Another vastly overpriced FTO added to the Byrne auto stock

[Mustang]

http://search.autotrader.ie/cgi-bin/adv ... bd1e0416ac

Crazy stuff!

[Dean]

It would have to be a 98-99 for that price.
He doesnt even mention the year.

[Mustang]

It's a '98. Even if it was a manual thats V expensive.

[soc]

Just what I secretly want - a facelift in red. That really hurts.... and if it's a manual it'll hurt so much more

[CJ]

People are obviously willing to shell out the money if he's getting FTOs in on a regular enough basis. I can only imagine that the buyers aren't enthusiasts, otherwise they'd end up here at some stage and realise their mistake!

CJ

[Speedyboy]

I always thought insurance had killed the market for FTO's in Ireland, But if he's looking for that kinda price maybe not!

[Mustang]

People are obviously willing to shell out the money if he's getting FTOs in on a regular enough basis. I can only imagine that the buyers aren't enthusiasts, otherwise they'd end up here at some stage and realise their mistake!

I'm not so sure CJ. As AL (i think it was?) said the black one he was advertising before for ~12k was actually sold by another garage for ~10.5 a lot more reasonable.
And those two silver '97's have been sitting there for ages...

[Dean]

It because I think a lot of people actually check the buy and sell before they buy a car.
There would be much more ealistic prices in there and that would probably turn them off Byrnes.

[Neil]

And those two silver '97's have been sitting there for ages...

Do those two silver FTO's actually exist though? When I was looking I rang him about them with the intention only to test drive but they had both been "just sold" but he could bring another in for me if I give him another few weeks yadda yadda, and that was definately the same two photos as the two photos still on autotrader now.

Has anybody actually been out there to see those 2 in the flesh?

[soc]

I wondering what would happen if you went out and just made an offer... sounds to me like they're playing the waiting for a mug game.....

[AL]

byrne auto is now situated in same compound as hi-grade imports, they have been there a while now, ive been in there a few times just checking things out and several of my friends have been there too, we have never actually seen either of these silver fto's and any time we have been there the office/ portacabin is locked
over two years ago i ask hi-grade imports if they could get me a gpx, his answer was simply its not worth his while, hes not exactly a peoples person
this ignorance on his behalf spured me on to contact an old mate, "best decision ive made in years".

on a slightly different note ....... does anyone know who, if anyone was the buyer of the 95/96 black gpx manual, with facelift bumper in southside automotive, the one that was sold before the ship had even docked

[Mustang]

Al wrote

byrne auto is now situated in same compound as hi-grade imports

Seems to me that those jap car importers in Dublin all form part of a cosy cartel.

over two years ago i ask hi-grade imports if they could get me a gpx, his answer was simply its not worth his while, hes not exactly a peoples person

I had a similar experience about a year ago. Not your typical smooth talking sales man!

[AL]

your spot on about the cartel, hi-grade, byrne autos, southside automotive, red cow autos, motolink to name but a few are all circulating the same stock of cars, which from what ive heard they dont actually own, there is a central buyer somewhere

and an "arrogant crap" are the only words i can find to discribe yer man from hi-grade, im my humble opinion

[Mustang]

Al wrote

your spot on about the cartel, hi-grade, byrne autos, southside automotive, red cow autos, motolink to name but a few are all circulating the same stock of cars, which from what ive heard they dont actually own, there is a central buyer somewhere

Looks like maybe you could add Enterprise cars in Limerick to that list.
Below is a link to an add by 'Japanese connection', in Dublin, for a yellow Honda civic (and NO, I was not thinking of buying it so no smart comments )
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cf ... rID=222727
Last week the very same car was being advertised by Enterprise cars, in Limerick, the add has since been removed. I thought this most unusual especially considering the distance between the two locations. We have seen numerous examples of the "Dublin jap import garage gang" advertising the same cars, perhaps the net widens beyond the pale!

[Myfeckin FTO]

.........Looks like maybe you could add Enterprise cars in Limerick to that list........... We have seen numerous examples of the "Dublin jap import garage gang" advertising the same cars, perhaps the net widens beyond the pale!

I have brought up Enterprise Cars on a couple of occasions previously - the price this guy asks for Jap imports borders on obscene- generally 3K above market value. Yet if theres enough suckers out there to fall for these prices then - why not!

He has dealings with a number of the Jap garages in Dublin and often points to stock held in these garages.

