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SUCCESSION
Early retirement for Dale Wyatt
DALE Wyatt is to take early retirement from his senior executive role at Suzuki GB next March.
The director of automobile for the UK and Ireland will have been in the position for 18 years by then, and said he’d decided that the time was right to step down to further concentrate on his health and well-being.
Wyatt will be 59 when he hands over the reins to David Kateley, who is general manager of the automobile sales operations division.
AUCTIONS
Carwow and Auto Express service
CARWOW has launched a new service in tandem with Auto Express giving used car dealers access to more and varied stock.
Auto Express became part of the Carwow Group in February and now Carwow’s consumer-facing Sell My Car service has been made available to the title’s 45m annual unique users.
Every car listed by private sellers via Auto Express will go directly into Carwow’s daily online auctions.
NEWS DIGEST
Imali Chislett with Snows Seat Poole senior sales executive
Jason Batten
Snows dealership wins praise from businesswoman Imali for its exceptional Motability customer service
A SNOWS car dealership in Dorset has won high praise for the way it treats a loyal Motability customer who lives in Hampshire.
The Poole-based Seat showroom has latterly provided an Ateca via the scheme for Imali Chislett, who said the care and attention shown by senior sales executive Jason Batten and his colleagues was exceptional.
The businesswoman, who lives in Fareham with husband Cameron, has a range of debilitating health issues and first visited Snows Seat in the town while spending time with family in the area some years ago. It was such a positive experience that they became loyal customers – even while living as far north as Ripon in Yorkshire.
ACQUISITION JOBS
John Clark opens second MG outlet
JOHN Clark Motor Group has added a second MG outlet to its network.
The Perth franchise was bought from West End Motor Group for an undisclosed sum and joins John Clark’s Dundee MG sibling, offering new and used car sales as well as aftersales and parts.
John Clark said the strategic acquisition strengthened its presence in the area. Group
managing director Chris Clark said: ‘We are thrilled to be expanding our MG representation in Scotland.’
Third site on its way for MotorTrust UK
USED car dealership MotorTrust UK is to open its third site and create some 20 jobs in the process.
The family-owned business told Car Dealer it’ll be opening the Lancaster showroom on September 16, when it’ll join MotorTrust UK’s already-established dealerships in Preston and Garstang.
The Lancaster site will cover about 1.5 acres, house 250 cars and boast a purpose-built showroom, managing director Mike Porter told Car Dealer.
MARATHON
Robin raises £23k for cancer charity
TOP car dealer Robin Luscombe has raised thousands of pounds for a prostate cancer charity.
The Luscombe Motors boss and Car Dealer Lifetime Achievement Award winner was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and underwent surgery in January.
Now fighting fit again, he organised Lusky’s Lead Mine Marathon – a trials bike marathon that took place up a rocky stream in Yorkshire and raised £23,054 for Prostate Cancer UK.
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Lohscheller to head Polestar
POLESTAR has appointed Michael Lohscheller as its new CEO following the resignation of Thomas Ingenlath.
Ingenlath has been at the helm of the Swedish outfit since its inception seven years ago but will now stand aside. From October 1, his shoes will be filled by Lohscheller, who has previously served as CEO of Opel, VinFast and Nikola.
Lohscheller said: ‘I am honoured to join Polestar at such an exciting time in the company’s history.’
MILESTONE
Alan Day to open London BYD site
ALAN Day Motor Group is due to open a BYD dealership in north London in September.
The family-owned group was established in 1972, specialising in Volkswagen then Skoda models, but now it’s expanding its portfolio even further to offer the Chinese EV range at a standalone site in New Southgate. It’s poised to officially open its doors on September 25, with Alan Day hailing it as ‘a significant milestone’ for the group.
Steph really puts her back into raising cash at truck pull so that pupils with special needs can have new library
A SENIOR executive from Warranty Solutions Group has been taking the strain for a good cause.
Group marketing director Steph Newbery and partner Dave Tancock pulled three increasingly heavy HGVs in a bid to raise £5,000 for a new library for St Piers School in Lingfield, which helps children and young adults who have special educational needs and disabilities.
Ahead of the Horley Charity Truck Pull, during which they heaved lorries weighing 20 tons, 30 tons and 40 tons along a 20-metre course, Newbery – seen above at a previous event – called it ‘the biggest challenge that Dave and I have ever undertaken’. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so via this link
£163,000 tribute to John Mulholland
JOHN Mulholland Motors has raised £163,000 for a cancer charity in honour of its ‘legendary ‘ eponymous founder.
Mulholland was just 55 when he died from kidney cancer in 2019, and tributes flooded in from across the automotive industry.
The outfit, which represents Skoda and Hyundai, has now announced that in the five years since his death, it has raised £163,000 to support the work of Belfast-based Friends of the Cancer Centre.
Daughter Shona Mulholland, who is now the MD, said she was proud to be continuing her father’s legacy.
Arnold Clark signs up for SCOTY event
ARNOLD Clark has been named as the official partner of this year’s Scottish Car of the Year Awards.
Organised by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW), the awards, which this year take place on November 28 at the Dalmahoy Hotel in Edinburgh, honour the best cars launched over the previous 12 months.
ASMW president Alisdair Suttie said: ‘We are delighted to host the awards in association with Arnold Clark.
‘With such a diverse range of cars and ways to power them, 2024 is set to be a fantastic year for SCOTY.’
Leicester Omoda and Jaecoo site to open
RON Brooks Motor Group is to open a showroom representing Omoda and Jaecoo in Leicester.
A new site will begin trading over the coming months, joining sister outfits in Derby and Mansfield.
Tom Slack, group manager for strategy & innovation at Ron Brooks, told Car Dealer: ‘Whilst the Ron Brooks business is 60 years old, we are committed to a new growth strategy over the coming years.
‘It is a very exciting time for the business and our colleagues. We thank Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo for their continued trust and faith in the Ron Brooks business.’
BITE-SIZE
Click on the text box for the full story
TAKEOVER: Waylands has expanded its network of showrooms with the acquisition of a Volvo site. The Car Dealer Top 100 outfit has bought Volvo Gloucester for an undisclosed sum. As part of the deal, six charge points for EVs will be installed.
HELP: Greenhous Group has donated collection tins to a food hub. The Car Dealer Top 100 firm has given Shrewsbury Food Hub 50 tins, with the money that goes in them being put towards getting suppliers’ surplus food to community groups and charities.
DECLINE: Car production in the UK fell by 14.4% in July versus last year, according to latest figures from the SMMT. It cited model changeovers and temporary supply chain challenges as the main factors causing the drop in output to 65,478 vehicles.
