Auction and Market Report: 3 March 2009

[V8mate]

Hello again.

I'm afraid that this report really is




as there were so many photogenic cars today.


In any case, this is the most comprehensive report to date and I hope, cumulatively, that they are of real benefit to you when buying or trading in your own cars.


Auction News

Prices continue to soar. This really can't be sustainable and I worry about the effect in the medium term of dealers filling their forecourts with super-expensive cars. Of course, they have to fill them with something - you can't sell empty lots - but price guides are now all but useless as dealers and traders scrap to buy stock at whatever price is necessary.

Many trade prices are now exceeding the book retail values, which must make valuations very difficult. Those suffering are the traders at the bottom of the food chain: the small and home traders who are simply being priced out of the market.

However, the larger dealers are playing a dangerous game. They have, so far, been accepting lower margins simply to maintain a certain volume of business, but a grand or so on each car won't keep their palaces operating for anything longer than a few months. I can't see how they can try and keep their used stock at prices which the public will accept anymore, though, given that stand-in prices now exceed retail book. So, retail prices go up and the (generally slow) economy gets an injection of inflation. Will the motor industry, having suffered so much already, now be the instigator of inflationary pressure?

There doesn't seem to be any kind of prejudice at the moment either. Gone are the days of only small, economic cars attracting buyers' attention; everyone now wants everything.

Land Rovers are now attracting more than they did 6 months ago - well over £2000 over book - and even Jags are seeing a real rally in prices.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Vauxhall had kicked off a fight-back for new car sales with across the range 0% finance offers. I really expected other major manufacturers to follow suit but none, to my knowledge, have. I have to revise my predictions, therefore, for Q2 2009. With four weeks to go, and no sign of any slowdown in used car price inflation, I can't see there being any good deals on the forecourts anytime soon. If you're in the market for a used car, now is very much the time to be scouring the small ads and buying privately; driving the best deal you possibly can.



Auction Diary

I started a separate thread about an auction next week - Thursday 12th March in Colchester - which may be of interest to some of you. The other thread contains a taster of what is included, but today I received more information.

200+ BMWs and MINIs

200+ Mercedes and Smart

100+ from each of the following major fleets: Alphabet, Masterlease, Lombard

Multiple entries from other fleets and dealer groups like HR Owen, Waters, RAA and Auction Plus.


That's over 900 cars in one sale; running through all four auction lanes simultaneously.

So, if you've been planning to attend an auction for the first time, or are a dealer and want to make sure that a long trip is worth the time, this auction could well be the one!

Be good to say 'hi' if you do pop along!



Here's the selection I picked for you today...

