Residual values of used cars with manual transmission are in decline, with some models worth as much as 21% less than their automatic equivalents and fewer manual cars for sale in 2024 than ever before, reports Car Dealer magazine. Among the manufacturers that no longer offer any new models with manual transmission are Volvo, Mercedes, Jaguar and Lexus, all of which have seen a massive growth in … [Read more...]
Best and worst cars to buy and own
When buying a new car, it’s always worth thinking about the potential resale value and how much it will depreciate over time. Some cars can prove to be very worthy investments, with their value increasing over time, while others may drop quickly in value as soon as they leave the forecourt. Elements such as age, condition, mileage and number of owners are all influencing factors, and there are … [Read more...]
KIA is king but Stellantis is hopeless, say traders
Kia is the best and Stellantis the worst brands to be selling, say car dealers. The NFDA Dealer Attitude Survey was conducted last month and asked franchised dealers questions about the on-going business relationship with their respective manufacturers. It brought 2,531 responses from 32 franchised networks, equating to a joint record response rate of 68%. The 2023 Summer Survey showed a general … [Read more...]
Running costs drive motorists’ buying decisions, says Startline
The effect of rising living costs on which used cars are chosen by consumers has grown strongly in the last six months, according to September’s Startline Used Car Tracker. Running costs are the most important factor now named by 74% of motorists compared to 62% in April, followed by the cost of living, which is now at 65% against 61% over the same period. Similarly, inflation has risen from 26% … [Read more...]
Barbie’s cars in the pink for insurance
Barbie-mania is officially sweeping the world as the long-anticipated movie finally hits cinema screens today. The marketing machine for the film has been in motion for some time, and the first full trailer in May also gave us our first glimpse of Barbie’s car. In the movie, Barbie will be behind the wheel of a vintage convertible C1 Chevrolet Corvette but she’s been known to drive various … [Read more...]
Newslines 26 March
The richest man in the world Jeff Bezos drives a Honda Accord and second in line to the trillionaire throne Bill Gates uses a Ford Focus. Queen Britney drives a Mini Cooper alongside the Hello star Adele who is the 3rd richest female in a Uswitch study with a net worth over £140 million while despite reportedly earning over £10 million a year, Daniel Radcliffe can still be seen driving a trusty … [Read more...]
Dealers happy with manufacturers relationships
It is positive that despite the significant disruption faced over the past twelve months, dealers are on average fairly satisfied with the relationship with their respective manufacturers, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association. Average levels of dealer satisfaction with the support received through the pandemic by respective manufacturers remained … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 4xe PHEV
Jeep’s landmark position in the off-road sector is now joined by the Renegade’s claim to fame as the first of the brand’s electric models, writes Robin Roberts. The Renegade was a defining vehicle for the brand being the first Jeep model to be made outside the US. It’s assembled in Italy, Brazil and China from 2015. Now it’s reached another high point and more Jeep models will become hybrids … [Read more...]
Tradelines 6 January
Sales of electric cars have overtaken petrol and diesel in Norway. Tesla has also been knocked off the top spot by Volkswagen as BEVs collected 54.3% of registrations in 2020. As it eased into its second century, luxury Bentley sales soared to their highest ever despite the pandemic last year. The Crewe-based company saw 11,206 registrations around the world and the new Flying Spur was a major … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Jeep Wrangler 4-Door, Night Eagle
Its big, its brash, its still the iconic all-American 4WD SUV, writes David Miles. But the modern Jeep brand is owned by Chrysler and they are part of the Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles conglomerate which in turn is now in partnership with the PSA Group of brands. Following the recent merger the FCA and PSA groups together will be known as STELLANTIS, the world’s 4thlargest global automotive … [Read more...]