Car sales are likely evolving like sales of white goods and electricals. People research online. Some may want to see the product "in the flesh", many don't bother. They then search for the best deals for their chosen product.
Over 50% of sales are to businesses which require a different approach to sales. A large volume of new car sales are via lease or PCP deals and often there is no trade in issue to be dealt with.
Showrooms are expensive to maintain and are probably unnecessay for the volume of extra sales they generate.
Forum members clearly have more interest and knowledge of cars than the general public, and unsurprisingly they may take more interest in what they are buying.
But a large part of the general public dislike the stress of negotiation and historically the term "car salesman" ha s been code for "get ready to be ripped off" not a compliment.
If you are spending £10-50k on a new car, to see it you may willingly drive 50 miles to do so. The current dealer network for most major brands is simply to large.
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