Superminis become UK's favourite

The UK has officially become a nation of super mini lovers, according to Experian, the global information services company.

The latest used car sales statistics from Experian have revealed that sales of super minis, such as the Renault Clio and the Nissan Micra, overtook sales of small family (lower medium) cars, such as the Ford Focus or the Vauxhall Astra, during the first half of 2007, making it the most popular selling used car segment in the UK.

The lower medium segment has been the nation’s favourite type of car since Experian first started collating the used car sales data in 1999. However, the gap between lower medium cars and super minis has been closing each year and during first six months of the 2007, sales of super minis reached 1,108,051 - 0.2 per cent higher than sales of lower mediums.

The Ford Fiesta continues to be the UK’s best selling used super mini and was also the best selling used car overall during the first half of the year, while the Vauxhall Astra topped lower medium car sales.

Kirk Fletcher, Managing Director of Experian’s Automotive division, said: “With growing levels of personal debt, higher running costs, increasing tax and pressures to reduce our impact on the environment, the benefits of a smaller car are becoming more apparent to car buyers. It is not surprising that super mini sales have topped the popularity list in the used car world.”

However, Experian’s statistics show that around 78 per cent of all the cars classed as super minis that changed hands during the first half of the year were over three years old. The older the car, the more likely it is to have a hidden history that could affect the car buyer’s decision to make a purchase. This can range from the smallest issue, such as whether the car’s colour has been changed recently, to more serious matters such as whether the car is registered as stolen or has been written-off in an accident.

Car buyers can protect themselves by taking two simple steps - carrying out an AA Car Data Check (powered by Experian) and an AA Vehicle Inspection.

Ian Clark, Operations Director for AA Vehicle Inspections, added: “Car buyers need to exert caution when purchasing any car.

“Over 90 per cent of all the ‘seemingly OK’ cars that have been checked by AA Vehicle Inspections have needed essential or advisable repair work and we have advised our customers that they should either reconsider the purchase or make sure repairs are carried out before buying.

“Getting a car checked out should be vital part of the used car buying process. It is a small price to pay to be certain that the small fortune you are about to spend is worth it. Without carrying out a professional vehicle inspection, it might not be immediately obvious that the car you are interested in needs essential or advisable work.”