My Car Checktop tips for used car buyers May 2015: Boxster, Superb and 5 Series Gran Turismo praised as auto v manual debate continues
My Car Check - the UK's No.1 consumer vehicle data provider - has saved millions of people from making an expensive used car mistake. In these monthly bulletins its used car experts reveal significant trends in the UK market andsuggest three wise buys.
Highly desirable: Porsche Boxster
Safe bet: Skoda Superb
Used star: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo
Head of Valuation Services at My Car Check, Gavin Amos, commented: "Our highly desirable model this month is the Porsche Boxster. With summer on the way, the Boxster is an exceptional car with a prestigious badge that's great value for money as a second hand buy. When it comes to negotiating, remember, as well as revealing a car's history, My Car Check also provides vehicle valuations - a great tool for haggling with dealers or private sellers.
"In terms of cars that hold their value, safe bets don't come much safer than the Skoda Superb. With an exciting new model about to arrive, the current Superb represents fantastic value for money in terms of space and specification. As always, do a history check to ensure the one you're looking at is what it claims to be, for instance, that it hasn't been previously written-off.
"For our used star this month we've chosen the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo. This car divides opinion due to its quirky looks. It also loses a hefty amount in depreciation during the first couple of years of ownership, and so becomes a real used bargain when compared to list price. When looking at a newish second hand car, it is worth checking that it is free of debt, i.e. that it actually belongs to the seller and not a finance company."
As to market trends, Amos commented: "As we move into the summer months, buyers' thoughts turn to paying for the family holiday rather than swapping the car. It is encouraging then that overall the trade seems pretty steady. There continues to be a shortage of good, clean, used cars, but there are signs that more late, low mileage vehicles are beginning to hit the market.
"There is also debate about ‘auto v manual' gearbox fitment on top end sports cars. Our feedback is that more people are selecting a double clutch option, despite a manual gearbox delivering a purer driving experience. It will be interesting to see if this shift towards auto continues. Might new buyers be more swayed by the fashion accessory factor than the reality of driving these cars? Might secondhand buyers be prepared to pay a premium for a manual?
"In terms of individual models, it is interesting to note that the Discovery Sport is performing particularly well. It is without doubt drawing buyers from other brands. Meanwhile, the Freelander, the model which the Disco Sport replaced, hasn't taken a massive hit and is still performing well in the used market.
"Our final point for this month concerns the chemicals used at many hand car wash sites. An industry expert has told us that some of the cleaners used to make alloys gleam can actually cause them to degrade over time. It seems a good old fashioned home wash might actually be better for your car in the long term."
My Car Check's parent company, CDL Vehicle Information Services, performs over a million look-ups a day for companies including AutoExpress, CompareTheMarket, Confused.com, Go-Compare, Moneysupermarket, Swiftcover, Tesco Compare and WhatCar?.
It uses up-to-the-minute data from the Police, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and major finance houses including Lloyds TSB and Santander.
To help UK consumers make the right choice, My Car Check can confirm in seconds whether your potential pride and joy has ever been scrapped, stolen or written-off, has any money owing on it, has had a plate or colour change and much more.
Know what you're getting into: MyCarCheck.com
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Notes To Editors
There's a "Boxster" JPG to go with this.
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