Mycarcheck.com market guide: September 2019
- Used car of the month: VW Golf R Estate (2015)
- Used bike of the month: Suzuki SV1000S (2003-2007)
Mycarcheck.com’s valuation experts reveal significant trends in the UK used vehicle market and choose a car and bike of the month.
Vehicle valuation manager at mycarcheck.com, Stuart Wilson, said: “Launched in 2015, the estate version of VW’s sporty Golf R hatchback is a near-perfect blend of practicality and performance. With subtle styling, a 605-litre load capacity, roof rails, the same 296bhp engine and 4 Motion DSG transmission as the hatch and a 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds, it really is the best of both worlds. A great alternative to an SUV as a family vehicle, the Golf R Estate sounds fabulous going up through the gears and emits a deep burble at idle. Expect to pay around £18k for an early model with around 35,000 miles and, as always, check the history before purchasing.”
As to market trends, Wilson said: “August saw another giant leap forward for new battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with sales up by a staggering 377.5% on the same month last year. Imagine what these numbers would be like if supply matched demand! Hybrids also enjoyed a significant 36.2% uplift but overall the new market was down 1.6%, with plug-in hybrid and diesel sales declining sharply and petrol sales remaining stable. New alternatively fueled vehicle (AFV) sales are set to double over the next year and there are some attractive three-year-old options in the used market too. However, consumers need better guidance as to which type of AFV best suits their needs. You might pay more upfront but low running costs lead to substantial savings over time. Our journey to a greener future continues.”
On the motorbike, scooter and moped sector, mycarcheck.com’s Mark Field said: “When it launched in 2003 the Suzuki SV1000S faced stiff in-house competition from both the lower cc SV650S and the mighty GSX-R1000. In truth, the SV1000 would’ve been a better buy for many due to its relaxed riding position and higher bars. It has more than enough power for most and adding a set of aftermarket cans gives it a thumping growl. Because it is classed as a sports tourer rather than an out-and-out sport bike, insurance is cheaper too. Today, a clean early example could be yours for less than £2,500 – a small price to pay for a very capable 1000cc bike equally suited to the commute or a sunny Sunday ride. As always, a full provenance check is recommended.”
As to market trends, Field said: “As far as the motorbike industry is concerned, the best sales days are behind us for another year. To the end of August, new registrations are up 2.1% compared with the same period last year, but it has been a very mixed bag – from the highs of February’s 13.4% increase to the 11% fall in June. Following recent trends, August’s new vehicle registrations were down 7.4% on last year, with wet weather and the impending/not-impending, hard/soft Brexit situation not helping. These factors are also affecting the used market, although to a much smaller degree, and sourcing good quality secondhand stock is as challenging as ever.”
With information from the police, DVLA, insurers and finance houses, My Car Check holds comprehensive data on every vehicle on UK roads, things that buyers should be aware of before making an offer – helping used buyers be car confident since 2005.
CDL Vehicle Information Services, which owns My Car Check, performs over a million look-ups a day for companies including AutoExpress, CompareTheMarket, Go-Compare, Moneysupermarket, Swiftcover and Tesco.