This has also coincided with record increases in residual values, says glass’s guide. In the downturn this has had many industry experts scratching their heads, but experts at Glass’s reckon they know why this is so.

“The drop in new car sales, which really started to bite in the fourth quarter of last year, has meant there have been far fewer part-exchanges entering the used market,” says Adrian Rushmore, managing editor of Glasses Guide.

“We have also seen a 30 per cent year on year fall in the availability of pre-registered and ex-demonstrator cars during the first months of 2009. Most important of all, buyers became more aware of last year’s 20 per cent fall in values, which has attracted growing numbers to used-car forecourts,”

With stocks low and demand high, there has been a very significant improvement in residual values.

Glass’s reports the rise in the prices paid by dealers for three year old used cars during January was the highest sunce 2004, when the consumer boom was at its height.

In Frebuary, trade values jumped by nine per cent - the biggest single month rise ever recorded in Glass’s Guide.

“it is clear transaction prices have not been rising at quite the same pace as trade prices so far this year - for three year old cars, this represented a one per cent increase in January, and a 3.5 per cent uplift in February,” Rushmore says.
“By mid-march there were clear signs retail demand was starting to be satisfied, even though asking prices were still rising for dealers to introduce any further increases in forecourt prices.”

Demand might now have eased in April, but Glass’s expects values to be relatively strong for some months to come.

“In any normal year, we would expect values to fall sharply after Easter, but in 2009 we anticipate the falls to be more modest. “A slow but steady decline in used car values is likely to continue during the summer,” he says.

The latest report from British Car Auctions (BCA) confirms this, with the firms report for March showing that, although average used car values are continuing to rise, the rate of growth appears to be slowing.

March saw average auction values increase for the fith month running, says BCA, but only by £11 to £5,582, compared to £5,571 in February. This follows a 3400 plus month on month rise in February, and a £300 increase in January.

Year on year, March 2009 values are ahead of the March 2008 average figure of £5,400 by £182, or 3.3 per cent. The difference has been narrowing all year, adds the BCA report - February 2009 was £282 adrift of February 2008, while in January the gap was just over £650.

Finally, some advice for trade in car sellers who have a perfectly god car, perhaps not of a desirable brand, who find a dealer will not offer them anything like its worth.

Matthew Tumbridge, editor of Used car magazine expert, says the best way to deal with this is to walk away and sell the vehicle privately.

The private sale marketplace is also the right place for a savvy buyer to look, Some cars are more suited to buying privately than others and here are three to think about:

Renault Clio - attractive styling and economical.

Ford Mondeo - one of the best family cars ever made.

Saab 9-3 - distinctive and fashionable without being controversial or an odd choice.

Eurotaxglass’s publisher of Glasses guide says the worst performer when it comes to depreciation is the Alfa Romeo 166 which returns just 12 per cent of its value after 3 years and 37,000 miles use!

Bad news for Alfa, but good news for the used car buyer, because the 166 wasn’t a bad car - it was produced from 2004 to 2006 just badly perceieved by the motor trade as a quick seller.

EurotaxGlass’s has just compiled a list of the 10 worst, and 10 best, depreciation performers and managing editor Adrian Rushmore says the fact that several models are now obsolete has seen them appear among the bottom listers.

The most positive thing to say about the bottom 10 is that they represent unrivalled value for money in todays credit crunch market.

For example, a three year old Rover 75 1.8T Contemprary SE, with 37,000 miles, had a list price of £22,700 and yet its trade in value today is only £3,300.

This means that it has depreciated by £19,400. Buyers of the Rover 75 will be virtually garanteed trouble free motoring for the next three years and will not suffer further significant loss in value and in three years time a dealer is likely to offer minimum part exchange of £1,000.

DEPRECIATION TABLE
Taking that three years and 37,000 miles use the standard:

1. Alfa Romeo 166 2.0/3.0/3.2 four-door = 12%
2. Rover 75 1.8/2.5/4.6 four door = 14.6%
3. Rover 45 1.6/1.8/2.0TD Diesel MG ZS 1.8 four or five door = 15.9%
4. Saab 9-5 2.0/2.3 four-door = 17.4%
5. Kia Magentis 2.0 four-door = 17.5%
6. Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 four door = 17.5%
7. Jeep - Cherokee 2.4/3.7 five door = 18.4%
8. Renault Vel Satis 3.0 dci five door = 18.6%
9. Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin 2.0 five door = 18.8%
10. Rover City 1.4 five door = 19.4%

As for the slowest depreciationg car, that hour belongs once again to the diesel powered 1.4 litre Mini which says Eurotaxglass’s after 36 months use has an average trade in value of 63.2% far better thanthat of any other used car in the market.

This is the second year that the Mini has topped the annual residual figures league table.

Meanwhile, dramatic price drops are being witnessed on dealer forecourts all over Britain, according to buyer advice website used car expert. “I know everyone has been saying this for a couple of weeks now, but until you see real cars and their price tags, it is hard to beleive.”

“Dealers are genuinely slashing the prices on used luxury cars. The 2006 year cars seem to be having a particularly hard time, and as they still have a year of manufacturer warranty left they make the most sense”

3 Cars worth Considering:

BMW 3 series
Great to drive and look at, with a rock solid image, usually keeps prices high. Avoid some of the base models which are under equipped and may be difficult to sell on.
Most economical model is the 1.8TD and best used buy the 320d ES.

Jaguar S-Type
Good specification very comfortable, and so distinctively Jaguar. Most economical model 2.5 V6 and best used buy 3.0 V6.

