1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168 
Crunch time for used vans
Page 52
Page 53
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Demand for used vans was erratic in April, claims British Car Auctions, as the effects of the credit crunch began to bite.
Words: Kevin Swallow
After more than two years of abundance and strong prices in the used van market, the industry signs are now suggesting something of a slump. One unnamed new and used van dealer in Manchester has been struggling to move second-hand stock off the forecourt as demand and willingness to pay market value are starting to subside. "I could drop my prices and lose money, but that would set a trend, and, as a business, you need to be profitable. "The trend for van prices seems to match current falling house prices. You think you know what a van is worth, but buyers aren't willing to go that high. "Some are starting to shop around again. Even quality stock won't tempt them. It's not a huge number, but enough to create a downturn in your profits," he says. George Alexander, chief commercial vehicle editor at Glass's Guide, is more pragmatic. "We've had a good couple of years' run with values holding; now it's moving back to the norm," he says. However, Alexander has a warning for businesses looking to replace their vehicles at a time when the muchhyped credit crunch has yet to fully play out. "They won't take on board that commercial vehicles won't escape scot free as the national economy suffers," he says. British Car Auctions' report on April values suggests a ripple effect from the credit crunch. Duncan Ward, UK business development manager for CVs, says: "Despite fleet and lease van values rising, there are increasing numbers of ex-lease short-, mediumand long-wheelbase vans available.
"Many of these vans are in poor condition and unpopular colours, and in the current market, buyers are not prepared to go out on a limb for any van requiring repair. While there is still plenty of demand for the best retail-ready vans at auction, overall, the market is patchy with buyers being particularly cautious. "While nearly-new values fell in April, this is largely due to the changing model mix at BCA. Late-plate, low mileage 4m-wheelbase vans remain desirable, although 4x4 double-cabs have experienced some price pressure.
"Part-exchange values have also fallen, but some of this is down to the increasing age and mileage of these vans by the time they reach the remarketing sector.
"It seems users are running vans just that little bit longer before trading them in on another vehicle.
"Mileage has been averaging up to 95,000 this year, and this must impact on values." • Van prices at BEA (April) Nearly new: £10,195 down £680 on March Fleet/lease: £4,126 up £92 on March Part-exchange: £2,251 down £82 on March