- Used car of the month: BMW i3 (2013-)
- Used bike of the month: Norton Commando 961 Café Racer (2015-)
Mycarcheck.com’s valuation experts reveal significant trends in the UK used vehicle market and choose a car and bike of the month.
Valuation services team manager at mycarcheck.com, Jon Wheeler, said: “The BMW i3 launched in 2013, making it one of the world’s first mass-produced pure electric vehicles. A truly eco-friendly car from manufacture to disposal, BMW says it is 95% recyclable and made using 100% energy from renewable sources. It’s not all about the green credentials though. There’s also the luxury and lure of the premium German brand, and great driving dynamics, helped by near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution. Expect to achieve between 80 and 100 miles from a full charge, depending which drive mode you select. If you suffer from range anxiety, and your budget will stretch, models with a range extender engine can go for around 180 miles. As with any used purchase, but perhaps even more so in the fledgling used EV market, do your own history check to find out exactly what you’re getting into.”
As to market trends, Wheeler said: “The new car sales figures for July showed a 1.2% increase on the same month last year, partly thanks to a push to register the last NEDC homologated cars ahead of the switch to the WLTP emissions test in September. Lead times on WLTP homologated cars is becoming a serious issue, with delivery on some models taking up to six months from the order date. To save disappointment, ask for a realistic keys-in-hand date before committing to a new vehicle – if it is ages, a nearly-new model might be the solution. Of course, September will also see the launch of the new 68 plate, creating an influx of trade-in and de-fleet vehicles into the used market. If you look hard enough and do your homework, you’ll find some real bargains over the next few months.”
On the motorbike, scooter and moped sector, mycarcheck.com’s Mark Field said: “As quintessentially British as strawberries and cream, the Norton Commando Café Racer is the perfect bike for the beautiful summer we’re having. The bold classic look and exceptionally high build quality ooze refinement, and the MKII version (from 2015 onwards) builds upon the previous generation’s already high standard. It boasts an impressive in-house designed engine, 43mm adjustable Ohlins upside down forks, Ohlins adjustable twin shocks on the rear, and a full set of Brembo mono-bloc calipers complete with front and rear master cylinders. This elegant bike will stand the test of time, so residual values are high. Expect to pay £12,000-£14,000 for a clean used example, but if you look after it you shouldn’t lose much on resale.”
As to market trends, Field said: “The summer of 2018 is the gift that keeps on giving for the two-wheeled industry, with the prolonged sunny weather elevating registration figures to levels that seemed wildly optimistic while the Beast From The East was doing its worst. Total registrations, including scooters and mopeds, are up 7.8%, with the motorcycle market up 9.2%. This long-awaited upturn is welcome news for dealers and manufacturers alike. The largest growth in bike registrations is in the 126-650cc category, at the cheaper end of the spectrum. Apart from that it is still is a bit of a mixed bag, with supersport registrations down 20% and touring bikes also falling out of favour. Hey, the sun’s shining so let’s focus on the positives: the used market continues to flourish and hundreds of new riders are discovering the joy of biking.”
With information from the police, DVLA, insurers and finance houses, My Car Check holds comprehensive data on every vehicle on UK roads – things that buyers should be aware of before making an offer.
CDL Vehicle Information Services, which owns My Car Check, performs over a million look-ups a day for companies including AutoExpress, CompareTheMarket, Go-Compare, Moneysupermarket, Swiftcover and Tesco.
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