Is Irelands New car trade dead?

Grahamb23 · 18-02-2013 04:39PM #1

Im working in the motor industry and want peoples opinion on weather or not people want to buy new cars any more? Used sales are up and what would you be looking for if you had money to buy a car??

barney 20v · 18-02-2013 04:42PM

Grahamb23 wrote: »

Im working in the motor industry and want peoples opinion on weather or not people want to buy new cars any more? Used sales are up and what would you be looking for if you had money to buy a car??

If you work in the trade and don't know what buyers are looking for might I suggest a different career??
Journalist perhaps

whippet · 18-02-2013 04:44PM

Grahamb23 wrote: »

Im working in the motor industry and want peoples opinion on weather or not people want to buy new cars any more? Used sales are up and what would you be looking for if you had money to buy a car??

Want to buy? .. what do you mean by this?

I want to buy many things, hypercars etc .. and maybe a matching pair of Rolls Royce Phantoms .... however having the 'ability' to buy is totally different.

Grahamb23 · 18-02-2013 04:45PM

barney 20v wrote: »

If you work in the trade and don't know what buyers are looking for might I suggest a different career??
Journalist perhaps

Thank barney might just do that but its nice to hear from people about it and not just assuming what they want...... still interested in your opinion though.

Grahamb23 · 18-02-2013 04:47PM

whippet wrote: »

Want to buy? .. what do you mean by this?

I want to buy many things, hypercars etc .. and maybe a matching pair of Rolls Royce Phantoms .... however having the 'ability' to buy is totally different.

I want to but many things too but I know what a=I can and cant afford. If you had €20000 tomorrow, would you buy a new car or a second hand car?????

alexlyons · 18-02-2013 04:47PM

barney 20v wrote: »

If you work in the trade and don't know what buyers are looking for might I suggest a different career??
Journalist perhaps

one of the best ways to find out what buyers want is to go out and ask them... Just because you work in a certain discipline doesnt mean you're a mind reader.

But in answer to the OP:

Unless money was no object, I wouldn't be buying new.
Finance on any car in my opinion and those of numerous people I've talked to, is just stupid these days.
Mine and friends opinion is, you buy whatever car you can afford with cash/trade in. If thats a 1 year old top of the range model, so be it, if its brand new, so be it (although brand new is also madness at the rate of depreciation). However if is a 7 year old car with good history then that's grand too.
People seem to be ignoring the fact that a car is 7 years old or the like, if it has a good history. Previously nobody would look at anything older than five years when buying second hand.

barney 20v · 18-02-2013 04:48PM

Grahamb23 wrote: »

Thank barney might just do that but its nice to hear from people about it and not just assuming what they want...... still interested in your opinion though.

Recession = cheap to run diesels...
However , still loads of people with money in this state so ????

dar83 · 18-02-2013 04:52PM

Grahamb23 wrote: »

I want to but many things too but I know what a=I can and cant afford. If you had €20000 tomorrow, would you buy a new car or a second hand car?????

€20,000???

That might get me half of the new car I would want, just about... With that kind of budget I think you're looking only at the second hand market Graham.

Grahamb23 · 18-02-2013 04:56PM

dar83 wrote: »

€20,000???

That might get me half of the new car I would want, just about... With that kind of budget I think you're looking only at the second hand market Graham.

Well the question was. If you were looking for a car would you buy New or Used ????????????? plenty new cars out there for €20000 or less. obviously im not talking about high end.

Green Diesel · 18-02-2013 05:08PM

Grahamb23 wrote: »

Well the question was. If you were looking for a car would you buy New or Used ????????????? plenty new cars out there for €20000 or less. obviously im not talking about high end.

Can't see myself ever buying a brand new car. I picked up my current car for just over 1k a couple years ago, depreciation free motoring is a pleasure.

If I had 20k, I'd prob spend 10k on something powerful a few years old, and keep the other 10k.

That said, there are still people who hold age above all else when it comes to cars, but I think peoples priorities have somewhat changed given the economic realities of the country.

dgt · 18-02-2013 05:23PM

Grahamb23 wrote: »

I want to but many things too but I know what a=I can and cant afford. If you had €20000 tomorrow, would you buy a new car or a second hand car?????

