Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all.
Discussion
Paul_M3 said:
Another perspective is this: who is more likely to take car of a car; somebody planning to keep it for 3 or 4 years, or somebody who knows they’ll be getting shot of it in 12 months?
That's an understandable assumption, but can be baseless. Can we agree multiple owners warrants further investigation, but 1 owner is not automatically a good thing.
Rather like this one https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Wooda80 said:
@ Mexman:
Yes, I agree entirely. A 1 owner 4 year old car will generally have 4 years worth of bumps and scuffs and scratches, and a list of minor jobs that the owner never had the time or inclination to sort.
And yet the perception is the fewer owners the better. But I don't understand the logic?
I get the impression that there is a fear that "all" those previous owners must have "got rid of" the car because "there must be something wrong with it" rather than their circumstances changing.
Completely disagree. Nobody looks after a car as well as the person who drove it off the forecourt for the first time (classic cars excluded). The best used cars are usually one owner cars offered for sale by the dealer that sold it new and has done all the servicing. Yes, I agree entirely. A 1 owner 4 year old car will generally have 4 years worth of bumps and scuffs and scratches, and a list of minor jobs that the owner never had the time or inclination to sort.
And yet the perception is the fewer owners the better. But I don't understand the logic?
I get the impression that there is a fear that "all" those previous owners must have "got rid of" the car because "there must be something wrong with it" rather than their circumstances changing.
How do you find the condition of former lease cars? I know lease companies are fairly hot on the outside of the car being in good condition on return but do they pay much attention to the wear on the mechanical bits?
I ask because the entrance to the estate I live on had some really vicious speed bumps put in some time last year. Myself and most others either slow to a crawl to get over them or are in cheap cars I assume they don't care too much about but there's a significant number of people (20-30%) in <3 years old cars who crash over them seemingly without any care. All I can think of is that the cars are leased and therefore not the driver's property so the increased wear is not considered their problem, I can't imagine many people treating something they owned so poorly.
I ask because the entrance to the estate I live on had some really vicious speed bumps put in some time last year. Myself and most others either slow to a crawl to get over them or are in cheap cars I assume they don't care too much about but there's a significant number of people (20-30%) in <3 years old cars who crash over them seemingly without any care. All I can think of is that the cars are leased and therefore not the driver's property so the increased wear is not considered their problem, I can't imagine many people treating something they owned so poorly.
unrepentant said:
Wooda80 said:
@ Mexman:
Yes, I agree entirely. A 1 owner 4 year old car will generally have 4 years worth of bumps and scuffs and scratches, and a list of minor jobs that the owner never had the time or inclination to sort.
And yet the perception is the fewer owners the better. But I don't understand the logic?
I get the impression that there is a fear that "all" those previous owners must have "got rid of" the car because "there must be something wrong with it" rather than their circumstances changing.
Completely disagree. Nobody looks after a car as well as the person who drove it off the forecourt for the first time (classic cars excluded). The best used cars are usually one owner cars offered for sale by the dealer that sold it new and has done all the servicing. Yes, I agree entirely. A 1 owner 4 year old car will generally have 4 years worth of bumps and scuffs and scratches, and a list of minor jobs that the owner never had the time or inclination to sort.
And yet the perception is the fewer owners the better. But I don't understand the logic?
I get the impression that there is a fear that "all" those previous owners must have "got rid of" the car because "there must be something wrong with it" rather than their circumstances changing.
My perception comes from 25 years experience of selling cars.
What you tend to find with one owner cars is once they become a few years old, minor bodywork issues(sometimes major though) and silly little things like bits of trim, dash bulbs, kerbed wheels, scratches tend to be ignored as the owner knows very well that shortly it'll be due for replacement and these issues are no longer important to them and the expense will be wasted money.
Most people who buy new, will replace in 2 or 3 years time with another new.
They may cherish it for the first year, but then life takes over.
You only have to read some of the readers car threads on here to see what happens once a car changes hands.
People 'love' them once again and any imperfections or issues are immediately dealt with because its their new toy.
They want all these little issues or even big issues dealt with.
A one owner car maybe mechanically looked after by a main dealer etc... but mostly in terms of everything else like bodywork and trim etc , they are not.(PHers excuded of course)!
Some of the most battered used cars I have come across have been one owner ones, full dealer history or not.
Mexman said:
unrepentant said:
Wooda80 said:
@ Mexman:
Yes, I agree entirely. A 1 owner 4 year old car will generally have 4 years worth of bumps and scuffs and scratches, and a list of minor jobs that the owner never had the time or inclination to sort.
And yet the perception is the fewer owners the better. But I don't understand the logic?
I get the impression that there is a fear that "all" those previous owners must have "got rid of" the car because "there must be something wrong with it" rather than their circumstances changing.
