The car industry

[Chips]

My cunning plan to get my wife to drive it has worked too well, to the point that she is now refusing to drive it and driving in my old disco with all it's dials and buttons ! Thank God this self propelled i-pad is going back soon

 

[Frankzy]

I often wonder who actually wants this sort of thing

It's cost cutting.
Much cheaper to install a screen or two with each getting maybe two wires than having a whole battery of switches with a mass of cables wired up.

 

[ollie989898]

It's cost cutting.
Much cheaper to install a screen or two with each getting maybe two wires than having a whole battery of switches with a mass of cables wired up.

Yes. This is the truth. One touchscreen computer is a cheaper way of turning things on and off than having dials and switches which have to be engineered to last and all be wired in individually.

Tesla started it- because it's futuristic, innit.

 

[e3120]

Yes. This is the truth. One touchscreen computer is a cheaper way of turning things on and off than having dials and switches which have to be engineered to last and all be wired in individually.

Tesla started it- because it's futuristic, innit.

I think BMW's idrive pre-dates Tesla by a good margin, and despite being highly contentious at launch, a 'clicky' controller is easier, more satisfying and safer than jabbing at a touchscreen.

 

[ollie989898]

I think BMW's idrive pre-dates Tesla by a good margin, and despite being highly contentious at launch, a 'clicky' controller is easier, more satisfying and safer than jabbing at a touchscreen.

That thing was a pain in the chuff at the start and still requires you to take your eyes off the road. I'd far rather have knobs, dials and buttons I can use by feel alone.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

That thing was a pain in the chuff at the start and still requires you to take your eyes off the road. I'd far rather have knobs, dials and buttons I can use by feel alone.

I agree, if I use my smart phone while driving I get a fine, but car manufacturers build a "smart phone" like screen into the car, and it is all great!

 

[TelesnaAg]

Yes. This is the truth. One touchscreen computer is a cheaper way of turning things on and off than having dials and switches which have to be engineered to last and all be wired in individually.

Tesla started it- because it's futuristic, innit.

Tell this to a tractor oem, and its way more expensive???

Ant...

 

[Magnus Oyke]

IIRC, the next round of NCAP testing is going to mark down cars that use touch screens for primary functions like temperature and radio control.

 

[Frankzy]

IIRC, the next round of NCAP testing is going to mark down cars that use touch screens for primary functions like temperature and radio control.

Not quite.
The requirement for physical buttons is only hazard warning lights, indicators, windscreen wipers, SOS calls, and the horn.

 

[Highashgrange]

What’s peoples opinions on the car industry. I’ve been looking at various vehicles the last couple of weeks and the theme seems to be long supply times holding up new car prices whilst they won’t value trade ins properly. I’m in the market for something and wondering whether to leave it 6 months thinking new prices might have to come down?
I’ve been into Audi, BMW, LR and VW and all the showrooms were empty of customers and seemed severely over staffed.

Used car market prices are definitely stabilising. I’ve got a couple I want to sell and over the last 6 months have used carwow/motorway/webuyanycar to value them and initially the variations was huge but now the last couple of months have held consistently. Interestingly the difference between the trade price and forecourt price is around 15%. So on a £30,000 car you’re paying around £4500 more than trade to basically buy a 12 month warranty. An off the shelf warranty is around £70/month for comparison.

 

[daveydiesel1]

Used car market prices are definitely stabilising. I’ve got a couple I want to sell and over the last 6 months have used carwow/motorway/webuyanycar to value them and initially the variations was huge but now the last couple of months have held consistently. Interestingly the difference between the trade price and forecourt price is around 15%. So on a £30,000 car you’re paying around £4500 more than trade to basically buy a 12 month warranty. An off the shelf warranty is around £70/month for comparison.

Where do you get trade prices at?

 

[br jones]

A builder bought a i pace 3 years ago 80 grand to avoid somr tax,took it in to part ex it last week they offered him 12 grand for it ,should of paid the tax

 

[tom3690]

Used car market prices are definitely stabilising. I’ve got a couple I want to sell and over the last 6 months have used carwow/motorway/webuyanycar to value them and initially the variations was huge but now the last couple of months have held consistently. Interestingly the difference between the trade price and forecourt price is around 15%. So on a £30,000 car you’re paying around £4500 more than trade to basically buy a 12 month warranty. An off the shelf warranty is around £70/month for comparison.

£4500 'PROFIT'........ -£765 tax to his Majesty's Government, £500 to the auction for buying fees, £200 average delivery costs, £300 average repairs, £350 for any decent warranty, £250 advertising. That leaves just over £2k profit which does not factor fixed costs or 'over allowance' on part exchanges.
Or as you rightly say buy the car trade for £30k, but don't forget that you are not a trade account so expect to pay far more than £500 to the auction. Also pick it up yourself, deal with the issues minor and major they have not disclosed, valet it, service it and MOT it. Then put a warranty on it. Oh and forget anything like consumer rights etc as they don not apply to auctions....
I buy cars and have roughly a £2k margin which leaves me with about £500 profit and that just about makes them competitive on Autotrader, which is the only reliable source of decent enquiries. It is not the daylight robbery some people believe it to be. 30 years in the damned trade and I cannot wait to escape, hopefully with my sanity in tact

 

[Magnus Oyke]

Not quite.
The requirement for physical buttons is only hazard warning lights, indicators, windscreen wipers, SOS calls, and the horn.

My bad then, lets hope common sense prevales either by customers voting with their feet or legislation brings manufacturers to their senses.

What happens when these cars get a few years old and start getting issues with softwear or hardwear, will they be able to be fixed?