Theres a cosy little cartel going on alright. I think theres a good opening for a Jap import "Superstore" on the Irish market that offers good quality cars and good quality aftersales. The vast majority of the cowboys are of the "you bought it as you saw it" brigade.

Can I also add " Michael Madden Car sales" in Kilkenny to this list? Dealer prices without any aftersales whatsoever - I know a few who have been stung with the quality of car that was sold here and had absolutely no comeback.

We need to come up with a sticky on this one - methinks.

[soc]

We need to come up with a sticky on this one - methinks.

I think this is a good idea

[Mustang]

MfFTO wrote

I think theres a good opening for a Jap import "Superstore" on the Irish market that offers good quality cars and good quality aftersales.

Nice idea, but they would probably send the triads around to:
a. A put you out of business
or
b. Extorte protection money from you so you have to charge similar prices to them just to make ends meet!

[soc]

Sounds like there are a lot of garages around advertising stock they don't actually hold. Not sure how this works in practice -for example: imagine someone in Limerick wanted to view that yellow civic - what would happen there. Would they try to sell the car off paper, bring it down from dublin (expensive in time and money) or try to sell on a different car?? Either way it's not very efficient as surely no-one would buy a car without first seeing it these days.

And as for the quality of cars being sold - it would come as no suprise to me that dodgy cars are being sold as trade from guys like this - I've even come across some guys who won't let you bring your own independant mechanic to inspect a "trade sale".

I think there'd definitely be a market in Ireland for a good, honest and consiencious 2nd hand jap import car dealer who specialises in quality performance cars at realistic prices. Maybe there's an opportunity for some enthusiastic members of a forum such as this to think about setting something up as a sideline - obciously more people would mean less profits but that also means less risk and less work so I'd imagine you could even get something off the ground without having to give up the day job..... food for thought if you ask me

[Mustang]

Shane wrote

Sounds like there are a lot of garages around advertising stock they don't actually hold. Not sure how this works in practice -for example: imagine someone in Limerick wanted to view that yellow civic - what would happen there. Would they try to sell the car off paper, bring it down from dublin (expensive in time and money) or try to sell on a different car?? Either way it's not very efficient as surely no-one would buy a car without first seeing it these days.

Interesting point. The photo of the civic was taken, I believe, in Dublin as I recognise the lock up in the background from the pictures of several Jap import cars being advertised by the cartel.
The photos on the Enterprise add, were actually taken outside their garage in Limerick, as you could see it in the background (pity they,ve pulled the add) so this car was actually in both locations

[soc]

Shane wrote

Sounds like there are a lot of garages around advertising stock they don't actually hold. Not sure how this works in practice -for example: imagine someone in Limerick wanted to view that yellow civic - what would happen there. Would they try to sell the car off paper, bring it down from dublin (expensive in time and money) or try to sell on a different car?? Either way it's not very efficient as surely no-one would buy a car without first seeing it these days.

Interesting point. The photo of the civic was taken, I believe, in Dublin as I recognise the lock up in the background from the pictures of several Jap import cars being advertised by the cartel.
The photos on the Enterprise add, were actually taken outside their garage in Limerick, as you could see it in the background (pity they,ve pulled the add) so this car was actually in both locations

there might also be an element of in-trade selling here - garages will sometimes buy in cars (trade ins, imports, etc.) in the knowledge the can sell/move it on to another dealer....

[Myfeckin FTO]

....there might also be an element of in-trade selling here - garages will sometimes buy in cars (trade ins, imports, etc.) in the knowledge the can sell/move it on to another dealer....

I'm sure this is indeed the case - however we have seen too many instances of that adding further to the price with vast differences in prices on the exact same car.

Out of interest (well ok then - nosiness ) I recently enquired about a car in Enterprise and was told it was presently in Dublin but he could get it down if needs be - but there is a fine line between in-trade selling and a cartel.

[AL]

madden in kilkenny, JESUS , one of the biggest cowboys of them all. and out in the middle of nowhere .

many moons ago i went down with me bro to buy a starlet turbo from him, which was listed as pristine, i nearly shat meself when i got there and seen it, body tacky and extremely dulled paintwork.

i stood there in disbelief, then he went into sales mode, telling us there was an amp under the drivers seat, . he had plenty more low grade cars there that day, we were gone before he could utter another word. a waste of a day, thank you mr madden