Very large drop in new cars sales

Dan29

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Yes, but I bet the drop in second hand prices is to do with the vehicle tax changes. Not all are affected, only the ones which are going to cost an arm and another appendage to run.

Yes although often the price drop on big cars, big-engined cars and anything vaguely sporty is completely out of proportion - e.g. a drop of £2,000 on a car that's seen a £100pa tax rise seems a bit much to me.

StevieJ

ad9898 wrote: »

I think that a lot of what we are seeing in the economy as a whole, not just the car industry is a lack of mew.

I don't think it can be underestimated how much this type of thing fuelled peoples lifestyles.

So they were mewing all over Europe, I wasn't aware of that

lostinrates

Dan29 wrote: »

Yes although often the price drop on big cars, big-engined cars and anything vaguely sporty is completely out of proportion - e.g. a drop of £2,000 on a car that's seen a £100pa tax rise seems a bit much to me.

But surely its not just th tax but variable (with until recently a tendancy to higher) fuel costs? And then when you factor in th extra insurance costs for on of these it starts to seem mor expensive. With other aras of life getting ither more expensive or supplying less income then I can see why a little car seems much better value.

Max_Headroom_3

chrisandanne wrote: »

I have to wonder about what the new car salespeople are earning these days.

Mate of mine works for a big "plate glass" main dealer.

I believe his basic salary is about £10K, might even be slightly less.

He reckons to normally make three times that when times were good.

Dan29

lostinrates wrote: »

But surely its not just th tax but variable (with until recently a tendancy to higher) fuel costs? And then when you factor in th extra insurance costs for on of these it starts to seem mor expensive. With other aras of life getting ither more expensive or supplying less income then I can see why a little car seems much better value.

I agree that fuel costs also loom larger in people's minds than they used to, although I'm not sure insurance prices have necessarily risen particularly quickly recently.

I just think the public have overreacted to the road tax increase specifically, and that some people (judging by the car park where I work) have been seduced by marketing and traded in their old car for something like a Blue Motion which may be more economical but is costing them more in total due to depreciation.

Max_Headroom_3

I think some people just like an excuse to spend money and buy a new car.

To do it on the basis that they'll "save money" is the best excuse of all although they're often saving hundreds whilst losing thousands in depreciation and extra finance interest.

bo_drinker

Probably why there are 2 manufacturers left in the WRC and Honda are out of F1. Others will follow.

mr.broderick

Max_Headroom wrote: »

Mate of mine works for a big "plate glass" main dealer.

I believe his basic salary is about £10K, might even be slightly less.

He reckons to normally make three times that when times were good.

Don't know a car salesman who earned less than 25k last year, i earned 36k, chap at another one of our branches £52k