Late-plate used vans flood onto market

Date: Sunday, March 16, 2008

Large numbers of three- to four-year-old light commercials are pouring onto the market as leasing contracts with fleets expire. “Following 30 months of reporting shortages of late-year vans we now find that there is an ample supply,” says George Alexander, chief commercial vehicle editor at Glass's Guide to Commercial Vehicle Values.

Some of those vans are being disposed of because of nervousness about the health of the economy. “It is not surprising that businesses do not wish to carry unnecessary capacity within their fleets at a time of economic uncertainty,” he observes.

Looking at individual models, Alexander reports that Vauxhall's Astravan is struggling in the used market thanks to the number that are around, with Envoy and Escort models in difficulties unless they are presented in clean condition.

“Even late-year Sportives are underperforming,” he says. “On a more positive note, the first new-shape Astravan Clubs are in high demand and fetching strong prices.

“Ford Transit Connects continue to appear in significant numbers and prices are starting to look vulnerable, especially so far as the recent bout of examples without the appeal of a side-loading door are concerned,” Alexander says. “Not popular at the moment is the short-wheelbase T220, even when seemingly clean and tidy.

“Citroën's Dispatch and Peugeot's Expert continue to perform strongly, however. So do certain Transit models, with the T280 an attractive proposition.”

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