WARNING: Gap providers are among those in the insurance sector warned by the FCA that more still needs to be done to prove that customers are getting fair value or good outcomes. It vowed it’ll continue taking action against firms that offer poor value.
CAMPAIGN: Auto Trader has launched a multi-million-pound campaign to drive new car buyers to its partners’ stock. The six-month ‘Found AT’ initiative is expected to reach 96% of the adult population at least 35 times and is its biggest investment to date.
NEWS DIGEST
Video footage reveals devastating impact of inferno
at Ron Skinner & Sons car supermarket as probe launched
SHOCKING footage has revealed the full, devastating impact of a major fire at the Ron Skinner & Sons used car supermarket in Tredegar.
Car Dealer reported that an investigation was launched after the blaze tore through the showroom on August 17. Nobody was hurt, but people were warned to keep doors and windows shut and stay away from the area.
South Wales Fire & Rescue Service subsequently posted video footage showing the full extent of the damage caused by the inferno. The video on X shows flames billowing from the windows and doors of the metal building. It also shows the site left as a barely standing, burnt-out shell after the fire was finally extinguished.
Sun Motors zeroes in on listing landscape
A NEW car listing and financing platform has been launched by national daily newspaper The Sun working with a consortium of motoring industry experts.
Sun Motors, whose focus will be on quality vetted and trusted dealerships, is a strategic joint venture between The Sun and the Motor Genius Group that aims ‘to redefine the car-buying and financing landscape in the UK by offering a trusted marketplace for quality used car transactions’.
Duncan McPhee joins Hendy in senior role
FORMER Lookers chief operating officer Duncan McPhee is moving to Hendy Group to take up the same senior executive position. McPhee quit Lookers out of the blue in April after 16 years with the Car Dealer Top 100 firm, starting as general manager and rising to become chief operating officer in January 2021. He will join Hendy in October in the newly created role of chief operating officer, overseeing day-to-day operations as it gets ready for a new phase of expansion.
Motorpoint revs up YouTube strategy
RACING driver and TV presenter Rebecca Jackson has joined Motorpoint’s YouTube channel. She and her production company Moving Image will work with the used car retailer’s in-house content team to review new-to-market and second-hand cars.
Jackson, pictured above with Motorpoint head of content Tim Rodie, said: ‘I’m delighted to have the chance to work with the team during such an exciting period of growth.’
Wheeler Dealers star Mike Brewer and our Podcast Live guests had plenty to say about why online-only second-hand car seller Cazoo failed.
At the recording, sponsored by Motorway and held at Milton Hill House in Abingdon, Brewer plus EV Experts co-founder Estelle Miller and Vines BMW boss Sean Kelly waded in.
Cazoo’s collapse was picked as the story of the year by James Baggott and he explained why he thought the headline was so important to the industry.
Brewer said the whole Cazoo saga made him ‘mighty angry’, especially after founder Alex Chesterman said in interviews prior to the launch that the motor industry was beset with ‘sharp-elbowed salesmen’.
Brewer said: ‘I’m very passionate about our brethren and industry and what we do.
‘It really does irk me when people like that want to put down the motor trade and think they’ve got this grand plan for how it should run.’
Cazoo collapsed into administration earlier this year after racking up losses in the hundreds of millions.
Baggott said: ‘When they launched, the motor trade was just flabbergasted by quite how much money this company threw around. They didn’t just sponsor one
WHY USED CAR DEALER CAZOO FAILED
football team, did they? They sponsored two Premier League football teams, they sponsored the snooker, they sponsored the golf, basically anything that they could sponsor they spent money on, which meant blowing millions of pounds.
‘And that wasn’t their money, was it? It was investors’ money that they splashed out. This was obviously all led by the founder, Alex Chesterman. And I think one of the other reasons this really kind of gets up the nose of the motor trade is because he just slagged us all off.
‘He thought there was a better way and really, the fact of the matter was, there wasn’t a better way of doing things.’
Kelly likened Cazoo’s growth to the ‘dotcom bubble’. Cazoo listed on the New York Stock Exchange at an initial valuation of $8bn, but that value rapidly eroded.
But Cazoo’s biggest mistake, he believed, was the fact that it invested in its own used car stock. ‘If you look at another behemoth, internet car sales giant Auto Trader, they make a ton of money and all they’re doing is facilitating people selling cars and people wanting to buy them.’
Kelly said the ‘power of the crowds’ likely swept investors along and he believed they got ‘carried away by the narrative’ of Cazoo. Miller, who runs the two-site electric used car dealership EV Experts, said she thought
Cazoo’s biggest mistake was forgetting that people like to buy from people. ‘A secondhand car is going to have been driven a lot on the motorway, it’s going to have a lot of stone chips – they’re all so different.
‘Ultimately, you need to see the metal, touch the metal and be happy with it. I think people buy cars from people. So just taking that completely out of the transaction was not going to help.’
Jamie Caple, who runs used car dealer Car Quay, was in the audience and said Cazoo had made all car dealers’ jobs harder.
‘Mr Chesterman must be loving it, because he’s created this business that was never going to work, raised loads of money, took a massive chunk, bailed and we’re left with the legacy of it. That means we have customers who expect cars to be delivered across the country and if they ain’t happy they can send it back.’
Jon Reay, left, and James Batchelor
‘IT’S NORMALLY A BIT C**P’
The motor trade has a widespread problem with retaining customers and car dealers need to work on their post-sales contact plans.
That’s according to Vines BMW boss Sean Kelly, who said the industry was ‘c**p’ when it came to keeping in touch with customers.
Speaking at Car Dealer Podcast Live, sponsored by Motorway, Kelly admitted the issue was particularly prevalent in the used sector. He added that businesses, including his own, needed to get better at giving customers ‘a reason to come back’.
He said: ‘What we [at Vines] have seen – and this is probably hopefully relevant to everyone else whatever vehicles they’re selling – is we do a bad job as an industry of retention full stop and used cars especially so.
‘It’s almost like we assume and believe
that with every used car we sell, that customer is only going to come back to us if they see that we have a right car for them.
‘The post-sale contact plan is normally a bit c**p. What’s happened recently with AI and the power of computers is we do a lot of that now by email and text and it’s c**p!
‘You’ve got to create a relationship with these customers and you have to do that by talking to them and giving them a reason to come back into the business, even if it’s just a free health check on their car every year.
‘The service intervals are so long now, you’re not seeing these customers as frequently as you used to.
‘You’ve got to give them a compelling reason to want to have a relationship with you, and I think the move towards internetdriven stuff is kind of killing some of that, which I think is bad for all of us, actually.’
