There are many problems for retailers but the product coming back off lease is increasingly too mileagy. Despite modern cars being capable of doing the mileage it is still hard to convince a retail public that wants a sub 12K per annum vehicle. Guides have been generous on pricing also and estimates are based on smaller numbers of high mileage vehicles coming to market, the result retail and low mile cars are smashing book and the regular 25-30K cars are recycling and finding a new home slow work.

The export market is expanding with strong sales to Eastern Europe and Southern Africa. Sales in Ireland,Malta and Cyprus remain strong on low emission models that comply locally.

© 2012, MD. All rights reserved.

Ranking Destination Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 Total

1 UAE 1,987 2,847 3,068 3,014 2,543 3,116 3,070 2,061 1,869 2,364 2,123 2,324 30,386

2 PHILIPPINES 1,034 1,613 1,264 1,695 1,667 1,376 1,019 884 825 1,044 1,645 1,814 15,880

3 SOUTH AFRICA 819 1,586 1,222 1,193 802 1,005 1,210 1,067 1,004 1,226 1,429 1,129 13,692

4 RUSSIA 544 931 1,219 1,310 1,059 1,207 751 975 1,010 942 1,226 1,097 12,271

5 SRI LANKA 454 920 720 819 714 1,413 1,310 858 1,206 1,356 896 800 11,466

6 CHILE 323 529 770 696 985 778 512 598 493 709 370 465 7,228

7 KENYA 253 620 704 833 916 924 642 459 628 413 384 220 6,996

8 UGANDA 318 522 355 610 562 749 621 304 601 467 379 346 5,834

9 PAKISTAN 244 297 337 143 267 334 438 434 384 519 568 809 4,774

10 THAILAND 354 525 532 584 321 338 369 261 245 275 162 183 4,149

Note:These statistics are provided by Japan Customs and Tariff Bureau. Total 112,676

© 2012, MD. All rights reserved.

57  Mini cooper S Black chilli pack 1/2 leather 23K £9500.

08  BMW 330i Msport Coupe Auto 66K £11500.

08 Nissan Quashqai 2.0Dci Tekna 5dr 30K £11550.

09  Honda Civic Type R 30K Red £9700.

07  Nissan Note 1.4SE 5dr Red 20K £4125

56  Hyundai Coupe 2.0SE Red, black leather 31K £3200.

06 Toyota Yaris 1.0VVt-i T2 5dr Silver 47K £3425

07 Mini Cooper Cabrio Grey met black leather 6K £8100.

55  Chrysler Grand Voyager 3.3Ltd Grey met, black leather 58K £4700.

06  Mini One Green 67K £4000.

55  Nissan 350Z Black , yellow(bright beige)Leather, Rays Alloys 32K £8950.

57  Fiat Panda 1.1 Active 5dr Blue met 25K £2700

07 Suzuki Swift 1.5GLX Grey 5dr 45K £3600

58  Honda Civic Type R 26K Red

57 Ford Ranger White 50 K £5200. Van spec no A/C ,

07  Mitsu L200 4Work(Van Spec) Grey met 50K no A/C £5750

57 Mitsu L200 4Work (Van Spec)White 12K £6800

07  Mitsu L200 Warrior Grey 25K £8000.

09  Mitsu L200 Warrior Black 31K £8950.

57  Nissan Navara “die hard”Grey 66K.

57  Nissan Navara Sport 94K £6900

53: Merc S350 38K £6200

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

2009: Seat Leon 2.0CRD tdi 170(FR) Gunmetal 15K £11,300.2006: Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Semi Auto Black,full spec 73K £17500. .

2007: BMW 320D SE Black, Full leather 42K £9000.

2008: Renault Clio 1,5DCi Dynamique Mauve 30K £5700.

2007: BMW 120D M-Sport Black with white leather+Sat 71K £8700.

2008: Jag X-Type 2.0D S Gunmetal with grey Leather 85K £5800.

2008: Audi A3 Sportback 5dr 2.0TDi 143 Blue met Cream interior 29K £9800.

2007: Vauxhall Zafira 1.9CDti 120 Black 55K £5100.

2007: Mini Cooper 1.6 Red 59K £5950.

2008: Ford Mondeo 1.6 Zetec(125)5dr Black 54K £5350.

