The used car market - best time to buy?

[va1o]

I'm looking to buy a new (used) car sometime in the new few months. Are prices going tp drop much between say now and next April? Probably going to be a 2-4 year old vehicle around the £5000 to £7000 mark. I'm in no rush so would be interested to hear what the market is looking like. I'd always thought that december was a good time to buy but nothing at the moment really catches my eye, prices still seem a little high.

[madala]

.....how long is a piece of string?.....your question answered.

[p4cks]

Values of cars are the same in the Summer as they are in the Winter. Even convertibles, despite the common misconception that they are more expensive in the Summer. They aren't, they're just easier to sell.

[hornetrider]

I would say about now - volumes are low and I can imagine there's not many buyers in the market round Christmas in the snow.

[lost in espace]

Oncoming vat rise will push new prices up and hence used values will be pushed up too possibly. Petrol prices will hit used large capacity vehicles.

The obvious pointed out.

[kambites]

p4cks said:

Values of cars are the same in the Summer as they are in the Winter. Even convertibles, despite the common misconception that they are more expensive in the Summer. They aren't, they're just easier to sell.

Not true. Elise selling prices rise significantly (~10%?) in spring. I'd be amazed if it's not more expensive to buy a 4x4 now than in 4 months time.

[p4cks]

kambites said:

p4cks said:

Values of cars are the same in the Summer as they are in the Winter. Even convertibles, despite the common misconception that they are more expensive in the Summer. They aren't, they're just easier to sell.

Not true. Elise selling prices rise significantly (~10%?) in spring. I'd be amazed if it's not more expensive to buy a 4x4 now than in 4 months time.

Tis true. There are facts and figures somewhere on tinternet which supports what I stated. I'm just too lazy to find it.

[was8v]

Weather has an effect:

Try and buy a cheap small 4x4 now - values are up right now and there's not so many about (compared to summer).

350z and 996 911s are looking very good value right now.

Run of the mill cars don't seem to suffer such swings.

December is a good time to be a buyer of anything big and expensive - houses, cars etc as most people are spending on other things -heating/presents etc. so fewer buyers around. Bear in mind most people will wait until after xmas to advertise as they know this so there will be less choice out there.

Worth hunting out a bargain though and negotiate hard.

Edited by was8v on Monday 20th December 10:36

[ad551]

Try buying a VX220 in Spring and selling it in Autumn, then you will know there are seasonal variations.

In the next few months I'd imagine diesels are going to hold their value better than large capacity petrol cars.

[ortontom]

xmas week, dealers know that nothing really shifts jan/feb people do shopping at sales and holidays..

[redgriff500]

Depends on the car a £2k MX5 now will cost you at least £500 more in the summer.

[MondeoMan1981]

ad551 said:

In the next few months I'd imagine diesels are going to hold their value better than large capacity petrol cars.

Good news, as I plan to get rid of my £30 road tax, 70mpg puddle jumper in favour of something more manly

[p4cks]

ad551 said:

Try buying a VX220 in Spring and selling it in Autumn, then you will know there are seasonal variations.

In the next few months I'd imagine diesels are going to hold their value better than large capacity petrol cars.

I own one currently and I have purchased 6 in total over the past 5 years all at varied times of the year. The prices of them were not relative to the time of year I purchased them.

[CaptainSlow]

p4cks said:

kambites said:

p4cks said:

Values of cars are the same in the Summer as they are in the Winter. Even convertibles, despite the common misconception that they are more expensive in the Summer. They aren't, they're just easier to sell.

Not true. Elise selling prices rise significantly (~10%?) in spring. I'd be amazed if it's not more expensive to buy a 4x4 now than in 4 months time.

Tis true. There are facts and figures somewhere on tinternet which supports what I stated. I'm just too lazy to find it.

Sorry you're incorrect. There is a seasonal impact on used car prices.

[Ari]

Soft tops definitely vary according to time of year. My MX5 has dropped significently since August, partners Golf much less so. Checking the history over the last couple of years you can see the curve (although the Spring rise) never matches the Autumn fall...

[Carrot]

Cheap 4x4s have rocketed up in price from October onwards, I know this as I have been looking for a cheap one for business reasons (not snow ) for a while and comparing prices.

I will probably buy one edging into summer, should be more choice from those that purchased in the winter, then decide they can't afford to run it / don't want it anymore.

[confused_buyer]

Wholesale prices usually jump in January - a couple of years ago by an enormous amount - combine that with this year's VAT increase and you can probably expect a jump in prices on new stock in the new year.

December is usually the slowest time for retail trade and lowest for wholesale prices. It is generally the best time to buy.

The used car "year" generally consists of an upward curve from January through to about June then a downward one towards December.

[Chiswickboy]

Ari said:

.......... Checking the history over the last couple of years you can see the curve although the Spring rise never matches the Autumn fall...

This is the depreciation of an individual car (which most people seem to forget about when talking seasonal prices). If you take a particular model (say a MX5) of a particular age / mileage you will get a different curve and the price movement will reflect popularity more closely.

[Ari]

Audi Cabrios and Volvo C70s (which I'm hoping to change to) have done exactly the same.