Cazoo, Chinese EVs and the ZEV mandate
were among the topics debated. Kelly was joined on the panel by EV Experts cofounder Estelle Miller and Wheeler Dealers star Mike Brewer. The audience heard from Miller about how used car dealers can adapt to selling EVs, and from Brewer on why he loves the motor trade so much.
Estelle Miller explains why used car dealers need a shift in mindset in order to sell EVs
Selling used EVs means that traditional retailers have to adopt a different mindset throughout the sales process.
That’s according to EV Experts co-founder Estelle Miller, who told the audience at Car Dealer Podcast Live, sponsored by Motorway, that dealers beginning to stock EVs should be prepared for a more ‘consultative sell’.
During the special recording, Miller added that price parity in the secondhand market was now making EVs a more attractive proposition for buyers.
‘For us, the big news for this year is obviously price parity. So now an EV that’s two or three years old in the used market is about the same price as its petrol equivalent. Actually, if it’s a premium performance car you’re looking for – a BMW 3 Series or Audi A6 type of thing – in the used EV market, you can get something which is equivalent for five or six grand cheaper. That’s a reason to go into it.
‘Then, I guess the other thing to think about is things like depreciation. EVs have been holding their price really quite well
this year after a brutal year last year. I don’t know, but will diesels on the forecourt hold their price in the same way as perhaps a three- or four-year-old EV would? That’s what I would say selling an EV to a trader.’
She added: ‘In terms of sitting on the forecourt, our experience is that it is a slightly longer sell, it’s more of a consultative sell. You have to put more hours into it and it is going to linger on the forecourt probably longer than you’re used to with your petrol and diesel stock.
‘You need to build that into pricing.’
‘EVs are providing buyers with stability’
ASKED how EV buyers differ from traditional customers, Estelle Miller said electric cars were now appealing to an older demographic on the lookout for stability.
‘We get lots of families who I think are concerned about climate change and they’re concerned about air quality in particular. So we do see a lot of families.
‘We also see a lot of people who are just going into retirement who want something that’s not going to give them surprises when it comes to servicing and maintenance, and people who want to have a bit more control over how much fuelling the car is going to cost.
‘I guess when you’re going into retirement, you’re relooking at your family finances and you want some kind of stability and no surprises. I think that’s what EVs bring to a lot of buyers right now.’
VINES BMW’S SEAN KELLY SPEAKS OUT ON MOTOR TRADE’S RETENTION PROBLEM
Sean Kelly makes a point at Podcast Live
Estelle Miller and Mike Brewer at Podcast Live
Why TV star Mike Brewer has gone back to his roots with latest venture into the used motor trade
He’s a TV star with millions of fans all over the world but the used motor trade remains Mike Brewer’s first love.
The Wheeler Dealers host is perhaps the most famous car salesman in the UK and recent years have seen him go back to his roots.
Two years ago, the 60-year-old set up One Automotive in Warwickshire, following a chance encounter while filming a segment for Wheeler Dealers.
Speaking at the inaugural Car Dealer Podcast Live, sponsored by Motorway, Brewer explained that he previously had no intentions of ‘going again’. However, when he bought a Volkswagen Golf Mk1 from dealer James Elkinton, the pair got chatting and eventually decided to go into business.
The two men, along with Brewer’s wife Michelle, are the directors of One Automotive, which now sells around 50 vehicles a month.
Explaining how the business came to be, Brewer told the audience: ‘It was the last thing I expected in my life. We already have a very successful television programme –Wheeler Dealers – that’s just been on its world tour. I’m always busy and flat out making that.
‘If I’m not doing that, I’m hosting live events at weekends and I have a finger on the pulse of what happens at Mike Brewer Motors up in Sheffield. That’s a busy, big operation that now is automatic. It runs itself after 12 years, which is fantastic.
‘The last thing I expected was to go again. I really didn’t want to go again, but I did
have a beautiful building that was housing my lovely private car collection.
‘It’s a nice space. On Wheeler Dealers I did a little feature where I bought a Volkswagen Golf Mk1 off a young man called James. I went to his little car site that was on the edge of a farm unit.
‘They were doing commercial vehicles at the same time, and I got talking to James whilst I was buying the Golf and this little piece in my brain was just going “This is the guy. You said you don’t want to do it again, but this is the guy that you could do it with. This guy’s speaking exactly what you want to hear if you were to go and invest in the motor trade again”.
‘I came home, consulted Michelle and she said: “Absolutely. Let’s do it. Let’s get him down there”.
‘We invited James down to the building. He walked in, I said: “Could you sell vehicles from here?” He said: “Absolutely” and the rest is history really.
‘We started just over two years ago and I’m quite pleased with the way it’s gone.
‘We’ve turned over several million pounds in that period of time. It’s a very busy operation.
‘We’re consistently doing somewhere between 40 and 50 vehicles a month out of the space. It’s only 5,000 square foot but we’ve adapted. Me, James and Michelle have adopted a mentality to the business that is perfect.’
‘I’m good at being in the motor trade’ Speaking at a packed-out Milton Hill House in Abingdon, Brewer was keen to point
out that One Automotive was no hands-off venture by any means.
A peek at his social media will demonstrate the star’s commitment to the business, and he certainly isn’t afraid of mucking in and doing the dirty work.
As part of the podcast, he explained that he continues to love working in the motor trade, despite being in a position to take his foot off the throttle.
He added: ‘I absolutely love it. It’s not too far from the house, which is good, and as I’ve previously said, Michelle’s got a foot up my a**e, so it’s quite nice to escape!
‘I go and hang out with James because he normalises me. I get there, somebody throws a rag in my hand and says “Give that screen a wipe” or “Can you give us a lift down to the MOT centre?”.
‘It actually just normalises me and it’s what I’m good at. I’m good at being in the motor trade.
‘I’m good at talking to people and just being around. I absolutely blooming love it. I really do love it.
‘I’m at a stage now in my life and my career where I could throttle off and just cruise but no, I’m now flat out.
‘I wake up every morning and I’m sort of excited to get to the unit and get to the car site. Now when the TV people ring, I’m like, “Oh God, really?”.’
Michelle and James from One Automotive
THEEVENTIN PICTURES
FEATURE STAR CAR: VOLVO EX90
James Baggott gives us 10 top facts about the new Volvo EX90
No key
The EX90 doesn’t come with a key. Instead, you can use your phone to unlock the car. It senses you approaching and unlocks the doors, and when you get inside, you can simply put it into drive to move off. There’s not even a start or stop button. For smartphone avoiders, a card does the same job.
