What’s the point of motorpoint?
Discussion
Pre covid they only sold cars with manufacturers warranty’s remaining, they where often the most competitive on price and they had a huge choice,
Since covid, they sell 6 year old junk cars, prices are not competitive and neither is the finance and the stock is greatly reduced,
The reason why I ask, we had some friends visit from Burnley last weekend who are looking at a new car and I advised them to go to their local motorpoint.
They went yesterday and gave me a call after to tell me how disappointing both the quality of cars, the prices and the choice.
I would love the old motorpoint to come back (pricing and stock), any maybe it will with time.
But nothing sums up the mess caused by covid to the car industry like the demise of motorpoint.
Also, did motorpoint expand too big? I went on the website this morning and they have many more branches than I recall.
Since covid, they sell 6 year old junk cars, prices are not competitive and neither is the finance and the stock is greatly reduced,
The reason why I ask, we had some friends visit from Burnley last weekend who are looking at a new car and I advised them to go to their local motorpoint.
They went yesterday and gave me a call after to tell me how disappointing both the quality of cars, the prices and the choice.
I would love the old motorpoint to come back (pricing and stock), any maybe it will with time.
But nothing sums up the mess caused by covid to the car industry like the demise of motorpoint.
Also, did motorpoint expand too big? I went on the website this morning and they have many more branches than I recall.
We picked up a 2yr old Sportage from them a year ago and it was in faultless condition and hasn’t put a foot wrong. I’m looking at the moment for a DSG-type hot hatch and there’s no doubt they are lacking the usual stock.
They’d be my first choice usually because you can save a couple of grand for a newer car and just stick a manufacturer warranty on afterwards.
I think their business basically relied on lease returns and motability cars for a long time and with Covid maybe a lot of that dried up.
They’d be my first choice usually because you can save a couple of grand for a newer car and just stick a manufacturer warranty on afterwards.
I think their business basically relied on lease returns and motability cars for a long time and with Covid maybe a lot of that dried up.
More outlets and less stock coming through which has been a problem for most dealerships the last couple years just means that stock is spread more thinly.
As fleet purchases increase as the data seems to suggest then expect younger, lower mileage vehicles to become more common at MP again, but that will no doubt mean alot more EVs and less ICE as that is what businesses tend to now buy for tax benefits. MP are probably like alot of others are not wanting to commit to high numbers at the minute due to their collapse in price and waiting for the market to stabilise.
As fleet purchases increase as the data seems to suggest then expect younger, lower mileage vehicles to become more common at MP again, but that will no doubt mean alot more EVs and less ICE as that is what businesses tend to now buy for tax benefits. MP are probably like alot of others are not wanting to commit to high numbers at the minute due to their collapse in price and waiting for the market to stabilise.
Probably indicative of the market, I got an email a day or so ago from the local Mini dealer as my wife's car has been there for a service, they said they will buy Mini's upto 9 years old and 90'000 miles for stock and claim to beat any other car buying service. I've never heard of a main dealer looking to buy cars with that kind of mileage before.
As a car dullard I used to love browsing the motorpoint site back in the day when they used to import brand new cars from Cyprus/Malta etc - used to get get some oddball spec cars. Highlights include:
-Mk7 Golf GTD/GTIs with halogen headlights but came fitted with a pan roof and 19” wheels (a combo not available in the UK I assume due to the harsh ride risking cracking the roof)
-Mk3 Octavia VRS with horrible 17” wheels, no auto high-beam sensor in the screen (UK cars had these fitted regardless of having auto High beam enabled) but came with the Columbus upgraded Nav and electric memory leather seats.
-Scirocco 1.4 tsi but with the R line bodykit, Xenons and leather with wheels that looked like the R wheels had been shrunk in the wash.
I actually used to own a mk6 GTD that turned out to be a Motorpoint Parallel import. Was funny when you ran a VIN decoder on it the territory information was all in Greek!
Nowadays their stock generally looks no better or higher quality than any other ex fleet supermarket which is a shame.
