Price rise spreads to older trucks
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Long lead times on new products and a shortage of late-year used trucks are increasing interest in older stock. Steve Banner reports.
With delivery dates for new vehicles running into 2009, the handful of used Daf XF105s creeping onto the market are fetching top dollar.
Nigel Sharp of F&G Commercials says: "We've had approximately half a dozen in so far this year, all Super Spacecabs at either 410hp,460hp or 510hp, and they've all retailed at well over £60,000."
However, some Daf dealers have been wary about taking them into stock because of the high prices they have to pay and the prices they have to charge as a consequence. One explains: "They're great trucks, no question about it, but not everybody has got that kind of money."
But faced with the continued shortage of desirable late-plate stock, MAN dealership North East Truck & Van is stocking slightly older trucks than it would normally carry.Tim Robinson says:' People are looking to take 02registered vehicles from useven ones that date back further sometimesbecause they can't get hold of anything newer."
Aware that hauliers expect a particular standard of truck from a franchised dealership, no matter how old it is, Robinson is being cautious about the older vehicles he is prepared to offer-They've got to have a full service history, and we've got to know exactly where they come from."
As far as some operators are concerned, the fact that these older trucks have analogue tachographs is an advantage. But here again prices are starting to creep up as more and more buyers realise how desirable-and available they are. •