Twin motors
The Volvo has two motors –one in the front axle and one in the rear. Together, these offer 510bhp and allow the Performance version to hit 60mph in under five seconds. That’s impressive for a car weighing more than two tonnes. With a 111kWh battery, it has a range of 373 miles.
Data-hungry
The EX90 uses an Nvidia Orin chip that processes huge amounts of data – in fact, it deals with some 254 trillion operations every second. With eight cameras collecting data at 30 frames per second, the chip is analysing a whopping 24m pixels every second as it looks for people and hazards ahead.
Sustainable
The EX90 is made with 15% recycled steel plus 25% recycled aluminium and has 48kg of recycled plastics. Seats are made from a mix of old bottles and bio-materials from sustainable Swedish forests. Nordico, a leather-like material that’s vegan-friendly, replaces cow hide, or owners can opt for a wool trim.
That screen
A 14.5-inch screen dominates the cabin. Everything, from turning on the rear fog light to opening the glove box, can be done with buttons on the screen. It has Google Assistant built in, which works very well, and with 5G connectivity will be updated over the air. Spotify, Google Maps and more are all there as well.
Incredible stereo
The EX90 has one of the best in-car audio systems we’ve ever tried. Featuring 25 speakers, it offers Dolby Atmos surround sound and ‘reference quality’ playback. It’s simply incredible and took four years to design. In fact, B&W engineers started work on it at the same time the designers put the first pen strokes on paper.
Smart car
A variety of sensors –including that rather unsightly bump on the roof (the lidar) – help make the EX90 one of the safest cars Volvo has ever produced. Sensors outside and in keep an eye on the road plus occupants to ensure the car reacts when the driver may have been a little too slow. If you fall asleep, or are taken ill at the wheel, the car will automatically bring itself to a safe stop.
New colours
A new colour palette has been used for the EX90, including Sand Dune and Napier Grey. The former is a bold choice that wouldn’t look out of place on the streets of Dubai.
Bi-directional charging
If your home and charger can deal with it, you can use the EX90 as storage for electricity. With bi-directional charging, you can top up the battery when power is cheap and feed it back into your home when it’s expensive. This is especially useful if you’ve got solar panels and need somewhere to store excess electricity produced. A special charger is required for it to work, though.
Smart charging
The EX90 supports Plug & Charge, which allows owners to plug into public chargers and the car deals with payment. The car starts charging automatically and it means owners don’t have to fumble around with smartphone apps or cards. Not all public chargers are on the network, but more are being added by Volvo all the time.
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Driven by understanding
There’s a lot more to the used car business than the average motorist sees. Suppliers such as mfldirect need to understand those pressures and challenges. It’s the only way we can provide a service that really works for dealers and makes business easier.
At mfldirect, one reason we know that we understand our dealers better than most is because we have team members who were dealers. We sat down with two of them to chat about the ins and outs of the industry.
Hello, Vicky. Hello, Mo.
Our relationship manager Vicky kicked off her car sales career in F-reg year (1989), defecting from a banking job that left her longing for the earning potential of the car trade. ‘I was attracted by the dizzy heights of the salary, I’m not going to lie.’
She worked with a range of brands from specialist to volume.
Mo, an account specialist here, worked for a multi-franchise dealer that was also a family-run business. ‘My responsibilities involved much more than just selling vehicles,’ he told us.
‘I dealt with handovers, prepping, valeting, monitoring progress, closing my own deals and contacting customers.’
Let’s talk about pressure
There were many parts of the job our former car salespeople said they enjoyed. ‘I loved meeting new people,’ said Vicky. ‘It introduced me to people from all walks of life.’
But they were quick to point out the pressures, too – challenges that people outside of the trade might not understand.
‘Working with customers was a lot harder than I expected – it was really, really emotive,’ said Vicky. ‘It’s a massive purchase. Their expectations could be very high and you couldn’t always meet those expectations.’
Mo echoed that, saying: ‘Yeah, customers can be nervous. It’s the biggest purchase apart from their house.
‘So my whole thing was, just make their journey as smooth as possible.’
Then there’s the responsibility that comes with assessing customers’ cars.
Vicky said she felt ‘massive pressure’, adding: ‘Any mistake you make with a used car or a partexchange could be a big mistake. It made me grow up a lot.’
Meanwhile, Mo said: ‘I would inspect part-exes myself. You have that pressure. If you mismanage it, it’s kind of on you. And of course, sales execs need to hit targets to get their commission.
‘The best days are when you hit your target and the pressure is off.
‘That’s the biggest high and you keep chasing that. It’s a bit emotionally draining. Every month, you’re chasing that target again.
‘I think sales people are good at hiding the massive pressure they are under.’
Vicky’s take was the same. ‘You had your own targets. If you wanted a decent standard of living, you really had to hit it out the park,’ she said.
How do you think the mfldirect approach helps car dealers?
‘We have an account management team that our competitors don’t,’ said Mo.
‘The majority of the time, our cars are one
The best days are when you hit your target and the pressure is off.
owner, full service history and very retailable. My customers have peace of mind.’
It’s the mfldirect claims process that Vicky wanted to talk about.
‘We’re fully online and 24/7,’ she said. ‘The trust is a big thing.
‘Dealers know there’s a robust claims process and a team of friendly, professional people they can pick up the phone to.’
Going the extra mile to make life easier for dealers
‘We only thrive when dealers do,’ said Craig Ford, head of digital solutions.
‘It’s why we’ve worked so hard to make our online platform easy and fast, even though hundreds of thousands of cars pass through it every year.
‘Buying an mfldirect car can take two seconds –we’re proud of that.
‘We know there isn’t one way to buy that suits all dealers all the time. So, as well as our Assured Vehicles backed by our claims process, we’ve introduced Inspected Vehicles that come with detailed expert reports, so dealers can get their margins spot on.
‘Most of all, it’s why we have energetic, helpful people like Vicky and Mo, who get the business and know how to support our customers when they need us.’
Car Dealer editor-in-chief
JAMES BAGGOTT has launched a subscriber-only Substack newsletter. Every Friday, he digests the week’s news and gives his opinion on the biggest stories. Here’s a selection of his comments from the most recent newsletters. To subscribe, head to cardealer.substack.com
JAMES’S VIEWS ON THE NEWS EVs make national newspaper front pages
It was a hot topic at Car Dealer’s Podcast Live on September 4, and without wishing to spoil the result of the special event, Batch may have won when he picked the ZEV mandate as his story of the year.
And it feels like the national media has finally caught up with the news that the last part of this year might be a little strange for new car sales.
If you needed an example of the national papers catching up, then the front page headline of The Daily Telegraph on September 3 said it all.
