An element of mystery around the ability to purchase a brand new BMW or Mini on the Isle of Wight has emerged.
It appears that Snows Isle of Wight is no longer selling brand new vehicles for both of the popular marques, in the same way it has done for a number of years.
Their Isle of Wight-specific websites have been changed to remove reference to new car sales, signage has been changed on the Forest Road showroom and there are no new BMWs or Minis on the forecourt – or in stock to buy online. For BMW, Mini, Fiat and Abarth the websites state that the Isle of Wight is an ‘authorised repairer’.
BMW is still being sold at the company’s sister site in Portsmouth.
Everything points to a change in dealership status, but the company has not been forthcoming with answers to Island Echo’s simple questions.
Island Echo approached Snows for comment on Monday. When asked whether or not Snows Isle of Wight is still a main dealer for BMW and Mini, we were told:
“No story here really. We have relinquished Seat and gained Vauxhall”.
Further questions have been asked with some information coming through, but Island Echo has been told that it is not for quotation or publication and that we have “no permission from Snows to run any such story”.
Although our question about BMW and Mini has not been answered – despite being asked 3 times – it has been confirmed that the Seat brand has been relinquished and is now at Esplanade in Cowes. Replacing the Seat brand is Vauxhall, with Snows Isle of Wight ‘moving forward’ with the British brand.
The Forest Road motor park is also hosting Snows Car Centre, which sells second-hand vehicles. This replaces the used car operation previously known as Too Good To Auction.
The Vauxhall brand has moved around the Island a fair bit over the years, from Hartwells in Carisbrooke to Harwoods in Wootton and then Esplanade in Cowes – and now to Snows in Newport.
Who honestly cares??
It’s a no brainer- they’ve lost the franchise surely?
It was only ever a satellite of portsmouth anyway. Brands like BMW dont worry about places like the Isle of Wight due to such small numbers being retailed (not fleet or Motability) Probably start selling some cars now
I suspect it is a volume requirement.
Snows IW is too small, much as Esplanade lost the franchise to Audi a few years ago.
The majority of German Premium cars are purchased on company car allowances on HCP and most buyers cover high mileage. There are not too many people in that demographic living on the Island.
This one may also be related to BMW and Mini’s drives to electrification. The Snows site is far too small to support EV servicing alongside ICE too. I would imagine recruiting EV Techs is extremely difficult on the Island.
all bmw are crap now and going ev ..and no one want,s just you see..
Well, the same is true of Westridge Garage Ryde now no longer selling new Cars – Skodas or MGs? – whilst likewise, Premier Ford in Newport can no longer order and sell Ford Transits – apparently?? It seems that since BREXIT, the Isle of Wight is being ignored now by the Main Dealers – maybe also as the whole Motor Industry is attempting the “big shift” over to Electric – and then before long – Hydrogen powered Cars and Vans…??!! (Imho, E&OE).
Sorry, you’re saying Brexit has something to do with car sales on the Isle of Wight?
I think we’ve heard it all now!
Just because you are a denier it is not relevant or factual to include brexit in your arguement.
Attempting the “big shift”? Have you not heard what is happening on the 01/01/2024? Google ZEV mandate my friend
Very poor dealership. Will never use snows. Went to look at a BMW, salesman wasn’t very nice to me, asked a few questions and got a basic uninteresed attitude answer back. Went to the mainland and bought a Mercedes instead. Snows also took over picador group not long ago, rang to arrange a service and to arrange the purchase of a new van, not interested one bit, despite my van being 3 years old. On the whole I will always avoid snows and use another dealer.
Not just me then. I intended purchasing a new mini. The attitude of the salesman was very patronising and abrupt. Although I liked the car, I decided that there was no way I’d give them my custom.
I was recently told by Westridge that Mitsubishi don’t have a spare parts outlet – not only on the Island, nor in the U.K. but not even in Europe which I still find hard to believe. I was told that if I wanted a manufacturers part such as a fuel pump I would need to order it from Japan and wait many weeks for delivery – can that really be true ?.
Funny what comes around….that site was a vauxhall dealer in 1984/5 Hunnyhill Garages.