Halfpenny

That's their target for 2025. For 2020 their target is 12300. For 2021 target is 24000 From what I have heard from my trusted contacts they have got off to a good start. Time will tell. With Corona virus and stock market collapse, possible recession, it is likely to be an uphill battle.

I am pretty much retired after almost 40 years in this business. Seen plenty of ups and downs.... Thatcher, high unemployment, very high interest rates. Miners' strike. Fuel strikes etc etc. Recession never does anyone any good. This time things are different though - its global, its hitting supply chains, we are dealing with 'unknown unknowns'. And we are supposed to be Brexiting...

This could last for months. I think the economic effects will be a lot more serious than people think. This stacks on top of Brexit, which I am sure is going to be bumpy. The general population will suffer a fall in income and unemployment will probably rise. Big purchases will be a low priority. Two weeks ago I had a discussion with my partner and basically we are not buying anything in until we see how this pans out. We have cash in the bank to cover all liabilities for the next few months and will go into 'survival mode'. Incidentally I have just come back to the UK after a couple of months relaxing in the Far East. Bangkok airport was being kept spotless - cleaners continually wiping down handrails, lift buttons etc and alcohol gel dispensers everywhere. Same story in Dubai with thermal scanners and a team of medics checking all arriving passengers. Birmingham - Nothing! Went into the arrival area toilets and they were dirty and smelly. Took an hour to get my baggage. A real 'third world' feel in the UK nowadays. I have zero confidence in the government handling this potential disaster or indeed Brexit.

Seriously, I would not hand your notice in just yet. We have no idea how this virus will pan out. Its not just a case of you getting sick, its the impact on the wider economy. It could take six months or more before things normalise and judging by the stock market we could be looking down the barrel of a recession.

Passes between people via respiratory droplets (breathing within 6 feet and also coughs and sneezes). Also by surface contact. Can stay on surfaces like plastic for up to 3 days! https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html

Don't underestimate the impact this will have on business. Demand for major purchases will collapse. Supply of spare parts will be interrupted. Huge drop in FTSE100 this morning. At the moment we are in 'the calm before the storm'. Some dealers will go out of business for sure. I advise 'survival mode' for the next few months. Minimal stock, maximise cash at bank, minimise liabilities.

Penalties usually kick in at +10%+2mph. So in a 70mph limit that would be 79mph. Assuming your speedo is over-reading by 5% (some are a bit more, some a bit less) you'd have be going an approx indicated 83mph or more.. Whether you get offered a course depends on your local police force policy. Most forces do offer a course to 'first timers'...

Well that doctor in Wuhan was only 34 and it killed him, and there is guy in Thailand only 32 in critical condition - he is a fit sportsman apparently. It seems that in some people it turns to pneumonia. I'm nearly 60 and I'm a bit worried.

I think we could be looking at a major recession. This is different to 2008 - back then it was the banking system wobbling. This time we are seeing problems with supply chains. China has about 25% of international trade. There is a city called Ningbo in China. I've been there. It is known as the 'plastic moulding capital of the world'. They say you can't buy a car that hasn't got something on it that was moulded in Ningbo. Apparantly the factories are on low output due to the virus. Almost everything you buy has something made in China on it. Even a lot of raw materials for medicine production are supplied by the Chinese.

Well, if someone in the takeaway kitchen was the get the virus then that would be the perfect way to spread it all over the city....

Ford closing half its dealers... https://www.am-online.com/news/manufacturer/2020/02/26/ford-to-close-almost-half-its-400-uk-dealerships-by-2025 I am old enough to remember when they had 1/3 of the total market. How did they get it so wrong? And who is next? We lost Rover a few years ago. Vauxhall is a shadow of what it was....

There's a great deal of loose money sloshing around in investors' hands at the moment, looking for a home. That's how hare-brained operations like these get off the ground. As others have shown, the numbers just don't work...

This is so very true. A £2k car can easily have the same sales costs as a £6k or £8k or £12k motor. Its going to occupy the same space and probably require the same effort to sell. A more expensive car will generally have more 'fat' on it and is less likely to be one breakdown away from the scrapyard. Customers buying cheap cars don't necessarily moderate their expectations either.......

