Car sales fall in 2011 but exceed expectations

Year-end figures have shown that new car sales fell 4.4% in 2011 compared with 2010.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have revealed that a total of 1,941,253 new registrations were recorded last year, compared with a figure of 2,030,846 for 2010 when many people were incentivised into buying and selling cars by the Government's scrappage scheme.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt revealed that, though the figures were slightly ahead of industry-wide predictions, 2011 was going to be a "challenging year" for the UK motor industry.

"Weak economic growth will make trading conditions tough in 2012, but record numbers of new and updated models, significantly improved fuel efficiency and exciting new technologies will help to encourage consumers into showrooms."

One of the more encouraging aspect of the figures was the fact that, in the second half of 2011, sales fell just 1.1% compared with the July-December 2010 period.

Registrations in 2011 were supported by fleet sales, with the private market recording a drop in volumes.

Diesel and alternatively fuelled cars took record shares of the market in 2011, with diesel volumes surpassing petrol volumes for the first time.

Once again, the Ford Fiesta was the best-selling new car in 2011, with the Volkswagen Golf the best-selling diesel model.

The supermini segment remains the largest in the UK, with a market share almost unchanged on 2010 at 36.3%. The executive, luxury saloon and dual-purpose sectors all recorded growth in registrations in 2011.

Former Man Utd ace jailed for selling stolen car parts

One-time Manchester United star Ronnie Wallwork has been jailed for his part in an elaborate car buyer scam.

The 34-year-old was sentenced to 15 months in prison by Preston Crown Court after admitting three counts of handling stolen cars.

Wallwork's crimes were inadvertantly discovered by undercover officers as part of 'Operation Solomon' who were trying to track down a gang of armed robbers who had shot a security guard in Preston's Tesco supermarket!

While checking out local scrapyards, officers soon discovered Wallwork had his own, entirely separate, criminal enterprise in operation.
It emerged he had sold a Volkswagen Touran engine and parts from a BMW 318i on eBay, while he was observed driving a Mazda Furano into the scrapyard three days after it was stolen from a car dealer.
The three stolen vehicles he was linked to were worth more than 43,000 pounds in total, the court heard.
The court was told how the former West Bromwich Albion midfielder had fallen into financial difficulties following his retirement from football and two failed business ventures and police believe he got caught up in the criminal sub culture of Newton Heath.
Wallwork - who was lucky to escape with his life when he was stabbed in a Manchester bar five years ago - played enough games for Manchester United to earn a Premiership winners' medal in 2000-01.

SELL A CAR

Motoring costs continue to soar

New research from the RAC has shown that the cost of motoring has soared by 14% over the last year, meaning car buyers are paying an average of £128 per week to run a new family car.

All told, the cost of running a new car for the year was found to be £6,689 a year, which compares unfavourably with the figure of £5,870 only 12 months ago.

The hike in costs is made of a 12.4 per cent rise in fuel prices compared to last year, while the average maintenance costs increased by 8.8 per cent.

Average insurance premiums have risen 14.38 per cent, car finance is now costing 9.85% more, while depreciation (decreasing car valuation) was the factor to rise the most – 16.67 per cent.

The cost index was based on a pool of 17 new cars with the results weighted by their level of ownership. Even taking depreciation and car finance out of the calculations, the day-to-day running costs were up 11.1% to £2,743.

"This year’s cost index highlights the tough conditions being faced by Britain’s motorists,’ said RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink. ‘With the annual cost of motoring approaching £7,000, the price burden of car ownership is hitting drivers hard.
The increase of almost three times the rate of inflation is crippling drivers’ wallets and something needs to be done to stem the tide."

Leading 'car-buying companies' branded rip-off merchants

An investigative piece of journalism from The Sun has seen the newspaper brand a number of Britain's best known car buying companies as rip-off merchants!

The detailed 'expose' involved The Sun getting an independent valuation on a wide-range of vehicles from motor industry experts Parkers, then comparing those figure with what the car buying companies could offer on each car.

Among the most shocking results was Trademymotor.co.uk's offer on a  Audi A4 Cabriolet which was more than £3,500 below the recommended value and a paltry offer from wewillbuyyourcar.com which fell over £3,000 less than the estimated private sale price for a modest Peugeot 207.

The Sun was also particularly critical of those companies which charge a 'transaction fee' (which they take out of the price they offer), including the well-known webuyanycar.com.

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".