Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all (Vol. 2).
Discussion
Fast Bug said:
I can’t remember the last time we had to change an exhaust on one of our cars? Don’t forget it wasn’t all that long ago cars were services every 8k or so and now we’re on long life services or every 2 years. Dealerships haven’t gone bust due to the reduced workshop incomes during that time.
Exhausts needing welding or some other repairs Such as a cat aren’t uncommon.Wooda80 said:
If electric cars require so little maintenance then why are manufacturers investing so much money in technician training and new workshop equipment and infrastructure for the ev model range?
They require some degree of maintenance if something goes wrong but the a lot of the drivetrain is generally designed to last the life of the car.The same can’t be said about an ICE car.
The engine and gearbox should last the life of the car in most instances but most other stuff is deemed consumables.
Edited by jamoor on Friday 22 May 14:47
Limpet said:
I was talking to a Tesla owner from the States last year, who had just had his first set of pads replaced on his model S at 120,000 miles.
As it's a Honda that stirred this topic, then unless they've done something about the brakes you'll really want to have them stripped and cleaned every year - especially as they're not being used much. Hondas are notorious for sticking calipers/sliders and destroying a pad on lightly used cars.Teslas also have cooling systems for the batteries, they're not quite as simple cars as first imagined but granted, much less routine maintenance. Laptops on wheels though, it'll be interesting to see how EVs age when they are more mainstream. I could see me having an EV as a runabout if they get cheap enough with better range and faster charging and an ICE car or two for fun.
rovermorris999 said:
I could see me having an EV as a runabout if they get cheap enough with better range and faster charging and an ICE car or two for fun.
This is kind of the route we’ve taken, albeit with electric-assist bikes for shorter runs. ICE + electric transportation makes a lot of sense, you just have to tailor it to your needs.
CSLM3CSL said:
Why would a main dealer have cars registered in January 2019 with delivery mileage? Would this be a cancelled order and if so why have they taken so long to sell it?
Haha, that old chestnut!Hold off telling us the make and model for the moment but it will likely be a car on which there are really strong new car deals to try and stimulate new car sales. Probably a model near the top of the manufacturer's range? The timeline will run something like this:
Dealer pre-registers the car ( or a batch of cars ) in January to achieve a particular volume bonus from the manufacturer. This might be a substantial five figure sum, or even six figures in some cases.
The car gets advertised at a price equivalent to the dealer wholesale price that the manufacturer charges the dealer for the car .
March is on the horizon, the car is now eligible to be sold and someone enquires about it. But the dealer is a few registrations short of the big March target so the sales manager tells the salesman to offer the customer a brand new 19 plate for the same price as the pre reg 68 plate in order to help meet the March target. Customer opts for the brand new car and everyone is happy.
April and beyond comes around. 19 plate demos start to be advertised at around the dealer wholesale price so the 68 plate really needs to be advertised at less than that, ie at less than it owes the dealer. Rather than sell the car at a loss, every time a customer enquires about it the salesman is encouraged to switch the customer into a different car that will make money rather than lose money.
And so it continues, and every month that passes the financial loss that would ensue from selling the car becomes more and more unpalatable.
How does it end? Sooner or later an accountant will come along, query why a car has been in stock for nearly 500 days and demand that the cars stock value is written back accordingly, Sales Manager and DP lose their profitability bonus for the month / quarter, and once written back the car can be sold without fear of loss.
Now what model is it and where is it?
ETA - people from outside the trade will assume that what I've described is pure specualtion or a flight of fancy, but colleagues in the trade will be able to confirm that it's a fairly common occurrence.
Edited by Wooda80 on Saturday 23 May 17:18
Wooda80 said:
Haha, that old chestnut!
Hold off telling us the make and model for the moment but it will likely be a car on which there are really strong new car deals to try and stimulate new car sales. Probably a model near the top of the manufacturer's range? The timeline will run something like this:
Dealer pre-registers the car ( or a batch of cars ) in January to achieve a particular volume bonus from the manufacturer. This might be a substantial five figure sum, or even six figures in some cases.
The car gets advertised at a price equivalent to the dealer wholesale price that the manufacturer charges the dealer for the car .
March is on the horizon, the car is now eligible to be sold and someone enquires about it. But the dealer is a few registrations short of the big March target so the sales manager tells the salesman to offer the customer a brand new 19 plate for the same price as the pre reg 68 plate in order to help meet the March target. Customer opts for the brand new car and everyone is happy.
April and beyond comes around. 19 plate demos start to be advertised at around the dealer wholesale price so the 68 plate really needs to be advertised at less than that, ie at less than it owes the dealer. Rather than sell the car at a loss, every time a customer enquires about it the salesman is encouraged to switch the customer into a different car that will make money rather than lose money.
And so it continues, and every month that passes the financial loss that would ensue from selling the car becomes more and more unpalatable.
How does it end? Sooner or later an accountant will come along, query why a car has been in stock for nearly 500 days and demand that the cars stock value is written back accordingly, Sales Manager and DP lose their profitability bonus for the month / quarter, and once written back the car can be sold without fear of loss.
Now what model is it and where is it?