I am in Thailand at the moment. All the cases here seem to be either Chinese or people who have been in direct contact with Chinese. I gather it doesn't like warm air temperatures (its mostly over 30 degrees here in the daytime). When you think about it colds and flu do seem to spread mostly when the weather is cool/cold. We are told on TV that handwashing is the important thing. So I am washing hands at every opportunity. I have to go back to UK in about 10 days where I think I'd be more likely to get it. I'm taking a couple of boxes of facemasks back with me and will keep up the handwashing... I think the economy could take a very big hit. Especially if some business have to close or go on short time. People will delay major purchases. Could not have come at a worse time (Brexit etc). I have a few £100k's in investments (Vanguard, Fidelity trackers/ETFs) and they have taken a massive hammering in the past few days. Its very worrying.

Apparently the 1.5 is their own design. The 1.0 3 cyl is a joint design with GM. They have a big tie-up with GM. Looking on the web it seems they have a new 4x4 EV launching next year with 0-60mph time of less than 4 seconds. Should be interesting...

We start to get a bit edgy at 90 days... Mostly stuff goes within 6 weeks. We have an Alfa at the moment that is 200+ days... One thing I would say, marc, having been in this business a long time is don't mix business with pleasure. It is dangerous. You are enthusiastic about these cars and its an appealing idea to run a business buying/selling them. But to make a living you need to be ruthless and dispassionate - it can't be a hobby... One of my mates is very rich. Big house and owns a plane. He deals in potatoes (I am not making this up!). He has zero interest in potatoes he just buys and sells in bulk between overseas suppliers and UK wholesalers. Makes a fortune. Its good to know about cars and their foibles, but the main idea is to shift metal and make a profit.

I used to be a tester (long ago!). This is the tester covering his back....

I think it would be quite a mission to achieve that outcome. More than I can be bothered with. We've decided to refund the customer and put its head back on the block. In the words of The Gambler (Kenny Rogers): You've got to know when to hold 'emKnow when to fold 'emKnow when to walk awayAnd know when to run

I think your camera lens is dusty? Either that or quite a bit of dust on dash etc. Clean the front tyres, adjust the front seats and blur out identifying information on docs. Looks a nice enough car and given where you are located I am sure you'll find a customer fairly quickly so don't fret too much.

LOL yes! Its not a bad looking motor actually so some shrewd trader will snap it up for sure!

That's not correct though is it? The customer entered into a contract with us, not the manufacturer. Selling a car which is under warranty is not a 'get out of jail free' card. The manufacturer's agent cannot resolve the faults at the moment so the customer is driving his kids around in a car that potentially had no ABS/ESC - so we are on the hook for that. Nice idea but that's not how it works (as any half-intelligent customer will find out after 10 minutes on Google). The customer has no contract with the main dealer and the warranty is in addition to CRA 2015. CRA comes back to us. We have been liaising with the MG dealer but they are struggling. I think we are now looking at money back due to a fault within 30 days. Sometimes its just best to put your hands up. Apparently MG sold just 350 of these cars in 2017 so not a common sight! It seems they are a bit of an unfinished project.... Thank God we didn't pay much for it!

Yes. It is under warranty and the dealer has tried to be helpful but are basically saying the thing is buggy and got software problems. They are waiting for a fix from the company (MG) which is worrying for a 2017 model. We sold it to the customer and as things stand it is not fit for purpose so we are responsible and looks like we'll have to refund. I think it is a Chinese design and not related to previous MGs which were slightly reworked Rovers. Has a 1.5 engine. I gather they have an EV version of it. I think that would be something to stay clear of!

Not just customer expectations. Consumer law and the internet... When I started out in the late '70's you basically sold it and if you even gave a receipt you'd write 'sold as seen, tried and tested' or some such nonsense. If the customer came back (not many did) you might have a bit of an arguement, maybe wave the two-foot breaker bar at them. You'd hear no more. Nowadays customers have the CRA and will write bad reviews from here to kingdom come. They'll also turn up waving printouts from internet forums etc ....

Nice one LOL!

I am still on holiday enjoying 30 degree sunshine but had an online chat with my business partner last night. We recently sold a one owner 2017 MG (ZS model I believe). 7k miles on it. I am pretty sure this is the first Chinese designed MG we've sold (i.e. not a reworked Rover). Anyway, it is causing lots of grief apparently. Customer has been back almost every other day. It is starting and driving but there are warning lights popping up (engine, ABS, traction). Couple of sensors (crank and ABS I believe) replaced FOC by dealer. But still getting faults. Now audio system is not working properly! My partner been to talk to dealer and they have said there are 'bugs in the software' and they are awaiting fixes and updates! Can this be true? The customer has been patient but not happy and I think we will need to refund. Have just been unlucky or is this another to put on the 'no buy' list?