What's going on with all the 14 plate Hyundai ix35 for sale?

[sandman77]

I am in the market for a mid size suv and after browsing what's available noticed that the ix35 seems good value. There seems to be an endless supply of white 14 plate base spec models for sale all for around £13,500. On closer inspection I have noticed that they all all have S*14 number plate prefixes. The second letter is usually "A". These cars were all registered in Essex and are for sale all over the country (I am in glasgow).

So what's the deal? Where did all these cars come from? Should they be avoided for any reason?

Annoyingly my wife wants parking sensors but this spec of car seems to be £2k more expensive.

[Northernchimp]

Ex hire cars, or staff cars (can't be bothered to check but that prefix Is probably for wherever their head office is).

Buy a non-white, mid to high spec one if you don't want an ex hire car.

[sandman77]

Northernchimp said:

Ex hire cars, or staff cars (can't be bothered to check but that prefix Is probably for wherever their head office is).

By a non-white, mid to high spec one if you don't want an ex hire car.

Ah, yes that makes sense. I guess I will avoid the white ones.

[PSRG]

SA means registered in Aberdeen doesn't it, not Essex? My guess is that they're ex hire cars. I've been in and out of EDI airport around 20 times in the last 6 months, and have seen plenty of Hyundais in the Car Rental Centre! Along with pretty much every other manufacturer it has to be said - Audi and MB top the chart in my most frequently rented, and thats when booking a Golf sized car! Did get an i30 from National once though...Avis had run out of cars!

[vikingaero]

Loads in most hire car compounds we use.

[sandman77]

Sorry I meant to type E*14 (most are EO14). I am so used to Scottish prefixes I must have typed that without thinking. Definately Essex registered cars.

[anonymous-user]

My sister bought one this week from Motorpoint, ex Thrifty Car Rental (cunningly hidden named as 'the Scot Group Ltd') and they had several in good spec with metallic paint and fairly low miles. EF14 plate wherever that's from but bought in Glasgow.

For someone looking for reliable, spacious family transport with decent kit, to buy and run into the ground, they make sense.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 4th February 19:03

[Northernchimp]

If you're tempted by the long warranty have a look at the long list of exclusions before diving in.

[Steve vRS]

Hyundai were a big sponsor of the rally GB, supplying support cars so there could be a link there.

Steve

[Alpaca]

Hyundai's press cars are registered using Essex prefixes so the cars were probably originally registered by Hyundai UK, maybe ex-management or some hire/rental fleet disposal. If the former then they get fed into the Hyundai dealer network. They will likely have 'Hyundai UK' or words to effect on the numberplate as dealers don't always bother putting new plates on the cars.

[TooMany2cvs]

PSRG said:

SA means registered in Aberdeen doesn't it, not Essex?

S for Essex, innit? S for Saaaarfend, innit? S for Sharon's shaggin', innit? S for stereotype, innit...?