What's going to happen to the car market?

I've always just used autotrader. It's surely the first place most serious buyers look unless they are after a 500 quid car or something specialist or performance?

I wouldn't go anywhere near Gumtree unless I wanted a 52 plate Saxo.
 
[TW]Fox said:
I've always just used autotrader. It's surely the first place most serious buyers look unless they are after a 500 quid car or something specialist or performance?

I wouldn't go anywhere near Gumtree unless I wanted a 52 plate Saxo.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I did actually start to list on Autotrader which is where I got the the recommended price from. Thought I'd try Gumtree since it's free so no harm in the meantime, but keen to get it shifted.
 
Russinating said:
Trying to sell my car at the moment, currently on Gumtree for I think a more than fair price, but only had 35 views (1039 search appearances) and 1 message offering me £1,500 less than asking...

Not sure how long to leave it before listing on Autotrader? It's a Kia Sportage (so no, not Piston Heads).
Click to expand...

Gumtree is literally for peasants, scammers and chancers. I wouldn't sell anything on there apart from scrap.

I've given away stuff for free and it's amazing how it's snapped up within seconds of the ad going live, no matter the item, time or day.

You could put a 5kg solid 24K gold bar on there for a £1 and the best offer you would get is 20p. No matter what price you put anything up for on gumtree you will always get offers for substantially less. Then after agreeing a price they will turn up and want best price and more money off.
 
I've sold all my cars typically via forums and Pistonheads classifieds which is free if your a long term member. Remember facebook market place too as also free I believe.

Used Autotrader once, just ended up getting a lot of idiots and tyre kickers callers but it is also a good site and will likely get you most exposure, otherwise use trade in or webuyanycar type service.
 
Gumtree is ok, but its certainly has its market, i wouldnt advertise a high end car on there. But for a cheap run around or cheaper items its great. We sold both are kids bady cloths on there in bundles, bady travel system, few other items on there and they sold very quickly. I had a IS200 that i got for a go between car whilst i saved up a little more, i advertised that on facebook market place i had a message within 5-10mins and the guy came by later that day and paid a deposit. That was the fastest i have ever sold a car. Most of my cars have usually been sold on forums, ebay or autotrader. I guess i can say you need to know your potenial buyers and advertise accordingly.
 
Well the effects of the new car sales/registrations isn't going to be felt in the immediate future, more like in the next 6 months. Here are the figures for this year vs last year so far.

YTD April 2019 - 862,000
YTD May 2019 - 1,045,824

YTD April 2020 - 487,828
YTD May 2020 - ~500,000

That is over 500,000 less cars registered in the first half of the year, and only 2.311m cars were registered in 2019 (the May total is not exact as awaiting confirmation from SMMT), total sales/registrations for this year could be as low as 1 million.

Half a million cars is a lot of cars, if you take the ASP of £38,000, that is £19 billion of sales either not completed or cancelled, so far. I doubt that car sales will be anywhere close to normal prior to 2021.
 
Journey said:
Well the effects of the new car sales/registrations isn't going to be felt in the immediate future, more like in the next 6 months. Here are the figures for this year vs last year so far.

YTD April 2019 - 862,000
YTD May 2019 - 1,045,824

YTD April 2020 - 487,828
YTD May 2020 - ~500,000

That is over 500,000 less cars registered in the first half of the year, and only 2.311m cars were registered in 2019 (the May total is not exact as awaiting confirmation from SMMT), total sales/registrations for this year could be as low as 1 million.

Half a million cars is a lot of cars, if you take the ASP of £38,000, that is £19 billion of sales either not completed or cancelled, so far. I doubt that car sales will be anywhere close to normal prior to 2021.
Click to expand...

I think 1 million would be on the low end, but you never know. If you look at some of the recoveries seen in other countries (for example France in May was only 50% down YonY, and that was still a lockdown-easing month). If June in the UK is only 50% down, then that alone is easily over 100k units, and we still have the rest of the year to go (including a plate-change month in September). The only word of caution is whether these recoveries are driven by orders already in the system.

I'd share some of the data and forecasts we look at (a key part of my role is forecasting the car and van markets), but I'd like to keep my employment in these uncertain times! :p

It's certainly not the easiest task at the moment! :)
 
Joe T said:
I'd share some of the data and forecasts we look at (a key part of my role is forecasting the car and van markets), but I'd like to keep my employment in these uncertain times! :p
Click to expand...

Seems sensible, no idea how you can do your job with a completely unpredictable situation how ever. Lick your finger and stick it the the air maybe? :p

Joe T said:
The only word of caution is whether these recoveries are driven by orders already in the system.
Click to expand...

This is what you have to ask yourself, how many company cars etc. were already on order for the new tax year that were not delivered, and couldn't be used even if they were. Then personal circumstances means wanting a shining new 70 plate might be low on the priority list vs. just making it through the year; after all people will probably realise a that a registration plate is utterly meaningless (or at least I hope they do).
 
Joe T said:
99.x % of new registrations go through automated systems, which seem to be working as normal. :)
Click to expand...

heh, automated. The system must be slightly different for imports in that case.

Here's the automated response I'm getting currently:

In line with the government’s advice we have a very limited number of staff on-site who are only dealing with applications from those who are directly involved in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, we are prioritising applications relating to HGV drivers and critical workers to make sure they get any documentation they need as quickly as possible. We are unable to deal with any other paper applications until further notice.
 
Last edited:
SMMT data for May is in - only 20,247 cars registered in May '20, vs 183,724 in May '19, 89% down YoY.

That puts the total yearly at 508k vs. 1.045m last year, so as above over 500k less cars in the first full 5 months, with June looking to be well below 100k.

May best selling/registered car was the Tesla Model 3.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

In other news Lookers are cutting 1,500 jobs and Aston Martin are axing 500 as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom