Blog on 2040Parts

NO SIGN OF SLUMP IN VALUES ACCORDING TO LATEST REPORT

DEMAND continued to keep values relatively firm in the used commercial vehicle market in February, according to leading vehicle auction specialist, British Car Auctions (BCA). Despite volumes rising sharply average values fell by £76 (1.8%) in February while sold volumes increased by nearly 13% over the same period, following a near 50% increase between December and January. Average monthly values have broadly remained between £4,000 and £4,200 since summer 2010.

Nissan's Qashqai grabs top award

NISSAN'S Qashqai crossover has been voted ‘Used Car of the Year’ by used car pricing experts CAP – for the second year in a row. A panel of judges comprising of used car market and vehicle valuation experts at CAP said: “The Nissan Qashqai has created an entirely new ‘crossover’ sector and prompted other manufacturers to follow by marrying the practicality of a people carrier with the looks of a quality 4x4. By achieving this in a package that also offers economy, handling, strong build quality and reliability the Qashqai has become the perfect used car for our time.” The panel noted that strong demand meant the Qashqai was always highly sought after by trade buyers and customers alike, meaning it depreciated slowly and outperformed the general market.

Drivers 'don't care' about engine oil

JUST 4% of drivers choose which engine oil goes into their car during a service, according to new research. The remaining 96% either don’t care or simply go with whatever a mechanic recommends, leading to calls from a leading engine oil manufacturer and the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) for raised awareness of the benefits of high-grade engine lubricants. In a study of 1,000 drivers, conducted on behalf of Mobil 1, 65% said they wouldn’t know what oil viscosity their car would need to take, while 69% added they had no idea which brand of oil their car manufacturer recommends.

Used cars top consumer complaints list

SECOND-HAND cars bought from independent dealers topped the list of the 10 most-complained-about consumer issues between April and June. Citizens’ Advice consumer service dealt with 12,000 complaints about such vehicles, which equalled 8% of all cases it dealt with. The number was three times as many complaints as those made about used cars bought from private sellers and franchise dealerships.

SECOND-HAND CAR MARKET REVS UP

THE SECOND-HAND car market is accelerating again, according to latest figures. A total of 1.8 million used cars were sold in the period July to September 2010 - a 4% rise on the same period in 2009, statistics from information services company Experian showed. The summer 2010 figure was 1.1% higher than the figure for the previous three months of April-June 2010.

LCV VALUES DEFY POOR CONDITIONS

AN INCREASE in demand for four-wheel drive light commercial vehicles saw LCV values rise during December 2010, according to new figures from British Car Auctions. After reaching a low-point in November, the cold weather inspired a £37, or 0.9 per cent, rise in average LCV values to £4,067. Values were also boosted by a 25 per cent decline in the number of vehicles that came to auction during the month.

Nissan boosts electric charging network

NISSAN is accelerating plans for a European-wide Quick Charge (QC) network for electric vehicles by giving away 400 new quick charging stations free of charge. These new points will boost existing networks and give EV customers greater freedom and flexibility by effectively extending the range of their car. Countries across Europe have been asked to pitch for a charging network and the best ‘bids’ will win an allocation of chargers.

WINTER BREAKDOWN EXPENSE FOR USED CAR OWNERS

SOME VEHICLE components are nearly three times as likely to fail during the winter months as in the summer leading to potentially expensive repairs for the owners of older vehicles, according to Warranty Direct. The specialist insurer and warranty provider analysed 50,000 live automotive policies and found that ignition coils are 283 per cent more likely to fail between December and February than between June and August. Fuel injection pumps, thermostats and a number of electrical components are also more likely to suffer in the cold leading to an average winter repair bill of £408.60, the company has warned.

Poll finds electric car 'confusion'

CONSUMER confusion is the main reason why electric car sales have failed to spark, according to a survey of motorists. Lack of understanding about the practicalities of electric cars is deepest among those keen to buy one, the survey by market research company GfK Automotive found. Just 8% of the 3,161 motorists polled said they would definitely or probably buy an electric car at some stage.

Electric vehicles promoted

THE SCOTTISH Government is teaming up with industry leaders and environmental campaigners in a new drive to get more electric cars on the roads. Transport Minister Keith Brown has launched the E-Cosse partnership which brings together government body Transport Scotland with car manufacturers, power companies, local councils and environmental charity WWF Scotland. Mr Brown said the new group would "develop a shared vision and set future priorities to promote the uptake of electric vehicles in Scotland".

SEASONAL PRESSURES SEE MARKET SLOW IN JULY

AUCTION house BCA’s latest Pulse report shows that demand for older, lower value dealer part-exchange cars improved in July, but the fleet and lease sector has experienced more price pressure. The headline average used car value declined in July, as would typically be expected at the onset of the summer holiday months. Values across the board fell to £5,633 down from the £5,662 recorded in June – a £29 decrease that was equivalent to 0.5% fall.

USED CAR MARKET BOUNCED BACK IN JANUARY

BCA’S LATEST Pulse report shows that average values rose in January following the disruption caused by the Arctic conditions and shorter trading period in December. The volume of vehicles being traded also increased – not surprisingly very significantly when compared to December, but also by 10% year on year. Vehicles from both the fleet & lease and part-exchange sectors recorded notable value improvements and part-exchange values reached record levels.

DRIVERS STIILL LOVE THEIR MGS AND ROVERS

THERE ARE still nearly one million MG and Rover cars on the road, according to a study by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. These figures demonstrate the longevity of MG Rover cars and the continued success of parts specialist XPart in keeping these highly regarded vehicles on the road. Some models recorded a decline of just one per cent from 2009 to 2010.

Ampera grabs green award

VAUXHALL'S Ampera extended range electric vehicle has been honoured as Green Vehicle of the Year by fleet decision-makers at the prestigious 2012 Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) Awards. The awards, which are voted for online exclusively by the ACFO membership, are highly-prized because unlike many other awards they reflect the day-to-day operational experience and expertise of fleet decision-makers. This prize is the latest in a long line of over 40 top gongs for the ground-breaking Ampera, which include the current European Car of the Year, What Car?

Luxury cars still in demand

DEMAND remains strong for upper executive, sports and luxury cars says British Car Auctions (BCA), as buyers continue to support the company’s programme of Top Car and Executive sales. In the first half of the year, BCA sold 8,356 cars valued in excess of £20,000, worth a combined £231.4 million. Across the board BCA has averaged 102.57% of CAP Clean for cars sold for £20,000 or more in 2012.

Vauxhall customers to benefit from Government funding

VAUXHALL customers can now benefit from free installation of a home charging unit for their Ampera extended-range electric vehicles. Following the Government's announcement of funding for owners of electric vehicles (EVs) where they will cover 75 per cent of costs for home charging unit installations up to a maximum of £1,000 including VAT, Vauxhall has now offered to meet the remaining 25 per cent on the same basis for new retail customers taking up the offer. The Government’s £37 million package of benefits also includes additional measures for local authorities to install on-street charging posts and rapid chargers.

MAZDA5 RESIDUAL PERFORMANCE IS 'BEST KEPT SECRET'

A NEW diesel version of the Mazda5 MPV has stormed onto the market with the best residuals in its class. Used car valuation expert CAP has described the 1.6-litre diesel model as a "best kept secret" and has predicted that the Sport model will retain 32 per cent of its value after three-years and 60,000-miles. The TS2 model also performs extremely well, with a 31 per cent retained value predicted.

BMW SUCCESS AT BCA SALE

A WIDE selection of used BMW vehicles fetched a total of £9.2 million at a special sale held by BCA in December. 325 vehicles were sold at the Virtual Auction held at Park Plaza Riverbank, with an average selling price of £29,700. Interest was fuelled by a number of vehicles making their used market debuts, including the Mini Cooper D Countryman, new 520d, 525d and 530d 5 Series models and the X5 X-Drive 4.0d M Sport.

HERTZ TO OFFER ELECTRIC IMIEV HIRE

THE HERTZ Corporation has signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Motors in the UK to add the pure-electric vehicle (EV) i-MiEV city car to the fleets of Hertz and car sharing club Connect by Hertz in the UK. The rollout has already begun with two Mitsubishi i-MiEVs now available for Connect by Hertz members to zip around London. Hertz plans to add further i-MiEVs to its fleets throughout the year across the UK, as well as offering vehicles for corporate and university pool fleets.

JAG CELEBRATES SUCCESS AND A BIRTHDAY

BARONS' RECENT annual 'Jaguar Heritage Sale' celebrated all models of the much-loved marque but the E-type, in its 50th anniversary year really stole the show. The car had bidders and vendors purring with pleasure and nine of these stunning cars were on offer and all of them sold. Of the four examples offered, not one sold for less than £31,000 and the chart topper – a magnificent, bright red 1972 machine achieved over £39,000.

Top-Selling Fiesta Earns Best Used Car Award From CAP

THE FORD Fiesta, Britain’s best-selling car, has been declared Used Car of the Year 2012 by car valuation experts CAP. Top of CAP’s criteria when choosing its Used Car of the Year were affordability, practicality, reputation and popularity in the used car market. Commenting on its decision, Mark Norman, of CAP, said: “It is always tempting for the motoring media and other industry observers to take ‘the petrol head’ approach when giving awards to cars which excite them, but the CAP Used Car of the Year Award recognises the contribution a car makes to both consumers and dealers.” Ford’s Fiesta continues to top the UK sales charts and the range is being further strengthened by the arrival of new models featuring class-leading fuel economy from six powertrains with CO2 emissions under 100g/km, as well as innovative new driver assistance and safety features.

