February 4, 2012
Car Buying Guide
With our plans afoot (albeit fictitious), about resurrecting and running SAAB, the Geneva Motor Show in March would be a perfect platform to announce our future plans. In the meantime..... The Paragon Automotive board have already been reading through documents that detail the buy-out offer for SAAB. Our first plan is to pay the 100 million … [Read more...]
Car retailers are constantly looking at ways of improving the service they provide to their customers but also the perception of how people view the motor trade in general. The old adage is that if you have a good experience you may tell a few people, but if you have a bad one you tell everyone and with the growth of social networks it is perhaps … [Read more...]
With the end of January in sight many dealers are breathing a collective sigh of relief at the fact that there are indeed customers about with money to spend on cars. However it is clear that buyers are taking their time to choose a car and are being selective about where they are buying from. The price war is also hotting up with many … [Read more...]
Whilst many car manufacturers are predicting growth this year, the franchised dealer network is nervous at the prospect of having registrations forced upon them in order to enable their car making masters to achieve these growth forecasts. There has been much said in the trade press along the lines of it being hard in retail sales but there … [Read more...]
For car dealers and car buyers alike, getting the part-exchange right will be more vital this year than in recent times - given the likely dearth of retailable 3 year old examples. With the pivotal 3 year old sector some 500,000 units down customers wishing to trade-in for a new car may be sitting behind the wheel of a far more valuable asset … [Read more...]
The one upside of a downturn (see what I’ve done there?) is that the roads are less busy; well that’s the theory anyway. However I really have noticed in my journeys up and down this green and pleasant land that most of my hold ups seem to be for accidents rather than pure congestion and although I generally get to where I’m going to on time … [Read more...]
Car Dealers competing for less business is the likely outcome for 2012 as the downturn looks to have set in for a while yet. Maximising every enquiry will be a vital factor in the success of the business as a result. According to many in the industry car makers are likely to push for registrations putting a lot of pressure on the late plate … [Read more...]
One of the biggest challenges facing car dealers in 2012 is competing for a smaller piece of the pie in a shrinking market. With fewer cars and therefore less choice, dealers are going to have their work cut out to be the first choice for consumers with the money to actually buy a car. We often talk about how dealers are “upping the ante” … [Read more...]
The unseasonably mild weather in most places is putting some dealers in danger of static 4wd’s which they have bought at a premium in anticipation of the familiar snow which usually greets us at this time of year. The converse to this however is that convertibles are actually selling, although not in great numbers, for canny buyers who believe … [Read more...]
Decembers’ new car registration figures are in so who won the league? Who made it into Europe? Who got relegated? We can now take a look at the final table for 2011 and check the standings of the various top 20 manufacturers we have followed throughout the year in the Car Makers Premier League. As the SMMT themselves say 2011 was … [Read more...]
Well the mince pies are gone, the champagne bottles are empty, the gym membership has been renewed and the resolutions are already being broken. It’s well and truly back to the grindstone for car dealers and like many high street retailers there are some encouraging early reports of brisk business. It usually takes until perhaps the middle of … [Read more...]
‘When Paragon met.... SAAB’ The last twelve months for some car manufacturers could have easily deserved entry into one of our old “Death Watch series”. However after we had to pull the last one for “legal reasons”, I’ve come up with another idea; how many of us have always hankered after owning and running our very own car … [Read more...]
If the buzz we are hearing is to be believed then social media is set to play an ever increasing role in how car dealers do business in the coming year. The fact is that many dealers who used to think just signing up for a Facebook and Twitter account was some kind of silver bullet are now realising that it’s how these accounts are managed and … [Read more...]
As we welcome in 2012 it is worth reflecting on what a very challenging year in the motor trade 2011 was. It was a year which saw many dealerships suffering, some having to call in the administrators and some sadly going under completely. Many car buyers deciding to delay or cancel their decision to buy another car in favour of sticking with … [Read more...]
It’s likely that the next few months will be crucial when looking at the prospects for many car dealers in the UK. With showroom traffic at a 3 year low along with consumer confidence, there will need to be some radical new thinking and some real innovation to attract car buyers. It never ceases to amaze me that, unlike many retail businesses, … [Read more...]
I remember back in late 2008 when I wondered if the motor trade, as I knew it at least, would ever be the same again. The share prices of the big boys had fallen through the floor. It really felt like the end of the world was nigh and there were probably going to be some major casualties. Fast forward a couple of years and the situation may not … [Read more...]
Whilst speaking to many dealers recently, both franchised and independent, it is interesting the way in which the marketing of cars is constantly evolving. For example we are encountering many dealers who are becoming increasingly unhappy with the price hikes being introduced by Autotrader. Many are choosing to either limit the kind of cars … [Read more...]
Christmas is nearly upon us and some dealers are telling us that things are starting to turn around. Not a lot, it has to be said, but there are a few buyers out there who are looking for some festive bargains. There is a feeling that although January normally heralds the start of price rises, as the sales kick in and wholesale prices rise as … [Read more...]
Car buyers are now being very specific in their choice of used car, in a way usually reserved for ordering a new car to an exact spec. Dealers are saying that it’s not just colour it is now mileage parameters, exact spec and age. However once their precise requirements have been attained people are quite prepared to pay for the right … [Read more...]
Naming your car seems to be associated with girls rather than boys but I have to admit that, with all the new models on the road today seemingly designed by the same computer program, they all seem to merge into one. It sort of makes me hanker for the old days when I had to get underneath my mk 3 Cortina and bang the starter motor with a ball … [Read more...]
I’m a great believer in trying to present a positive attitude. I find myself at present switching the TV or radio off when the news comes on because I know 90% of it will be depressing and gloomy. Although I’m sure no on wants to be misled, it would be nice if someone could at least try and talk up what positives there may be, no matter how … [Read more...]
The fact that trading conditions have been tough this year (to say the least)and look set to be even tougher next year, car dealers need to be lean, mean, fighting machines to survive and without the precious commodity of customer footfall that is going to prove somewhat difficult. In advocating best practice and transparency in dealings with … [Read more...]
It’s time once more for the Car Makers Premier League where each and every month we examine the top 20 manufacturers by number of units registered and see just how they look when compared with the previous month. At the end of the year who will be crowned champion? Who will drop out of the top 20 as the year unfolds and which high achievers will … [Read more...]
The resilience of the motor trade never ceases to amaze me. When medicine needs to be taken we glug it down like a drunk at a free bar. At present it is fairly brutal out there and although many cars are still sought after and fetching a premium price others are either not selling at all or going for beans. Car buyers are being choosy, and … [Read more...]
Watch out the sales are coming early! Have you noticed that the sale signs are about even though Christmas is still over 3 weeks away? There are promotional banners up everywhere and DFS must be feeling a little put out seeing as they have the 52 week sale more than adequately covered up till now. On a serious note though, the trigger happy … [Read more...]
We are always looking for experienced writers who can write good original quality posts on motor-trade-insider.com. Please contact us if you would like us to consider you. Make sure you give us details of your own blog or a link to some articles you have written.Powered by WordPress · Copyright Motor Trade Insider © 2012
Press enquiries - Tel 0208 1444 328
