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.

Jaguar: There are very few petrol 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.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.

© 2011, MD. All rights reserved.