2009: Audi A4 2.0TDI 143 SE Black 30K £13700.

2008: Seat Altea 1.9TDi Stylance Semi auto Silver 79K £5100.

2008: Ford Mondeo 2.0TDci 140Edge Grey 5dr 43K £6300.

2008: Audi A4 2.0TDi 143 SE Black 53K £10300.

2008: Audi A4 2.0TDi 143 Avant Black 50K £11800.

2008: Audi A4 2.0TDi 143 SE Silver 43K £10900.

2009: Vauxhall Insignia 2.0CDTi 130 Black 26K £8650.

2007: Peugeot 307CC 1.6Sport(Cabrio) Red 68K £4950.

2008: Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 Dynamic Grey 16K £4250.

2008: Mazda 6 2.0D 140TS 5dr Blue 56K £6350.

2008: BMW 520D 177SE 4dr Black-Biscuit leather 62K £11700.

2007: VW Golf 2.0TDi 170 3dr GT Black 59K £7450.

2010: Volvo XC90 2.4D5 185 Active Auto. Blue 12K £20000.

2008: Mini One 1.4 Silver 13K £6250. Poverty Spec,

2007: VW Touran 2.0TDi 140 Gunmetal 65K £7600.

2008: Ford Mondeo 2.0TDci 140 Zetec 59K Black £6550.

2008: Volvo V70 2.4D SE Geartronic Estate Grey 57K £10300.

2009: Audi S5 V8 Quattro Coupe Blue Met-Black recaro leather 35K £24300.

2008: Ford Fiesta 1.4 Zetec Climate Black 5dr 26K £3950.

2008: Renault Espace 2.0DCi 130 Dynamique Blue met 52K £6250.

2008: Peugeot 207 SW 1.6Hdi 90 Sport estate Grey 48K £5500.

2008: BMW 320D SE Coupe Dk Blue  21K £13300.

2008: Renault Megane 1.6VVT Dynamique 5dr Silver 40K £3400.

2009: Honda Accord 2.2i-Dtec EX estate,auto Black-Leather 56K £12,300.

2008: Ford Galaxy 1.8TDCi Edge 100 Black  manual 56K £8600.

2009: Seat Exeo 2.0CR 143 tdi 4dr Blue 39K £9000.

2008: Mertcedes C220 Cdi Sport auto Grey 71K £12400.

2009: Audi A3 1.9TDi Sportback 5dr 57K £9525.

2009: Honda Civic 2.0 i Type R Red 17K £8700.

2008: VW Golf 1.9Tdi S 3dr Black 19K £7000.

2009: Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Design 16V 3dr 7K £5600.

2007: Peugeot 207 1.4 Sport 16V 5dr Black 41K £3750.

2008: Nissan Note 1.6 Tekna 5dr Coffee 14K £4850,2008: Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVT-i T Spirit 5dr Silver 21K £5300.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

Renault: The Twingo is a good little seller in the Renault sport versions. Both the 133 and 133 Cup version hold on to their value nicely. In the new shape clio, the 1.5 Dci continues to sell well. The 1.6 petrol is only wanted in Initiale Spec. Renault sport versions are always good news with the 200 and the Lux models, both particularly sought after in strong colours. Meganes are getting cheaper across the board and older cars are really sticking unless cheap. High spec 2.0 Dci‘s are a decent retail bet.  Pre 08 Lagunas are bargain bin items and a diesel one is a decent option if you are looking for a cheap car. The new model has been received a  bit better and has performed as well as any other car in its class. Used estates are particularly sought after. In the saloon the 2.0 Dci is the safest bet. Big petrol engine coupes have suffered the expected first 18 months savage depreciation, but are good value used and are a good seller. All petrol’s are struggling in the scenic range. The 1.5 Dci is a solid depreciator when bought used. In under 2 year old cars, a high spec 1.9 Dci goes well from showrooms. Despite a large range of models the Grand Scenic is still relatively rare and is a good seller across the board. Diesels are the best performers and you should get the 7 seats. The grand Espace is still a unique car in its field despite many new competitors and is a sought after bit of kit in normal and grand espace spec. The 2.0Dci is the best seller with the 175Bhp engines particularly good news.

