Retail sales in general are down 2% in Scotland

Increased insecurity of jobs, VAT, freeze on slaries...............it will be leaner picking for gargages and all retailers for the foreseeable future.

Mind you Subaru franchises seem to have rose tinted specs as their cars are not really selling new and the 2nd hand 2 litre + Legacys and Outbacks are rooted to the tarmac.

A friend today said she had downsized from Focus to a Yaris - cheaper insurance, RFL, less petrol - she forgot the £4,000 on HP, however.

Saving and spending is confusing to some people - the Focus was paid for!

Usually December should be a good time as sales are slow with people wanting a car with a later date. But this year January and February may be slower as more sales will probably be made in December to avoid the increas in VAT.

I don't want the car in December either, but it takes 2-3 months to get it.

Not strictly true about the VAT. I will still pay 20% VAT even if I purchase now. The VAT rate depends on when I take delivery, not when I order the car. So VAT will be exactly the same whenever I pay.

She should have kept the Focus Falkirk.

We bought the daugthers car on the internet saving of over two thousand pound.

The price I can get will probably beat or at least match the online prices. At the moment I don't know whether I'll trade in.

The dealer has offered me less than half the price of a new one for my car which is less than two years old. This sounds pretty poor to me, so I'm going to try other places and try to negotiate a higher price.