Cars going up

[Donkmeister]

So Ford and Vauxhall announced today that they're putting their prices up by about 5%... Which means a top-spec Ford Fiesta now costs the thick end of £20K!!!

Why don't they just skim it off the inflated costs they charge us compared to Europe? I know they are businesses and have to trade, but they've treated us as a golden goose for decades and now closed the factories because it was cheaper to build in Europe.

Perhaps the UK can slip in a stealthy import duty on cars (obviously it would need to have a different name, due to the EU rules)?

Make any cars imported from the continent subject to a 500% import duty and watch them rush to reopen Luton, Dagenham etc!!! With our weak pound, the labour costs are probably cheaper than Poland, why not rebuild our manufacturing base?

 

[Homesafe]

aren't they supposed to reduce prices in this climate?????

 

[securespark]

Read Mike Rutherford in Auto Express or Quentin Willson's column in the Sunday Mirror & you'll see that it is perfectly possible to get up to 30- 40% off a brand new car.

 

[Homesafe]

sounds about right ,
is that just because of the recesion or is that in generall(30/40%)

 

[securespark]

Because of the recession. Basically the advice is that if you're daft enough to walk into a showroom & offer to pay full price, then the sales staff won't stop you.

If you choose your car carefully, you can almost demand 30 - 40% discount on it. Some dealers are selling at less than cost just to shift metal.

You can almost go in & name your price!

 

[noseall]

some have even offered b.o.g.o.f. deals.

some offer a large saloon plus a small hatch for free.

going up - my arse.

 

[toptec]

Sept 2006 - Bought new Suzuki 4 X 4 - Price £17, 000 with extras thrown in.

Yesterday in same garage the same vehicle £13,000 with lots of extras and free servicing thrown in.

Nah, they is going down especially the bigger diesels

 

[JohnD]

the car manufacturers are always going to try to maximise their profits, but with the Incredible Shrinking Pound, we can expect to see imported goods going up in price in Sterling terms, even if the Euro price doesn't. Cars, food, oil, fridges, washing machines, wine, lager, grain, electricity, gas etc.

Until recently UK buyers could get cars cheaper in Ireland (similar spec and priced in Euros). Now it's the other way round.

Just one tiresome effect of big swings in Exchange rates.

The Eurozone is big enough to ride these out more easily than we are.