Connect Car leasing - ex demo lease deals

[carpmaster]

Anyone know anything about this lot? Something doesn't feel right but i could just be overly suspicious!

Cheers

https://www.connectcar.co.uk

[jas xjr]

That google map looks interesting

Prices look suspiciously cheap too

[carpmaster]

I actually asked them about the map / office location. They said they are based in the university small business centre - which I looked up and does seem plausible.

But both the email addresses on their site are bouncing back!

The guy is replying on a connect car email address but it's a personal one not info or sales. He says they didn't realise about main emails and he will pass it on.

[Gregmitchell]

Only been going since end of March.. new company... good prices though!

[Krikkit]

Sounds dodgy as owt, unless you can go and see them in person I would avoid totally.

[motco]

jas xjr said:

That google map looks interesting

Prices look suspiciously cheap too

Smart premises!

[Gregmitchell]

Krikkit said:

Sounds dodgy as owt, unless you can go and see them in person I would avoid totally.

Not really, one director is also a director of NORTHSIDE CAR & COMMERCIAL LTD which has been going 10 years with plenty of balance sheet to provide security. Both husband and wife directors, do a big of digging before dismissing genuine companies.

[IforB]

Looking at the fact their website hasn't been finished, even though it's just a standard skin that they're using, then I'd suggest it's likely to be a one man band, with admittedly a good idea.

I'm not sure I'd be handing any cash over to them though, as it hardly screams professional or even legit...

[Gregmitchell]

IforB said:

Looking at the fact their website hasn't been finished, even though it's just a standard skin that they're using, then I'd suggest it's likely to be a one man band, with admittedly a good idea.

I'm not sure I'd be handing any cash over to them though, as it hardly screams professional or even legit...

Read above.. it's just been setup as an off spin by the looks of it to the families car sales business which has £500k cash in the bank... i'm in no way affiliated btw.

[Du1point8]

would be nice if they finished the site before going live:

https://www.connectcar.co.uk/land-rover

Im interested and might go find out more.

[JQ]

Gregmitchell said:

Krikkit said:

Sounds dodgy as owt, unless you can go and see them in person I would avoid totally.

Not really, one director is also a director of NORTHSIDE CAR & COMMERCIAL LTD which has been going 10 years with plenty of balance sheet to provide security. Both husband and wife directors, do a big of digging before dismissing genuine companies.

And yet the Connect Cars website states it's being run by Stephen Holland and Brian Guest, absolutely no mention of the directors of Northside. Are you certain Connect Car & Commercial Limited is running Connect Car, I see no mention of it on the website, not looked in detail though, so happy to be corrected?

[Gregmitchell]

Directors are in companies house

[indapendentlee]

Good idea. If it's not legit someone should do it. Could be a WLTP driven glut of pre-reg/demo cars coming into the market soon.

If anyone braver than me follows through do share the experience!

[numtumfutunch]

Damn, just FTK on a Volvo and so Im now kicking myself at missing the current Discovery on £349 for 3+23

[Toltec]

* All prices subject to VAT

[sunbeam alpine]

Clicked on a Ford Ranger Pickup and all the text was about a LR Discovery.

If it's not a scam site they're not doing themselves any favours!

[JQ]

Gregmitchell said:

Directors are in companies house

They are, and they're not the people stated as running Connect Cars on their website. There are lots of companies with Connect Cars in the name, what leads you to believe that it's Connect Car & Commercial Limited running this website?

[arfur]

That looks interesting ! Following this :-)

[Dog Star]

IforB said:

Looking at the fact their website hasn't been finished, even though it's just a standard skin that they're using, then I'd suggest it's likely to be a one man band, with admittedly a good idea.

I'm not sure I'd be handing any cash over to them though, as it hardly screams professional or even legit...

If they operate in the same way as any other of these car leasing places such as Select, Lings, Freedom etc then they are just sort of "brokering" the cars for big operators - from the above I've had the actual cars supplied by, contracts with and direct debits taken by Mercedes Benz Finance, Alphabet (BMW) and Lex Autolease. Your initial deposit surely you'd do with a credit card, so be protected.

[Toaster Pilot]

JQ said:

They are, and they're not the people stated as running Connect Cars on their website. There are lots of companies with Connect Cars in the name, what leads you to believe that it's Connect Car & Commercial Limited running this website?

Doesn’t look related to me - why would people with companies based in Bradford and Doncaster set up in some dodgy place in Manchester?

(I’m also not convinced that the idea of leasing ex demo cars actually stacks up - has anyone actually worked out what that would look like based on the typical cost of an ex demo car and it’s proposed value in 2 years time etc? How would there be a steady enough supply outside of what is sold as AUCs by dealers on their own finance deals?)