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Used car transactions topped 1 million for the first time in 2014 and, if the trend so far in 2015 continues, that figure is set to increase to 1.2 million transactions.
This information comes from the bi-annual Carzone Motoring Report, which shows that 2008 cars remain the most popular as buyers are keen to move onto emissions based taxation but without spending too much money.
The data, complied using information from Carzone.ie searches, the Cartell.ie database and 1,400+ survey responses, show that while diesel rules the roost in the new car market petrol is king on the used car market - though only marginally. Fifty one per cent of used cars changing hands in 2014 were petrol powered though the figures swing to the diesel side when imports are isolated with 83 per cent on imports being diesel. These cars are being brought in from the UK despite the strong Pound vs. Euro to plug the hole left by new cars sales dropping off the cliff thanks to the economic downturn.
One thing the new and used car market both agree on is the Volkswagen Golf, it tops the new car sales charts, accounting for 5 per cent of all sales and also reclaims top spot from the BMW 3 Series as the most searched for car on Carzone.ie. Accounting for the rest of the over 100 million searches on the website were the BMW 5- and 3-Series, Ford Focus, Audi A4 and Volkswagen Passat.
Black remains the most popular colour accounting for 24 per cent of all colour searches, some 10 per cent higher than the second placed white. No matter the colour, it would appear we are using our cars for more than just driving. Respondents to the 'Favourite driving moment' aspect of the Carzone.ie survey admitted, with surprisingly regularity, to having nookie in the car. Other admissions include breaking down at an Autostrada tool booth in Italy and causing a 200-car tailback, driving over a Garda's foot at a check point and taking a wrong turn en route to Athlone and ending up in Cork.