Completely disagree. Nobody looks after a car as well as the person who drove it off the forecourt for the first time (classic cars excluded). The best used cars are usually one owner cars offered for sale by the dealer that sold it new and has done all the servicing. Yes, I agree entirely. A 1 owner 4 year old car will generally have 4 years worth of bumps and scuffs and scratches, and a list of minor jobs that the owner never had the time or inclination to sort.
And yet the perception is the fewer owners the better. But I don't understand the logic?
I get the impression that there is a fear that "all" those previous owners must have "got rid of" the car because "there must be something wrong with it" rather than their circumstances changing.
My perception comes from 25 years experience of selling cars.
What you tend to find with one owner cars is once they become a few years old, minor bodywork issues(sometimes major though) and silly little things like bits of trim, dash bulbs, kerbed wheels, scratches tend to be ignored as the owner knows very well that shortly it'll be due for replacement and these issues are no longer important to them and the expense will be wasted money.
Most people who buy new, will replace in 2 or 3 years time with another new.
They may cherish it for the first year, but then life takes over.
You only have to read some of the readers car threads on here to see what happens once a car changes hands.
People 'love' them once again and any imperfections or issues are immediately dealt with because its their new toy.
They want all these little issues or even big issues dealt with.
A one owner car maybe mechanically looked after by a main dealer etc... but mostly in terms of everything else like bodywork and trim etc , they are not.(PHers excuded of course)!
Some of the most battered used cars I have come across have been one owner ones, full dealer history or not.
Mexman said:
Yeah, understood, prestige stuff I suppose will get cherished and looked after, like Astons and other exotic stuff.
I am on about your average 3 or 4 year old run of the mill Astra, etc which is the stuff I deal in, that you would be amazed what condition they turn up in!
I buy a brand new car every 2/3 years, nothing special just run of the mill hatchbacks. When I part exchange them they can literally go straight out onto the forecourt as they are. I clean them every week, treat them with mechanical sympathy & always have them serviced on time. I try to park them where they are unlikely to get dings and scratches and get any damage that does happen is repaired a.s.a.p. My partner on the other hand will buy a brand new car and by the time it is 6 months old will be a total wreck ! All 4 corners of the bumpers will be scraped despite having front and rear parking sensors & all 4 alloys will have been kerbed. The interior is always full of old drink cans, sweet wrappers and McDonalds boxes. I don't think I have ever got in one of his cars and its had any screenwash in it and the TOP UP OIL message will be on for at least 4/5 days before it gets attended to. I have lost count of how many tyres have been wrecked by being run at 10 psi and services are carried out randomly at best. He then wonders why he gets stiffed at trade in time ! I am on about your average 3 or 4 year old run of the mill Astra, etc which is the stuff I deal in, that you would be amazed what condition they turn up in!
Wooda80 said:
@ unrepentant
@ mexman
It's interesting to see other people's views and opinions.
As unrepentant said, 1 owner stuff is highly sought after, but objectively WHY should that be? Once it's prepped and on the forecourt it's all to the same standard.
Because the 1st owner has shelled out the big bucks for the brand new car and has more psychological ownership.@ mexman
It's interesting to see other people's views and opinions.
As unrepentant said, 1 owner stuff is highly sought after, but objectively WHY should that be? Once it's prepped and on the forecourt it's all to the same standard.
We sell a lot of leases. As I mentioned elsewhere in this thread, lease customers are responsible for damage at the end of a lease and are required to complete all scheduled maintenance and as a result tend to be extra careful with the cars. When it comes to Jags all servicing is covered (here in the USA at least) for 5 years so we know all cars will have been serviced on time and at the dealership.
andymc said:
Wooda80 said:
On the subject of numbers of owners, objectively why would say a 2015 car with 3 owners be less desirable than the same car with 1 owner?
depends on the
What material differences to the condition of the car occur when you change the keeper?
depends on the cardepends on the
What material differences to the condition of the car occur when you change the keeper?
So a 3 series deteriorates after each owner change but a 911 doesn't?
A little chuckle here today.
Guy comes in to enquire about a car on finance, my colleague gives him the figure of £134 pm, he says "great, it's less than of half what I'm paying on my IVA which finishes next month, I'll be back"
Err maybe give it another 5 years when it's off your credit file!!
Guy comes in to enquire about a car on finance, my colleague gives him the figure of £134 pm, he says "great, it's less than of half what I'm paying on my IVA which finishes next month, I'll be back"
Err maybe give it another 5 years when it's off your credit file!!
HTP99 said:
A little chuckle here today.
Guy comes in to enquire about a car on finance, my colleague gives him the figure of £134 pm, he says "great, it's less than of half what I'm paying on my IVA which finishes next month, I'll be back"
Err maybe give it another 5 years when it's off your credit file!!
