Market view by brand I through L.
Jaguar: There are very fewpetrol X-Types about which is a good thing because only a megaspec fresh car has serious retail potential. Like their Donor car the Mondeo, used X-type Diesels are plentiful and while they have levelled off in the last six months they are still a good seller. Even intergalactic mileage cars in good nick are selling well. A 2.2 Auto is still a sought after bit of stock for garages. The older estates are getting harder to move and buyers are avoiding them unless cheap. The S-type is looking very dated compared to the companies’ fresh new models, and short of a high spec 2.7D it is hard to see any car that is not heading for major depreciation. As with many Rarer Marques good cars are un bookable and specialist dealers can extract top prices for quality cars. The XF is still an excellent seller but will be 4 years old soon, so if you pay 20K for a clean used one we predict a depreciation vomit within the next 12 months.
Jeep: The Cherokee has a loyal following and long term it holds its value reasonably well. In older stock there are a lot of cars floating around the £6000 to £8000 bracket so choose wisely. Autos with sensible mileage are the most desirable and despite the cost of petrol you can still sell a Chrysler that is not diesel. The Grand Cherokee is selling as well as ever in a hard niche, with even motorway mile cars making strong money. In the facelifted model car the overland Spec is sought after. The Patriot is popular with the school runner but there are a lot of high mile cars knocking about that unlike their big brothers are proving hard to shift.
Kia: Kia are in the midst of changing from a range of steady yet boring commute mobiles to a new funky range. All indicators are the new look cars will be holding good money for the foreseeable future. The Picanto is one of the best in the mini car class.It is cheap to run and holds its value well. The new shape will be a good investment. The Soul has held its own since launch, in a segment of the market with some strong competitors. Long term it should continue to be good news with the 1.6CRDi the one to have. The Ceed is no looker but it is a reliable car with reasonable spec that continues to sell well. The diesel station wagon is very desirable. Magentis. The Koreans run into trouble with their bigger cars and the Magentis is a straight line depreciator which you should only consider if offered a mega deal. The Sportage continues to be a good seller, the petrols are hard work and the 2.7 is virtually sale proof. Newer model looks good and we have seen used ones at auction making almost new money so a diesel one would be a good investment long term. The carens dropped badly in its first two years then found a market, and now used cars hold their value well with steady depreciation. The 7 seater is worth seeking out and will sell quicker.
Landrover: in a 3dr the Freelander can be hard work and a plain 1.8 petrol is unloved by the market. The only good seller in a 3dr is a TD4 , with sensible miles in a conservative colour. The 5dr Freelander remains strong in a diesel while the petrols are struggling. Buyers are after spec so plain S models are dropping and are hard to shift. The Discovery has dropped in price like much of the market this year but prices have levelled and good cars are making good money. The V8 is dropping sharply and if you are trying to get out of one it might be too late. The Range Rover Sport is hard work for non specialist dealers with only very fresh cars making full retail, otherwise we have not seen trade cars get anywhere near book values. Range Rover. The newer 3.6 TDV8 is holding its value well, whilst the 2.9 is now slipping badly. Older 03-05 cars are now slow going.
Lexus: The IS220D appears to have actually strengthened in value in the last year. The multimedia and navigation models are selling well and worth the premium. There is a gulf between fresh retail prices and mileagy trade cars which are now appearing for 5K +. The IS250 petrol is devaluing grimly and the cabriolet has been tragic with the long term prognosis only seeing values head south. The GS300 suffers hard depreciation the day it leaves its first showroom, after the first 18 months it is a steady depreciator Dealers are struggling to sell cars that don’t have high spec, and the big engine models are the most popular at present. Hybrid model has not sold as well as Lexus had hoped. The LS drops half its value in year one and after that is a steady performer. Old model prices are now dropping sharply. Because of their company MD status, finding a used one without huge mileage can be hard work. The RX range lack of a diesel engine didn’t help them sell when new and now hybrid cars that are dropping out of Lexus warranty are harder work, with a wary public frightened of any possible big bills despite their outstanding reliability record.
Disclaimer: Our market snapshots are a compilation of the thoughts of several of our contributors. Our data is collated from figures received from auctions we have attended or from sales and purchase figures we have been party to. We occasionally provide example prices as an indicator only. In no way do we claim to be able to give 100% accurate data for the state of the market and our guides should be regarded as a work of informed opinion only.