Saab: Could well have gone belly up by the time you read this. I think they have just freed up 40 million of capital but in car manufacturer terms that barely covers the stationary. Of course this uncertainty should have no affect on the used market, but it does. In the 9-3 the cabrios are not the bulletproof performer they used to be but still have a decent following. The 1.9Tid is by far the best seller in saloon and estate. Low spec linear models are slow to sell. The 9-5 is not too much different, but with a lot of motorway mileage cars knocking about, retail cars are mileage sensitive.

Seat: The Ibiza is solid and economical in either petrol or diesel and remains one of the best performing cars in its class. The sporty Bocanegra model is a valuable rarity. Similarly the Leon holds its value well with the 140bhp 2.0Tdi being the best model. In the Altea sensible spec cars sell well, the 105bhp 1.9Tdi is the one to buy with an eye on long term depreciation. The Toledo is a bit of an oddity and is getting cheaper used. Aim for a higher spec diesel as the petrol’s are not attracting much interest. The Exeo is a cheap Audi A4 and has held its value pretty well so far. The Alhambra is a retail star, particularly in Auto, the 2.0Tdi Ecomotive is the best model. Old models are still solid in the 1.9Tdi and like their sister car the Ford Galaxy if you can find one without huge mileage then it is worth good money.

Skoda: The 1.9 Tdi Fabia is a good seller but that is a true statement of any V.A.G car that runs that unit. The 1.2 petrol is a decent selling cheap car and plain specs are fine. Estates extract a premium. Diesels are always good news in the Octavia but the newer 1.4Tsi petrol is also selling well. For a big lump the Superb has held on to its value well and newer cars are rock solid.

Subaru: Fresh Subaru’s sell best from Main dealers, where a good spec Legacy tourer will make solid money.  Impreza Prices are buoyed by the cache of WRX big brother and rarity. The WRX itself has grown a far stronger following now, than when first launched and is now a good seller. The STI Models make a good chunk over a standard WRX but are worth every penny and if you can you should.

Suzuki: The Swift holds its value well in a hard class, with the plain 1.3  5dr on the whole, possibly being the best value. The Little 3dr 1.6 Sport is funky looking and is a good seller. The Grand Vitara used to be the starter car for caravan club members but newer models have ramped up the luxury, build and price. Always has a following with petrol’s performing almost as well as diesels.

Toyota: Small Toyotas always sell well so the Aygo is no surprise. Yaris is similar news. In the petrol, comparatively the 1.0 does better than the 1.3. Long term the the 1.5 Diesel is holding its value best, 5drs are preferred and plain cars are harder to budge. TR and T-Sprit spec are the most sought after cars for retailers. The last of the corolla diesels are still sellers. The verso is good news with the 2.2 T- spirit being a rare retail car that is sought after. The Auris hasn’t performed as well as the corolla but still remains good news. The 1.6VVti petrol goes well and the 1.4 Diesel has improved in value this year, as people have realised it will travel to Rome on a tank of fuel. 5 doors are worth a bit more than 3drs and the scabby spec T2 is hardest to shift. The Prius is no fun to drive and its claimed mpg appears only achievable in a laboratory. Retail cars are very mileage sensitive with only low K cars making top money. Sales are also geographically sensitive with London cars making better prices. The Avensis is a major used bargain and a 4-6 year old car owned for a few years will continue to hold most of its value. The 1.8VVti petrol is as cheap to run as the Diesels. Older diesels without huge mileage are increasingly rare. The Rav 4 remains a desirable car with the 2.2 Diesels performing very well.  Autos are always worth an extra premium. The MR2 is a reliable alternative to the MX5,  buy one for about 5K and enjoy relatively cheap motoring. The Celica is getting on in years but a retail example still sells well. 180bhp T-sport model will make a large premium over Normal VVti.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

Mazda: Anyone who’s driven the Mazda 2 1.4 Diesel will know they are painfully slow. They are also slow to sell, with the 1.6 Diesel Sport being the only consistently good seller. In the 3 model range, The 1.6 D is a steady seller with the Takara spec being popular. Bigger engine cars Like the MPS have actually strengthened in value as they have gotten older. The Mazda 5 suffers badly from depreciation in its maiden year, after that they are a steady if not spectacular performer. Diesels are saleable with the 143BHP model being the sensible bet. The Mazda 6 sells well in all models, although cars over 5 year old are now heading south. The Cavernous, budget burials estate is always sought after. The Almighty MX-5 is suffering the same fate as most soft tops, too much choice not enough demand. Older models are devaluing badly. The newer shape has held up because they were so expensive new, which has kept rarity value but this won’t last another year. Despite breakthroughs in reliability the rotary engine RX8 remains one of the only cars that sounds different every time you start it up. A major used bargain, only the limited Kuro, Evolve and PZ can be considered semi desirable.

