The traditional surge in winter values for 4X4s has not occurred in 2015, in a similar pattern to 2014, according to Glass’s, which has suggested such surges may be a thing of the past.
According to the company, relatively mild winters may have been a cause of the levelling of demand.
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Rupert Pontin, head of valuations at Glass’s, said: "Going back five or six years, we had a couple of white winters and a corresponding retail upsurge in demand for 4x4s, especially for what you might call serious off roaders.
"This established a pattern in the mind of dealers and, for a couple of winters afterwards, we saw an increase in demand from the trade but, thanks to warmer weather, no retail surge. This left a lot of dealers going into spring carrying an excess of 4×4 stock, which they had to trade out of at a loss.
"Dealers have a long memory for this kind of error, so are now extremely cautious about the numbers of 4x4s that they buy over winter, especially if the season remains relatively mild."
An additional factor Pontin mentioned was that 4X4s were no longer seen as seasonal purchases, on account of how well provisioned for general, all year round use they have become.
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By GlobalDataConversely, for larger, heavier duty 4x4s which tend to be less efficient, Pontin said the problem was compounded by high levels of discounting for new vehicles and high levels of road tax for high polluting vehicles, which dilutes consumer demand.
Pontin said: ""Really, high taxation and substantial discounting means that buying used at anything at up to even five years makes a limited amount of sense. Motorists willing to pay the high running costs for this kind of vehicle may as well buy new and enjoy advantages such as a manufacturer warranty."
The situation could change if the weather takes a turn for the worse: "If this took place, dealers could very well find themselves with too little 4×4 stock, leading to a buying frenzy and a subsequent spike in values but there is no sign of that happening so far this winter."
