Does anyone remember/Can anyone find this magazine article?
Discussion
Been chatting to a mate via email today, about car stuff/costs, and how fleet buyers negotiate contracts. No commercial venture would buy in cars which required an engine out job, to change a water pump for example (some vehicles do). etc
Anyway, mate said the following:
"A few years ago, there was a really interesting in article in one of the magazines, I wish I had kept it.
They interviewed someone from a big lease company. He had a vectra and mondeo with him, that were four years old and were about to go to auction. Similar mileage, cost new / spec etc. He compared their running costs. Because they were run by companies, the "owners" (company car driver) put all fuel & small costs on a credit card that went straight into their spread sheet / data base.
Servicing & repair costs were charged directly to their account, again straight onto the spread sheet. This one has had X services, Y tyres, and a clutch. Services normal, 2 more tyres than you would expect & the clutch would not expect the clutch to go for another 15,000 miles. Young male driver. You would normally expect the exhaust to have been changed by now, but this one has not needed it (puts car on ramp, exhaust rusty to F**K), but it will do soon.
You would normally expect the alternator to fail on this particular model, but it hasn't needed it either. However, it has had 3 break down call outs in the last 6 months for flat batteries, so perhaps the garage should have diagnosed a new alternator.
They would have had to ask for special permission as it would have shown up as "working without fault" on the computer, but as these have so much trouble with them, we would have authorised it without question.
A big full feature article it was & fascinating. I wish I had kept it, I cannot even remember what mag it was now."
It sounds like an interesting read. Does anyone remember the article, or even know whether it might still be available online? Thanks in advance
Anyway, mate said the following:
"A few years ago, there was a really interesting in article in one of the magazines, I wish I had kept it.
They interviewed someone from a big lease company. He had a vectra and mondeo with him, that were four years old and were about to go to auction. Similar mileage, cost new / spec etc. He compared their running costs. Because they were run by companies, the "owners" (company car driver) put all fuel & small costs on a credit card that went straight into their spread sheet / data base.
Servicing & repair costs were charged directly to their account, again straight onto the spread sheet. This one has had X services, Y tyres, and a clutch. Services normal, 2 more tyres than you would expect & the clutch would not expect the clutch to go for another 15,000 miles. Young male driver. You would normally expect the exhaust to have been changed by now, but this one has not needed it (puts car on ramp, exhaust rusty to F**K), but it will do soon.
You would normally expect the alternator to fail on this particular model, but it hasn't needed it either. However, it has had 3 break down call outs in the last 6 months for flat batteries, so perhaps the garage should have diagnosed a new alternator.
They would have had to ask for special permission as it would have shown up as "working without fault" on the computer, but as these have so much trouble with them, we would have authorised it without question.
A big full feature article it was & fascinating. I wish I had kept it, I cannot even remember what mag it was now."
It sounds like an interesting read. Does anyone remember the article, or even know whether it might still be available online? Thanks in advance
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