BMW leads private car market charge

Britain's car buyers demonstrate lack of imagination

BMW's 3-Series has emerged as the number one seller in a private car market that generated £1.81bn worth of sales during the third quarter of 2004, according to used car database, Cardata.co.uk

11,931 examples of the German executive model were advertised ‘For Sale’ over the busy July to September period, helping to push activity in the all important private-to-private car market up by 8.8 percent, or £202m, compared to the same period in 2003.

With vehicles valued at £1.81bn on the market, monitor Cardata.co.uk recorded nearly 25,000 extra owners trying to sell their vehicles privately.

More than 87 percent of the 324,000 cars advertised were priced in the £1,000 to £10,000 bracket. The average price of a vehicle for the whole private market stood at £5,540 during the third quarter.

Running the aspirational BMW badged 3 Series a close second was the ever-popular VW Golf with 10,442 vehicles to choose from.

Although there are plenty of Ford Fiestas (7,816 advertised), Renault Clios (6,675), Vauxhall Vectras (5,603) and Peugeot 306s (5,370), Cardata.co.uk also recorded no fewer than 21 Beach Buggy’s with the For Sale sign on the windscreen. The Honda and VW powered fun machines were being offered from as little as £1,000 but as high as £4,995.

Left-hand drive American imports also proved popular during the summer with no fewer than 527 vehicles, including 35 Pontiacs, 11 Buicks and 15 Corvettes, being advertised.

Cardata.co.uk collates data on every used vehicle privately advertised in regional and national classifieds.

Pos.fficeffice" />>>	Model>>	Number For Sale>>	Average Advertised Price>>
1>>	BMW 3 Series>>	11,931>>	£7,905>>
2>>	VW Golf>>	10,442>>	£5,595>>
3>>	Ford Fiesta>>	7,816>>	£3,305>>
4>>	Ford Escort>>	7,432>>	£2,410>>
5>>	Vauxhall Corsa>>	7,368>>	£3,255>>
6>>	Renault Clio>>	6,675>>	£4,216>>
7>>	Vauxhall Astra>>	6,277>>	£3,957>>
8>>	Vauxhall Vectra>>	5,603>>	£3,680>>
9>>	Peugeot 306>>	5370>>	£3,499>>
10>>	Ford Mondeo>>	4,939>>	£3,557>>