Used market

[ChrisLF]

Can't beat that! Don't mention Minis though, my wife had three on the trot and we sold her last one and my Yeti to buy the first Volvo as we were both retired.

She drives the Volvo but often says it is too big and misses her Mini!

[percymon]

The days of high used car prices are coming to an end, the supply of new cars is almost back to normal - in fact sales are probably below normal but dealers still clearing the backlog of orders when component supply was delaying builds. No manufacturer is immune to that - Porsche deals have been reducing prices of nearly new stock by 15-30k over the last 6-8 weeks, 15-20% reduction over original used price). Same across the industry, dealers are desperate to sell used stocks now as they've effectively overpaid for them, they need to clear the stock and buy similar at auction at todays prices to get their margins back

New car prices are ca 20% higher than three years ago, and interest rates are starting to hit borrowers. Average folk coming out of a 3-4 year PCP deals are in for a real shock on if they replace like for like.

[Deleted User 4737]

The first addition was loaded with every available option including 22" wheels to test the production line, all you had to do was choose the colour, and back then the option list was vast. Even the Ultimate in leather can't compare.

[JFDIT]

Didn't know they did 22" rims. What would you say are the biggest options missing from the current Ultimate?
For me it's the 247bhp lump and AWD with flappy paddles and the Leather Steering wheel.

[ChrisLF]

The days of high used car prices are coming to an end, the supply of new cars is almost back to normal - in fact sales are probably below normal but dealers still clearing the backlog of orders when component supply was delaying builds. No manufacturer is immune to that - Porsche deals have been reducing prices of nearly new stock by 15-30k over the last 6-8 weeks, 15-20% reduction over original used price). Same across the industry, dealers are desperate to sell used stocks now as they've effectively overpaid for them, they need to clear the stock and buy similar at auction at todays prices to get their margins back

New car prices are ca 20% higher than three years ago, and interest rates are starting to hit borrowers. Average folk coming out of a 3-4 year PCP deals are in for a real shock on if they replace like for like.

Certainly when I was looking to change I was put off by the increased prices but when I starting looking properly I found for the XC40 after 4 years they hadn't gone up as much as I thought. For my two cars which are very similar in spec. the increase was £6400 or 16%, still a sizeable increase though.

But this time around, before the move to agency, the Carwow discounts were bigger, £4700 as opposed to £2700 so the buying price difference wasn't too bad. I didn't buy then but under the new model I still got a good deal as Volvo dropped their prices, the £2000 Loyalty Bonus and servicing included. And I got a good part-ex value. Good job I did go for it when I did with part-exs dropping as otherwise the decision to keep my existing car would have been made easier.

I think the Porsche story is a bit different though, I watched a lengthy video someone posted on the TT forum, but the fact is they are having to drop their prices.

[Stovo]

https://www.media.volvocars.com/uk/en-g ... f-new-xc40

Those were the days! To be fair price increases not as bad as I thought ( still not great). FE was over £40k in T5 guise, and I don’t see it having much more than the current Ultimate at circa £44k, except what JFDIT mentions.

[Deleted User 4737]

As you say, flappy paddles and AWD is a loss. The XC40 was a big project for Volvo and perfection and grandeur was the goal. At a final pre-production event, I remarked to the boss, it would make car of the year, which it did Jan 2019. Then bean-counters get involved and items slowly removed, and although still a great car, it does now sit in the shadows of the remarkable orange lava clad carpet first edition.

[JFDIT]

I think I'd give the orange interior a miss!
Other than what we've mentioned and a few small trim changes, what is missing from a loaded Ultimate would you say?

[Deleted User 4737]

Without having the options list, it hard to remember or compare - their was no option list on the first edition as it had all the conceivable items that could be fitted to the car, lane controls, pop up displays, 360 cameras, 22" rims, pan-roofs, heated screens etc. Metallic was included, petrol diesel had no price difference, all you needed to do was choose the colour and sub £35k.

[ChrisLF]

As far as the bottom line is concerned, which is the important part, then the increase in what I paid for each car is 15% which is around what total inflation has been so can't really complain about that.

Infact I reckon that the XC40 is pretty good value for money for the current specs when compared with the competition. I priced up a few and prices soon shot up when adding extras to get a similar spec.

There's one or two things I miss from the R-Design but the Plus does have the 360 deg camera and heated steering wheel. The big thing I miss is the flappy paddles especially as I use Manual sometimes when stopping coasting and still think the side to side change using the selecter is awkward and counter-intuitive. I'd love to hear their "excuse" for that!