Botched repair jobs slash car values
Posted by Admininstrator on Wednesday, 24 Sep 2008, 16:30 in General News
Poor repair work can have a significant impact on the value of part exchange rates when motorists attempt to trade in their cars, an industry group has warned.
Manheim Auctions urged drivers to be aware of the potential fallout from not paying reputable professionals to carry out essential jobs such as windscreen repair and wheel re-alignment.
The company noted that a damaged windshield can devalue a car by anywhere between £100 and £300, whereas the cost of a standard windscreen repair job is just a fraction of that.
Other ailments also take a heavy toll on used car values, with poorly-repaired accidental damage chopping off as much as £250 and badly worn upholstery reducing values by up to £350.
Mike Pilkington, managing director at Manheim auctions and remarketing, commented: "Apart from general consumer concerns over car running costs, the credit crunch is restricting the number of potential retail buyers in the market.
"Vehicles in poor condition are much harder to retail and there is not the appetite to take them into stock, unless the price reflects it."