Mercedes Benz: Fresh A-Classes remain a good seller particularly in the 180 Diesel. All models are very mileage sensitive. The B class has improved with time and rarity is keeping prices high. Sport Auto models are sought after and long term the newer Blue Efficiency models should hold up well. Pre 07 C class mercs are still good news in a 220CDi, Estates are always sought after. New shapes are mostly good news with sport autos, and some mild factory body styling preferred. The E class is up and down with so many models available. Newer model is starting to affect price but diesels continue to sell well. Auto only, manuals are being hit hard, Avantgard spec has edge over sport and elegance. There is limited demand for the CLS a big car with no interior space. Depreciation is sharp with mileage, and big engine petrol cars are dropping fast after 3 years. The SLK is a good performer and a steady depreciator but very mileage sensitive. Plain spec 200’s are as good a seller as the superior 350. In the S-Class the older shape S320Cdi is still a good seller. Low mile cars are now rare. The current model ML is still a mega performer, with no bargains to be had in genuine cars. Demand for old models is limited to high spec low mile diesels.

MG: If you own one it’s not going to be worth very much. If you are thinking of buying one it should be cheap. If you are thinking of buying a brand new one….really don’t.

Mini: Nowhere near as bulletproof as they used to be with the convertible in particular starting to stick. Cooper and Cooper S still the best residuals. Clubman models have performed well so far.

Mitsubishi: The Colt has continued to perform well in most models although the 1.3 is getting harder to sell on. The 1.5 Turbo is a bit rare and can do well. EVO’s in all forms are specialist territory only and the gulf between scruffers and mega history cars is vast.  In saying that, we have seen plenty of premium cars fall apart easily, so try and find a happy medium when buying and expect bills regardless. The Outlander holds its value well in a diesel, not so great in the 2.4 Mivec petrol. Shoguns have always had a following and an Elegance Auto DiD is always good news. Newer shapes have been kept strong through rarity.

Nissan: Micras devalued a bit harder than was expected in their first 2 years, but are a better prospect used. Plain 3dr’s and the 1.2 are harder to shift, as a better spec car is only a few hundred quid more expensive. The Note is holding better than the micra with facelifted diesels selling well. The Tekna spec is sought after. The Qashqai has been a superb seller in all models, with only the spartan spec Visia models beginning to be discounted. A lot of ex lease cars coming back to market must make an impression on the prices soon. The Z Coupe was a drastic depreciator in its first 2 years but they were available with massive discount if you shopped around. Right now they are holding their value well and older cars haven’t budged all year. In fresh cars the 313 is particularly wanted. A low mileage X-Trail is a rare thing and will fetch top retail money particularly with leather. Aventura and Columbia models are sought after. The Murano is a serious tool but depreciation is cruel and running costs mount up, a good option if you don’t do much mileage but shop around as they are a non seller.

Perodua: is about the cheapest car in the U.K so don’t be surprised when you see them cheap used. The Myvi has a market and can sell ok from the right premises.

