I’m sorry who are the government kidding with this lousy scrappage grant. Let me paint a picture for you, you’re driving a 2000 Ford Fiesta worth in the region of £1000, if you wanted to get a new Ford Fiesta it would cost in the region of £10000. Now stop me if I’m being a total fool, but what makes the government think that someone who is driving an old motor can suddenly afford to splash out £10000 for a new one. The funniest thing about all this is that, I could trade in a fairly low polluting one litre car and buy a Bentley probably one of the most polluting cars in the world and still get the £2000 grant. The government appears to have abandoned any notions that the scrappage scheme is an environmentally-friendly plan. It has probably not imposed a maximum…

We predicted that used stock levels would remain low and they are. However we have seen within in the last week to ten days stock levels return to somewhere near normality. Prices are still on the high side, but if you know where to look there is choice around, rather than before where small levels of stock and way over book prices made trading tough. With more stock out there do not expect prices to rise any further than they did in the first crazy quarter this year. Expect pricing to level out and for more usual small price drops in line with depreciation. Over the next two quarter we should see stock and pricing come further in to line. Large cars will still be affected and small to medium sized models to be stabilised through out the year. It’s a very weird old trading…

Wow now there is something you don’t see every day in the car industry…..prices going up. With used car stock hard to come by it seems the market having taken such a hit last year, is on the road to recovery. This is not due to the UK coming out of recession, it is purely based on supply and demand. Glass’s guide the motor trade’s pricing bible has seen most values either stay the same or go up. This is most unusual but is a sign of crazy times in the industry, I’m not sure this will continue but all you buyers out there be warned. Last years bargains are long gone and unless you want to buy a big engine or luxury motor, expect to pay proper money. Dealers are paying over the odds for stock so expect everyday motors to be more…

The car market is a funny thing to read at the moment but having spent over 14 years in the trade, I will share with you what is happening and why. I delve in to the new and used markets discovering who is really at fault for the craziest time in vehicle sales I can remember. The used car market has been having a bumper year so far, with sales and vehicle values doing very well compared to 2008. Stock levels have been low on anything aged between 6 months – 18 months old. This could continue for the immediate short term and possibly into ¼ three this year. This is due to many varying factors: 1.    New car market slump means people are buying nearly new instead. 2.    Dealers and private buyers had put off buying in the last ¼ of 2008, believing…

We are currently finding it hard to come across anything up to a year old, where as last year we could find anything for our customers in super fast time. Now it seems that stock is scarce, with hire companies keeping their cars on fleet longer and less new cars being registered than ever before, this trend looks set to continue. There is stock out there we just have to be more proactive and quicker in buying. But here at A1 we love challenging markets and of course we will thrive in the current market conditions. Watch this space as things change we will let you know what’s going on.

Well it’s time to buy big, with massive savings on big lumpy stuff. Go on treat yourself to a mega money car for a Ford Fiesta budget. I have been keeping my eyes peeled and look what I have found, take a look at these babies: 2004 Mercedes S Class Saloon Petrol, S350 4dr, Automatic, 30,821 Miles. £9995. This car new £53,000.   2003 BMW 7 Series Saloon Petrol, 745i 4dr, Automatic, 57,842 Miles. £8995. This car new £57,000.   2004 AUDI A8 Saloon Petrol, 4.2 Quattro 4dr, Auto (Tiptronic), 54,700 Miles. £9995. This car new £55,000. These cars make more sense than ever, with used prices on executive cars on the floor and petrol prices coming down, what is stopping you being a flash git for a few years. It’s not like your going to lose much in depreciation, go on take the plunge…

February is seeing another up turn in business for used cars and another slump in new car sales. With the recession now in full swing it looks as if the car buying public are still buying, just not buying new. This makes sense really why buy new? It’s going to depreciate; you will lose the VAT as soon as you drive it off the forecourt. Buy up to a couple of years old save yourself half the cost of a new car and love the savings. I’m sure new cars will start selling again just not anytime soon. In my opinion new cars will be dead this year and maybe 2010 will bring some joy.

January has been an odd month really, here at A1 we have found it difficult to source run of the mill cars and stock levels at our suppliers have been dwindling. There are a few reasons we think for this situation. Firstly dealers had let stock levels run down throughout the later part of 2008 and January has seen replenishment of their stock levels. Secondly due to the credit crunch all the major hire companies have decided to run their vehicles for longer meaning less stock between 3-12 months old. This has kept prices from falling at such rates as we have seen last year, in fact if anything prices on some models could have seen a slight increase from November last year. We do however expect the situation to change throughout February and into March, with more nearly new vehicles becoming available and…