It’s almost as if we can’t supply the cars that people want, but we’ve got plenty of the cars that maybe they don’t want.
Robert Forrester Vertu CEO
‘Petrol cars rationed to meet eco targets,’ it declared, conveniently forgetting that diesel cars would be in short supply, too (probably due to headline word count constraints…).
The Daily Telegraph’s front page on Tuesday, September 3
It all came off the back of Vertu boss Robert Forrester’s comments alongside a trading update that showed new car sales were down as a result of ‘oversupply’.
Forrester says the ZEV mandate ‘needs changing’ and he’s been vocal in his dislike of the policy that is forcing car manufacturers to restrict supply of ICE cars to force sales of EVs.
Chatting to another national newspaper, this time The Times, Forrester said: ‘In some franchises, there’s a restriction on supply of petrol cars and hybrid cars, which is actually where the demand is.
‘It’s almost as if we can’t supply the cars that people want, but we’ve got plenty of the cars that maybe they don’t want.
‘They [carmakers] are trying to avoid fines, so they are constraining the ability to keep to the targets.’
Fair play to Forrester for speaking up. As CEO of the last publicly listed franchised car dealer group standing, he has a big voice that people listen to – but I have a horrible feeling the government won’t take note.
It was discussed at length at our inaugural Podcast Live, which you can listen to here.
ZEV mandate targets: Who’s hitting them?
We heard from a source that life in the world of electric car targets is not at all rosy. An update from sources close to the numbers revealed that there are only four groups, or car manufacturers, currently on course to hit ZEV mandate targets.
Car makers must sell 22% of their cars as EVs this year or face punitive fines of £15,000 per car they miss the target by. So which are going to make it?
Well, apparently so far only Geely – owner of Polestar and Volvo – SAIC with its MG brand, BMW and, I couldn’t quite believe this one myself, Subaru are on target to hit the 22%. Obviously, Tesla, BYD and the other EV-only brands aren’t included in the four.
Car makers getting close include Mercedes, which is just one percentage point behind the 22% target as it stands. However, the rest are a long way off. Ford, for example, is languishing at a worrying 4%. It frankly has no chance of making the numbers this year. Manufacturers can use a variety of tricks to help them hit the numbers, though. Stellantis has said it’ll reduce petrol and diesel supply as the year draws to a close so that car buyers won’t be able to buy one, in the hope that it skews its figures.
I’ve not heard any moans yet from my contacts in the car dealer world that supply of ICE cars has stopped just yet, but I imagine it’s only a matter of time before I do.
Other car makers can buy credits from the likes of Tesla and BYD. But I find it hard to believe that any boardroom would like to give either of them a leg up with some money for nothing.
The other trick is to borrow credits from future years – but like a credit card debt, that’s going to be hard for car makers to pay off if their EV sales continue to stumble. There are some tough decisions ahead for car makers, that’s for sure.
ON a rare day off, I took my eldest on a day trip to London to visit the new Battersea shopping centre. If you’ve not been yet, it’s a stunning renovation of an iconic building and incredibly imposing.
But I wasn’t just left wondering about how many bricks it took to build the power station, or how painful it must have been repointing it. No, instead I was scratching my head about two car dealerships nestled between the luxury stores.
While my daughter looked at grossly overpriced Abercrombie & Fitch items, I wandered into the Genesis store just across the mall. It was deserted, with a salesman engrossed in his mobile phone.
‘What’s all this about then?’ I asked.
‘Well sir, this is a luxury Hyundai.’
Right… I was led to believe Genesis was intent on distancing itself from Hyundai, but apparently not. I looked round the showroom for a few minutes before asking what happens if I want to buy one.
‘We take your details and a dealer will call you,’ said the mobile phone-missing salesman.
Just down the hallway was another showroom, this time for Polestar. It was a lot smaller than the Genesis site but just as empty.
I like the idea of shopping centre showrooms in principle. They introduce customers to car brands in a location that looks and feels a lot less intimidating than an out-of-town motor park. But surely if they want them to really work, shouldn’t you at least be able to put down a deposit should the mood take you? I can’t imagine it would be that much more expensive than an Abercrombie & Fitch hoodie…
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CAR NEWS ROUND-UP
Manufacturers have been refining their models and producing new ones. We look at some of the results...
Griffin special model undercuts other Astras by up to £2,800
Tavascan EV to start from £47,340
ORDER books are soon to open for the new Cupra electric vehicle – the Tavascan.
The SUV will be available in four guises – V1, V2, VZ1 and VZ2 – but equipment levels haven’t been revealed yet.
It comes with a 77kWh battery pack linked to an electric motor as standard with two power outputs and a range of up to 352 miles. Prices start at £47,340 and rise to £60,835.
VAUXHALL has revealed the Astra Griffin – a new special edition that focuses on value for money. Available in petrol and electric guises, the Griffin special edition undercuts other Astras by as much as £2,800 and becomes the new entry-level model.
A Sports Tourer estate version, available exclusively
VOLKSWAGEN
Superb Sleeper will be a one-off
SKODA has revealed a gofaster version of its outgoing third-generation Superb with a Sleeper Edition.
Based on the rangetopping Laurin and Klement 4×4, the Sleeper has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine reworked to produce 470bhp – a significant increase on the standard Superb’s 276bhp. However, it won’t enter production and will be kept as a one-off.
with electric power, is also offered. Sitting beneath the existing Design trim level, the Griffin comes as standard with tinted rear windows, heated front seats and steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights, wireless phone charging, plus a 180-degree parking camera. Prices start at £24,795.
ID.3 GTX Performance now in dealerships Wraps taken off #5 mid-size SUV
THE Volkswagen ID.3 GTX Performance has gone on sale, offering 322bhp and the promise of hot-hatch thrills without the tailpipe emissions.
Billed as a pure-electric alternative to the Golf GTI Clubsport, the Performance is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds.
VW says it offers a top speed of 124mph and 369 miles of range.
Prices start at £46,225.
has unveiled its biggest model yet to take on the likes of the Toyota bZ4X and Kia
This new mid-size SUV will come solely as an EV and feature a 100kWh battery pack compatible with DC rapid charging to enable a 10% to 80% charge rate of 15 minutes. Smart claims the #5 can also travel for up to 459 miles between trips to the plug. Prices are yet to be revealed.
SMART
EV6 – the #5.
VAUXHALL
Half a century of the 911 Turbo is marked with limited run-out model
PORSCHE is celebrating half a century of the 911 Turbo by introducing a new limited run-out model – the 911 Turbo 50 Years.
