19/05/2010

With today's Vauxhall sale cancelled due to lack of stock (there's a clue there), I went over to Nottingham to see the trade-ins and other rather older cars go through before the afternoon's meeting.

There was a closed sale in one hall, with a very select few watching the cars go past - but in the other hall with the trade-ins and over-age the place was standing room only and carrying on like Smithfield market. There's still an impressive appetite for good cars over six years old, especially if they're a 4x4 or German. The odd cabriolet also turned up but didn't seem to be catching anyone's imagination despite the sunny weather. Once again, and even at this end of the market, the flat spot seemed to be the 5-door hatch from a mainstream manufacturer.

Discussions outside the hall wandered onto the subject of electric cars, since they're starting to attract press. Independent dealers seem to have a healthy-enough attitude towards them - 'they're cars, aren't they? Then I'll sell 'em' - based on the sensible assumption that by the time they've reached that end of the market all the questions about leasing or buying batteries, and does the charger sell with the car, will have been sorted.