimed for," said Business Secretary Lord … [Read more...]
Toyota will “respond faster and listen more carefully to customers”
March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Toyota has said it respond faster to complaints and will listen more carefully to customers after the recall of millions of cars worldwide over safety fears. It also said it would enlist the help of outside experts across the world. The carmaker made the pledge following the first meeting of its “global safety committee”, which has been set … [Read more...]
Geely complete deal with Ford for loss making Volvo
March 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Chinese car maker Geely has signed a deal to buy Volvo from Ford Motor Co. for $1.8bn (£1.2bn). The agreement, which was first announced in December, is the biggest overseas purchase by a Chinese car manufacturer. Geely’s chairman Li Shufu said "Today represents a milestone for Geely". Loss-making Volvo has been on the market since … [Read more...]
Car dealerships and the high cost of apathetic sales people
March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Oh dear, hot on the heels of our story the other day about the car dealer who hit back (literally) and the customer who carried out a dirty protest at the dealership comes the following tale of woe from an honest punter who just wanted to, believe it or not, buy a car. We have remarked recently about how hard certain salespeople are going to … [Read more...]
The car dealer who hit back
March 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
As you may be aware we have been bringing examples of bad dealers and their equally bad service but to balance it we need examples of bad buyers and this one may just fit the bill. Running your own business certainly has its ups and downs and making your own decisions but being ultimately responsible for your own success means that, at least … [Read more...]
Some car manufacturers poised to reduce new car prices
March 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
According to Glass's, some car manufacturers are poised to reduce the price of new cars in the UK in an effort to increase sales to company fleets and counteract a fall in registrations as the Scrappage Scheme ends. Company car taxation is a key driver for the price realignment, says Adrian Rushmore, Managing Editor at Glass's. "List prices … [Read more...]
Taking the temperature of the trade and fearing the budget
March 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Prices at auction seem to be showing no sign of slowing as good quality low mileage cars remain scarce, and dealers are already feeling the effects of the end of scrappage and wondering how they will fill the gap. Buyers need to look carefully over the coming weeks and months for manufacturers offering their dealers incentives to shift more … [Read more...]
Bargain of the Week – Mazda 6 MPS
March 20, 2010 By 2 Comments
Q-cars: Underrated on the outside, serious performers on the inside. There's been plenty over the years, some adored and others just getting a quick editorial line in a car magazine. This week's BOTW is one of the latter. Mazda has' been making great sports cars over the last twenty years yet when they released the MazdaSpeed moniker in the US back … [Read more...]
UK car production up 62.7% in February
March 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
UK car production increased sharply in February, figures have shown, rising 62.7% on the same month last year. It marks the fourth month in a row that output has seen a year-on-year increase, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive, said the figures were "encouraging" and … [Read more...]
Honda announces recall of 410,000 cars in the US
March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Japanese car manufacturer Honda has announced it is recalling 410,000 cars in the US because of complaints about their brakes. The recall is of 344,000 Odyssey models and 68,000 Element vehicles made between 2007 and 2008. Honda said it had received complaints of brake pedals that felt soft or gradually needed more pressure to work. The … [Read more...]
European new car sales up 3.2% in February
March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
European new car sales rose by 3.2% in February compared with February 2009, but fell almost 30% in Germany as its scrappage scheme ended. A total of 1,000,754 new passenger cars were registered in the 28 countries monitored by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Slumping sales in Germany were offset by gains in … [Read more...]
Female friendly garages take another step forward
March 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
In an industry with a serious image problem and where 80% of the workforce is male, the prospect of a garage visit is daunting for many women who worry about being patronised, ripped off and baffled by motoring jargon they don't understand. Whatever the reality this is a very real perception for many women, so much so that many females are … [Read more...]
January bad weather fails to freeze motor finance sales
March 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The latest figures released by the Finance and Leasing Association have revealed that the return of the 17.5% VAT rate and heavy snowfall impacted on sales in January, but consumer new car finance sales were still up almost a quarter on last year Consumers bought 23% more new cars using motor finance through dealers in January this year than in … [Read more...]
UK Government to loan GM Europe 270 million euros
March 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has announced a 300 million euros loan guarantee to General Motors Europe which will help secure the company's operations in Britain and the rest of Europe. The outline agreement follows detailed and highly complex talks between the Government and GM. The guarantee will be provided under the Government's … [Read more...]
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Car dealership customer service stinks!
Firstly those with a sensitive disposition should probably stop reading at the end of this first paragraph because what I am about to recount has a particularly unpleasant denouement but is definitely a tale that needs to be told. Before I start I should mention that this is a true story recounted to me the other day by a still clearly bemused … [Read more...]