ETA - people from outside the trade will assume that what I've described is pure specualtion or a flight of fancy, but colleagues in the trade will be able to confirm that it's a fairly common occurrence.
https://www.hendy.co.uk/lexus/used-cars/lexus-rx-3-5-premium-pack-auto-aetv92983173/Hold off telling us the make and model for the moment but it will likely be a car on which there are really strong new car deals to try and stimulate new car sales. Probably a model near the top of the manufacturer's range? The timeline will run something like this:
Dealer pre-registers the car ( or a batch of cars ) in January to achieve a particular volume bonus from the manufacturer. This might be a substantial five figure sum, or even six figures in some cases.
The car gets advertised at a price equivalent to the dealer wholesale price that the manufacturer charges the dealer for the car .
March is on the horizon, the car is now eligible to be sold and someone enquires about it. But the dealer is a few registrations short of the big March target so the sales manager tells the salesman to offer the customer a brand new 19 plate for the same price as the pre reg 68 plate in order to help meet the March target. Customer opts for the brand new car and everyone is happy.
April and beyond comes around. 19 plate demos start to be advertised at around the dealer wholesale price so the 68 plate really needs to be advertised at less than that, ie at less than it owes the dealer. Rather than sell the car at a loss, every time a customer enquires about it the salesman is encouraged to switch the customer into a different car that will make money rather than lose money.
And so it continues, and every month that passes the financial loss that would ensue from selling the car becomes more and more unpalatable.
How does it end? Sooner or later an accountant will come along, query why a car has been in stock for nearly 500 days and demand that the cars stock value is written back accordingly, Sales Manager and DP lose their profitability bonus for the month / quarter, and once written back the car can be sold without fear of loss.
Now what model is it and where is it?
ETA - people from outside the trade will assume that what I've described is pure specualtion or a flight of fancy, but colleagues in the trade will be able to confirm that it's a fairly common occurrence.
Edited by Wooda80 on Saturday 23 May 17:18
It is a Lexus Rx In Poole.
jonwm said:
Here's a question, I'm a company car driver and change my car every 3 to 4 years, my work tell HMRC and my tax code changes accordingly. What happens with you guys and demo's? Surely you'd be all over the place with tax the amount you change them.
Most places operate a banded tax system based on a set price range. There is normally then a requirement to log usage for particular cars for Tax submittal and fuel charges.Blakewater said:
Are the dealerships salesman here work at reopening on Monday?
Are there a lot of appointments lined up?
Will it be appointment only, or will walk ins be accepted, provided the dealership isn't too crowded?
YesAre there a lot of appointments lined up?
Will it be appointment only, or will walk ins be accepted, provided the dealership isn't too crowded?
Yes
Yes.
Short and sweet. We're going to be making appointments for those who enquire but similarly we will be able to deal with walk ins just the same as always.
WAVman said:
jamoor said:
https://www.engadget.com/volkswagen-will-only-sell...
Gosh I love being right.
Manufacturers are removing the autonomy of dealerships, I wonder when dealerships will cotton onto the fact that they aren't needed
One manufacturer is direct selling one model!Gosh I love being right.
Manufacturers are removing the autonomy of dealerships, I wonder when dealerships will cotton onto the fact that they aren't needed
Who knows, us car buyers may even be greeted by a salesperson hologram in the near future.
Edited by crankedup on Friday 29th May 15:51
Fast Bug said:
As per Butters.
Test drives will be unaccompanied for us.
Yep, had clarification today that test drives for us will also have to be unnacompanied, so we'll be much stricter on qualification and affordability and if its anything like lending courtesy cars there will likely be an age limit and a 6 points limit plus we will need NI numbers for the licence check. Test drives will be unaccompanied for us.
I'm back Monday, haven't a clue if we've any appointments lined up but I do know we have a load of new cars that are due to hit next week.
HTP99 said:
Fast Bug said:
As per Butters.
Test drives will be unaccompanied for us.
Yep, had clarification today that test drives for us will also have to be unnacompanied, so we'll be much stricter on qualification and affordability and if its anything like lending courtesy cars there will likely be an age limit and a 6 points limit plus we will need NI numbers for the licence check. Test drives will be unaccompanied for us.
I'm back Monday, haven't a clue if we've any appointments lined up but I do know we have a load of new cars that are due to hit next week.
Butter Face said:
Blakewater said:
Are the dealerships salesman here work at reopening on Monday?
Are there a lot of appointments lined up?
Will it be appointment only, or will walk ins be accepted, provided the dealership isn't too crowded?
YesAre there a lot of appointments lined up?
Will it be appointment only, or will walk ins be accepted, provided the dealership isn't too crowded?
Yes
Yes.
Short and sweet. We're going to be making appointments for those who enquire but similarly we will be able to deal with walk ins just the same as always.
BrabusMog said:
HTP99 said:
Fast Bug said:
As per Butters.
Test drives will be unaccompanied for us.
Yep, had clarification today that test drives for us will also have to be unnacompanied, so we'll be much stricter on qualification and affordability and if its anything like lending courtesy cars there will likely be an age limit and a 6 points limit plus we will need NI numbers for the licence check. Test drives will be unaccompanied for us.
I'm back Monday, haven't a clue if we've any appointments lined up but I do know we have a load of new cars that are due to hit next week.
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