Battle Depreciation, Buy A Used MINI
UK Sales figures of cars sold during the first quarter of 2009 have recently been released and they are down by 30 per cent from the same period last year, but is this really a surprise? Well, I for one am surprised: 313,912 cars have been sold during this period and I am not at all surprised by the 30 per cent decrease in sales, but what I am surprised about is that 313,912 people could actually afford to buy a brand new car during the current economic climate.
In fact, just because sales figures are down on brand new car purchases doesn’t mean to say that fewer people are upgrading their car – or even downgrading as the case may be. Used car sales are performing strongly through the current credit crunch but the main requirements for used car purchasers have changed considerably.
The most common factors that people would class as priorities when buying a used car were colour and speed (0-60mph). Now the balance is shifting, people are putting on their sensible hats as the most fundamental factor considered when buying a car at present is reliability. People don’t want to buy a car only to have to fork out for hefty repair bills at the best of times, and especially not during a recession!
MINI’s are the least depreciating car that money can buy according to Parker’s Car Guide who say that an average brand new MINI purchased in 2007 would have lost as little as 1388 pounds after one year’s ownership – just 27 pounds depreciation per week. And the same applies beyond the first year of ownership as used MINI cars hold their value very well – better than any other car on the market – which is a huge selling point in today’s market.
Since BMW acquired the ownership of the Mini brand, almost 1.5 million units have been manufactured in the UK, making the MINI the most popular hatchback car in the UK once again as it was in the 60s and 70s. Used MINI cars are sought after and because of the sound build quality coupled with the aesthetical stylishness of this iconic car makes it the full package.
When BMW redesigned the MINI many enthusiasts of the original were disappointed with the new model with many suggesting that the extended size of the car defeated the object of the original Mini – the MINI being 12 inches wider and 22 inches longer than the original. Many believed that a BMW hatch with a MINI badge on it was an insult to the original, but despite this it was an overnight success.
And this success continues to keep going, even during a recession! Used buyers know that purchasing a used MINI will not be a gamble provided they buy from an authorised dealership – private sales offer bargains but your purchase is never safeguarded by a warranty. So if you’re in the market for an upgrade, consider a used MINI, it safeguards your investment and you’ll have a lot of fun driving it – not to mention looking chic along the way!
0 Comments
You can be the first one to leave a comment.