NW used car sales continue to slide

NORTH West used car sales fell 5.8% in the third quarter of 2009, new data shows.

Sales for July to September were down on the previous year, with sports utility vehicles (SUVs) suffering the most dramatic decline in sales (9.8%), according to data company Experian.

The figures, which show that a total of 174,000 vehicles were sold in the period across the region, were also 3.1% down on the previous quarter.

Used sports cars were the only type of used car to see a year-on-year increase in sales in the North West, up 9.1% on the third quarter of 2008. However, sales volumes of 6,167 were 7.6% than in the previous three months of 2009.

But super mini vehicles were still the most popular type of car by volume, with more than 55,500 being sold across the region in the period.

Mark Nuttall, general manager of Experian’s automotive business, said: “Although demand for used cars has declined, cost savings and value for money are certainly still focusing the minds of car buyers. Cars that are cheaper to run, such as electric, diesel and hybrid, are continuing to see sales rise.
 
“Used sports cars, however, are bucking the trend, with demand for diesel models in particular seeing a 75% increase.”