-Mk7 Golf GTD/GTIs with halogen headlights but came fitted with a pan roof and 19” wheels (a combo not available in the UK I assume due to the harsh ride risking cracking the roof)
-Mk3 Octavia VRS with horrible 17” wheels, no auto high-beam sensor in the screen (UK cars had these fitted regardless of having auto High beam enabled) but came with the Columbus upgraded Nav and electric memory leather seats.
-Scirocco 1.4 tsi but with the R line bodykit, Xenons and leather with wheels that looked like the R wheels had been shrunk in the wash.
I actually used to own a mk6 GTD that turned out to be a Motorpoint Parallel import. Was funny when you ran a VIN decoder on it the territory information was all in Greek!
Nowadays their stock generally looks no better or higher quality than any other ex fleet supermarket which is a shame.
Edited by SteBrown91 on Thursday 4th April 22:29
Quick update
Visited a motorpoint site yesterday with a friend who wasn’t sure which car she wanted so I suggested we go to her nearest large car supermarket which of course is motorpoint.
It hasn’t improved since Covid, still a majority of older stock with a few bits that were within manufacturer warranty and under 3 years old.
It’s no different now to most other car supermarkets, average age of stock must be 4-5 years old if not slightly older,
There was one car she liked , a Seat Arona on a 20 plate.
When we enquired about service history it turns out it was patchy.
A quick check on seat used site and autotrader and it wasn’t the cheapest one around for similar age, spec and mileage.
On a plus note, no pushy sales following you around, a nice welcome and explanation at reception on the process to buy (they give you a pen and paper to write down the model and location on the lot).
I doubt they will ever get back to the pre covid days of lots of pre reg cars and being the most competitive on price,
Visited a motorpoint site yesterday with a friend who wasn’t sure which car she wanted so I suggested we go to her nearest large car supermarket which of course is motorpoint.
It hasn’t improved since Covid, still a majority of older stock with a few bits that were within manufacturer warranty and under 3 years old.
It’s no different now to most other car supermarkets, average age of stock must be 4-5 years old if not slightly older,
There was one car she liked , a Seat Arona on a 20 plate.
When we enquired about service history it turns out it was patchy.
A quick check on seat used site and autotrader and it wasn’t the cheapest one around for similar age, spec and mileage.
On a plus note, no pushy sales following you around, a nice welcome and explanation at reception on the process to buy (they give you a pen and paper to write down the model and location on the lot).
I doubt they will ever get back to the pre covid days of lots of pre reg cars and being the most competitive on price,
My favourite car supermarket is Car Giant in London. Cars have minimal prep so you can readily see the horrors from the well kept. You have no sales pressure until they want to sell to you and then they try it on with GAP/Warranty/Paint Protection. There could be lack of service information or only one key, but the cars are £1.5 to £2k cheaper than a main dealer.
I bought my Mum an ex-Motability Nissan Note from Car Giant - 3 years old, 8k, FSH, and not a single mark on it.
I suspect many of the PH crew like personal attention from the salesperson, glass palace, coffee, a buying relationship etc.
I bought my Mum an ex-Motability Nissan Note from Car Giant - 3 years old, 8k, FSH, and not a single mark on it.
I suspect many of the PH crew like personal attention from the salesperson, glass palace, coffee, a buying relationship etc.
ACCYSTAN said:
Got to be careful at car giant, they had a clocked car on sale.
I emailed them and the car remained on sale for another 2 weeks.
Presumably someone purchased it.
I was not impressed
Presumably?I emailed them and the car remained on sale for another 2 weeks.
Presumably someone purchased it.
I was not impressed
Or maybe they were just slow in taking it off sale?
I know that business well enough to know they wouldn't knowingly sell a clocked car.
Maybe they are holding in there hoping things will improve and their sales model will return, I read somewhere last week that things will get better in terms of used stock this year as most new cars hit the used market after the 3 years and from around 2022/23 the COVID supply situation improved greatly with normal flow in new vehicles pretty much returning, that would see those cars and the extra volume after the slump hit the used market starting this and next year.
But I guess it's a different mix of vehicle now to what would have been coming through pre COVID
But I guess it's a different mix of vehicle now to what would have been coming through pre COVID
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