I'd use that money on my longtimers and daily hack. Then I'd have several nice cars to choose from

R.O.R · 18-02-2013 05:30PM

It's not dead, I'd say it's in hibernation until this dammed recession is over. At that point it will return, but not to anything like the levels it was in the Tiger years.

Chris_Heilong · 18-02-2013 05:32PM

I want more sports cars, the motor industry can blame the Government because it has become a dull market full of boring cars due to anything petrol and over 2l is considered a big engined car. If I want a 'New' car I won't be buying in Ireland.

Big Nasty · 18-02-2013 05:34PM

dgt wrote: »

I'd use that money on my longtimers and daily hack. Then I'd have several nice cars to choose from

Would 20k be enough to resurrect those yokes!?!:eek:

Not · 18-02-2013 05:37PM

Grahamb23 wrote: »

I want to but many things too but I know what a=I can and cant afford. If you had €20000 tomorrow, would you buy a new car or a second hand car?????

Neither, in this f'ed up economy there are better uses for €20,000. That's the reality these days

18-02-2013 06:06PM

Given the current and future commitments on the taxpayer I reckon the USC is here to stay, I don't see wages rising over the next few years and in many cases disposable income will the further reduced (talks of taxing child benefit, further cuts in public servant pay etc etc) so I think the current recession still has a good 5 to 10 years left in it, if not longer.

So so so many new cars during the boom were financed by equity release and in many other cases borrowings tied into mortgages. Even when the economy recovers somewhat I don't think that carry on will be repeated on such large a scale.

If spending €20k on a car most enthusiasts would go 2nd hand, most badge snobs would too imo.

For people spending €20k on a new car perceived value for money would be a huge factor so long warranties and "free" servicing for a year or two would be of interest imo.

anthony4335 · 18-02-2013 06:14PM

Give the guy a chance.
20k tomorrow for me that would be second hand. However this is for a few reasons, I do not want a diesel so that has become a limiting factor. I also like my cars with a 2 liter engine so I am stuck with mainly pre 2008 cars to choose from. I have only bought one new car in my life, and if I plan on keeping a car longer than a year I will possible do again.

ABajaninCork · 18-02-2013 06:20PM

If I had the money, I certainly wouldn't be buying a Paddy spec car. I think there's better value to be had in the UK, even with VRT. I will be going home to buy my next car. Neither would I buy new whether I had the money or not, as I think it's a waste of money. New cars depreciate the minute you drive them off the forecourt

K.Flyer · 18-02-2013 06:26PM

So which clever brainbox in SIMI was it thought, that by changing the format of the reg plates would make money magically appear in peoples pockets to buy new cars.

Grahamb23 · 18-02-2013 06:27PM

ABajaninCork wrote: »

If I had the money, I certainly wouldn't be buying a Paddy spec car. I think there's better value to be had in the UK, even with VRT. I will be going home to buy my next car. Neither would I buy new whether I had the money or not, as I think it's a waste of money. New cars depreciate the minute you drive them off the forecourt

Used cars depreciate as soon as you drive them off the forecourt as well. Some people forget this. But seen as you not going to buy ''Paddy spec car'' (slightly racist) ill still thank you for your comment!!

Grahamb23 · 18-02-2013 06:29PM

K.Flyer wrote: »

So which clever brainbox in SIMI was it thought, that by changing the format of the reg plates would make money magically appear in peoples pockets to buy new cars.

Someone that obviously never bought/sold a new car and looked at what they did in the UK. The reg system is a complete joke...:mad: agreed!

ABajaninCork · 18-02-2013 06:32PM

Grahamb23 wrote: »

Used cars depreciate as soon as you drive them off the forecourt as well. Some people forget this. But seen as you not going to buy ''Paddy spec car'' (slightly racist) ill still thank you for your comment!!

My comment was not meant to be racist. I am sorry if you view it that way. Perhaps I should say 'Poverty spec' instead...

And yes. I am well aware the car will depreciate whatever the age. But I am not prepared to take a 25-30% drop in the price just so that I can say I have a new car either!

