Typical of my luck – always buy at the wrong point in the cycle !!

if it makes you feel better, I have worked in this industry for 20 years this year.  The differences between a good and bad time to buy a used car are pretty small.  The reality is always far removed from what someone down the pub ‘saved’ or what Mike Brewer makes out.

Still very early days yet.  But early signs are very promising…  new cars are going to be a real struggle, I would say you would be likely to get a decent deal on a new car.  But likelihood is the dealer won’t be able to supply it as there is going to be a massive gap in global supply now! So expect new sale campaigns to be weak for a while.   I’m really interested to understand the EU fining for car manufacturers based on the emissions targets…that could really challenge some businesses if they were planning on lower emission sales later this year to offset their higher emission sales earlier in the year…that’s big money too!

They are bloody useless lately, customer service is also pretty shoddy.

We had almost exactly this thread a week or so ago.   Usual ‘experts’ stating car prices were going tumble.  I work in the industry linked to wholesale vehicle supply. We are seeing demand ramp up significantly (as predicted) the industry valuations guides have stated they will not make sweeping judgements of used car values until period of trading reflects actual market sentiment.  Couple of important points to consider. New Car production has basically stopped for nearly 3 months now! This will have a significant impact both in short and long term used vehicle supply.   New car sales have also been significantly behind YOY position (prior to lockdown) again restricting future supply, but also has linked to a significant increase in used vehicle demand.  We have also seen daily rental businesses reducing fleet sizes as well as company car drivers extending leases.  This all points to a strengthening of the used car market and as such a firing of pricing.  Even in periods of recession used car sales have been pretty resilient.  I really would expect huge discounts on cars, but you could always try!

I hate Planet X pricing, it makes no sense at all other than spammy email bull shittery! It’s a fantastic frame and one I’ll no doubt purchase in coming months but as a company they are dog shit!

Agreed.  If you want something you gotta pay for it.  Strava has been free to use for so long, people have come to expect it/take it for granted.  If you don’t start paying now, you might just miss it when it’s gone.

Happy to pay, just not £6.99 a month.

It would appear I scored a top 10 on a segment in Mallards Pike FOD today, but I can’t see any details.   …sad times, but still don’t value that information at £6.99 a month.  I also hope everyone slamming others who have a problem with the price are subscribers here…

It’s a big day out riding from PABA then riding a decent chuck of Staunton trails!

First ride last night without Strava ‘full’ no ability to benchmark against my mates etc.  I’d happily pay but don’t value it enough to pay what they are asking and I am someone who uses Strava religiously.  Perhaps if they had offered different tiers of membership rather than the full fat version.  I am someone that is always happy to subscribe, but I won’t be paying what their asking.  I remember riding pre Strava was just as much fun!

None of the Staunton trails are really on Strava etc.  So you’ll be lucky to work a route off that I would think, as above heat maps may help but you won’t have signal out there.  Best to explore especially the lower side of the road as it’s a fire road all the way up.  Otherwise of the road is probably a bit more complicated but simple when you know. Personally I would recommend riding with someone that knows the area post lockdown

They have also removed the old ‘download GPX’ functionality, for non paid members.  I’m actually not worried about the KOM and leaderboard nonsense. I don’t tend to trouble much of it and it’s been ruined since ebikes became more prevalent.  But the GPX function was useful if you wanted to try a friends route or needed to find a new trail.  I am happy to pay for Strava too, but not at £6.99 a month! Couple of quid tops for me! If Strava disappears, then I don’t think it’s a bad thing really, something else will come along to replace it.

Staple edge and Mallards are running well and have largely recovered from the logging work already!

Ridden there a few times now since we have been allowed.  It’s running so prime! Almost too dusty now 😂 Rode Staunton today and that was simply fantastic

Orange crush that looks exactly like this has just been listed on Facebook in Wolverhampton Sellers profile is pretty empty.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/288919045463279/

Can’t see auction sites opening as per pre virus for sometime, car auctions are busy public places after all.  I can see them opening operationally very soon given the latest announcement.  Which will allow cars to be processed for sale.  Vehicles will then be sold via online routes to market.  So they Can be sold from defleet centre.   Which is not new to Some areas of the industry, but will be a shift change for the majority.   The issue is retail….dealerships are still not going to be fully open, however I guess we will understand how this is going to look over the next few days/weeks.

