James Ruppert: New car prices have doubled in a decade - so buy used
'Carflation' is a very real phenomenon, according to our second-hand expert
These are very strange times. Nearly new used cars have been going up in value, the computer chips are missing for new motors and new car prices aren’t getting any softer. In fact, research by finance company Moneybarn suggests that some car retail prices have actually doubled over the past decade.
In case you wondered, the average cost of buying a new car increased from 2011 to 2021 by a whopping 39% from £27,675 to £38,585. Moneybarn calls it ‘carflation’, but the good thing is that we only deal with used cars on these pages.
*Click here to buy your next used car from Autocar*
Exhibit A on the carflation front is apparently the Jeep Wrangler. The 2011 price was £22,515, but it’s £48,920 now – a rise of 117.3%. The Wrangler you could buy 10 years ago is going to be different when it comes to spec and other fittings, but we will stick with it and see what we can buy. You can go really old-school and get a 2000 Sport soft-top with a 2.5-litre petrol for around £8000. Otherwise, a four-door example from 2009 looks contemporary enough. It’s a 2.8 CRD Sport Unlimited with almost 100,000 miles and four previous owners, and it can be bought for £14,995. Seems reasonable enough to me.
Next up on the list of price-risers is the Peugeot 3008, which has gone from £17,195 to £37,310. That’s a huge change, but the model was revamped in 2016, which explains some of it. You can get the early ones for less than a couple of grand. Alternatively, a facelifted 2015 example in 1.6 BlueHDi Allure guise with sat-nav, a reversing camera and a panoramic sunroof with just 45,000 recorded miles is an entirely reasonable £7995. Next up was another Pug (the 508 saloon), then the Mercedes-Benz V-Class (a van-based MPV) and then some ‘normal’ cars, starting with the Hyundai i20 and the Volkswagen Polo. Both of those were £9500 cars 10 years ago but now cost the thick end of £18,000 and £17,000 respectively. Blimey.
You can get an old i20 from around 2009 for under £1000. A 2012 1.2 Classic with just over 65,000 miles and a decent history, meanwhile, will cost you £3400. When it comes to the Polo, there are some cheap high-milers around, but I did see a 2014 1.2 TDI CR Match with a recent cambelt change, fewer than 70,000 miles and two previous owners for £5495.
I found that all rather interesting, and I do realise that new car buyers rarely suck these huge amounts of cash out of their savings account. Rather, most are PCP financing. But the point is that they’re committing themselves to the large lump sum involved in going new.
Obviously, you will be sticking with the tried, tested and rather cheaper used option.
*Tales from Ruppert’s garage*
*Land Rover series 3, mileage - 133,221*
It might not seem like much, but I paid £8.75 to watch a master at work. My local cobbler and key-cutter has saved my sartorial bacon for very modest sums. It took just a minute or two to construct my Lorry key. Having been reduced to the British Leyland original, the part-rubberised plastic one gave way the other day and caused something of a keypocalypse. Replacing the ignition key made sense, so at least I have a spare. The thing is, I have only one key for the driver’s door, passenger and rear door, fuel filler padlock and spare wheel. A full set of spares will not come cheap, but it will be much less than an electronic fob.
*Reader’s ride*
*Volkswagen Up: *Thanks to Simon for showing us his Volkswagen Up: “I bought it six years ago when I worked for a VW dealer to avoid paying too much tax, but it’s been great for my boys to drive given the cheap insurance. My youngest’s 250-mile round trips to university in Birmingham take no longer than in our Passat but get more than 60mpg. The clutch has been replaced, for which VW paid 70%, and the rear brakes have been overhauled, but that’s it after 64,000 miles. I’ve had Michelin Cross Climate tyres fitted, and they’ve really made an improvement.”
*Reader’s questions*
*Question: *I’m looking for a used electric SUV with a budget of £20,000. Is it possible to find one less than three years old? Anthony Edmunds, via email
Answer: The used market is awash with Kia Soul EVs, ranging from three to five years old, but these are high-milers. We also found a number of MG ZS EVs, many of which have been barely driven, for less than £20,000. There were examples in the higher Exclusive specification and with fewer than 500 miles on the clock. You will get around 163 miles on a full charge. Upping your budget to £23,000 will increase your options, as we found a 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric with just 7200 miles at this price point. JW
*Question: *Returning to Goodwood this year made me realise how much I missed a big, bustling car show. Are there any other events that have escaped the clutches of Covid-19 to look forward to? Mike Tilley, Leamington Spa
Car Fest South in Hampshire, which will return this year from 27-29 August, could scratch your automotive itch. The British Motor Show in Farnborough also looks set to go ahead from 19-22 August, with drift sessions, motorsport, 30 owners’ clubs in attendance and 50 supercars on display each day. And Salon Privé will return for its 16th year at Blenheim Palace in September. JW
*READ MORE*
*Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021: show report and gallery*
*Volkswagen Up review*