This new car is based on the 911 Turbo S of 2019 and uses the same 3.7-litre boxer engine. For the first time on a 911, it comes with the firm’s new Turbonite colour scheme, which is an exclusive metallic grey used on Turbo models for exterior colour and interior trim. Production will be limited to 1,974 units, with prices starting at £200,700.
Order books are open now and deliveries are expected in the autumn.
LAND ROVER
Defender V8 gets the Works Bespoke look
LAND ROVER has unveiled a special edition of its famous offroader the Defender V8 by its in-house commissioning service Works Bespoke.
It’s available in four-seat 90 as well as five- or seven-seater 110 body styles.
Under the bonnet is a 5.0-litre petrol V8 that produces 410bhp and 515Nm of torque. Prices start at £190,000 plus VAT, rising to £204,000 plus VAT.
AUDI
Styling updated on hot hatch RS 3
AUDI has unveiled an updated version of its flagship hot hatchback the RS 3.
The firm has modified the exterior, giving it redesigned LED daytime running lights, vertical side reflectors and refreshed tail-lights.
Meanwhile, inside gets a new steering wheel and 12.3-inch virtual cockpit plus RS sports seats.
There are three trim levels, with prices starting at £59,510, rising to £69,650.
INDUSTRY VIEWS
AND THOUGHTS FROM
There were two years of low registrations and that’s kind of coming home to roost now in the used car market.
Derren Martin Cap HPI director of valuations
Dip in used car prices of only 0.6% signals second-hand market that’s stable and strong
Used car prices slipped by just 0.6% in August, pointing to a very stable second-hand car market, Cap HPI has
Drector of valuations Derren Martin said the 0.6% drop – equivalent to around £140 on a three-year-old car – showed that the month had performed to seasonal trends and demand was
‘August was in line with seasonal normality, but what’s different is that we’ve had this strength since May,’ he commented.
‘We’ve only dropped values by 2% in total in over a four-month period, so this drop is a really, really small movement overall.’
Martin added:
‘We’re finding demand from retailers is quite strong and their demand from consumers hasn’t dipped
away too much with the holiday season. Some dealers are telling us that August was actually stronger than July, which is quite unusual.
‘Many dealers are now replenishing stock. They haven’t overstocked in the past because of interest rates, but now they’re dipping back into acquiring stock and discovering that there aren’t many three-year-old prime stock cars around because of the semiconductor crisis three years ago and Covid in 2020.
‘There were two years of low registrations and that’s kind of coming home to roost now in the used car market.
‘It’s a very stable market, because supply levels are not too high and demand is still there. So it’s just keeping things nice and steady.’
Petrol cars, particularly superminis and family hatchbacks, continued to shift easily off dealers’ forecourts in August, and prices of diesels held firm and sold well, too.
‘The interesting part is that under-£20,000 EVs are selling well and quicker than petrols in some instances,’ he said. ‘EVs are selling quickly off forecourts and we see bigger margins.’
Analysis reveals huge swings in used EV depreciation as sales hot up
Some used EVs are depreciating less than petrol models as demand for certain electric cars really picks up.
Auto Trader has analysed current trends in the used electric car market and discovered that while values of some EVs are falling at a dramatic rate, others are likely to either depreciate at the same rate or even less than their petrol-powered equivalents.
Marc Palmer, Auto Trader’s head of strategy and insights, said: ‘Four-, fiveand six-year old EVs have reached a point at which they’re at the same price or, in some cases, cheaper than their petrol equivalent.
‘That can be great news for a buyer because if they have home charging, they’re getting an EV for the same
price as an ICE and potentially will save a lot of money. The questions buyers are asking though are, bearing in mind how much these EVs have depreciated, will they carry on losing money? And will they drop faster than the
‘We’ve done some analysis using our future valuations and projections data and we don’t think they will.’
FINANCE NEWS
Millennials favour buy now, pay later for automotive bills
by John Bowman john@blackballmedia.co.uk
Millennials are the most likely car owners to use buy now, pay later services to cover car repair, servicing and MOT bills, according to research of internal data by automotive fintech payment specialist Bumper.
The millennial demographic covers people born between approximately 1980 and 1995, and Bumper identified 43 as the average age of customers using buy now, pay later (BNPL) to spread the costs rather than paying upfront or using credit cards.
However, older Generation X owners – those born between approximately 1966 and 1980 – are likely to use BNPL for more expensive bills.
The study found that 47 was the average age of buyers using deferred payments for bills costing £2,000-£4,000, 49 for £4,000-£6,000, and over-50s for bills in excess of £6,000.
Bumper, which is based in London and Sheffield and works with more than 5,000 dealerships and garages across the UK, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Republic of Ireland, forecasts it’ll help car owners to fund over £460m-worth of car repairs this year.
It says it helps more than 600,000 drivers to pay their servicing and repair bills via PayLater, PayNow and PayPad. The UK and Ireland had the youngest average users in Europe at 43, followed by Spain (45), Germany (46) and the Netherlands (47).
Bumper CEO and co-founder James Jackson said: ‘When it comes to settling workshop bills, budget-conscious millennials have identified the benefits of spreading their outgoings with BNPL, rather than racking up credit card debt.
‘Car owners born in the early 1980s will typically be at a life stage where they have monthly mortgage or rent payments and have a young family, so choosing to spread their motoring costs interest-free over several months makes perfect sense.’
Survey reveals extent of credit rating problems BUDGETS
NEARLY two-thirds of motorists (63%) have faced issues due to a poor credit rating.
That’s according to new research by AA Car Finance.
The cost-of-living crisis has put household budgets under more pressure than ever, and only 37% of the 12,723 UK drivers quizzed said they hadn’t had problems because of a poor credit rating.
Many of them aren’t paying enough attention to their credit rating, with almost a third (32%) unaware of their current score.
Meanwhile, one in 10 younger motorists (10%) – those aged 18 to 34 – say their credit rating has got worse in the past year due to the cost-of-living crisis. Only 5% of those aged 35 to 54 felt the same way.
AA Car Finance director Mark Attwell said: ‘For those struggling with their credit rating, there are a few options that can help improve their situation, such as using a guarantor or registering themselves on the electoral roll.
‘Car financing can be a convenient way to get a new or used vehicle. PCP or leasing break down the overall cost into manageable payments.’
TIME IS MONEY
RICHARD PYGOTT
Word of mouth is one of the best advertising methods
I’m the one in my family who gets the phone call or message whenever something goes wrong with someone’s phone, laptop, or computer. I’m ‘Dial a Nerd’ it seems and often I’ve wondered if I’m in the wrong job!
