So has anyone seen the new 147 ?

[Junior]

Ok so we know how long it's been launched, some of us have sat in and played with demo models. But has anyone seen one on the road, or do we know of anyone that bought one ?

Or is the lack of 147 prescence on the road a statement on the down turm of new car sales ?

[WhipLash]

I saw one last December in a supermarket carpark. It was registered to a main dealer, so was probably a demo car. I haven't seen a 01 reg 147 on the road as yet, but plenty of other 01 reg cars around. Funnily enough, I’m just off the phone from a main dealer, and they claim that new car sales are not as quick off the ground as last year, but still sufficient.

One issue leading on from this which, IMHO, is well worth discussing...second hand/trade-in values!

As the dealer forecourts are currently crammed with used vehicles, punters are being offered peanuts for their trade-ins :( . It doesn’t even matter if you are even trading in a like for like make or even model. The dealers just don’t want them. I can see a scenario happening now where the dealers will cherry pick trade-ins. How? Just by offering unbelievably low prices for the cars they don’t want. Simple, but effective. And how does the punter escape these ferocious deprecations? Either buy a newer/bigger second-hand or drive your current car into the ground.

One the other hand, its got to be a dream come true for the second hand buyer.

[Phil]

My friend was telling me of a story when he went back to the dealer who sold him his car to find out how much it would cost to get a newer model.( just for interest sake )Now his car was only six months old and the dealer told him that it would cost £2,500 with his car to get the new model. What a rip off. I would'nt mind, it was a toyota corrola and there suppose to hold there price.

Don't forget dealers were the ones who keep you in business.If we all stopped buying new cars, where would you be then.

Just while were on the subject, does anyone know how to value your car. If I walk into a BMW garage and he is selling a car 'i.e. 320i 98 BMW' for £23,000 and I have the same 98 320i SE BMW car, and I want to trade it in against a bigger model i.e 520i or newer BMW 320i, how much can I reckon I will get as a trade in for my car. i.e. If it is £23,000, do I get £23,000 for mine or should I subtract say £2000 to get a close idea of the value of my car.

Is there any rule of thumb.

please help.

[WhipLash]

Originally posted by Phil

Just while were on the subject, does anyone know how to value your car. If I walk into a BMW garage and he is selling a car 'i.e. 320i 98 BMW' for £23,000 and I have the same 98 320i SE BMW car, and I want to trade it in against a bigger model i.e 520i or newer BMW 320i, how much can I reckon I will get as a trade in for my car. i.e. If it is £23,000, do I get £23,000 for mine or should I subtract say £2000 to get a close idea of the value of my car.

Is there any rule of thumb.

please help.


Phil, I just happen to have a little book here beside me which recommends a price of £20,950 for a standard '98 320i with average mileage. A '98 520i is recommended at £26,050. HTH.

[Paul]

I saw two, both red (probably the same one actually)

I think they look much better in the flesh and will sell well to people who used to buy Golf's.

[Phil]

I seen one, but it was a demo model in the Stephens Green Multi story car park. Outside of that, I had forgotton that they exsisted.

[Phil]

At long last I have seen one of these 147's. But not only have I seen one but I have seen two. I wonder what the resale value on one of these cars will be like when they don't seem to be selling them in the first place.

Ah well.

[Junior]

I've seen two, but both are Demo models for the local Fiat Garage, other than that they are as invisible as the new Mondeo down this end of the country.

I think this could be a reflection of both the price and the generally slowing down of the market.