Audi A4
Very stylish and brillianly built, but buyers usually pay extra because of that. Good drive and plenty of engine choices. most economical 1.9TDi and best buy Audi A4 2.0FSI

Southam Road
Banbury
Oxfordshire
OX16 2RR

Telephone: 0845 4091182
Fax: 01295 759309
Email: neil.whitehouse@evanshalshaw.com

Opening Times:
Mon: 08:30 - 19:00
Tue: 08:30 - 19:00
Wed: 08:30 - 19:00
Thu: 08:30 - 19:00
Fri: 08:30 - 19:00
Sat: 08:30 - 18:00
Sun: 10:00 - 16:00

Approved Main Citroen Dealership - Citroen Dealers

38 Stamford Road
Kettering
Northamptonshire
NN16 8LJ

Telephone: 0845 4091186
Fax: 01536 523373
Email: robert.mills@evanshalshaw.com

Opening Times
Mon: 08:00 - 19:00
Tue: 08:00 - 19:00
Wed: 08:00 - 19:00
Thu: 08:00 - 19:00
Fri: 08:00 - 19:00
Sat: 08:30 - 17:00
Sun: 10:00 - 16:00

Citroen Approved Dealership in Kettering

Good motorists think they should be reqarded for keeping to the speed limit according to a new poll.

Nearly half of drivers backed a new idea of speed cameras not only fining speeders but also randomly “flashing” motorists observing the road limit and rewarding with a cash payout? Or an alternative could be number of years without any traffic offence triggers a cash reward with the money coming direct from those penalised so the government does not lose out.

The poll comes as the Government unveiled new plans to hammer speeding motorists with a higher fixed penalty of six points for those breaking the speed limit by 20mph or more - meaning two offences could lead to an automatic 12 point ban.

The Government say speed kills - It is a factor in 29 per cent of fatal accidents - according to the consultation paper on road safety compliance issued by the department for Transport.

But car insurers Swinton, who polled 2,000 people, found most supported a financial incentive to drive safety along with the existing system of fining bad drivers.

The YOU GOV poll showed 48 per cent said the rethink would be welcome, with 44 per cent against, and nine per cent unsure.

Steve Chelton, from Swinton said: “If just a tiny percentage of the fines from speeding drivers could be redistributed to drivers who stay within the limits, especially in accident black spots or outside schools, roadside cameras could become a much more potent weapon in the war against reckless motorists.

“If drivers knew that speed cameras were calibrated to randomly flash the occasional good driver, motorists would be much more likely to adhere to speed limits rather than take their chance.

“We feel that this would be a timely innovation for the Nanny state to start rewarding good citizenship.”

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If th weather is bad, drive only if it is necessary. If the journey is necessary drivers should ensure their car is properly prepared and they know how to cope with changing road conditions.

IAM advice for motorists driving in bad weather conditions is:

1. Take it slow and allow extra time for the journey, even if it is the usual work or school run. Other traffic on the raod will be driving slower;

2. In snow or ice, slow down and keep well back from the vehicle in front.
When roads are slippery, it will take 10 times longer to stop, so drivers need to look a long way ahead and plan to move lanes as necessary;

3. Use low gears to help keep traction, especially on hills, and use gears to restrain speed on downhill sections to avoid the need to brake;

4. The raod in front of vehicles clearing snow is likely to be worse than the road behind. Don’t pass theses vehicles;

5. Check the windscreen washer fluid for the appropriate outside temperature and that the wiper blades are clean. Drivers also need a clear view out of all windows not just the windscreen;

6. Turn on the headlights to see and be seen. Bad weather causes poor visability for all motorists.

7. Pack an emergency kit (such as outdoor clothers, a reflective jacket, a torch, and a fully charged mobile phone).

Drivers should remember to be cautious at all times, check the weather forecast before heading off on their journey, and prepare for familiar, short journeys as well as long ones.

Evans Halshaw Renault Durham

Alma Place
Gilesgate Moor
Durham
County Durham
DH1 2HN

Telephone: 0845 4091088
Fax: 0191 332 4609
Email: shaun.mcgill@evanshalshaw.com

Opening Rimes
Mon: 08:45 - 19:00
Tue: 08:45 - 19:00
Wed: 08:45 - 19:00
Thu: 08:45 - 19:00
Fri: 08:45 - 18:00
Sat: 08:45 - 17:30
Sun: 11:00 - 17:00
Renault Car Sales
Mon: 08:45 - 19:00
Tue: 08:45 - 19:00
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Fri: 08:45 - 18:00
Sat: 08:45 - 17:30
Sun: 11:00 - 17:00
Car Service Centre
Mon: 08:00 - 18:00
Tue: 08:00 - 18:00
Wed: 08:00 - 18:00
Thu: 08:00 - 18:00
Fri: 08:00 - 18:00
Sat: 07:30 - 12:30
Sun: CLOSED
Renault Parts
Mon: 08:00 - 18:00
Tue: 08:00 - 18:00
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Evans Halshaw official franchised renault dealer in county durham UK.

SUNWIN MOTOR GROUP
113 THORNTON ROAD
BRADFORD
Yorkshire
BD1 2EP
01274 736440

Renault Dealer Services available:

Car Repairs
Car Sales
Renault Vans
Renault Bodyshop
Renault Minute
MOT Testing
Commercial Vehicles

http://www.renault.co.uk

HOLDEN, NORWICH
22 HEIGHAM STREET
NORWICH
Norfolk
NR2 4TF
01603 628911

Renault Dealer Services:

Car Sales Renault
Servicing Renaults
Van Sales Centre
Commercial vehicle servicing
MOT Testing Centre
Fleet and Contract Hire
Renault Car rental

EVANS HALSHAW, SUNDERLAND
WESSINGTON WAY
SUNDERLAND
Tyne & Wear
SR5 3NZ
0191 516 5300

Car Dealer Services:

Renault Car Saels
Service
Ranult Vans
Van Repair and services
Bodyshop facilities
MOT Test Centre

http://www.renault.co.uk