Year	Plate	Make	Model	Detail	Mileage	Price	Status
2006	06	Aston Martin	Vantage	Coupe	16k	40500	SOLD
2007	56	Audi	A3	1.9 TDI Special Edition 5dr	29k	9100	SOLD
2007	56	Audi	A3	2.0 TDI 170 SE 5dr	68k	8750	SOLD
2005	55	Audi	A4	1.9 TDI SE 4dr	88k	6625	SOLD
2005	55	Audi	A4	2.0 TFSI Quattro SE Estate	22k	10800	SOLD
2006	55	Audi	A4	2.0 TDI S Line Estate	55k	10775	SOLD
2006	06	Audi	A4	2.0 TDI Sport Cabriolet	21k	13700	SOLD
2005	05	Audi	A4	2.0 TFSI SE Mtronic 4dr	77k	6775	SOLD
2007	56	Audi	A4	2.0 TDI Sport Cabriolet	45k	13800	SOLD
2007	07	Audi	A4	2.0 TDI Cabriolet	27k	14500	SOLD
2008	08	Audi	A5	2.7 TDI Mtronic Coupe	11k	24600	SOLD
2006	56	Audi	A6	2.0TFSI SE Mtronic Estate	60k	9650	SOLD
2006	55	Audi	A6	2.7 TDI Quattro SE Tip Auto saloon	82k	8450	SOLD
2004	54	Audi	A6	1.9 TDI 130 Mtronic Estate	61k	6650	SOLD
2006	06	Audi	A6	2.0 TDI TDV SE Estate	71k	9800	SOLD
2008	57	Audi	S5	Quattro V8 Coupe	35k	28100	Provisional
2002	52	Audi	TT	Quattro (180)	63k	6775	Provisional
2007	56	Audi	TT	2.0 TFSI Coupe	15k	18150	SOLD
2005	54	BMW	120D	SE 5dr	59k	7900	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	318D	SE 4dr	52k	8000	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	318D	4dr Saloon	67k	8250	SOLD
2007	56	BMW	320D	M Sport 4dr	30k	14450	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	320D	SE 4dr	83k	8800	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	320i	4dr Auto	32k	8450	SOLD
2004	54	BMW	325i	SE 4dr Saloon	76k	6000	SOLD
2001	x	BMW	520i	4dr Saloon	139k	2100	SOLD
2004	54	BMW	X3	2.5i Sport	83k	8600	SOLD
2008	57	Citroen	C-Crosser	2.2 HDI Exclusive	23k	13550	SOLD
2006	56	Citroen	Xsara Picasso	1.6 HDI Desire	39k	5400	SOLD
2006	06	Citroen	Xsara Picasso	1.6 HDI Exclusive	29k	5725	SOLD
2005	55	Fiat	Punto	1.2 Active 5dr	18k	3325	SOLD
2008	08	Ford	Fiesta	1.4 TDCI Zetec 3dr Climate	14k	6775	SOLD
2007	56	Ford	Fiesta	2.0 ST 3dr	12k	7000	SOLD
2008	08	Ford	Focus	1.8 Zetec 3dr	2k	8850	SOLD
2005	55	Ford	Focus	1.8 TDCI LX Estate	93k	3300	SOLD
2004	04	Ford	Focus	C-Max 1.6 TDCI Ghia	51k	4600	SOLD
2005	55	Ford	Mondeo	2.0 TDCI 115 Ghia 5dr	115k	3100	SOLD
2004	54	Honda	Accord	202i CDTI Executive 4dr	132k	6800	SOLD
2006	56	Jaguar	S-Type	2.7 V6 SE Saloon	13k	13800	SOLD
2007	07	Jaguar	S-Type	2.7 V6 SE Auto Saloon	6k	16000	SOLD
2007	07	Jaguar	S-Type	2.7 V6 Sport Auto	21k	16500	SOLD
2006	56	Jaguar	S-Type	2.7 V6 SE Auto Saloon	22k	13900	SOLD
2004	54	Jaguar	S-Type	3.0 V6 Sport Auto	56k	8600	SOLD
2007	07	Jaguar	S-Type	2.7 V6 SE Auto Saloon	5k	16700	SOLD
2006	56	Jaguar	S-Type	3.0 V6 SE Auto	42k	11000	SOLD
2007	56	Jaguar	XJ	2.7 TDVI Sovereign	13k	22700	SOLD
2005	05	Jaguar	XJ	Super V8 4.2	21k	18100	SOLD
2007	07	Jaguar	XJ	2.7 TDVI Sovereign Auto	6k	24300	SOLD
2007	56	Jaguar	XJ	2.7 TDVI Executive Auto	16k	20450	SOLD
2006	56	Jaguar	XJ6	3.0 V6 Sovereign Auto	32k	16800	SOLD
2006	56	Jaguar	XJ6	3.0 V6 Sovereign Auto	18k	19000	SOLD
2005	55	Jaguar	XJ6	3.0 V6 Sovereign Auto	46k	14100	SOLD
2007	56	Jaguar	XJ6	3.0 V6 Executive Auto	13k	18500	SOLD
2007	07	Jaguar	XJ8	4.2 V8 Sovereign Auto	23k	21600	SOLD
2005	05	Jaguar	X-Type	2.0D SE 4dr	78k	5800	SOLD
2006	55	Jaguar	X-Type	2.2D Sport Estate	32k	9950	SOLD
2005	55	Jaguar	X-Type	2.0D Sport 4dr	43k	8750	SOLD
2006	06	Jaguar	X-Type	2.5 V6 SE Auto 4wd	14k	10600	SOLD