Peugeot: 107 All models good. They were only about £6000 new and you will still give £3500 for a decent five year old which sums them up. The 1007 looks odd but the depreciation is straightforward bad, not terribly desirable in any guise. A two year old 206 1.4Hdi Diesel can be picked up for handy money and is a decent long term plan. The SW models have performed well with the 7 seat option helping them sell. A Similar tale for the 307 although they were a bit costlier new, so took a bit of an initial hit. The 307 Coupe Cabriolet, Like a lot of cars in this gimmick sector has suffered bad initial depreciation,  but has levelled off once it’s in the 6 to 8K bracket instead of 18. Like most small diesel pugs the 308 does well, with the 110bhp 1.6 HDi being preferred. The Estate SW model is a star performer. The 7 seats on this model were a more expensive option that on the 206 hence a 7 seat car will make a premium. 407 Diesels are a smooth alternative to vectras and mondeos. Companies were able to absorb the sharp initial depreciation but over 3 years old they have levelled out. Exec and sport spec are best news, a low mileage car is a rarity and estates are always wanted. The 607 like all big French cars was strictly for the wealthy when new but now sits firmly in the cheap flash sector and a high spec hdi will always sell in the 4 to 6K bracket. Compared to similar cars in its class the 807 has fared poorly, its dated looks are for specialist dealers only. Replacement 4007 is looking like a much stronger performer in the short and long term.

Proton: Fresh cars tend to stay within the Proton dealer network and when the odd one floats into the sales ring it is hammered by the trade. There are better options in the market.

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.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

Fiat: The Little 500 has been a supreme performer since launch, and while they are not about to plummet all those cheap monthly lease specials are dripping back into the market providing a lot of options for buyer. Supermarkets and dealers will be pushing deals to move a lot of stock over the summer. If you are buying then Solid colours are best. Grande Punto: Our hire car of choice is really heading for the bargain bin over 4 years of age. Fresher cars are still saleable with lower miles. 1.3 Multijet Diesel is always popular. Multipla, old model was no looker but had a following. New model is as practical, but this is a harder market now with more options for buyers, main dealers and MPV specialists can sell them nobody else.

Ford: Ford can absorb over supply in the market better than any other manufacturer and although there many competitors good stock sells well. The Ka has been a strong seller new and many ex lease cars are going straight to supermarket. Plain 1.2 studios  can now be picked up from £5000 add an Extra £500 for a style and the same again for a Zetec. Garish colours look funky but are proving hard to shift with the worst offenders being Blush(Maroon metallic) and Jump(Key lime pie!).  Mileage is key with cars over 25K struggling. Old model Ka’s still have a following and an old model 1.3 Zetec with lower miles and some alloys or other extras would be sought after. Fiesta (03-08)1.4TDCi is a sought after car and increasingly rare without silly mileage. The 1.25 and 1.4 petrol’s are still a good seller but a bit of spec is helping. New shape Fiestas from 08’ are cheap in plain spec, with plain 1.25 style 3drs from £5500. If you are buying it’s a trawl for the most spec for year. The 1.6 TDCi is holding its value well and the 1.6 Zetec s with the 17” rims is a strong retail car in a 3dr. Conservative colours are best Silver,Light Blue,Grey, Black and White. The Focus is a strong performer and there are  no bargains in honest cars. 1.6tdci will have best medium term residuals. Mondeo , new shapes are surprisingly cheap and look around before you commit. TDCi Titanium X and Ghia models are still good news. The Hatch outsold the Saloon massively, as a result saloon prices are holding up well. S-Max Petrols in general are hard work with the 2.5 being particularly unloved unless it’s an exceptional low mileage example. Lots of high milers on the market in diesel, and low mileage cars are making good money. Plain LX spec is only shifting at the right price. Autos are always popular with a 2.0TDCI Titanium Auto being primo retail stock. Facelifted 2010 cars will make a good premium over non facelifted 2010’s. Galaxies’ remain as popular as ever, even old models. A 1.9TD is now hard to find in sub taxi mileage Zetecs and Ghias are always popular, but the main driver is mileage. New Shape Petrol’s are floating about the trade for small money and the market is only chasing Diesels. A conservative market is reflected in preferred colours Black,Silver,Blue and Grey are making the better money.