Considering I’m a bit of a geek and am also passionate about motorbikes, it’ll come as no surprise to learn that whenever I want to buy a new machine, I’ll usually spend hours watching video reviews of the bikes that I’m considering, as well as digging deep into review websites of the dealerships that have the make and model I’m looking for in stock.
To say it’s time-consuming is an understatement, and my missus gets quite frustrated at the back and forth that I usually go through when buying a new bike. Last month, however, the dealership that I bought my last bike from went out of business, and I realised that I would have to start all over again.
But then something unexpected happened. My dad showed up at my house with a brand-new, shiny bike. Given how he usually spends ages deliberating over a purchase and often asks for my thoughts and advice, I was shocked. Yet here he was, beaming with pride and raving about the fantastic service, price and bike that he got from the dealership.
Based on my dad’s glowing recommendation, I decided to check out the dealership myself. Even though they didn’t have the exact model I wanted in stock, they went above and beyond to find it for me. I didn’t even bother looking at any reviews—my dad’s endorsement was all I needed. Besides, if anything went wrong, my dad knew he wouldn’t hear the end of it!
Even though we are surrounded by technology, I still believe that word-ofmouth advertising is one of the best. In the 14 years that I’ve worked for First Response Finance, I’ve found the same applies. I’ve seen countless dealerships join us over the years, simply because a friend in the trade recommended us during a trip to the auction or when catching up over a pint.
Richard Pygott is a digital marketer for First Response Finance. Call him on 0115 946 6365 or email richard. pygott@frfl.co.uk
That got me thinking... Was there a way to reward dealers who recommend First Response Finance to their friends in the trade? So, after a little work and a trial run or two, I am pleased to announce the launch of our very own Dealer Referral Scheme!
So, if you know someone in the trade who you think would benefit from working with us, refer them and you’ll receive a £100 Amazon voucher as a thank-you. Visit our website at dealer.firstresponsefinance.co.uk/refer-a-friend/ to find out more.
Specialist Motor Trade Insurance
We know you’re busy. We also know that insurance probably isn’t top of your to-do list. That’s why you need a locally based insurance company who’ll get to know you – and your business – inside out. NFU Mutual can help you ensure you get the right cover for your needs.
9/10 commercial insurance policies are renewed each year
SUPPLIERS GUIDE
LOOKING FOR A MOTOR TRADE SUPPLIER? YOU CAN FIND THE DETAILS OF SELECTED COMPANIES HERE
Auctions & Trade-To-Trade Sales
BCA
W: bca.co.uk
T: 0344 875 3480
Finance
E: customerservices@bca.com
Info: BCA’s remarketing programmes deliver volume, choice and availability for buyers, and speed, efficiency and market-leading returns for sellers.
Automotive E-Commerce
ATG
W: atg.auto
T: 0844 264 3519
Info: Leading provider of retailing solutions, Automotive Transformation Group maximises sales for retailers, OEMs, financiers and fleet suppliers by making car buying easier for their consumers.
Data
Real World Analytics
W: realworldanalytics.com
T: 0808 1890 617
E: auto@realworldanalytics.com
Info: We are a SaaS-based data analytics solution provider for multisite dealers. Our business intelligence tools help customers make faster and better decisions.
DMS
DealerDesk
W: dealerdesk.co.uk
E: contact@dealerdesk.co.uk
Info: Modernise your stock management, advertising, communication, sales and website. DealerDesk provides you with easyto-use tools designed to simplify your dealership management.
Finance
Blue Motor Finance
W: blue.co.uk
T: 020 3005 9331
E: dealersupport@blue.co.uk
Info: Blue is transforming the car finance market, making car ownership simple and flexible and providing motor traders with access to essential finance.
Finance
Close Brothers
Motor Finance
W: closemotorfinance.co.uk/
Info: Close Brothers Motor Finance are a specialist finance provider, working with over 8,000 dealer partners to offer flexible finance solutions for car, motorcycle and LCV customers.
First Response
W: dealer.firstresponsefinance.co.uk
T: 0115 671 1755
E: marketing@frfl.co.uk
Info: First Response is an awardwinning UK finance company providing simple financial solutions. Get in touch and let us help increase your profits.
Finance
Forza Finance
W: forzafinance.co.uk
T: 01245 245678
Info: Benefit from Forza Finance’s expertise, choice of products and lenders. Their personal approach will help you achieve higher levels of finance penetration and, ultimately, sell more cars.
HR & People Management
HR Manager
W: hrmanager.co.uk
T: 01480 455500
E: info@hrmanager.co.uk
Info: HR Manager is Lawgistics’ new digital compliance portal designed to assist employers in managing their legal obligations, responsibilities and duties.
Insurance
Tradesure
W: tradesureinsurance.co.uk
T: 0121 248 9313
Info: Providing motor trade insurance to full- and part-time motor traders in the UK, the Tradesure team are reliable professionals who know how to help you.
Key Control
Traka
W: traka-automotive.com
T: 0333 355 3726
E: automotive@traka.com
Info: Bespoke software and electronic key management cabinets to deliver the most effective solution to dealerships to manage their keys and vehicles.
Lead Management
GardX AD-Vantage
Lead Management
iVendi
W: ivendi.com
T: 0330 229 0028
E: tellmemore@ivendi.com
Info: iVendi delivers a fully connected platform that engages consumers, converts buyers and manages transactions of vehicles online and in the showroom.
Legal & Compliance
Lawgistics
W: lawgistics.co.uk
T: 01480 455500
E: sales@lawgistics.co.uk
Info: The legal experts for the motor trade, giving advice and support to our industry for over 15 years. Not anti-consumer, just pro-trader.
Marketing, PR & Video
OnCue Communications
W: oncuecomms.com
T: 020 8125 3880
Info: We are a leading provider of PR, video and events services to the automotive industry. The PR team has a proven track record of securing high-value, big-impact media coverage.
Marketing, PR & Video
Marketing Delivery
W: marketingdelivery.co.uk/
T: 01892 599911
E: get.in.touch@marketingdelivery.co.uk
Info: Our SocialStock helps target prospects with tailored stock remarketing and social media advertising tools, and automated lead capture for Facebook.
Oil & Lubricants
Mobil™
W: mobil.co.uk
T: 0800 0857 420
Trade Bodies
Ben
W: ben.org.uk
T: 0808 131 1333
Info: Ben is a not-for-profit organisation that partners with the automotive industry to provide support for life to its people and their families.
Vehicle Photography
Dealer 360
W: dealer360.co.uk
T: 01270 780855
E: nicky.spratt@ukturntables.com
Info: UK makers of photo booths incorporating our turntables for car, van and motorcycle dealers. Our software controls turntable and cameras – a onestop solution.