2005	55	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 SE Auto	51k	16400	SOLD
2005	55	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 SE Auto	60k	15900	SOLD
2005	55	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 HSE Auto	37k	19350	SOLD
2003	53	Land Rover	Discovery	2.5 TD5 GS Auto	28k	9300	SOLD
2005	55	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 HSE Auto	50k	18600	SOLD
2005	55	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 HSE Auto	32k	19800	SOLD
2005	55	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 HSE Auto	53k	18800	SOLD
2005	55	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 HSE Auto	13k	20400	SOLD
2006	56	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 HSE Auto	50k	19800	SOLD
2005	55	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 S manual	51k	13100	SOLD
2005	55	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 SE Auto	81k	14200	SOLD
2006	55	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 S Auto	41k	14500	SOLD
2005	05	Land Rover	Discovery	2.7 TD V6 manual	43k	12400	SOLD
2006	55	Land Rover	Freelander	2.0 TD4 HSE SW	72k	6850	SOLD
2005	55	Land Rover	Freelander	2.0 TD4 HSE 3dr Hardtop	21k	8300	SOLD
2006	06	Land Rover	Freelander	2.0 TD4 Sport 5dr SW	34k	8600	SOLD
2007	56	Land Rover	Freelander 2	2.2 TD4 HSE	29k	15900	SOLD
2006	06	Lexus	IS	220D 4dr	30k	9600	SOLD
2006	55	Mazda	MX-5	2.0i Sport convertible	70k	6400	SOLD
2006	55	Mazda	RX-8	192 Coupe	29k	7500	SOLD
2007	07	Mazda	RX-8	231 coupe	12k	10200	SOLD
2007	57	Mazda	RX-8	Kuro coupe	10k	11500	SOLD
2005	55	Mercedes	C220	CDI Classic SE Auto Saloon	66k	8300	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	C320	CDI Elegance SE Auto	75k	9200	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	CLK	200K Avantgarde Tip Auto Cabriolet	68k	13200	SOLD
2006	55	Mercedes	CLK	350 Elegance Tip Auto Coupe	15k	14400	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	CLK	350 Avantgarde Tip Auto Coupe	17k	16600	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	E280	CDI Avantgarde Tip Auto Estate	19k	16400	SOLD
2005	05	Mercedes	E320	CDI Avantgarde 4dr	49k	13650	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	Cooper	1.6	29k	8075	SOLD
2006	06	Nissan	Micra	C+C 1.6 Essenza Cabriolet	14k	6200	SOLD
2004	54	Nissan	Micra	1.5 DCI 82 SVE 5dr	58k	3700	SOLD
2008	08	Nissan	Murano	3.5 V6 CVT	8k	13900	SOLD
2005	55	Nissan	Pathfinder	2.5 DCI T-Spec Auto SW	16k	10750	SOLD
2007	07	Nissan	Pathfinder	2.5 DCI 171 Aventura SW	13k	11600	SOLD
2006	56	Nissan	Pathfinder	2.5 DCI 171 Aventura Auto SW	36k	10450	SOLD
2006	06	Nissan	X-Trail	2.5 16V Aventura Auto SW	23k	7150	SOLD
2007	07	Nissan	X-Trail	2.2 DCI 136 Aventura	33k	9500	SOLD
2005	55	Peugeot	307	1.6 HDI S Estate	67k	4450	SOLD
2007	07	Porsche	Cayenne	3.6 Tip S	7k	24500	SOLD
2005	55	Range Rover	HSE	3.0 TD6 Auto	28k	19200	SOLD
2006	56	Range Rover	Sport	2.7 TDV6 HSE Auto	40k	25600	SOLD
2005	55	Range Rover	Sport	2.7 TDV6 HSE Auto	71k	20500	SOLD
2005	55	Range Rover	Sport	2.7 TDV6 HSE Auto	40k	23300	SOLD
2005	55	Range Rover	Sport	2.7 TDV6 HSE Auto	54k	21600	SOLD
2006	56	Range Rover	Vogue	3.6 TDV8 Auto	33k	29900	SOLD
2005	55	Range Rover	Vogue	3.0 TD6 Auto	52k	20600	SOLD
