Prestige Cars Vendargues's interview
INTERVIEW WITH THE MANAGER OF UNIVERS MOTORS / PRESTIGE CARS VENDARGUES
By Stéphane Alaux, E-Reputation Expert
Founder of the E-Reputation firm Net’Wash
The director of Prestige Cars talks to us about his business, the used car market and the advantages of buying a used car compared to a new one.
1/ HOW WAS THE UNIVERS MOTORS / PRESTIGE CARS VENDARGUES COMPANY BORN?
Prestige Cars: Our company specialises in the resale of used cars. We only offer premium brands. It is a family company that we set up in 2013. It is a multi-brand centre, which means that we offer several brands for resale: Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Citroën, Dodge, Fiat, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Lancia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen. Our website lists more than 100 vehicle advertisements, but it is also possible to come and see us in our agency to observe the vehicles directly on site.
We do everything possible to welcome our customers in the best possible conditions in our agency. We only offer premium cars for sale in very good condition and we take care of all the administrative procedures. We offer our know-how and passion for cars to our customers so that they can enjoy the best possible deals. We can also deliver our vehicles with a warranty and we can service them ourselves.
2/ IS UNIVERS MOTORS / PRESTIGE CARS VENDARGUES ONLY PRESENT IN THE 34?
Prestige Cars : Yes, we are located in Vendargues, between Montpellier and Nîmes, in the Hérault department (Languedoc Roussillon). Our single point of sale is strategically placed in the department and responds perfectly to the needs of our customers.
TELL US ABOUT THE USED CAR MARKET?
Prestige Cars: Even though in 2018 the second-hand market experienced a small decline (1.7%) due to new car sales which increased by 3%, it is doing rather well. In fact, a total of 5.68 million second-hand vehicles were sold.
To go into a little more detail, sales of second-hand cars rose by 8.8%, those aged 1 year by 7.1% and those aged 2 to 5 years by 3.5%. Nevertheless, older vehicles are finding it slightly more difficult to find buyers (7.4% for 11 to 15 year olds and -6.1% for those over 16 years old). However, these are still very good deals for people who cannot afford to put a lot of money into a vehicle (young drivers, etc.).
Due to the increase in diesel prices at the pump, diesel cars are not selling as well as they used to, even though they are still in the majority: 62.8%. This trend naturally benefits used petrol cars, which have seen their sales increase by 2.5% compared to 2017.
WHERE DO THE VEHICLES OFFERED FOR SALE COME FROM?
Prestige Cars: All the vehicles we offer for sale come from Italian dealerships.
ARE THE VEHICLES COVERED BY A WARRANTY?
Prestige Cars: As mentioned above, all our vehicles are guaranteed (between 3 and 6 months, not including the manufacturer’s warranty) and serviced by us. We also offer an extended warranty to our customers which takes effect immediately. It is possible to extend the warranty up to 5 years.
We also offer various financing options to meet our customers’ needs. Flexibility, security and peace of mind are the advantages we offer.
- Classic loan from 12 to 72 months
- Credit with or without deposit
- Review and release of funds within 24 to 48 hours (subject to acceptance by the lender)
- Tailor-made financing offer
We also guarantee our customers their vehicle for the entire duration of their financing. This means that in the event of a breakdown, the intervention and towing is taken care of. In addition, we provide a replacement vehicle.
Establishing a relationship of trust with our customers is essential at Prestige Cars Vendargues, which is why we make it a point of honour to welcome our visitors to our fleet, to offer the fairest prices, final and net of discount, to guarantee the mileage and the history of the vehicle, etc…
WHO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS?
Prestige Cars: Half of our customers come from the internet. The other 50% come to see us directly in the agency. These are people from different professional backgrounds, as we offer cars at all prices. We also have many people who are interested in sports cars.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF USED VEHICLES?
Prestige Cars: Of course, when you want to buy a car, the first question you ask yourself is: should you buy used or new? As a second-hand professional, I can guarantee that this type of vehicle has strong arguments to put forward over new.
The most obvious is the price, of course. A used car will always be cheaper than a new one, and that’s normal, because no car in the world increases in value when it leaves the factory. At best, it will increase in value over time, but we’re talking about classic cars here, not utility cars. In 3 years, a car can lose up to 50% of its value, which is very advantageous for the buyer, because, with technological advances, 3 year old cars are still as comfortable as ever.
Buying second-hand also means taking advantage of various options that would be impossible to finance when buying a new car. In fact, the price of used cars includes all the options. For example, when you buy a new car, you have to pay full price for each option. But a used car is already equipped with these options. It is therefore possible to buy the same model, although not new, but recent (between 1 and 3 years old) and above all better equipped than what you could have bought new. Many of our cars have top-of-the-range options such as bigger engines, automatic gearboxes, higher finishes or option packs. Just like the price of the vehicle, the price of options decreases quickly and sharply over time.
Buying second-hand also means you can buy the car of your dreams. Of course, I’m not talking about Ferraris or Porsches, which are still very expensive even when used. Although… it is quite possible to buy a Porsche Boxster from the 2000s for less than €20,000. But let’s talk about simpler cars. For example, you can find old Mercedes A-Class cars on the second-hand market at reasonable prices that are still in good taste. You can also treat yourself to minivans that are no longer available as new, luxury saloons or convertibles. All these models lose their value quickly.
The fourth advantage of used cars is their almost immediate availability. Buying a new car at a dealership sometimes requires a lot of patience. Indeed, the average delay is between 2 months for basic models and 1 year for very popular models. This is simply due to the fact that manufacturers produce cars to order. Very few vehicles come off the production line in advance. If you see a model you like in our agency, you can drive it away in a few days while we prepare the car for you.
Finally, the “second-hand” nature of a car means that you are less likely to worry about scratching it. Indeed, when you buy a new car, you want it to stay that way for as long as possible. However, it is very difficult to preserve it if you don’t have your own garage. Moreover, if you get hit by a car door in a supermarket car park, for example, this can lead to unforeseen additional costs. A second-hand car, on the other hand, has already had a life of its own. Even if it is in excellent condition, it will still have traces, however small. The stress of keeping it in good condition is therefore reduced. Of course, this does not mean that you have to martyr your used car…
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
Prestige Cars : Our future projects are essentially focused on the development of our agency located in Vendargues.
LE NET A CHANGÉ, COMMENT GÉREZ-VOUS L’E-RÉPUTATION VOTRE STRUCTURE ?
Prestige Cars : Avoir une bonne E-Réputation est essentiel pour fidéliser nos clients. Pourtant, le web 2.0, bien qu’il offre de nombreux avantages pour avancer dans ce sens, peut aussi représenter une menace pour n’importe quelle entreprise. Chez Prestige Cars, nous estimons que des clients satisfaits sont la base d’une bonne E-réputation. C’est pourquoi nous mettons tout en place pour les satisfaire, car s’ils le sont, il n’y a aucune raison qu’ils disent du mal de nous sur Internet.
Merci.
