will used car prices fall further, possible bargins?

hethmar

I rather like the new shape Volvo. The brand seems to have taken a dive over the last 20 years, it used to be up there with Merc at one time for middle-classness, didnt it.

hethmar

piggeh wrote: »

Awesome Good news for when I sell the fabia next week then!

Pigg - Ive had my fabia for coming up to 4 years now and its been a brilliant little car, love it to bits but OH complains it doesnt have the street cred of a VW - sickeningly stupid but I guess he is right and Im probably going back to a Golf in April.

epz_2

Really2 wrote: »

Same here virgin atlantic dumped a load so great time to snap one up. (i presume you have the geartronic i took me a bit of time to get used to auto and the electric handbrake)

Love it expensive on short journys (around 31MPG) but can achive over 55mpg on an over 60mph run.

I had the only known fault happen on the first day. The auto wipers and alarm share the same sensor and interfear with each other ocationaly (same frequancy or somthing)
So your wipers go mad and stay on after you park or the alarm keeps going off.

As I said known fault so replaced strait away by volvo with the updated part.

But no other problems It's an amazing car for the money and I have the earbleading dyn-audio stereo in it which is great I just wish I could have it my living room.

PS the seats have got to be the best of any car.

Cheers the auto shouldn't be a prob as the 7 has something similar, has yours got the ipod/usb connection i recon it will be pretty sweet having a few hundred gigs of music on shuffle.

lincroft1710

hethmar - stick with Fabia, the Golf will cost more to run and probably less reliable.

Really2

epz wrote: »

Cheers the auto shouldn't be a prob as the 7 has something similar, has yours got the ipod/usb connection i recon it will be pretty sweet having a few hundred gigs of music on shuffle.

It as. I think you will love it. The 5 cylinder is so smooth for a diesel (and nice sort of throaty sound over 3K revs)

My mate as had an A8 and a E series and we both agree for looks interior and spec the Volvo seems to be a great car.

I have had a 440, 85- and an S40 T4 when I was younger and never had a problem. I hope their traditional build quality is still there but it definatly feels well screwed together and of high quality.

Really2

hethmar wrote: »

I rather like the new shape Volvo. The brand seems to have taken a dive over the last 20 years, it used to be up there with Merc at one time for middle-classness, didnt it.

I think they went out to compete with the rep market instead of the higher end stuff like merc etc.
That was a mistake in my eyes but it looks like they are pitching them self as a more "high end" brand again.

hethmar

lincroft1710 wrote: »

hethmar - stick with Fabia, the Golf will cost more to run and probably less reliable.

lin Id love to as honestly its been a brilliant little car, so handy for my dogs and all the shopping. OH uses it for dumping rubbish and carrying stuff he wouldnt put in a better car LOL. But I do have to say that when I drive along I tend to notice other fabia drivers have grey perms or flat caps (depending on sex) and it does put me off a bit. I know its terribly snobby but in the Golf I feel cool and trendy in the wonderful fabia I feel a bit sensible and boring.

I know the fabia is basically a VW between the Polo and Golf but its more reliable because the Chek workforce who make Skoda are apparently a lot more conscientious than the VW workforce, even though they are the same components in both cars.

We used the Fabia yesterday to drive the 120 miles to see one of the kids. Even OH said on the way back - "Whoa, Im doing 80 and I didnt notice because it runs so smoothly". Thats a real compliment from a man who drives a BMW usually.

ukjoel

To be honest most retailers I know are focusing much more on used cars than new cars.

The reason for this is if you want a new Ford you phone 5 dealers. All have access to the same car and eventually someone gives it to you at cost +£100 just to do a deal. No money in that game so they dont want to play anymore.

If you buy a used car then chances are that the spec you want, with those miles and that colour, there is probably only one car like that in 50 miles and the dealer knows it too. Hence he can make a bit more money.

Earlier comments about Avonmouth being a car park are 100% spot on. So retailers and in particular car salesman are focusing on the front of their lot rather than the showroom.

piggeh

hethmar wrote: »

lin Id love to as honestly its been a brilliant little car, so handy for my dogs and all the shopping. OH uses it for dumping rubbish and carrying stuff he wouldnt put in a better car LOL. But I do have to say that when I drive along I tend to notice other fabia drivers have grey perms or flat caps (depending on sex) and it does put me off a bit. I know its terribly snobby but in the Golf I feel cool and trendy in the wonderful fabia I feel a bit sensible and boring.

I know the fabia is basically a VW between the Polo and Golf but its more reliable because the Chek workforce who make Skoda are apparently a lot more conscientious than the VW workforce, even though they are the same components in both cars.

We used the Fabia yesterday to drive the 120 miles to see one of the kids. Even OH said on the way back - "Whoa, Im doing 80 and I didnt notice because it runs so smoothly". Thats a real compliment from a man who drives a BMW usually.

I know what you mean about the image side and the reliability side. When I bought mine (for £4k with 40k miles on the clock) I bought it for reliability and economy above image etc (at the age of 25 meh). Two years on and circumstances change. I have had 2 good years out of it, very very reliable, only a few bits needed doing and only small repair bills. It cruises at 80/90 (allegedly) and the torque is pretty nice to have as well.

However, circumstances are now that I really want to get something a bit more exciting. Now is more the time to do it than when I'm older, so even though a petrol coupe will cost more in fuel (not much difference on insurance because of NCD etc), I feel it's worth a switch. Always a gamble. However, to bring it back on topic a little.. I reckon economical cars may hold their value a bit more than others at the moment, so it could be an even more opportune moment to switch over.

themanbearpig

The only way to properly check if prices are falling is by going to the main source; car auctions.

This guy on pistonheads posts prices for the cars every week:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=634631&nmt=Auction%20Report%20#10:%20Manheim%20Colchester%2015%20January%2009


Basically the auction prices seem to be holding now, after a large drop in december 2008. So the car dealers are gaining confidence that things are going to pick up. Seem like a case of car dealers not being quite as clued up about the general economy as more professional industries, so are just going on hunch that things can only get better, and buying at slightly above book.

All this means is for the short term is that prices will remain relatively high, as they have bought at high prices in a shrinking market. Eventually when demand falls low enough, they will be forced to drop their prices, and will probably lose money/go bust!

Cars which seem to have been hit particularly badly by falling prices are large saloons, and cars with uneconomical engines. Range rovers seem to be holding up, but the volvo XC90 is dropping like stone. Oh and all vauxhalls are worth about 1p.

But of course we don't live in a free market economy, where the invisable hand creates an equilibrium. The goverment may introduce its special car loans to prop up the falling market (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7820633.stm).