2006	55	Renault	Clio	1.4 16V Dynamique S 3dr	23k	4825	SOLD
2007	07	Renault	Clio	2.0 VVT Dynamique S 3dr	9k	7150	SOLD
2007	56	Renault	Clio	2.0 16V Renaultsport 197	15k	9025	SOLD
2003	53	Renault	Espace	3.5V6 Initiale Auto	30k	4000	SOLD
2006	56	Renault	Grand Espace	2.2 DCI Privilege	18k	9300	SOLD
2007	56	Renault	Grand Scenic	2.0 VVT Dynamique Auto 5dr	29k	6700	SOLD
2006	56	Renault	Laguna	2.0 16V Dynamique Estate	25k	4450	SOLD
2007	56	Renault	Laguna	1.9 DCI Dynamique 5dr	78k	4075	SOLD
2005	55	Renault	Megane	1.6VVT Dynamique 3dr hatch	43k	4225	SOLD
2006	06	Renault	Megane	1.5 DCI Dynamique Cabriolet	18k	7150	SOLD
2005	55	Saab	9-3	1.9 TiD Vector Spot (150) Estate	84k	5200	SOLD
2006	56	Seat	Leon	2.0 16V Reference Sport 5dr	48k	7350	SOLD
2005	55	Skoda	Octavia	2.0 TDI PD Elegance Estate	34k	7250	SOLD
2003	53	Toyota	Avensis	2.0 D-4D T Spirit 5dr	79k	4250	SOLD
2004	04	Toyota	Celica	1.8 VVTI (Premium + Style Pack)	52k	5750	SOLD
2006	06	Vauxhall	Astra	1.9 CDTI 16V SRI (150) 5dr	72k	4600	SOLD
2006	06	Vauxhall	Vectra	1.9 CDTI Exclusiv (120) 5dr	72k	4300	SOLD
2007	56	Vauxhall	Zafira	2.2i Design Auto	23k	6650	SOLD
2006	55	Volkswagen	Golf	1.9 SE TDI 5dr	55k	6800	SOLD
2005	55	Volkswagen	Golf	1.9 TDI SE 5dr	11k	7650	SOLD
2005	05	Volkswagen	Golf	2.0 GT TDI 3dr	88k	5675	SOLD
2005	05	Volkswagen	Golf	1.4 S 3dr (AC)	42k	5350	SOLD
2006	55	Volkswagen	Golf	1.9 TDI SE 5dr	44k	7150	SOLD
2003	53	Volkswagen	Golf	1.9 GT TDI 130 3dr	57k	4800	SOLD
2005	05	Volkswagen	Golf	2.0 GT TDI 4motion 5dr	92k	6750	SOLD
2005	55	Volkswagen	Passat	1.9 TDI S Estate	88k	5900	SOLD
2005	55	Volkswagen	Passat	1.9 TDI Highline 130 Estate (Old shape)	108k	4200	SOLD
2007	07	Volkswagen	Passat	2.0 Sport TDI Estate	74k	6900	SOLD
2005	55	Volkswagen	Passat	2.0 S TDI 4dr	47k	6550	SOLD
2006	55	Volkswagen	Passat	2.0 SE TDI DSG Estate	75k	6400	SOLD
2006	55	Volkswagen	Polo	1.2 S 55 3dr	61k	4200	SOLD
2007	07	Volvo	C30	T5 SE Sport 3dr Coupe	33k	11100	SOLD
2008	57	Volvo	C70	D5 Sport Gtronic Coupe Cabriolet	8k	15850	SOLD
2007	56	Volvo	C70	D5 SE Gtronic Coupe Convertible	21k	15300	SOLD
2004	04	Volvo	C70	GT Convertible	30k	7150	SOLD
2006	56	Volvo	C70	D5 Sport Gtronic Coupe Cabriolet	23k	13700	SOLD
2007	07	Volvo	S40	2.0D S 4dr	23k	8350	SOLD
2007	07	Volvo	S40	1.6 S 4dr	24k	7100	SOLD
2006	06	Volvo	S40	2.0D SE Sport 4dr	29k	10000	SOLD
2004	54	Volvo	S40	T5 SE Gtronic 4dr	22k	7400	SOLD
2005	05	Volvo	S60	D5 SE 4dr Gtronic	48k	7800	SOLD
2006	56	Volvo	S80	2.4 SE Lux Gtronic saloon	56k	7650	SOLD
2007	57	Volvo	V50	2.0D S Estate	34k	10100	SOLD
2007	57	Volvo	V70	2.4D SE Estate	13k	15100	SOLD
2007	07	Volvo	V70	D5 SE (185) Estate	43k	11650	SOLD
2008	57	Volvo	V70	D5 SE Gtronic Estate	13k	16750	SOLD
2005	55	Volvo	V70	D5 AWD SE (185) Estate	76k	7100	SOLD
2006	06	Volvo	XC70	2.4 D5 SE Lux (185) Gtronic Estate	40k	13900	SOLD
2008	57	Volvo	XC70	D5 SE Estate	12k	17700	SOLD
2007	56	Volvo	XC90	2.4 D5 SE Gtronic	22k	20700	SOLD
2003	53	Volvo	XC90	2.9 T6 S Gtronic	53k	10500	SOLD
2004	04	Volvo	XC90	2.4 D5 Executive Gtronic	64k	13850	SOLD
2005	54	Volvo	XC90	2.9 T6 SE Gtronic	33k	13100	SOLD
2005	55	Volvo	XC90	2.4D SE Gtronic (Winter + Comms Pack)	60k	13850	SOLD
2004	53	Volvo	XC90	2.4 D5 SE Auto	52k	11800	SOLD
2006	06	Volvo	XC90	2.4 D5 Executive Gtronic	43k	18450	SOLD

