Explaining the findings, MyCarCheck.com/Trade’s LCV expert, David Hill, said: ‘July sales faded mid-month as predicted but prices remain steady despite the market going quiet. Traders continue to search for those elusive bargains, but many of the disposal people are away on holiday. We don’t expect the market to pick up until the schools go back and even then it will probably build up slowly. By mid-September it will be busy again.
‘Supply is short when it comes to small vans. Since the few Peugeot 207s around were snapped up by the trade there has been little else to fill those empty spaces.
‘In terms of car derived vans, Ford Transit Connect is still selling well. If straight, mileage doesn’t look to be a problem with these – they mostly find homes at the first time of asking. Volkswagen Caddy on the other hand is struggling a little. Even some 140bhp models in white aren’t achieving average values, while 60bhp models are really off the pace as retail buyers just aren’t interested in them. Some new-shape Renault Kangoos are entering the marketplace and we are monitoring these values closely. The first ones haven’t made much of a premium on the outgoing models.
‘Anything in the larger van sector is generally pretty good news for the trade. Citroen Dispatch still has the biggest volume and Vauxhall Vivaro is still good value. In recent weeks we have seen some of the last media vans and the running out of the Ford Transit 280 medium roofs. Also gone for a while are the orange Ford Transits from the roadside recovery company. Rest assured though, replacements for all these vehicles will soon be in the marketplace.
‘Larger panel van sales have been hit by the seasonal slowdown. We have a few long wheelbase Mercedes Sprinters in the marketplace – the clean ones will go first time but the ones that need work are struggling. The same can be said for its stable mate, the VW Crafter – a few in the market that were high mileage but straight all sold at trade values. We’ve also seen some refurbished Fiat Ducato vans achieving between trade and average values, depending on mileage.'