It may come as a bit of a surprise to see that new car sales grew strongly in March in light of the prevailing economic news and the rising cost of living. Look a little deeper, and the reality is that many of these cars will have been ordered some months back, with lengthy delays in new vehicle orders, created by a worldwide shortage of essential microchips, a continuing trend. The other fact to recognise is that March’s relative success still sees new sales remaining 22 percent behind pre-Covid levels in 2019.
The greater sales activity remains in the used sector, and used car expert Brian Larkin, the owner of Centre Point Autos, based just outside Athlone, thinks he knows why people are looking at used vehicles so actively.
“It’s clear that people are watching their spending and many recognise they can get a lot more car for their money buying used. With the challenging times we face, buying used has gained a ‘tatty chic’ appeal; being prudent is a badge of honour.
“Choosing used means buyers can find an affordable car and one that might be more economical in terms of fuel costs, which are an issue right now. At the same time, with our friends at Bluestone Motor Finance, we can help that affordability issue by spreading the cost of the car. With their innovative Arrive and Drive product offering, monthly payments can be kept affordable with repayment periods of up to 72 months for people with a good credit rating. Even if people’s credit history has had some challenges, we are well placed to help them.”
Available on vehicles up to three years old with under 120,000km, which includes most of Centre Point Autos stock of around 60 cars, Arrive & Drive provides access to 0% deposit; terms up to 72 months; and decisions in less than 30 minutes.
For further details of all stock visit www.centrepointautos.ie, contact Brian Larkin on (086 ) 0505050, the Centre Point Autos office on (090 ) 6417800 or drop by Hodson Bay, Athlone.
