UK price cuts will not include CVs
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• Manufacturers are being forced by the Government to cut the price of cars—but not the cost of commercial vehicles.
A report from the DTI Competition Commission into the pricing of cars in the UK reveals that manufacturers are charging too much when compared with other EU countries, Although the 737-page report by the Competition Commission to Parliament insists new car prices must fall, there is no mention of commercial vehicles.
The Consumers' Association has carried the torch for private car buyers, but not CV buyers.
Spokesman Jenny Driscoll says: "We have to prioritise like anyone else. What we have done is to try to help as many people as possible." She says the conclusions of the report will have a knock-on effect, but this is not yet apparent.
However, some CV operators are continuing to help themselves. Peter Logan of Universal Blast Cleaning read an article in CM about TOM Transport buying abroad, and decided to go down the same road ( CM30 Mar-5 Apr).
He now predicts he will save several thousand pounds on a new Sprinter 316, even though the 156hp van is decked out with a high-capacity fuel tank, roof-mounted brake light, steel bulkhead, burglar alarm and alloy wheels.
He says: "I'll get a return flight to Cologne for £89 so I can see who I'm dealing with face to face and give him the deposit. Then I'll fly back sometime in July and drive it home.'
Logan was quoted DM53,500 for his new Sprinter (£15,800 at the current exchange rate). The list price in the UK is £23,260, and Logan beat his local dealer down to 122,284.
More than this, Logan says he is getting better service from the Aachen dealer than he did from his local outlet.
The German supplier faxed him back with a quote within 24 hours; the UK dealer he went to for a test drive has still not called him back after more than six weeks.