Edited by V8mate on Wednesday 4th March 01:01

[Steve748]

Rising auction prices seem to be reflected in this months GG going on the value of my car which is now a grand more than I paid for it in December!

[spikeyhead]

I didn't write down any prices from BCA Bedford today, however a Mondeo tdci ghia X with 77k made £4300, CAP ave was £3425. That's almost £900 overbook.

I suspect that there are soon going to be a lot of dealers with stock that they'll end up taking a loss on by the time they sell.

[Plotloss]

Is that really an admittedly poverty spec Disco 3 for under £10K?

Christ, that is a MASSIVE amount of car for the money.

[V8mate]

Plotloss said:

Is that really an admittedly poverty spec Disco 3 for under £10K?

Christ, that is a MASSIVE amount of car for the money.

No - that's an old shape TD5 Disco.

Before Christmas, however, Discovery 3s were under £9.5k - today the cheapest was £3k more.

Some stunning cars there today and some unusual stuff too. The two Audi A5s were a new one for me at auction - the V8 S5 very nice.

Edited by V8mate on Tuesday 3rd March 19:56

[GT2man-2]

Great report again, thanks !

[V8mate]

Steve748 said:

Rising auction prices seem to be reflected in this months GG going on the value of my car which is now a grand more than I paid for it in December!

The guides have to do something otherwise there's little point in having them. There certainly isn't one today - trade-only or public - which is even close to what's actually happening.

In some ways, I actually think that price guides depress the market, because they allow people with no business sense to be car dealers simply by 'following the book'. It's quite exciting at the moment, because people are paying what they need to, to secure the cars they want for their business; that's a real free market in operation. And if the books didn't exist, it would make the part-exchange process much more fluid.

[JamesK]

Bloody hell crap loads of reasonably priced XC90's!

[V8mate]

JamesK said:

Bloody hell crap loads of reasonably priced XC90's!

Really?

I was standing there thinking "If these prices don't put James off XC90s once and for all...."

[seopher]

That IS220D looks cheap to me...

