A lot of talk...

mr.broderick

I have been browsing the threads for the last couple of weeks without actually giving much input myself.Since the downturn octoberish we have had 7 months now of crash talk, guessing crash percentages etc. I feel the storm is weakening and consumer confidence returning, i base this on a record month for us this month in the car trade, maybe we are just bucking the trend but i feel confidence is returning. I'm wondering if we are entering a period of stagnation, maybe 2 years. Was just thinking of the people in rented to be honest, who may find themselves living under the LL for a lot longer than expected, what are your views on this?

Kez100

I think cars are selling as people move over to more environmentally friendly alternatives - or should I say, cheaper to run.

I think car sales will be one of few businesses that stands to be relatively OK for that very reason (while fuel prices are rising as they are).

Generali

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7414303.stm

Inflation up, unemployment up, house sales down, retail sales down.

I rent.

Rather handily I just got myself a new job which has the potential to provide extremely well for me and my family. I should be able to afford something very nice in a couple of years. All the more so if prices fall but I'll do ok either way.

obsessed_saver

Yeah. I wonder if people are switching to smaller cars due to the impending road tax changes. I know I have certainly considered swapping my own car for a smaller one.

dannyboycey

Can someone remind me.... i there a way you can add someone to an 'ignore list' so that you don't have to read their posts?

Generali

dannyboycey wrote: »

Can someone remind me.... i there a way you can add someone to an 'ignore list' so that you don't have to read their posts?

Click on their name and then pick 'View public profile' then click on 'Add Generali to Your Ignore List' (or whatever).

hostman

No, things are not improving.

We're at the cusp of a very nasty storm. Unemployment is set to raise and living costs are increasing rapidly with no Government help expected.

Very few people have their own money to spend. Its all credit based. If there is any kind of bounce back into strong growth now, I dread to think the Armageddon that will ensue in a few years time, with debt even bigger.

The car trade is generally doing well, after terrible losses throughout the years. I read an article that said car production in the UK has broken a record. You could put it down to higher fuel costs, tax etc, pushing us in the direction of more efficient cars. But, as the cost of diesel continues its upward trend, outpacing the cost of petrol and other nations (American uses a very small amount of diesel compared to Europe) beginning to use more diesel, the cost is only going up and this could impact on the take up of diesel cars.

mr.broderick

dannyboycey wrote: »

Can someone remind me.... i there a way you can add someone to an 'ignore list' so that you don't have to read their posts?

That is exactly the reply i expected from you boycey....You have to take the rough with the smooth old boy.

Lotus-eater

Actually I think confidence is slowly getting worse, costs keep going up and up and don't look like stopping. Can't see confidence returning for a while yet.

lostinrates

mr.broderick wrote: »

I'm wondering if we are entering a period of stagnation, maybe 2 years. Was just thinking of the people in rented to be honest, who may find themselves living under the LL for a lot longer than expected, what are your views on this?

Well, we are not in a position to buy somewhere where we could stay medium-long term at current prices, so have little choice ATM. we have a very large deposit and are just keeping on saving. If things began to show the relentless rise again we would probably feel forced to buy for the short term.

Brainache

Do correct me if I'm wrong, but is there not always a seasonal peak in car sales in April and October with the new plates? Might be more interesting to see how your sales stack up in coming months. I don't subscribe to the 'stagnation' theory - it only takes one motivated seller to undercut the market value to lower the average house price for that street/town/county etc...