Honda: Jazz Older models are dropping under 4K.Still a great seller but demand massively influenced by mileage. It’s getting harder to sell the current shape in plain spec and Autos are not making the premium over Manual that we saw in the old shape. Civics are one of the most popular cars in Britain, Therefore a steady depreciator which stays solid regardless of market conditions. New shapes have dipped in recent months and petrols and higher mileage diesels are now slow going. High spec cars with leather or the glass roof are still desirable but customers are not as willing to pay the premium they once would. The Hybrid IMA was one of the few cars that smashed book prices for the last year with many going to Ireland due to favourable VRT. This market has now slowed and they are getting back to sensible money, low mileage cars sell well and a leather car  is at least £1000 ahead of a cloth car. The Type R like all sports cars has been affected by comparable cars in the marketplace. A bad choice new but a sensibly priced 2-3 year is worth buying now. With the Accord Honda proved they could make a medium sized motorway eater, and big mileage cars are still saleable. Expect to pay full money for a low mileage car, Leather and sat nav models still the most popular but are not making the premium they used to. 2.0 Vtec Petrol’s in plain spec are hard to shift. Newer shape Legend from 2006 has surprisingly held up well although this is mainly due to the limited number that was sold new. Still wouldn’t take one into stock unless I was a Honda dealer. The FRV has gotten more popular as people have warmed to them.2007’ on ES and EX diesels are very good stock. The CRV remains popular with school runners and motorway eaters(and they can handle the miles) Prices have come back as more cars are making it to the market, but still no bargains to be had in low mileage cars with decent spec in conservative colours. The S2000, Because of their ability to rev like a motorbike and their unfortunate tendency to swap ends there are some questionable cars in the cheaper end of the market. Like the Civic R a sensibly priced 2-3 year old car is a decent investment. The gulf between main dealer and independent dealers is hard to explain.

Hyundai: The series 3 coupe looked like a budget scaglietti- aston martin hybrid, unfortunately it’s all a bit long in the tooth now and depreciation has been savage. The I-10 is a good little performer in a mileage sensitive niche. Low k autos are always sought after. The I-20 is a cheap car new and hasn’t devalued too sharply so far. The 1.4CRDi Comfort is the best news at the moment. The I-30 has been slow for a few months now and is fighting against some heavyweight opposition in a competitive sector. If you find yourself looking for a car like the I-800 you will find that, short of converted vehicles it fills a rare hole. Good retail cars are holding their values with main dealers and MPV specialists. Obviously there is a gulf between retail and ex private hire/taxis. The Santa Fe continues to be a sought after vehicle and in the 2.2 Diesel there are few bargains in moderate mileage cars. 7 seats are preferred. There was a 2.7 petrol which didn’t sell well new and is not desirable today.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

ALFA ROMEO: Fear of running costs is not helping Alfas at the moment and once they go over 3 years or start approaching above average miles they are becoming a less viable retail proposition for dealers. The GT Coupe Blackline with the 1.9 JTD diesel unit is sought after. The Mito has been well received and is holding up well, Like the fiat 500 it is selling best in solid colours red,Black and White. Too early to pass comment on the Giulietta with most cars remaining  within the dealer network for the moment.

AUDI: A2 surely the best investment that was ever made in a new car ? A below average miles car writes its own price.  A3 and A4’s are still good sellers but are being affected by the amount of ex lease and high milers on the market. Diesels are still preferred with S-Lines making over book and White cars in Particular making well over book. The daylight running lights that were much derided at launch on the A4 are popular with customers, and salespeople report back that they are asked for this feature constantly. Even with a recent cosmetic facelift The A6 is looking a bit dated and we are seeing a big drop off in demand pre 07.  In the Qs the Q5 appears to remain good stock in all models and prices are holding firm.  Q7 is getting old enough for a few cheapies to be floating about and last year’s facelift is starting to impact on 06 models.  Fresh low mileage stock is still at a premium for dealers, S-Lines have a quicker turnaround. Fresh A8’s are main dealer territory only. Older cars can be good stock for specialist dealers who can sell them and prices are affected geographically. For non specialist dealers they are a price driven item, otherwise they are sitting around for too long.

