Look after the pennies with economical used cars

Every car has its place. There are times when a bit of speed and panache are the flavour of the day. If you’re in a position to be shopping around for such a car then lucky you; we hope you find the car of your dreams. However, we are aware the countries in a bit of a mess at the moment, economically speaking anyway, so we feel like you might be better served with an article about the most economical used cars on offer here at Ron Skinner & Sons, in our opinion anyway.

First off, the Citroen C1 1.0

The Citroen C1 is an excellent all-round car. Unlike some economical used cars which are first and foremost cheap to run, often at the cost of drivability, the C1 is a fantastic little car to drive. We see it as the perfect car for an excursion around town. With just a one litre engine there is not all that much power available for long distance motorway journeys, although it is more than capable of dealing with them. We think it really comes into its own on the shorter trips, where it really is a lot of fun to drive.

The C1 is one of the best styled used cars internally and externally, with simplicity and functionality being the watch words. For such a small car it is surprising how easily it can comfortably accommodate four adults; and easily achieving 61.4mpg, this little gem is nothing if not economical.

Toyota Yaris

Of all the used cars on offer here at Ron Skinner, if you’re looking for a high quality, economical hatchback, you can’t go far wrong with the Toyota Yaris. The Yaris may cost slightly more than some of its rivals but it is well worth it when you bring the famed Toyota reliability into the equation. The Yaris’ reliability is almost guaranteed, even on some of the higher mileage used cars you might find, so it is very unlikely to let you down. And achieving 52.3mpg ensures it isn’t too thirsty either.

Citroen C5

Traditionally economical used cars are those that are small, but so-called super minis are not an option or everyone. If you’re looking for a spacious, family vehicle then of all the used cars on offer, the Citroen C5 is an excellent choice. The C5 has plenty of room to seat five adults and there is still room for stretching. There is a great big boot too; we are not suggesting a sixth adult could be hauled into the boot, but if your passengers are replete with luggage, then you can rest assured there’ll be plenty of room. The 1.6 HDi can muster a breathtaking 52.3mpg, making the Citroen C5 an option certainly worth your consideration.

If you’re in the market for economical used cars then browse our huge range of used cars online. Here at Ron Skinner & Sons we currently have the C1, C5 and Yaris sitting proudly on our forecourt, all available at a great price. Pay us a visit and have a look for yourself.  

September sees a rise in the price of used cars

Once again there has been a rise in the average cost of used cars, with September values rising to £6,912. The rise in price of used cars has been consistent since April, along with an increase in the value of part exchange deals.

Industry insiders believe the increase in the price of used cars is predominantly due to sales of new cars slowly dropping off. It is thought current economic conditions are playing a part in the decreasing sales of new cars, as more people are looking for a bargain which they are more likely to find in the used cars market.

The figure for September marks a rise in prices of 5.4 per cent with the value of dealer part exchanges witnessing an increase of 3.5 per cent, up to £2,289.

Small and medium sized used cars fared particularly well. It is thought people are looking to downsize to not only benefit from cheaper used cars in the first instance, but also to make savings on running costs, fuel and tax further down the line.

Part exchanges on medium sized family used cars have fared well, averaging £2,264. Part exchanges on small hatchbacks have also seen a significant rise, up 3.4 per cent to £1,872.

Another development identified by the research shows that the age of used cars sold across the UK is increasing along with the price. The average age of used cars on UK roads has risen to 7.25 years, which represents a 14 year high. It is believed this trend is one which is likely to continue as cars are better made than ever before. 

Here at Ron Skinner & Sons our prices do not reflect a September price rise. The used cars we sell represent fantastic value for money, and with such a wide choice available you are sure to find just the make, model, age and spec of used car you are looking for. Browse online and visit our showroom for a test drive. 

Top five best selling new cars

Here at Ron Skinner we aim to provide a bit of an insight into the future. The used cars in South Wales of tomorrow are the brand new cars of today, and with September’s registrations revealed we can see just which cars are likely to be in the showrooms of Ron Skinner & Sons over the next couple of years.

The Ford Fiesta remained the country’s best selling car last month, with more than 15,000 buyers picking up a new 61-plate supermini from Ford showrooms.

In good news for car manufacturers as well as those specialising in the sale of used cars in South Wales, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that the number of car registrations were higher than expected.

However, the forecasts for the sale of new cars next year is not anticipated to bring such good news for car sellers and those specialising in the retail of used cars in South Wales, with estimates being lower than industry insiders would like. It is thought the low forecast is down to continued weakness in UK domestic demand and the uncertainty across European economies.

As a seller of used cars in South Wales that is always giving, we thought a guide to the five best selling new cars would help you with those important decisions.

1st – Ford Fiesta

The Fiesta is a responsive car which is great to drive. The pick of the engines is the 1.25 Zetec.

2nd – Ford Focus

There is certainly not going to be a lack of used cars in South Wales with a Ford badge. This superb family hatchback is competitively priced and has a huge range of different specs.

3rd – Vauxhall Corsa

The Corsa is one of the most popular used cars in South Wales. It offers fantastic value and has a roomy, high-quality cabin.

4th – Volkswagen Golf

The Golf is one of the car industry’s great all-rounders. Refined and great to drive, the Golf is one of the most desirable used cars in South Wales. 

5th – Vauxhall Astra

The Vauxhall Astra is currently one of our best selling used cars in South Wales and here at Ron Skinner & Sons we have a large number currently in stock.

If you’re looking for used cars in South Wales the Ron Skinner & sons has one of the largest and most diverse ranges in the whole of the UK. Browse online and call 01495 713400 if you require any further information.

Reliability survey

Credit where it’s due, What Car? magazine do conduct a really expansive survey when they put their minds to it, and this time they’ve really outdone themselves. Here at Ron Skinner we thought it would be a big help for those of you considering buying used cars in South Wales if we brought you some of the highlights of the What Car? survey, so you don’t end up buying a car that’s slowly going to bleed you dry.

So how exactly is the reliability of used cars in South Wales measured? It’s not simply down to the number of times your car breaks down, there’s actually far more to it than that. The time required to fix used cars in South Wales is taken into account as are the costs to put everything right. The 2011 What Car? Reliability Survey has measured the reliability of 35 different makes of car and 250 models to bring you the definitive guide.

If you’ve recently bought a used car in South Wales then here’s hoping your car is in this part of the list.

And the winners are...

First place: Kia Picanto (04 - 11)
Here at Ron Skinner we’ve fallen a little bit in love with the Kia Picanto and this is the reason why. As if you needed proof that fantastic used cars in South Wales couldn’t come in tiny little South Korean packages, along comes the Picanto. Its triumph was based on a low failure rate and very low repair bills.

Second: Vauxhall Agila (00 – 08)
The Vauxhall Agila is another teeny tiny car and is easily Vauxhall’s most dependable model. Due to the Agila’s simplicity, if anything should go wrong it takes an average of just an hour to fix.

Third: Honda HR-V (98 – 06)
If you’re looking to buy used cars in South Wales then it is worth noting that Honda was the runaway winner of the most reliable manufacturer award. And coming in at third was their HR-V. Remarkably only 3% of Honda HR-Vs required any repairs at all.

If you’re in the market for used cars in South Wales, we hope this article helps to make your decision a little more informed. We currently have just one Kia Picanto in our showroom as they sell like hot cakes. This Galaxy Black beauty has just 24,895 miles on the clock and is on the market for just £4,699. For further information about any of our used cars in South Wales call Ron Skinner & Sons on 01495 713400.