Pendragon has been hit by recent new-model sales affecting secondhand.....but the fact remains that in any downturn, non-essential purchases are put-off.
-That applies to extensions, kitchens, and cars.
If you can keep your car a couple of years (longer), that will save money.
- If Bosses are trying to restrict wages, they cannot change their company car!

Any views on this business - perhaps from Car-Buyers who know them?

They are half the price of Jan-2016, so I guess the Car-buying Public are waiting to see if Electric is the answer ( which it isn't until a 10x improvement ).... and Today Mayor of London slaps an extra £10 on cars more than 10years old, in addition to the "congestion charge"....Congestion largely caused by too many cycle-lanes used by few cyclists who prefer the pavements.... it appears. The additional pollution created by Uber-drivers roaming for pick-up, can't help either.
PDG has been n a range about 40p for some years . . so this dive to 23p after Profits Warning, is likely to affect other Car-groups . . . as any diesel car they hold will be a wasting asset as the Public has come round to realising it was a bad PR stunt . . . as anyone behind a diesel car know only too well... ( Although much better than 25years ago )..... Petrol cars appear to be included in this Pollution-madness IMHO.... and the flat-earthers are saying we should work nearer home, so we can walk.... Oh deary... and exactly how many jobs are within walking-distance? Er, and how did you get to the Broadcast Studio? Now take this photocopier to another branch studio in Birmingham... and stop dallying on your bike.
EDIT-(24Oct2017)-22.5p that's a further 5% down . . . what about PW in 3's...more to come...Oh Deary.
Cynic - of course you do, a rich man walks into the showroom to buy his Mrs a car...she falls in love with one at the front in her favourite colour which the Salesman assures is the colour in fashion- and hasn't yr wife got good taste? No doubt enhanced by the Sat-Nav upgrade, for central Africa and TV screen in the back to amuse the (grand)children. Sir will be paying cash or turning in an old motor? ( Either way he'll likely not get much discount, by the time the deep mats....phone-holder and other such "Extras" at £200/pop. The total come to £30k and includes the first service free ( where they cover the seats with plastic and wipe the door-handles with an oily rag, so you know it's been "looked at" . . .).
You think there isn't a "profit" there? The garage is making maybe 50% on any extras and they'll make maybe 20% on the Retail of the Car.... I'll agree these aren't huge amounts...but the same Staff+ Showroom will repeat this nearly every day.
What surprises me is that anyone pays the full-price, when it loses a Third as soon as it's driven . . . and is half the amount paid within 3-years. If it was a Diesel, then that's likely halved in 3 years.... also, no-one will be buying diesel, fearing their nearest Big-town will become the next Charging-zone.... So any Gge. with a stock of Diesels had better offer a good discount...and even then I'm not sure... as you'd be seen by friends as someone who pollutes...and-or can't afford the Retail Price of a petrol, ....Nowadays: for Petrol substitute Electric, when the North Circular has charging-points every 25 yards.... in a year or so, at whatever cost so the Gov. is greener than a lawn.
Are you a cyclist, perhaps...?

i have never understood how garages ever make a proper profit and have never bought - and assuredly shan't do so now!