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Shortage ramps up price of 4x2s
Page 71
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THE VALUES OF second-hand 4x2 tractor units are now approaching those of 6x2s in some cases, according to Phil Holmes, used sales manager, Eastern region, at the Scania dealership Keltruck.And it's all because so few new 4x2s are being sold.
"If they were never sold new, then obviously they'll never be sold second-hand," he observes. "As a consequence I've been hearing stories of dealers converting used 6x2s into 4x2s to meet the demand by removing the mid-lift axle and shortening the wheelbase."
Used sales at the dealership in January were strong -as strong as they were in any month last year you care to mention" and margins remain reasonably healthy, Holmes reports.
-Demand is strong for the right vehicles,and by the right vehicles! mean two-to-three-yearold tractor units with a sensible mileage. Unfortunately there aren't enough of them around, and we've had people almost fighting over some low-mileage two-year-old 420 Topline twin-steers we've had in stock. Fortunately I've just managed to buy a couple more.
"As for rigids. I'm seeing a lot more interest in boxvans as opposed to curtainsiders than previously," Holmes says."Despite the ease with which curtainsiders can be loaded and unloaded, a lot of operators seem to be favouring box bodies on security grounds."
Holmes would like to lay his hands on a few more tippers. "I can't get enough." he admits."I've got five coming in March, and three of them are already pre-sold."
Something else Holmes has noticed is that fewer customers for new trucks are partexchanging their old ones: "It used to be the case that for every three new trucks we sold, we'd get one part-exchange. Now the ratio is more like six to one."
They're either hanging on to them because they've got the work an encouraging sign disposing of them privat, putting them into auctio Recently there been one or instances of late tractor units manding astot prices at auct prices that a would never se Holmes. "If yoi couple of b after a particula de, then the pri go up and up. "Having seer happen I can uncle.
dealers being tempted to put a partic attractive truck into an auction to se' much it would fetch," he continues."But Scania might have something to say if I that, given that dealers are supposed trying to keep used vehicles within the ne And auction prices can sometimt disappointing, of course."