Thinking of buying a car – keep an open mind

I say keep an open mind because I can recall in my 43 years of selling cars so many people having fixed ideas but buying something completely different and being delighted.

Over on carbuyersinfo the home page classifies car comparisons as

• Small cars
• Small MPV cars
• Medium small cars
• Medium size cars
• Large executive and luxury cars
• Family estate cars
• MPVs
• SUVs and 4×4s
• Sports cars, coupes and convertibles.

In the listings are links to my top 50 cars for sale in the UK.

If you go to the bottom of the page and click the recent link you go to a page and will see in reverse order to the list above, with something like 200 cars for sale in the UK. It’s worth looking at any car that takes your fancy – keep an open mind.

Differences in fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and performance may not be what you think. There can be big differences in prices only justified by brand equity. I do recommend you go for a Euro NCAP 5-star rating and ESP.

Regards
Ralph
Car Comparisons

Intruder removed

Some how real time listings in my Nissan Micra Comparisons included the Ka. They’ve now been removed.

Used Car Prices Going Up – toldya!

Today on MSN they published a Sky News report stating used car prices have gone up. I’ve been blogging about this since the spring. However Sky News say this is, ‘for the first time ever.’ Not true.

In the UK we’ve had a stop go economy since the 50s. Used cars depreciated because they rapidly deteriorated usually with rust but later because complicated engineering made repair not worth it at a certain age.

Despite that there have been times when used cars have appreciated. In the early 70s you could buy a new Vauxhall Viva and part exchange it a year later for more than you paid for it brand new. By the late 70s a year old Jaguar, Rover, RR or Ferrari sold for more than they cost new. So it’s not, ‘the first time ever.’

These were times of inflation. The thing to watch out for is new car prices rising 3 or 4 times a year. It’s an indicator inflation is on its way. Car ownership takes about 25% out of your clear money. It’s important to the economy as we’ve recently learnt.

We should watch out for inflation because historically governments have paid their debts with a depreciating currency. If inflation kicks in politicians will make a lot of noise and blame the previous administration but they’ll let it happen because it makes it easier to repay debt.

Ask your grand parents, many will remember losing their savings to inflation in the 70s and 80s.

Regards
Ralph
Every day I’m inserting real time live online listings so you can compare cars and prices at carbuyersinfo car comparisons and supply is chronically short.

Where can the Mercedes C Class grow?

This morning I inserted real time listings in my Mercedes Benz C Class comparison pages so visitors can compare both cars and prices.

It’s interesting that although the Mercedes C Class has grown a little at 4.6m, many of its competitors have grown even longer. For example the Mondeo and Insignia have now grown to about 4.8m.

In other words they have grown to the size of an E Class. Obviously the C Class can’t grow into the same space. The BMW 3 Series is in the same situation.

Why these cars are growing out of the medium size sector into the large car sector, I don’t know. Cars like the Mondeo were spacious with big boots at their old size. The price of these cars has not increased and engines are getting smaller.

Eventually cars like the C Class will stand alone in the medium sector. Having said that, cars from the medium small sector – like the Focus – are growing. The new Chevrolet Cruze – which is the new Astra in a different envelope –  is 4.5m. So it’ll be interesting to see how big the all new Astra is.

A Chevrolet Cruze is near half the price of a C Class. The Mondeo and Insignia enter at half the price of an E Class.

Question is, is the Merc marque twice the car. Size wise it’s not. What’s the price of prestige?

Regards
Ralph
see Mercedes Benz C Class Comparisons

What makes the Hyundai i10 #1

I’ve just read on-line – and I don’t know if it’s true – the Hyundai i10 was the best selling car to private punters in the UK last month making Hyundai the 3rd best selling car in the UK, pushing Vauxhall into 4th position.

I rushed over to my comparison charts to see why and to compare the i10 with the UK’s cheapest car the Kia Picanto.

The i10 seems to have all it needs in terms of car features. Where it does stand out is in its value.

The Hyundai i10 is honestly priced. With some other popular makes, cars are sold at premium prices to private punters while they deeply discount to hire companies leaving the poor punter to buy them near new if they want value.

If you go to my Kia Picanto Comparisons and compare it with the i10 you can see live listings of both cars on eBay – there are next to none for sale. So you can only buy new but buying new is value  with Kia and Hyundai.  If you see what I mean.

Why can’t we have transparent pricing across the board?

Regards
Ralph

Used Cars – Going, Going, GONE.

If you’ve read my recent posts on this blog or visited ‘carbuyersinfo’ you’ll know I’ve been posting real-time live listings of cars for sale on eBay so visitors can compare prices as well as cars.

It seems to me near new cars are in very short supply. One, because so few were sold new last year and two, because they seem to be selling so quickly.

Lasy week I embedded a link to a listing on my Chevrolet Captiva Comparisons and when I checked it today there seems to be none for sale.

I know Captivas are a bit exclusive but even ubiquitous cars like the Mondeo and Golf seem to be in relatively short supply.

Interesting and worth keeping an eye on if you’re considering changing your car.

Regards
Ralph

Why Make Car Comparisons?

I find it’s easier to understand cars with comparisons. You get both the differences and similarities. Comparisons both liken and contrast.

Comparing cars is difficult because there are so many aspects to consider: body types, size, style, space, performance, economy, safety, depreciation and running costs.

Comparing cars is not made easy by magazines or web pages because there’s lots of data in tiny fonts on different pages. It’s difficult to hold it all in the memory.

I’ve taken a different approach over on carbuyersinfo and compare the features – not equipment – of two cars at a time side by side.

I get interesting results even when the comparisons are boring. For example medium small cars like the Golf, Focus, Astra and 308 are all the same size with 3 or 5-doors. The all have very similar engine and trim options. Most are achieving 5-star Euro NCAP ratings. There can be differences in performance and economy on paper but may not be present in real on the road driving.

There is a difference in perceived prestige – premium, popular and value brands – and pricing. It’s interesting when you compare these cars on this basis because on paper there are not the differences in the cars their prices suggest. It seems to be no more than marketers positioning their cars in the market place to charge different prices.

The other interesting thing is comparisons dispel myths. The VW Golf is probably the best seller in the EU and many people imagine it to be the best car. However on paper there’s nothing to suggest it’s better than its rivals. It appears to be average in every aspect. Didn’t someone once say beauty is the average of a thing?

Journalists often refer to differences in build quality, reliability and durability, but I don’t personally think those differences exist today. Even value brands show well fitted and tailored interiors. Some of the materials can be a bit cheap looking. However a piece of plastic painted silver is a piece of plastic painted silver be it in a BMW or a Kia.

Have you ever wondered why UK and US  furniture manufacturers deliberately design furniture to look cheap so they can sell it cheap and make other designs look expensive so the can charge more. Why can’t we have the good stuff at value prices. They don’t put up with it in Italy.

You’ll find it interesting if you go to carbuyersinfo and compare the Golf with the more expensive A3 and cheaper Seat Leon. They look like the same car to me in different designs at a different price.

Regards
Ralph

Tips – How To Save Fuel

Pump prices have now risen for the 3rd time in 9 months with a VAT increase due soon. See my ‘how to save fuel tips’ to save you money.

Regards
Ralph