My point remains this: I think cars in Ireland given the very low spec and relatively high prices are poor value for money. Coupled with the fact that people now have far less disposable income and job insecurity, that would be a very good reason why people are apparently reluctant to spend...

copacetic · 18-02-2013 06:33PM

The market is not good, but finally we are seeing a level of competition in Ireland for the limited market that is left. Warranty length becoming reasonable and 0%/low apr finance deals that have been available in UK and other markets for years but not here.

It's these kind of deals that make new car sales possible in a bad market, reasonable monthly payments with the car under warranty. Then pass it on to the second hand market, providing a market there too.

Chris_Heilong · 18-02-2013 06:34PM

Grahamb23 wrote: »

Used cars depreciate as soon as you drive them off the forecourt as well. Some people forget this. But seen as you not going to buy ''Paddy spec car'' (slightly racist) ill still thank you for your comment!!

Paddyspec means cars sold here in Ireland that are lacking options such as leather/heated seats, alloy wheels and in some extreme cases even lacking electric windows which would come as standard in a lot of European countries.

markfinn · 18-02-2013 06:40PM

Given 20K in the hand, I'd buy a E3000 2nd hander with a life expectancy of 2 years, and put the rest in a safe place to keep me in reasonable motors for the next 10 to 12 years.

ShadowHearth · 18-02-2013 06:55PM

I would LOVE to own a brand new car at least once in my life. Yuo know, that new car smell?

Even if i do all the calculation on trade ins and how much i can put on top of my trade in, it takes only one glimpse in to UK market and what people are getting there with same money. I just bury the idea of new car and just go check out some tasty older cars, which are a lot cheaper and bigger bang for the money.

I would buy a brand new car, but in ireland it is STUPIDLY expensive. Great example is Toyota GT86. Wheres in ireland that will cost you over 40k and in england over 20k.

Leonard Hofstadter · 18-02-2013 06:56PM

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

Paddyspec means cars sold here in Ireland that are lacking options such as leather/heated seats, alloy wheels and in some extreme cases even lacking electric windows which would come as standard in a lot of European countries.

don't forget the lack of air conditioning, it's astonishing how many brand new cars in 2013 do not have this vital feature as standard in Ireland.

ShadowHearth · 18-02-2013 06:58PM

Grahamb23 wrote: »

Used cars depreciate as soon as you drive them off the forecourt as well. Some people forget this. But seen as you not going to buy ''Paddy spec car'' (slightly racist) ill still thank you for your comment!!

I dont know if a can agree on this. When you buy used car it is still worth as much as you bought it for. Big chance you can put the same car for sale and get even more for it then you payed. I sow people do that a lot. With brand new car the value Tanks down as soon as you put your name on it.

NinjaK · 18-02-2013 07:06PM

You cant enjoy cars in this country anyway, give me a cheap run-around and let me spend the rest on holidays:D

mickdw · 18-02-2013 07:15PM

ShadowHearth wrote: »

I would LOVE to own a brand new car at least once in my life. Yuo know, that new car smell........
..................

In my opinion, the mondeo passat insignia class of cars are quite well priced here. They start at mid 20s or so for what is is substantial car and after 3 years you will get a good chunk of that back on a passat anyway. They are quite affordable really considering you would have warranty for the entire ownership and good fuel efficiency and not to forget the cheap tax.

I do agree that the more desirable stuff tends to get out of hand here pricewise.

I bought new the last time and have that now out of my system. Car is now approaching 5 years old and I will be looking at used this time. As I say, if I was in the market for a typical saloon, I would possibly buy new but I will be looking for something alittle more tasty.

dr.fuzzenstein · 19-02-2013 01:08AM

I would spend the money on fixing up the CMax, it needs a clutch and a few other niggly bits.
Then I'd get a Mercedes 230E W123 for the weekends. The rest will go on bills and much needed home improvement.
Now back to grim reality where my car is held together by sheer willpower alone with no way of affording the repairs for a while and a longer commute coming up, but with that at least a better paying job.
A lot of people here saying "I'd never buy a new car" and that's fine, but someone has to, otherwise there'd be no second hand cars to buy and if new car sales don't pick up, 2nd hand prices will soon go up.
Sadly I'm part of the problem as well, unless I get that E40k minimum job (there's a laugh) I won't buy new.
The money just isn't there and the government is raping us for the few pennies we have.

Is Irelands New car trade dead?

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