The Big End - Deals on Wheels

You would like a new car but are not sure how to go about getting a good deal.

Every year many new cars are sold in this country. They are supposed to, amongst other points, replace older models, create jobs and add to better, safer and ecological technology. In fact they pollute the environment, congest our roads and cause all manner of problems. They are stolen, in some cases badly maintained and can become dangerous to use. but we cannot do without them.

I have long mulled over this problem, and being an ardent fan of the car, especially the classics, I have decided that unless we change this formula for the way we live with the car, we will very soon be overwhelmed by it.

The environment demands a better choice and control of the way we deal with the car.

My blueprint is very radical and could be construed to be very totalitarian, but in my mind a better way to control the situation.

I believe that in the near future there will be only 4 or 5 manufacturers of motor vehicles in the world. This is due to predatory take overs by the bigger corporate manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Ford, etc.

Rapid advances in new component developments which give safer and reliable vehicles, but these are at added cost in manufacture. Why put huge amounts of R&D into new innovations when a smaller competitor has the technology cracked, buy them out and you get them on the cheap. Any new gizmos can then be rapidly incorporate it into new vehicles produced and costs reduced. The manufacturer gains in the market place.

But how will the car of tomorrow be sold to us.

I believe we will be offered a car at half its normal sale price providing we agree to a contract to purchase a new car within every two years or when any new car reaches a certain mileage. The car would be in joint ownership between us and the company. Only the company will be able to repair or service the car and this would be absolute.

As part of the agreement, all repairs would be free. This would promote quality maintenance, date activated by a controlled computer programme. When the vehicle becomes due for maintenance, you will be notified by e-mail or by an activated display on the vehicles consul. An agreed pickup date will be implemented and a similar courtesy car made available while your vehicle is in for work. You may at this point say, what if I live abroad, or at a great distance from any service point. No problem here, the company will have agents within your area around the world as some already do and details on the car will be on the companies computer network, so there would be no problem in carrying out any work required.

As part of the agreement, the courtesy car will be brought to you without any charge.

It would be impossible for anyone out side the companies organization to repair or service any of the companies vehicles.

Because of the computer record control, it will not be worth anyone outside the company stealing a vehicle, as parts cannot be obtained, it cannot be used, sold, or disposed of outside the organization. By chance if one was stolen, then it would soon be traced by the onboard computer signal link. You would be provided by a courtesy vehicle to prevent any inconvenience during this time.

If your car is damaged in an accident, then again it would be recovered and repaired by the company, or replaced by an equal vehicle.

Insurance would be covered by a inclusive package by the companies brokers and would include out of pocket expenses. Third parties, liability. Personal injury would also be fully covered.

If at any time, you wanted to get out of the contract then you would have to pay an opt out penalty to do so.

When the vehicle approaches a limited contractual mileage then by computer notification, you would be invited to choose the new replacement car which would be delivered to your door and the old vehicle recovered by the company.

What happens to the old vehicle. It is recycled to its second line use. Fully serviced and accurately tuned, any repairs made, it would then be used by the companies Taxi Fleet, Hire Car, Courtesy car operations and when it reaches a limited total life mileage it would be recycled by the companies own dedicated recycling plant . All dangerous byproducts being expertly dealt with by specialized recycling equipment and certain parts or materials remade for use in new vehicles.

This new way of car dealing would appease the green lobby and by nature of the way that vehicle fallout would be addressed, go a long way to help the environment.

The car company will be assured of a full order book and because of the way the vehicle is controlled, appease the government over the theft problems and would reduce police costs in recovery involvement.

You as a joint owner would incur only the extra costs of the insurance, tax, petrol and tyres. You get a well maintained factory covered vehicle and providing you keep to the agreement , trouble free motoring. This programme will reduced rogue second hand cars, underhand trading, and bad and dangerous disposal of waste products.

It will improve the value of good well maintained Classics and raise the quality of alternative aftermarket vehicles.

Would you put money on this?

© Chris Street, November 2001