BMW: 1 Series remains very good stock even in petrol. Despite an influx of ex lease coming to the market many appear to have been urban leased, with the motorway milers looking at 3 series instead. Because of this high milers are rare and unwanted stock. There are so many 3 series about that it is hard to give a snapshot, however in summary, despite its ubiquity the 3 series remains a highly desirable motor car. 2 to 3 year old cars with sensible mileage are sought after and making over book regularly,  with M sports and Leather cars being the most desirable. Petrol cars are having a trying time with the 325, even in coupe form finding it hard going at the moment.  The 5 Series had been Bulletproof until recently with Msport and Leather cars making beyond top book money, they are now however on a slide and a good  520D can be picked up for £10000. There are too many mega milers knocking about and only cars with extensive histories are attracting any attention. 530 and 535D particularly in Msport and strong colours are still good sellers if you can find them. Too early to comment on the new 5 but it is thought that BMW’s cross platform strategy will affect its own sales in time. Offers are invited on old model 7’s and they are specialist territory only. Current model from 08 is still staying within the dealer network.  The X3 has shown strong residuals and it is testament to BMW that they still look modern despite being 8 years old. Two Litre diesel with the new (177) unit is popular. The 3.0 is good stock under 3 years old and the xdrive auto is sought after. 2.5 petrol in plain spec is the least loved.It will take some time for the new model to impact on the old models price, particularly as the new model is being pitched higher in the market than the old one.  Private plated oldie, petrol X5’s are changing hands for £5000 and all petrols are struggling in general.  This does not represent the real picture though. A 3.0D X 5 is still the most desirable car in its class, with retailable cars that haven’t been to mars and back holding good money. New shapes are holding firm with only the 3.0 petrol taking a knock in popularity, The bigger engine petrol cars are still run by people who can afford fuel.

Chevrolet: A steady depreciator once you get the first year of ownership out of the way. Unfortunately that first year wipes out 50% of their value. The Matiz is an established bingo hall crawler with a stronger following than the rest of their models which admittedly are competing in a hard market. The Captiva 2.0 CRD has held its value well since it came out in July 07.  It is well equipped and priced for its class, rarity is keeping prices up, with the 7 seater particularly sought after.

Chrysler:  They showed some courage to bring the PT Cruiser to market and some madness to persist with it for another 10 years. Second hand Chryslers are slow turning stock unless they are very cheap, and lately they are that. Their solid performers are the Voyager/Grand Voyager and 300C. The Voyager and Grand voyager are steady depreciators second hand; demand is strong for the 2.8CRD at the moment. The 300C or Plastic Bentley, as in “that Plastic Bentley had me fooled from 500 yards!” has been Chryslers star performer but is now on the slide. Customizers provide a home for the most unloved examples but even the fresh retailable cars have slowed down with dealers struggling to sell cars in the wrong colour and spec combos. The market is looking for Black and Silver with the Hemi rims. Buying a new one would be brave and expensive.

Citroen: C1 and C2’s like all little run-arounds at the moment are faring well. With 2-3 year old cars good stock. C3, Pre facelift cars were holding their own but are now struggling in a competitive market. New shape appears to be desirable but it’s a bit early to comment. C3 Picasso from April 09’ is a strong seller at the moment particularly in diesel, but petrol’s are only about £1500 behind.  Diesel C4 Picassos and the bigger Grand Picasso remain a good seller however a proliferation of available cars means only the lower mileage cars are being chased at top money. A strong export market is also keeping prices up at the block. EGS still makes a premium but not as much as before. The C-Crosser has been a strong Performer and continues to make decent money with low mileage, as with all big citroens their marketability drops sharply with excessive mileage. The new DS3 is too new to give an accurate view of the used price but we think all indications are this will be a safe investment Particularly in Black or strong solid colours.

Daihatsu: The Little Copen is stronger and bigger than it looks but many were not convinced. Still a seller for Dealers and specialists but they are buying them cheap. The Copen has suffered like all other soft tops this summer, without the usual bounce in value they receive when the sun comes out. The Sirion is a good seller in the small car class and extremely low mileage examples are favoured. The Terios since May 06 has been an excellent investment and continues to devalue as slowly as any car we can come up with. Lack of stock keeps prices generally over top book.

Dodge: The Caliber is standing up well beside its lager namesake (almost) Pound for pound one of the sharpest depreciating cars ever sold. Diesels are a tad better than petrol’s but they only sell on price to number plate collectors. The Nitro suffers bad depreciation in their first two years and then fills a hole in the 8 to 10 grand bracket of the budget bling market. A very low mileage Auto has a buyer waiting.