Vehicle Tracking
Meta Trak
W: metatrak.co.uk
T: 020 8867 2340
E: enquiries@metatrak.co.uk
Info: Total vehicle security. Clever tracking technology, advanced immobilisation, 24/7 monitoring and an easy-to-use app. Security. Connectivity. Peace of mind.
Warranty Providers
AutoProtect
W: autoprotect.co.uk
T: 01279 406888
E: sales@autoprotect.net
Info: AutoProtect offers a full portfolio of award-winning protection products, including GAP. We lead the market with an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot.
Warranty Providers
Car Care Plan
W: carcareplan.com
T: 0344 573 8000
W: gardx.co.uk/gardx-ad-vantage
T: 01243 376426
E: goforaspin@gardx.co.uk
Info: The award-winning 360 service offers an engaging display of the vehicle while additionally presenting profitable F&I products to a consumer.
Info: Whether using Mobil 1™ or Mobil Super™, Mobil™ engine oils meet or exceed the latest standards of the oil industry and vehicle manufacturers.
Recruitment
WeRecruit Auto
W: werecruitauto.co.uk
T: 01603 550041
Info: Permanent recruitment – here to assist businesses within the automotive sector find the best fit for their company in terms of skillset, experience and culture.
Info: Car Care Plan is a leading provider of motor protection products, trusted around the world to deliver quality protection with integrity and a customer-oriented outlook.
Warranty Providers
Centurion Warranties
W: centurionwarranties.co.uk
T: 0800 368 7420
E: support@cwuk.net
Info: Centurion offers comprehensive aftermarket warranty solutions to motor dealers across the UK who sell first-owned vehicles through to high-end, prestige and sports cars.
Warranty Providers
Händler Protect
W: handlerprotect.com
T: 0800 088 7889
E: sales@handlerprotect.com
Info: Händler Protect is an exclusive dealer warranty provider. Proud to partner and represent more than 1,000-plus ‘active’ independent motor dealers across the UK each month.
Warranty Providers
Warrantywise
W: warrantywise.co.uk/dealer
T: 0800 001 4551
E: dealers@warrantywise.co.uk
Info: Warrantywise sells over 100,000 warranties per year.
Quentin Willson personally designed Warrantywise to be the UK’s best used car warranty.
These Listings Work!
More Sales For You
W: Your website address
T: 020 8125 3880 (that’s us!)
E: sales@blackballmedia.co.uk
Info: The Suppliers Guide lets dealers find the companies they need to help them with their business. Make sure you’re here. Contact us via the above number or email address.
Website Design & Digital Marketing
Bluesky Interactive
W: blueskyinteractive.co.uk
T: 01926 651000
Info: Bluesky Interactive drive dealer websites and digital marketing forward thanks to game-changing innovation, the latest technology and our exceptional relationships with our clients.
Website Design & Digital Marketing
Haswent
W: haswent.com
T: 020 3920 6164
E: hello@haswent.com
Info: Composer is a next-gen automotive platform. You have extensive stock management options, and you’ll gain a brilliantly responsive new website.
Website Design & Digital Marketing
Spidersnet
W: spidersnet.co.uk
T: 01273 837749
E: hello@spidersnet.co.uk
Info: Websites that are designed to increase the number of customers for dealers. We have solutions for all budgets and needs. All solutions include our DMS Autopromotor.
The SAF Approval deadline is 1 January 2025.
To continue working with lenders who are members of the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), when offering finance to your customers, you’ll need to become SAF Approved by 1 January 2025.
LONG-TERMERS
SKODA KAMIQ
The Skoda Kamiq has only just arrived to replace the Karoq but it’s made an immediate impression. Cameron Richards compares and contrasts.
Last month, I nearly shed a tear as I said goodbye to my trusty Skoda Karoq. It was pretty much the perfect daily companion as it was practical and used its space in a ‘Simply Clever’ way (to borrow Skoda’s marketing tagline) as well as having excellent comfort and refinement levels.
Its replacement is its smaller brother, the Kamiq. I opted for the top-of-the-line Monte Carlo model, which features bucket sports seats, fake carbon-fibre inlays on the door cards and seat bolsters, diamond-cut alloy wheels plus a full-length glass panoramic roof.
There was a pang of disappointment when I found no leather interior, no heated seats or steering wheel, and no ice scraper. But the cheaper Kamiq has impressed me in other areas, as it still comes with a parking voucher holder on the windscreen, a phone holder on the back of the driver’s seat plus an umbrella in the driver’s door.
Out on the road, the three-cylinder engine sounds a little thrummy, and the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox – also on the Karoq – has the same annoying characteristics as before, such as being a little slow to respond and, at times, shifting down a gear when not needed. However, the Kamiq drives well and is easy to manoeuvre around town. My first impressions are that it’s not as comfortable to drive as the Karoq, but its visibility is better, thanks to the larger side windows.
The rear seats aren’t as versatile either. The Kamiq comes with a 60:40 bench seat that just folds down, whereas the Karoq’s 40:20:40 individual seats that could slide, recline and even be removed altogether were more practical.
But the Kamiq does come with a few nifty options that make life a bit easier. It’s fitted with a powered tailgate and has pop-out door edge protectors to prevent you from chipping the paint on walls when opening the doors.
The full-length panoramic roof floods the cabin with light, which is a nice feature, and the Kamiq isn’t short of cubby spaces. Like the Karoq, the Kamiq also comes with a neat little storage bin in the front driver’s door card.
I haven’t been able to use the Kamiq as much as I’d have liked to recently, because of a number of other short-term test cars arriving at my house, but I did stretch the car’s legs on a trip to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, when it proved to be refined and comfortable at speed, and because you sit lower than you do in traditional SUVs, it feels more car-like to drive.
‘Our’ example is front-wheel drive, and in the muddy, slippery fields of Goodwood, you could feel it struggling slightly for grip, but not to the point where you felt as though the car was going to get stuck.
It’s also been on a couple of other trips with four on board and it performed well. There were no complaints of passengers struggling for headroom or legroom, and the drive didn’t feel all that different with the extra weight to contend with.
My first few weeks behind the wheel have been enjoyable and I’m looking forward to the months ahead.
Sure, it’s not as luxurious, comfortable or practical as the Karoq, but I think I shall grow to love it just as much.
Skoda Kamiq Monte Carlo TSI
This month’s highlight: The Kamiq has proved to be good on the longer journeys – but the gearbox can be a little annoying at times.
OTHER CARS WE’RE DRIVING
Mileage: 440
We’re finding out if the Seat
is the car to fill the gap left by the
Mileage: 15,200
This month, ‘our’ CX-60 has been munching up the motorway miles.