SCARCITY OF ECO CARS KEEPS VALUES HIGH

ACCORDING to the latest AA Fuel Price Index, petrol prices rose in January by the biggest amount in recent times. Although there is considerable Government lobbying to slow down fuel price rises, there appears to be no immediate respite for private motorists. With this continued pressure on family finances, leading vehicle auction company, British Car Auctions (BCA) is seeing a significant increase in buyers seeking the most fuel efficient vehicles which, in turn, is pushing up prices at auction.

USED CAR BUYER CONFIDENCE “UNLIKELY TO IMPROVE” IN 2011 SAYS RAC

USED CAR buyer confidence is unlikely to improve significantly in 2011, meaning that demand for safety net products such as extended warranties will remain strong, says RAC Warranty. The company points out that at the end of 2010, used car warranties are still being enhanced – by both length of time and depth of cover – at around the same rates as during the worst parts of the recession, indicating that the mood of consumers remains cautious. Ian Simpson, sales and marketing director, said: “Next year, the measures that the coalition Government has undertaken to reduce public spending will really start to bite and that will have a definite impact on general confidence.

Mercedes proves E-Class hybrid tech with unusual test

IN AN impressive display of performance and economy, Mercedes-Benz has completed a lengthy test of its new E300 Bluetech Hybrid saloon by driving it almost the length of the country on a single tank of fuel with a flat-out speed test at either end. With ex-rally driver Mick Linford at the wheel the standard production E300 Bluetech Hybrid began with a full tank of fuel at Newquay Cornwall Airport, the most southerly airport in mainland Britain. Down the main runway it completed an acceleration test to past 62mph from rest in a little over seven seconds and reached 136mph before braking for the end of the runway.

Used car market pressure eases

AN INCREASE in the number of used cars coming into the market has “taken the edge off prices” and calmed some corners of the industry, according to used car pricing experts CAP. A greater influx of part-exchange cars arriving at dealers is partly responsible, and with many franchised dealers focusing for the time being on selling those vehicles, competition to acquire stock on the open market has decreased. CAP reports that the pressure has been lifted on some dealers who had become frustrated at how expensive it was becoming to source cars at fair prices.

DISCOUNT VEHICLE CHECKS HELP AVOID NIGHTMARES THIS HALLOWEEN

HPI is urging used car buyers to avoid getting spooked by dodgy used car sellers this Halloween. The vehicle information service is offering 30% off an HPI Check for the remainder of October. 1 in 3 used cars checked by HPI has a hidden history, putting used car buyers at risk of buying a car that could turn into a nightmare on wheels.

SMALL CARS DOMINATE USED CAR SALES

SMALL, FUEL-EFFICIENT cars continue to be the most appealing to used car buyers, research shows. The figures from Experian, the global information service, demonstrated that 285,962 used Ford Fiestas were sold last year making it Britain’s best selling used car in 2010. Even though overall sales for the Fiesta were lower than in 2009 there was more of a pronounced drop in sales of Vauxhall's Corsa, which came in second place to the Fiesta.

CHARITIES BENEFIT FROM BCA SALE

THE SALE of a special edition 'Limited Pink Passion' Smart FourTwo has raised hundreds of pounds for charity, BCA has reported. The used vehicle auction specialist held a special sale its Blackbushe centre with organisational help for car dealer Fred Andy. The event raised £500, with an additional £250 donation from BCA and £750 generated through further fund-raising by Mr Andy.

BBC’S TOP GEAR HIGHLIGHTS THE DANGERS OF BUYING USED

A RECENT episode of BBC Two’s Top Gear shone the spotlight on the pitfalls associated with buying a used car. The team bought three BMW 325i convertibles and demonstrated how seemingly identical vehicles can have a very different past. HPI warns consumers to remain vigilant and protect themselves with an HPI Check.

BUMPER CHOICE FOR USED CAR BUYERS

USED CAR BUYERS looking for a bargain might be pleased to hear that leading vehicle auction specialist British Car Auctions will be holding a super sale this Saturday April 9. The sale at BCA Belle Vue Manchester will have over 400 vehicles from Lex Autoloease and Black Horse Motor Finance including over 200 convertibles. “There’s no question that motorists are feeling the pinch at the moment so finding the best deal on their next used vehicle is vital,” said Tony Gannon BCA Communications Director.