Webuyanycar.com rapped for 'misleading customers'

Internet car buying company Webuyanycar.com has been slammed by a watchdog for misleading customers with inflated valuations.

An investigation into the company accused the company of offering one price online to lure customers, then offering much less when they turned up to sell.

In all, the Office of Fair Trading found 96% of sellers received less than the valuation and Webuyanycar inspectors were set targets to slash the offer price by as much as 25%.
The OFT investigation covered July 2009 to June 2010.
By August 2010, the company had 114 branches throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
Other concerns highlighted by the investigation included:

• Giving the misleading impression to consumers that their online valuation was only valid for seven days
• Failing to assess customer complaints in a "fair, reasonable, consistent and professional manner"
• Not making it clear that the next working day payment service - which cost customers £24.75 - was optional

The OFT said: "Consumers were given the impression that they would be paid the online valuation if the company's onsite inspection matched the condition entered by the seller online. But once at the appointment, some customers found other factors reduced the price."
Webuyanycar, which made a profit of £5million on latest accounts, insisted it has made changes since "the early days" when "we didn't get it right for every single customer".

Sales of new cars hit the skids in March

New car sales fell by nearly 8% in March – traditionally the motor trade’s biggest month to sell a car.

The new 11-plate helped dealers shift 366,101 vehicles last month according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ which was 7.9% down on March 2010.

In all, registrations in the first three months of the year were down 8.7% compared with the first quarter of 2010, at 558,336.

New car registrations have now declined in each of the last nine months, but the trade body claimed sales would have been up if you strip out sales from last year’s car scrappage scheme.

Chief executive Paul Everitt said: “motorists are buying more fuel-efficient and low emitting vehicles”, with new cars registered in the first quarter averaging record low emissions at 140.3g per km.

US car makers were the big losers, with Cadillac and fuel-thirsty firm Hummer not selling a single vehicle here last month.

Nissan was one of the big winners, with sales up 14%.

Individually, the Ford Fiesta was the best-selling car in the month, followed by the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Corsa.

Tesco cars launched - but no trade-ins!

Once upon a time Tesco used to just sell groceries. Not content with moving into clothing, petrol, banking and insurance, the supermarket giants have even branched out into buying up old gold.

But, now it has embarked on arguably its most ambitious project yet - selling second hand cars!

Tesco say they are offering RAC-inspected cars for sale at prices cheaper than many existing forecourt prices, due to their lower overheads.
The plan is that the cars will be delivered directly from seller to buyer, with no showrooms, and no sales commissions, etc.
The new site will offer up to 3,000 cars a week, mostly sourced from hire fleets and the leasing business. If you like what you see and buy one, you can pick it up at a handover centre at Longbridge, or for a fee it can be delivered to your door.
But, here is the catch!
There won't be any trade-ins, private sales or free car valuations available through Tesco Cars, and that, added to the inability to inspect the cars personally, will restrict the segment of the market that can be covered.
The launch of Tesco's site on Sunday follows the acquisition of a minority stake in online dealership Carsite. The supermarket group has an option to take full control of the venture over time.

American teen attacks mother after car loan refusal

Rachel Anne Hachero

A gifted Florida student has been charged with attacking her mother after she refused to help her buy a car!

American Police said 17-year-old Rachel Anne Hachero 'pistol-whipped' her mother at their home when she refused to co-sign a loan for a black 2004 Nissan 350Z.

After the attack, police said the teenager then pointed a gun at her mother's head and stomach and told her she was going with her to the Nissan dealership in Fort Myers, Florida, to sign for the car.

Hachero's mother told investigators her daughter ordered her into a vehicle and demanded she drive to the dealership or she would shoot her.
The pair then completed the purchase at Sutherlin Nissan, Florida, and Hachero left the dealership in the Nissan 350Z.
Linda Hachero, told police she went through her daughter's purse while she was at school and found the gun, drugs, and drug paraphernalia.
Mrs Hachero said she did not want to press charges against her daughter, who had recently been accepted to several prestigious Ivy League colleges.
Officers from Lee County Sheriff's office have charged her with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm and battery.

Convertible cars soar in value as summer approaches

According to data from Glass's - the UK's car valuation experts - the price of 'convertibles' are beginning to soar as the weather gets warmer.

Last year, the average auction price for a general market convertible was £6,900, but by April 2010, the average price had increased to £8,000, representing a 16 percent rise for the quarter. Experts a predicting a similar rise in 2011.

Adrian Rushmore, managing editor at Glass’s said “from March 2011 we would expect to see the higher trade prices being reflected in higher forecourt prices as dealers attempt to protect, or increase, their trading margins."

Glass's also says that, on average, convertibles retain more of their original value than other market segments. After a period of three years, an average convertible can retain 42 percent of their value. Meanwhile, an MPV will keep only a third of its purchasing price when you want to sell it on.
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Police hunt for soccer ace's car

Police are still trying to track down a car stolen from the family home of Arsenal football player Theo Walcott.

The car valuation of the white VW Golf R32 with tinted windows, is estimated to be around £20,000.

The vehicle was snatched from outside the property in Felden where the premiership player’s parents and brother live, while Walcott was starring for Arsenal in his side’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Jewellery and laptops, valued at around £30,000, were also taken.

A 25 year old woman from Rickmansworth, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been bailed by police until Wednesday, March 23.

Crazed Brazilian ploughs into cyclists. How was no one killed?

This is the horrifying moment when over 40 people were injured after a motorist ploughed into a group of cyclists in Brazil.

Miraculously, no-one was killed in the incident in Porto Alegre, but many of the cyclists suffered broken bones and severe cuts and bruises.

Miraculously, no-one was killed in the incident in Porto Alegre, but many of the cyclists suffered broken bones and severe cuts and bruises.Up to 130 cyclists were taking part in the 'Critical Mass' event, which blocks roads in a protest against motorists, and around 40 were struck by the car, which had followed the group for a period before ramming them in his black Volkswagen Golf.The driver of the car fled from the scene but police have a suspect in custody after they found the car abandoned at the weekend. Police say the man claimed riders surrounded his vehicle and began beating on it, so he panicked and - in fear for his life - ran away. However, the lead investigator in the case called that version of events 'fanciful'.

Critical Mass is a cycling event that is held around the world, usually on the last Friday of every month, and its aim is to take back the streets from motorists.

The events usually occur in a flashmob-style, without warning, and block roads.

However, critics claim the event is dangerous, causing public disruption in major cities without warning and it has even been attacked by some cycling advocacy groups because it causes confrontation with motorists and weakens public support for cyclists.

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