I always find it interesting how people have such strong opinions on the motortrade, based on little understanding.  When someone who has worked in the new and used vehicle supply channels gives some professional advice (based on experience and significant expense around modelling and study) it’s just ‘dealer pretending it’s all roses and champagne’

if we look at the last recession, used car prices held firm and in many cases increased. New car sales have been significantly falling month on month for over a year now.  The corona pandemic has hammered this further.  The market is not really ready to start transacting new vehicles online yet, it’s also hampered by legislation around financing which doesn’t fit the new vehicle sales process.  Historically when new car sales have slumped used car sales have seen an increase.  So what are we expecting….further reductions in new vehicle registrations; reduced retail sales of new cars, lease extensions, reduced daily rental registrations.  What does this mean, well a reduction in used car supply! Believe it or not people still buy cars in recession, With reduced supply comes stability in pricing.  I also hear people mentioning ‘cheap luxury driving’ again, this doesn’t correlate into reality. Recessions don’t tend to hit wealthy people in the same way do they!

Yes there will be people defaulting on finance agreements, but those people still need to remain mobile.  So they look to buy cheaper cars to fulfill their transport needs (generating sales) their repossessed car is then sold through wholesale channels and then retailer on.

you can stamp your feet and call car dealers stupid all you like, however at this moment knowing what we do now, that’s how (in simple terms) the used market is looking. It’s going to be tough, but expecting huge price reductions just isn’t going to happen, I apologise that’s one of the keyboard experts may not want to hear that, I’ll happily come back on here in 6 months and swallow shovels full of humble pie, but that ain’t going to happen.

So, from someone who works inside the industry….the industry valuation guide for used cars CAP has stated that they are not making alterations to used vehicle prices until lockdown is lifted.  Used car wholesale has all but stopped.  The industry is expecting quite a rapid demand for used car stock once we see some kind of normality, this will then see an increase in supply as end of contract vehicles can be collected and deflected.  This will be a short term spike as I expect lease vehicles will be extended rather than replaced.  The new car market is completely hammered, as a byproduct you actually see a strengthening in the used market.

The only area of the market I expect you will find a bargain is in private sale.  The car buying businesses are not really operating at the moment as vehicle logistics have all but ground to a stop.

Don’t expect a massive used car crash though, there is nothing to suggest this is going to happen I’m afraid.

My hope crank axle broke, speaking to my lbs at the time they had seen several.  Hope tried to tell me they had never heard of the issue.  Luckily i caught mine when stripping the bike down for a service.  The design is frankly shoddy.  Albeit I have yet to see if it’s improved on their revised version of the crank.  Overpriced, heavy and over complicated.  Obviously the Hope fanbois will try and deflect blame elsewhere.

Strictly speaking they shouldn’t be doing anything – think that might be called fraud.

no you miss-read my post! I’m Furloughed my customers are not! My point was I could still be working (I’m not as I’m Furloughed)

so nothing Fraudulent at all!

There are still people who are only getting 80%

There are people getting less than that!  It’s either £2500 or 80% whichever is the least! I am currently receiving less than 50% of my usual salary…like I said before don’t expect sympathy, in fact I’m grateful to even still have any income at all.  However it is very difficult to quickly unwind and restructure your finances as quick as this has hit!  Luckily we live a fairly conservative life style and are not highly geared with loans or credit.

Well I work from home, have work to do still with some customers still ‘working from home’ and was still Furloughed.  However the core activity of our business cannot function therefore we are not generating money! Hence I guess why we are all Furloughed.

So with regards to the company car.  Our fleet team sent out a handback form I needed to complete.  I had to take date stamped photographs of the ODO and I am no longer insured to drive the car.  My fuel card is to be returned and my employers will arrange to ‘collect’ my car when we are operational again.  They have informed HMRC, but recommended I also make contact, which I did via the excellent gateway system and detailed my change there, it instructed me my change would take place within 48hrs.

Pretty happy with this, car is sat locked up.  I won’t use it, I have no need!   When my employment starts again then I will have to go through the rigmarole of ‘on-fleeting’ my car again, however the cost saving is significant enough to justify the hassle.

Thanks, Barclays have accepted our mortgage holiday application which is a god send.  Plus I’m told I can Furlough my company car which will save significant money.  Its all happening so fast, hence why I’m a little disappointed my employers have not at least topped up people’s salary for April.  I’m fortunate to have enough savings and borrowing capacity to keep going to some time.  We have sat down as a family and looked at our expenditure and how we can cut costs. I will say that being locked down has meant our day to day put goings have all but disappeared!  Food costs have obviously gone up, but we are not driving any where so no fuel, no Starbucks each morning or M&S sandwiches each day!  Soon adds up.  I’m lucky in that we have not over committed to borrowing compared to peers.  So we as a family can keep operating frugally.  But come pay day it will be a shock, as I still have not had it confirmed by HR or payroll how I will be taxed! What my deductions will be…etc.   Like I say I don’t expect sympathy, just genuinely worried.