[V8mate]

seopher said:

That IS220D looks cheap to me...

It was a poverty-spec car.

Just realised, there were two today. The other was

2007 57 Lexus IS 200D SE 4dr 36k £12,800 SOLD

[rinker]

Driving past my local Honda and Toyota garage today and i was just saying to my mate that they had very few second hand cars for sale on the lot.

[V8mate]

rinker said:

Driving past my local Honda and Toyota garage today and i was just saying to my mate that they had very few second hand cars for sale on the lot.

Not an uncommon sight. My local BMW dealer usually has 30-50 cars - at the weekend he had 5.

He had more new cars in his showroom!

[Steve748]

V8mate said:

Steve748 said:

Rising auction prices seem to be reflected in this months GG going on the value of my car which is now a grand more than I paid for it in December!

The guides have to do something otherwise there's little point in having them. There certainly isn't one today - trade-only or public - which is even close to what's actually happening.

In some ways, I actually think that price guides depress the market, because they allow people with no business sense to be car dealers simply by 'following the book'. It's quite exciting at the moment, because people are paying what they need to, to secure the cars they want for their business; that's a real free market in operation. And if the books didn't exist, it would make the part-exchange process much more fluid.

Guides....a good name for them as that is what they are, a guide! A more accurate guide have always been what traders are willing to pay. Just before christmas a lot were going through at between £1k and £2k behind book, hindsight is a wonderful thing!

[shalmaneser]

Fascinating comparing these prices to the numbers we were looking at just a few months ago. It can't be sustainable, surely?

Was telling the old man in January that now was the time to chop in his A4 and move on to a newer model; looks like he's well and truly missed the boat on this one...

Wonder what things will look like in six months time.

As ever, thanks for the report.

[V8mate]

Steve748 said:

V8mate said:

Steve748 said:

Rising auction prices seem to be reflected in this months GG going on the value of my car which is now a grand more than I paid for it in December!

The guides have to do something otherwise there's little point in having them. There certainly isn't one today - trade-only or public - which is even close to what's actually happening.

In some ways, I actually think that price guides depress the market, because they allow people with no business sense to be car dealers simply by 'following the book'. It's quite exciting at the moment, because people are paying what they need to, to secure the cars they want for their business; that's a real free market in operation. And if the books didn't exist, it would make the part-exchange process much more fluid.

Guides....a good name for them as that is what they are, a guide! A more accurate guide have always been what traders are willing to pay. Just before christmas a lot were going through at between £1k and £2k behind book, hindsight is a wonderful thing!

It's just a shame that so many dealers seem to confuse 'guide' with 'gospel' when it suits them

[CarlT]

2005 55 Renault Megane 1.6VVT Dynamique 3dr hatch 43k 4225 SOLD

They are selling for less than £9K brand new at present !

[Deva Link]

haworthlloyd1 said:

cars dropped a lot recently and they are firming but im wondering if dealers are predicting the bottom already? i presume they are

Isn't it just due to falling new car sales failing to produce the p/x's that the used market needs?

Said it before in another thread - used prices seem to be way lower in the UK than anywhere else. They need to come up a bit so that buying new becomes less costly.

[spikeyhead]

CarlT said:

2005 55 Renault Megane 1.6VVT Dynamique 3dr hatch 43k 4225 SOLD

They are selling for less than £9K brand new at present !

I've seen the occasional car go through, less than a year old with low miles for more that you could get a brand new one from drivethedeal.com or similar. That's before you add the auction house fees on.

[Plotloss]

V8mate said:

Plotloss said:

Is that really an admittedly poverty spec Disco 3 for under £10K?

Christ, that is a MASSIVE amount of car for the money.

No - that's an old shape TD5 Disco.

Before Christmas, however, Discovery 3s were under £9.5k - today the cheapest was £3k more.

Some stunning cars there today and some unusual stuff too. The two Audi A5s were a new one for me at auction - the V8 S5 very nice.

Edited by V8mate on Tuesday 3rd March 19:56

Ah, I see.

That S5 however, I think its THE most elegant 'normal' car on the road currently.