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Used truck dealers aint mixed picture
Page 50
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• Once again, used truck dealers are reporting a mixed picture across the UK as concerns over rising National Insurance contributions, higher council tax, and the conflict in the Gulf take their toll.
"A lot of people are crying into their beer at present, but we're doing really well," says Stuart Wolstenholme, used sales manager at Scania dealership West Pennine. "That may be because we've been The firm's purchases include 38 Scania P93 17-tonne dropsides, complete with cranes. They date back to 1994 and 1995 and at about 300,000km each, they're fairly low mileage," he says. "They've been well maintained and they're flying out the door at around Li o,000 each.
"What we are finding, though, is that the pattern of trade throughout the week is uneven. Mondays and Tuesdays are quiet, but we're rushed off our feet on Thursdays and Fridays."
West Pennine's business includes a depot in Manchester. lveco dealership CD Bramall also has a site there, at Trafford Park, "It's quiet at present, and has been for the past few weeks," reports used sales specialist at CD Brarnall, Mark Mellor. "Having said that, anything a bit unusual sells, including 7.5-tonners with Luton bodies and 26-tonne rigids.
"We're finding there's a lot of call for 7.5-tonners with sleeper cabs, but there aren't too many of them about. Used EuroS tar tractors seem to be benefiting from the introduction of Stralis," he reckons. "The interest created by the latter is pulling a lot of people into the dealership, and we're getting some of them into the former. Used FuroTech tractors are suffering though."
"We were doing really well up until mid-March, then things seemed to slacken off," says Mark Clements, used sales executive at Kent MAN and ERF dealership MV Trucks (Medway). "They've yet to pick up again. The phone's not ringing to the extent it usually does.
"There's keen interest in 18 tonne curtain siders and fridges, and of course everybody wants low-mileage tractors with big engines and big cabs. More basic, low-specification tractors aren't so popular."
Although MAN Diesel—the new name for the manufacturer's approved used trucks programme— covers ERFs too, you wouldn't know it from the name. However, that's not an issue so far as Clements is concerned.
"I'll benefit from the fact that it's all under one brand," he says. "It's going to be good for us. There are a lot of MAN operators in Kent. In fact, MAN is a much bigger name than F RV down here," "We're moving some 7.5-tonne dropsiders—we've sold three in the past two weeks—and we're getting an increasing number of inquiries for curtainsiders at 7.5 tonnes," says Wayne Halsall, used sales executive at Hull Mercedes-Benz dealership H8EL Garages.
"As far as boxvans are concerned, there are plenty of ex-rental-fleet 7.5-tonners with zoft bodies about, but it's 22ft and 24ft boxes that buy ers are after. We're also getting customers in search of used Actros tractors at 400hp and above, with Mega cabs making the running. A lot of the people who call are currently running Renault Magnums, and fancy a change.
"There's not so much call for lower-powered Actros models with the Fleet cab," says Halsall.
So what's happening with vans? "The Vito is becoming popular again, and long-wheelbase Sprinters are definitely in demand," he replies. "Medium-wheelbase Sprinters are struggling, though."