Used van sales stay buoyant

Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Sales of second-hand light commercials are more buoyant than new ones says Glass’s Guide to Commercial Vehicle Values. “A high proportion of dealers are reporting a healthy level of retail demand,” reports editor, George Alexander.

It is not spread evenly across the country, however, with some areas in the doldrums. “That may be because the local economy is under-performing or because a major employer has been forced to shut down,” he observes.

So far as individual models are concerned, late-registered Vauxhall Corsavans are selling reasonably well just as long as they don’t have too many miles on the clock says Alexander. Vauxhall Astravan Sportives are performing well too, leaving Envoy and LS specification versions struggling in their wake. Late-plate old-shape Renault Kangoos, Citroën Berlingos and Peugeot Partners are popular, with better-equipped examples attracting the most attention.

Moving up the weight scale, the market is knee-deep in short-wheelbase 57-plate 90hp Vauxhall Vivaros off-loaded by rental fleets. “The trade is choosing to stay well clear until the majority have washed through,” says Alexander. A star performer is Volkswagen’s Transporter, regardless of mileage. “The higher the horsepower and level of specification, the greater the interest,” he observes.

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