My Car Check market guide: September 2016

Used car market boosted by 66 plate as sunshine prompts late flurry of bike sales activity

• Used car of the month:BMW 335d M Sport TouringE91

• Used bike of the month:Ducati Streetfighter 1100

My Car Check's valuation experts reveal significant trends in the UK used vehicle market and choose a car and bike of the month.

Head of Valuation Services at My Car Check, Gavin Amos, said:"The BMW 335d M Sport Touring makes perfect sense for those looking for practicality combined with effortless power. The smooth automatic transmission makes use of every ounce of the huge power and torque available. Combine that with a more than capable chassis and you have a package capable of satisfying drivers of all abilities. While used values are strong, theE91 models,produced until 2013, are now surprisingly affordable. High mileage shouldn't be an issue particularly if the car has full BMW main dealer history."

As to market trends, Amos said: "The used market picked up throughout September with many dealers and traders reporting strong enquiry levels. For main agents, attention has switched back to used cars following the introduction of the new 66 plate. With winter approaching, will we see a surge in 4x4 sales activity as we have in recent years? We think yes, but maybe not to the same extent as three years ago when prolonged severe weather boosted sales and values. Last year, many dealers who gambled and stocked up in preparation for a 4x4 boom had their fingers burnt by a mild winter."

On the motorbike, scooter and moped sector, My Car Check's Rob Hobson said:"Our used bike of the month for September is the Ducati Streetfighter 1100, a stunning machine to look at which fits into the Super Naked category. It has a slightly retuned 1098 superbike engine with more than enough grunt to make it a great road bike, or you can spend more and go for the S model, which has Ohlins suspension and Marchesini wheels. For some these upgrades are important for style as much as anything, but the base model is still a fantastic option. As always, check the history to avoid a lot of the common used market pitfalls." 

As to market trends, Hobson said: "It really has been an unusual year in the used two-wheel market. Some traders say they are busier than ever, but against that used bikes advertised through the classifieds seem harder to move. Values have not been affected too much yet, although we expect demand to slow markedly in the weeks ahead. The good weather in September certainly had a positive effect, prompting a late flurry of activity. It is going to be an interesting close to the year because, while demand for the best clean used bikes is likely to remain high, owners may also look to keep their existing bike rather than selling in the off-peak months. If that is indeed the trend, it will further reduce availability of used stock for the trade."

With information from the police, DVLA, insurers and finance houses, My Car Check holds comprehensive data on every vehicle on UK roads - thingsthat buyers should be aware of before making an offer.

CDL Vehicle Information Services, which owns My Car Check, performs over a million look-ups a day for companies including AutoExpress, CompareTheMarket, Go-Compare, Moneysupermarket, Swiftcover, Tesco and WhatCar?.