The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A well-known used car dealer yesterday said he was looking to “claw” his way back into the market, telling Tribune Business: “We’re hoping we can fill our niche like we did before”.

Brent Fox, owner of Montague Motors, which specialises in Japanese imports, told this newspaper the dealership was effectively “back in business” with a re-opening on Village Road, its revival creating a “handful of jobs”.

“We’re trying to claw our way back. Hopefully we can offer our customers the deals they got in the past. Hopefully everyone will come to know Montague Motors again,” said Mr Fox.

The dealership is now offering zero down, in-house financing and better interest rates, with prices raining from $7,000-$14,000.

“The market has changed a lot,” Mr Fox told Tribune Business. “We’re of the opinion that things are starting to come around a little bit in the economy.

“We never really sold a lot of cars on a cash basis. It’s always been financing, and the banks weren’t willing to work with us and, if they did, it was in a limited fashion. Once we have our in-house financing and our own source of money to lend, we feel we can make a go of it again.”

Mr Fox added: “New cars are an expensive item for a lot of people. People are looking to get the best deal they can. People don’t want to have to bite off a huge payment for a car.

“We’re hoping we can fill our niche as we did before. People need transportation and we’re here to offer an inexpensive car with an inexpensive payment plan. We’re not really too concerned with the banks because it never really did us much good.

“We’ve been out of the business for quite a while and now we’re back. We’ve got the same deal. I’m going to be going to Japan again in the New Year and hopefully can start to bring in some quality cars again.”

Mr Fox previously told Tribune Business that the dealership, which has been in full operation since 2003, had been “wiped out” by the previous ‘engine size’ duty structure introduced in 2010.

That introduced a tax rate of 65 per cent for passenger vehicles with an engine size of 2,000 cubic centimeters (cc) or less, but increased the rate facing most other passenger vehicles and trucks from 60 per cent to 85 per cent.