Join us this Wednesday when we continue from F.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

The Used car Market had remained strong all year, to the point where we were starting to think they must be making up this whole recession because we can’t buy cars.  And then around the start of May the market started to behave like we were assured it would, and prices began to drop. For a few weeks sellers held off in the hope that it was a glitch and that prices were about to come back. It was no glitch, it was a market correction and now cars are selling again but at a much reduced price.  Whichever Pricing guide you use at the moment prices should be well behind.  Even using a combination of price guides, on the average car under £10000 I am currently looking at a minimum of £500 under clean prices across the board. The Obvious cars that are taking a hammering are big engine petrol’s and 4×4’s that have just aged enough to be outside the main dealer fold.  As people struggle to lower overheads it has become obvious that the price of fuel is now the price of fuel and it is not temporary.

It is however easy analysis to say that gas guzzlers are being disposed of on mass, there are normal cars that are also taking a beating. Who would have seen new shape Mondeos fall so sharply? They may be a big lump but have sold well new and been reasonably well received and yet semi attractive ones are going through the block under £5000 and all guide books have struggled to monthly adjust to them. Prices in the trade get driven downwards by retail sales and retail sales are slow. Cars are still selling but buyers are in a strong position and are looking only at desirable stock.

So what’s wrong with the stock? Looking at auction catalogues now, there is some exciting stuff available on paper but in the market there are too many similar cars. Ex Lease/Finance cars used to be very desirable and were almost considered blue chip stock in the trade. Now a lot of these cars are coming back through third party and private lease with sketchy maintenance and the condition of these cars is slightly above rental car. There has been a major shift in attitude towards mileage. A strong market had kept high mileage cars afloat, and there has always been a customer who will opt for a 58 plate high miler over a low mileage 07 at the same money.  That customer is now gone, and the export market has also responded to EU CO2 tax changes and they are no longer seeking high mileage cheap cars.

Sports cars prices can vary widely and specialist dealers are able to exist in a bubble where they can achieve prices that they set.  At auction and in the underwriting business however sports cars are being hit hard and high end luxury sports are only wanted in mint condition with exceptional provenance from proper channels.

It’s not all doom and gloom, good stock is still making good money, an obvious example being Lean cars such as Volkswagen bluemotion diesels and Honda Civic Hybrids.  With the amount of ex fleet high mile diesel cars in the market, low mileage diesels are making over book.  Well presented showroom quality stock is what buyers are fighting over, at recent attendances of BMW,Volvo and Jaguar Dealer sales we have seen 1 owner 2-3 year old cars with good spec and full manufacturer history making well over predicted money. Salespeople are still selling higher spec cars, and Leather interior and Sat Nav are the two most asked for extras.  Other extras such as A/C, or safety features are generally considered standard by the public.  Bluetooth/MP3 connectivity is requested by most customers today.

The future is Bleak or bright depending on whether you are buying or selling. We don’t have a crystal ball but we have tracked stock and sales extensively for the period and can see no reason why prices will do anything other than drop for the rest of the year. In the long term we would expect the cost of leasing to increase as used stock coming back to market is falling short of projected residuals.

This is only a market overview to properly represent the used car market we need to examine each brand individually. Join us on Monday when we start at A.

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.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

BCA currently runs European auction centres in Spain(4 Centres),Sweden(1),Portugal(3),Nederlands(1),Italy(1),Germany(8),France(3),Denmark(1), Belgium(1),Austria(1) Although it is telling that almost 80% of its 4 billion per year turnover comes from Its base in the U.K. Of its French operations Bonneuil remains the busiest, running auctions on Mondays and Tuesday with a Premium sale taking place twice monthly  on a Thursday. Lyon runs every Wednesday and Saturday and for the moment Nimes is scheduled for Tuesdays only. A visitor from the U.K would struggle to come to terms with amount of stock available, with European auctions regularly only fielding 50-80 units, however Closed Internet sales are proving popular with the bigger dealers. The tax free export sale in Barneveld in the Nederlands is targeted for and busy with Export buyers from eastern Europe. We are saving up for a trip abroad to see if we can find out more about the attitude amongst the trade in Europe. If anyone can update us with any first hand news for any European Auctions and save us a trip we would love to hear from you.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

Regardless of whatever figures we have seen, the last two weeks of the month have seen a vast improvement in sales. Cars are back on sale below book,  Only exception this week was The BM group sale in the east midlands we attended this week where cap clean was getting smashed and cars were selling.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.