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Economic recession might not have officially arrived – but the European car market is already suffering.
Car sales in Germany, the continent’s biggest market, fell by 14 per cent in March compared with the same period last year. Italy and Spain had even bigger declines, with falls of 19 per cent and 28 per cent respectively, although the Spanish figure was influenced in part by the ending of scrapping incentives on older cars.
Figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Asso...Read the full article

Err mate, March was a short month with Easter in it - check your calendar. Spain and Italy are catholic countries observing Good Friday and Easter Sunday/Holy Week unlike UK, which means two less worked days. March 2007 had 22 working days, March 2008 20. Minus two for Easter leaves 18, a 18.2% reduction compared to previous year - remarkably similar to Italy's supposed decline - do check your facts first before parrotting supposed official bulletins.

In fact most Spanish car dealers work a five-day week (Monday to Friday). So there were a potential 21 working days in March - but there were two public holidays Good Friday and either the preceeding Thursday (Maundy Day) or Wednesday (San Jose). However a large percentage of the country had the whole of Holy Week off. Also there was a general election at the beginning of the month.

sierra:

So there were a potential 21 working days in March -

Sierra thanks for correcting me. You're right, it was 21 days not 20 - I missed the 31st off, on Monday. And thanks for your extra info. about customs over Eastertide in Spain. The journos just reproduce bland press releases from ACEA, SMMT and so on with little or no cognisance of local custom and practice - vive la difference!

I hardly think a couple of days holiday is going to affect sales that much. If someone wants a car they will buy a new car. Besides, your theory doesnt take into fact germany which isnt as religeous as italy and spain.

There is an economic turn down through out europe, you cant deny that.

loather:

do check your facts first

I'm reminded of that old saying "there are lies, damn lies and statistics". As there are too many new cars being produced out there, I can't help feeling that we perhaps all ought to be keeping our cars a bit longer rather than changing them so often. It pains me to say this as a longstanding enthusiast, but we've got to stop wasting resources in this way sometime soon, and if a few brands go to the wall, so be it.

Ordinary Bloke - can you define a 'waisted resource' please?

1). Steel and oil left in the groung (for Greenpeace to admire and cherish)

2). Steel and oil extracted from the ground using mans industrial and scientific skills formed into an object to transport billions of people around.

Nb. Plants extract (dig and suck, like a mine or oil rig) nutrients from the Earth, combined with CO2 (the building block for all cells) from air and energy from sunlight to grow (become 1,000x more - productive - than the sum of its parts).

Question. Is steel bent into a car shape a 'lost' resource or is it still a resource just not lying about in the ground anymore (ie. being put to use) ? 

Ditto 'expoitation' of resources for all animals, fish and any other life form.

If you disgaree with Option 2 you also disagree any life form on Earth has a right to exist based on your 'exploitation of resources' principle (claptrap). You could always live on the barren, lifeless moon - it would match your philisohpical stance and bring home to you all life exploits resources who love been exploted and joining the party of life rather than dead, bored and jobless in the ground.  

JJBoxster:

Ordinary Bloke - can you define a 'waisted resource' please?

1). Steel and oil left in the groung (for Greenpeace to admire and cherish)

2). Steel and oil extracted from the ground using mans industrial and scientific skills formed into an object to transport billions of people around.

Nb. Plants extract (dig and suck, like a mine or oil rig) nutrients from the Earth, combined with CO2 (the building block for all cells) from air and energy from sunlight to grow (become 1,000x more - productive - than the sum of its parts).

Question. Is steel bent into a car shape a 'lost' resource or is it still a resource just not lying about in the ground anymore (ie. being put to use) ? 

Ditto 'expoitation' of resources for all animals, fish and any other life form.

If you disgaree with Option 2 you also disagree any life form on Earth has a right to exist based on your 'exploitation of resources' principle (claptrap). You could always live on the barren, lifeless moon - it would match your philisohpical stance and bring home to you all life exploits resources who love been exploted and joining the party of life rather than dead, bored and jobless in the ground.  

 

 

Here we go again......