These people have a phenomenal sense of entitlement to think they can breeze through life having what they want without paying their way. It's everybody else who suffers. Taxes and prices of things are higher and smaller business people are put out of business. If someone is bankrupted through the selfishness of other people or genuine hard times I have sympathy, but I don't have time for people who don't try to be careful.Guy comes in to enquire about a car on finance, my colleague gives him the figure of £134 pm, he says "great, it's less than of half what I'm paying on my IVA which finishes next month, I'll be back"
Err maybe give it another 5 years when it's off your credit file!!
What's up with indie second hand dealers at the moment?
There are a few around here I pass from time to time which are normally rammed with as many cars as they can fit on the lot... the last few weeks or so there's been a big rise in the visible tarmac to metal ratio, maybe down to a third of the usual stock... lack of supply? Too many buyers to keep up with replacement stock, or no buyers and cold feet about dead stock, or something else? (Might just be several winding down to close at the same time, but it's a bit of a co-incidence in that case.)
There are a few around here I pass from time to time which are normally rammed with as many cars as they can fit on the lot... the last few weeks or so there's been a big rise in the visible tarmac to metal ratio, maybe down to a third of the usual stock... lack of supply? Too many buyers to keep up with replacement stock, or no buyers and cold feet about dead stock, or something else? (Might just be several winding down to close at the same time, but it's a bit of a co-incidence in that case.)
defblade said:
What's up with indie second hand dealers at the moment?
There are a few around here I pass from time to time which are normally rammed with as many cars as they can fit on the lot... the last few weeks or so there's been a big rise in the visible tarmac to metal ratio, maybe down to a third of the usual stock... lack of supply? Too many buyers to keep up with replacement stock, or no buyers and cold feet about dead stock, or something else? (Might just be several winding down to close at the same time, but it's a bit of a co-incidence in that case.)
Lack of viable retail stock.There are a few around here I pass from time to time which are normally rammed with as many cars as they can fit on the lot... the last few weeks or so there's been a big rise in the visible tarmac to metal ratio, maybe down to a third of the usual stock... lack of supply? Too many buyers to keep up with replacement stock, or no buyers and cold feet about dead stock, or something else? (Might just be several winding down to close at the same time, but it's a bit of a co-incidence in that case.)
We have been very short of stock for at least 3 months now, stuff is making near retail money at auction, lack of decent part exchanges coming in, coupled with an extremely busy Jan/Feb.
It is only now, that we have managed to get our stock level back to around 30.
Ideally, though, this should be nearer 40.
March, so far though, has been abysmal, very few deals done, which may explain why our stock has increased a little.
It seems like, after the first week of March, someone just turned the tap off.
We normally sell 7 or 8 a week at least, and for the first week, we did, since then, we have sold one in 11 days
Brexit???
I don't know, but it sure has gone quite out there.
Mexman said:
defblade said:
Question
Answer
On Brexit:
Give that I work in pharmacy, which is zero to do with cars, and I've had a couple of random customers (not even the ones who know I like cars/bikes!) tell me in shock and horror how they're not going to go ahead with a new car purchase as the dealer told them the price they pay might be 10% more when the car actually turns up, I'd not be surprised if the new car market was stalled at the moment... I am surprised that filters down to the second hand market so quickly.
Getting quotes for some cars for the last 2 weeks. 3 different dealerships from 2 different networks involved. 2 of those given me the wrong monthly figures (a difference of +£100 per month) and when questioned they said they forgot to add the contribution. Stardard rate is 7.3% APR but they will always start with over 10% unless you ask them for a lower rate or mention that a lower rate is available from the same finance company. Definitely something going on and doesn’t give much reassurance when dealing with dealerships and PCP.
Cooper2 said:
Getting quotes for some cars for the last 2 weeks. 3 different dealerships from 2 different networks involved. 2 of those given me the wrong monthly figures (a difference of +£100 per month) and when questioned they said they forgot to add the contribution. Stardard rate is 7.3% APR but they will always start with over 10% unless you ask them for a lower rate or mention that a lower rate is available from the same finance company. Definitely something going on and doesn’t give much reassurance when dealing with dealerships and PCP.
It's easier than going in at 7.3% and trying to upsell to over 10...One for the commercial vehicle sellers - Are vans not prepared for sale to the same standards as cars ? A mate is looking to buy a year or two old VW Transporter, so is probably going to spend upwards of 20k. While the outside of the vans he has seen are pretty good, the inside doesn't even seem to warrant a once over with a hoover. The inside of one he showed me over the weekend was absolutely disgusting. It was a year old, low mileage, nice shiny exterior, but the inside was filthy. It looked like it had been parked on a building site for the last 12 months with the windows open. This was at a main dealer too. Even the van in their showroom still had sawdust and straw all over the place. Apparently they are working vehicles and this is to be expected. Admittedly he is buying it for private use and the one he has seen that came from a private buyer was half decent, but surely spending 20k+ at a main dealer you would expect a habitable cabin ?
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