I was furloughed on the 28th, no top up by my company.  Which means I’m on half my salary, uncertain about a significant bonus due in June as well.  Email fired off this afternoon to see if I can ‘Furlough’ the use of my company car to try and save some money…it’s not been used since I was furloughed.  I know i won’t get sympathy, nor am I looking for it (remember some of the disdain shown here for higher rate earners) but with a mortgage, financial commitments and 2 kids to support I’m panicking.  I have savings but feel absolutely deserted by my employers.

for me it’s the uncertainty of the whole situation that causes anxiety. So many questions around tax, pensions, company car contributions etc.  I just don’t know what I’m going to take home over the next few months.  Which makes budgeting difficult.

Ultimately i guess I should be thankful my family are currently all healthy

Hi

looks like the Private message functionality isn’t working through the classifieds.  I have had 2 people message me through eBay now saying they have messaged me through here…but nothing received.  One commented on the item for sale, but no notification was sent through either.

Personally if you are shelling out on a new frame, why would you cut corners on Invisiframe.  Other options either look a mess, or won’t do anything as like a good job.

I have a pair of debonair pikes on my hardtail.  They are better than the old, non debonair.  But in my opinion are still not ‘great’ they do run the basic charger damper though.   But to be honest I am in two minds as to bother upgrading anything on them.  I much prefer Fox forks.  Whilst the 36 factory on my big bike is not really a comparison to the pike on my hardtail, it’s difficult to not to compare.

Same for me, I quite like them.

The pad inserts are removable, you are meant to take them out before washing them!!

29er arse buzzing.

To be honest nowadays I try and sell everything cash on collection.  If someone isn’t willing to travel to collect thousands of pounds worth of kit then I’m not really interested in selling it to them. I used to like the classifieds here as I could sell smaller items and trusted many of the STW buyer base, it’s harder nowadays.  So I tend to find I stock pile or give stuff away.  I have been listing stuff on eBay. But it’s a hassle.

Just be careful, if he messaged you through eBay they now check and will send you a final value fee.  I actually got caught on a pair of suspension forks someone messaged me about asking for a ‘cash price’. I didn’t sell them to him and after a couple of weeks took them off eBay and fitted them to another bike!  eBay charged me 10% of the BIN price and there was nothing I could do about it! Nowadays I don’t even bother replying to the Cash bids.  If it’s on eBay then I price it to allow for the fees and that’s how it will be sold

I wouldn’t worry about that too much, most of my oranges had some kind of dink like that around the BB area, perils of the down shape/Size.  I would be more worried about cracking swing arms and drop outs….

I’m entered, given the amount of dilly dallying  my riding group went through I’m surprised I got in.  Given the complete lack of publicity entry seems a little slower to fill

Jeez, I thought i was spoiling my 14 year old daughter with £25 a month, looks like I need to review

I’m 5’9 but have a very short inside leg, found my arse buzzed the back wheel on a 29er, now I’m going to give another a go next bike as things have moved on in terms of geometry.  But I never had that problem on a 650b.  Which I can’t see being discarded.

I am now you pointed it out.  Will take a view when I see one in the flesh.

in terms of warranty do Pace have a history of being wobbly when things go wrong?

I have both the bontrager and Ztto, keep meaning to upgrade both bikes to a pnw lever, but always balk at the price!  The Ztto has a lovely light feel to it, works as it should but feels every part of its price (cheap) the bontrager lever is heavier to use but feels robust enough.  That said having used a friends PNW the action is similar to the Ztto with a lovely quality feel to the product.  If I was buying again on a budget then I would probably stick with the bontrager lever.  Just because I think it will last longer (my Ztto is still going strong mind you)

edit:  should say when I say PNW I mean their loam lever.  I have also owned the one up, I broke it in a crash.  It was OK nothing special

Shut up and take my money 😂

In that case they are probably the same as came on my Whyte hardtail.  Nice looking and wide rims but bloody heavy.  Maybe a good shout having a nice set of trail wheels with suitable tyres and the standard set with hefty grippy tyres for uplift/alps trips.  That said I don’t personally bother with that, but I don’t ride trail centres really.  So my ‘nduro’ spec tyres stay on for uplift, off piste in fact everything nowadays.  You soon get used to the weight/drag.

Is the bike not fitted with the wide WTB rims? I.D. 29mm? If so I think a 2.25 would come up a little narrow. Better suited to some of the newer 2.4/2.5 tyres to give a better profile? I personally wouldn’t run particularly narrow (by today’s standard) tyres on what is, in essence an enduro bike.  But then I guess it depends where and what you are riding.