Buying a car owned by the council.

[SebastienClement]

There is a car that I wish to register my interest in buying from the council when it comes up for sale.

I have got the name for the head of 'fleet services' of the council in question, but I've as yet been able to get through on the phone. I do have an email address - to which I've had no response.

Does anyone have any tips for dealing with this sort of thing?

I'm not looking to ask them if they're selling now, but I'd like to see whether I can register interest now for when they do look to get rid of it.

The car is an '02 plate (but on a private plate at the moment), and judging by their past record, is overdue for renewal.

Ta in advance.

[the pips]

You're guaranteed a reply if you make if a freedom of Information request. Perhaps ask for a list of vehicles, age and retirement date. Might as well also ask their disposal policy. FoI seem to be used more by companies looking for business opportunities so why not join them?

Regards
Doug

[fjord]

Is it a tractor?

[SebastienClement]

the pips said:

You're guaranteed a reply if you make if a freedom of Information request. Perhaps ask for a list of vehicles, age and retirement date. Might as well also ask their disposal policy. FoI seem to be used more by companies looking for business opportunities so why not join them?

Regards
Doug

D'oh seems obvious now! That's really useful, thank you

I shall fill the forms in now

[greggy50]

Another rover?

[sandman77]

What kind of car is it? If it is a pool vehicle for roads department technicians I wouldn't touch it. If it is a nice executive car for directors and heads of services then it may be a good opportunity.
.

[davepoth]

10p says it's an LWB Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE with a flag on the bonnet.

[SebastienClement]

davepoth said:

10p says it's an LWB Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE with a flag on the bonnet.

Not quite :P

It's an LWB Club SE 2.0 CDTi (although seems to have all the connie bits?).

But it does have a flag. But I don't really want that bit.

[mini1380cc]

SebastienClement said:

the pips said:

You're guaranteed a reply if you make if a freedom of Information request. Perhaps ask for a list of vehicles, age and retirement date. Might as well also ask their disposal policy. FoI seem to be used more by companies looking for business opportunities so why not join them?

Regards
Doug

D'oh seems obvious now! That's really useful, thank you

I shall fill the forms in now

It could also backfire. As someone who receives foi requests, simply for that company to gain is quite high now. It's the wrong way to build up rapport in business. If I taken your request I would give you the bare minimum that is required, then make a mental note to avoid in future.

[SebastienClement]

mini1380cc said:

It could also backfire. As someone who receives foi requests, simply for that company to gain is quite high now. It's the wrong way to build up rapport in business. If I taken your request I would give you the bare minimum that is required, then make a mental note to avoid in future.

Ok, so in your opinion what's the best way for me to proceed?

I want to keep them as sweet as possible, for obvious reasons!

[davepoth]

SebastienClement said:

davepoth said:

10p says it's an LWB Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE with a flag on the bonnet.

Not quite :P

It's an LWB Club SE 2.0 CDTi (although seems to have all the connie bits?).

But it does have a flag. But I don't really want that bit.

Apparently if you ordered in special limo spec you got all of the connoisseur bits as standard.

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

The local mayor used to live on my street a few years ago. Our council had a LWB 75 with a flag too.

[kcrimson]

It would be worth checking the registration number on HPI.

Depending on which Council it is, they may have leased the vehicle whick means title rests with the leasing company.

HPI will have a finance register flagged if this is the case.

[SebastienClement]

kcrimson said:

It would be worth checking the registration number on HPI.

Depending on which Council it is, they may have leased the vehicle whick means title rests with the leasing company.

HPI will have a finance register flagged if this is the case.

I can pretty much guarantee the vehicle won't be leased. It's 11 years old from a defunct manufacturer.

@Davepoth - It confused me too. I thought "Vanden Plas" replaced the connoisseur denotation and was the only trim level for the LWB one. But if you run the reg through the DVLA is comes back as a club se. Peculiar!

[SebastienClement]

davepoth said:

Apparently if you ordered in special limo spec you got all of the connoisseur bits as standard.

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

The local mayor used to live on my street a few years ago. Our council had a LWB 75 with a flag too.

I believe in addition to my local council, there were at least two other known "mayors cars" one in Gateshead & one merseyside somewhere.

[ClaphamGT3]

Call and ask to speak to the head of democratic services - probably a better starting point than the fleet manager and more likely to know whether, politically, they are planning to run it into the ground or are itching for a chance to get shot.

Do bear in mind that, at the moment, replacing the Mayor's car is probably not merely lowest priority, it's probably quite high up the list of things 'not' to be seen doing

[davepoth]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Call and ask to speak to the head of democratic services - probably a better starting point than the fleet manager and more likely to know whether, politically, they are planning to run it into the ground or are itching for a chance to get shot.

Do bear in mind that, at the moment, replacing the Mayor's car is probably not merely lowest priority, it's probably quite high up the list of things 'not' to be seen doing

Plus I bet that it won't do mega miles; probably less than 5k a year since there's little need to drive anywhere that's not in town, and then it would be driven very gently. You could keep a car a long time with that sort of usage.

[SebastienClement]

I'll also add it's not the Mayors first car. He has a Jag for that. Actually it could be the deputy Mayors? I'll have to find out.

But it is a Labour council, so y'know, they might be itching to spend.

Anyway, like I said, I can wait. I really want to register my interest for when they do want to shift it on.

[SebastienClement]

Just found a newspaper article from our local rag about the two numberplates they have for the Lord Mayor's cars. The cars are listed as a 2011 Jaguar Sovereign, and a Nissan Leaf (shown to be wearing the Rover's plate).

However the DVLA reckon the Rover was taxed at the beginning of this month, and is still wearing the plates?

[Gareth79]

I would agree that FOI would simply annoy everybody involved, not a good option.

As mentioned try and attack the problem from a different direction, somebody who can gently prod the fleet manager or tell you who might be dealing with it. Options are the PR/marketing people, the main customer service desk to mention that you haven't had a reply - if you are a local taxpayer try and work in something about being "disappointed"

A while ago I was told that fire engines are sold by sealed bid, ie. you offer a flat price and the highest gets it. Along these lines you could write to them mentioning you are interested, and if you are confident you think you know a fair price, say that you are willing to buy it at £X until a certain date. It might be worth copying to the finance department if they are concerned with that side of things (ie. getting the best return for assets).

At the end of the day if you think you are willing to pay more than anybody else then they can't overlook you when selling it.

[refoman2]

at least it wont have been ragged,every council vehicle round my way potters around at 20mph!