The used car industry is in good health.

[TeaVR]

Over the last few days, I've been looking to buy a car. I can only assume business is 'good'.

Enquiry one - no response.

Enquiry two - "We won't deliver over 100 miles"

Enquiry three -

I said - "Good morning. Is the car still available?"

Dealer says "Yes" (obviously the talkative type).

I said "Great. I have the following questions...."

Dealer answer - "You need to have a look when your free" I think he meant You're

Didn't even get to talk money, so it's not as if I was trying to take the Michael! Business must be good!

[jeremyh1]

They will probably be returning your calls in desperation when all their free government money has dried up

[abrli]

With the sales guys probably furloughed on his average income including commisions, you wonder why they've shown such a level of enthusiasm.

[TeaVR]

abrli said:

With the sales guys probably furloughed on his average income including commissions, you wonder why they've shown such a level of enthusiasm.

Yes, I agree.

To clarify, the dealers I approached were small independents.

[tejr]

Sounds normal for used car dealers?

They take email inquiries less seriously than phone - both of which they don't take that seriously compared to someone who has come to view the car.

I usually prefer everything in writing and/or like to send feelers out as well as asking a few basic questions before wasting time to view a car which is made much harder by the above approaches.

Evidently it must work well enough for them though.

[TeaVR]

Well, business can't be tough if you ignore any genuine enquiry.

[abrli]

TeaVR said:

Yes, I agree.

To clarify, the dealers I approached were small independents.

Interesting. Perhaps it depends on the types of cars they're selling. Some are predicting a surge in used car demand when people come out of lockdown. Much easier to keep social distance compared to any form of public transport.

On the other hand, premium dealers who are themselves leveraged are going to suffer big time (kiss goodbye to £60k 991.1 C2S with 20k on the clock). Saxton 4x4 already seems pretty desperate to generate some cash flow!

[TeaVR]

abrli said:

Interesting. Perhaps it depends on the types of cars they're selling. Some are predicting a surge in used car demand when people come out of lockdown. Much easier to keep social distance compared to any form of public transport.

On the other hand, premium dealers who are themselves leveraged are going to suffer big time (kiss goodbye to £60k 991.1 C2S with 20k on the clock). Saxton 4x4 already seems pretty desperate to generate some cash flow!

Yeh, in my case, I was just looking for something fun for under £4k.

I agree, I think that dealers operating in that market sector are just waiting to see what happens.

[S2r]

I'm classed as a key worker and sold my daily just before all the lock down stuff went a bit mad so I've been on the hunt for a daily and the response from dealers and the public has been similar.

And frustratingly the sort of stuff that was £3-4k 4 or 5 months ago, appear to have gone up by £1500 as well

[TeaVR]

Interestingly, at least two dealers have invited me to physically inspect their cars. I mean..... lock down!!!!

[anonymous-user]

TeaVR said:

abrli said:

Interesting. Perhaps it depends on the types of cars they're selling. Some are predicting a surge in used car demand when people come out of lockdown. Much easier to keep social distance compared to any form of public transport.

On the other hand, premium dealers who are themselves leveraged are going to suffer big time (kiss goodbye to £60k 991.1 C2S with 20k on the clock). Saxton 4x4 already seems pretty desperate to generate some cash flow!

Yeh, in my case, I was just looking for something fun for under £4k.

I agree, I think that dealers operating in that market sector are just waiting to see what happens.

Will be selling my FN2 post lockdown if you're interested.

[lost in espace]

I am trying to sell my T5 not a sniff, I think it is worth over £3k but the market seems otherwise! Hanging onto it until people can come and actually see it.

[Alfahorn]

TeaVR said:

Interestingly, at least two dealers have invited me to physically inspect their cars. I mean..... lock down!!!!

Why do you need the car? I mean.......lock down!!!!

[anonymous-user]

I’d been looking at a couple of cars just prior to the lockdown. Both are now priced higher than they were in mid March. Car sales must be booming

[TeaVR]

Alfahorn said:

Why do you need the car? I mean.......lock down!!!!

I don't desperately need a car. Been thinking for a while that I'd like a cheap convertible, nothing too fast, just fun. I currently have time on my hands to do some looking.

Edited by TeaVR on Thursday 7th May 19:28

[iphonedyou]

Phone them. Email is seen as time wasting.

And to be fair, you say yourself you're not in immediate need and have time on tour hands to look about. So there's that.

Edited by iphonedyou on Thursday 7th May 20:13

[Nickp82]

Business is not as bad as many people assume.

I haven’t experienced it myself but plenty of dealers seem to be getting ridiculous offers from people who have made this assumption - normally by email/website - hence are probably even more loathe to put too much effort in to dealing with them (not saying this is wrong or right).

There is of course a very low and steadily declining number of cars to buy within the trade as a result of the pandemic so if a car can’t be replaced easily why sell it cheap? The demand is still there generally speaking so prices going up is no suprise.

[ChrisH72]

At first I had expected prices to drop but it does seem that that isn't the case. The only think that has dropped considerably is the part ex price of my own car according to valuation sites and autotrader.

So by my reckoning your best chance of a bargain is to find something for sale privately as soon as lockdown ends. Dealers will be sitting on loads of stock and will offer peanuts in part ex so lots of people who may not have otherwise will be forced to sell privately if they want a half reasonable price.

[TeaVR]

ChrisH72 said:

At first I had expected prices to drop but it does seem that that isn't the case. The only think that has dropped considerably is the part ex price of my own car according to valuation sites and autotrader.

So by my reckoning your best chance of a bargain is to find something for sale privately as soon as lockdown ends. Dealers will be sitting on loads of stock and will offer peanuts in part ex so lots of people who may not have otherwise will be forced to sell privately if they want a half reasonable price.

I was thinking exactly this earlier on 👍

[cootuk]

Dealers might also be getting lots of emails from kids playing around and virtual tyre kickers who are bored.