The UK’s largest used car retailer, CarShop, which has a store on Ravens Way in Northampton, has revealed the results of its latest consumer buying trends survey. This collects sales data from June 1 to August 31, 2020, following the business’s closure between March and April due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The data shows that the number of used sports cars bought during these three months across England and Wales skyrocketed compared to the same period last year – with a staggering increase of 82%.
While the East Midlands as a whole didn’t see quite the same surge in the number of sports cars bought compared to other regions, for example, where the East Midlands saw a 17% increase on last year’s figures, the North West experienced a rise of 185%, but Northampton itself did see a considerable uptick as it had 44% more sales of used sports cars this year, compared to last, and the most popular model in the area was the Mercedes-Benz E Class.
Northampton customers also increased their budgets by 6% this year, with 2019’s average spend being £11,745 and 2020’s average spend coming to £12,056.
CarShop reported that the number of used 4×4 cars bought on a national scale has also seen a year-on-year increase, rising by 17%. Sales figures of this car type in the East Midlands experienced only a very small change between 2019 and 2020, but the most popular 4×4 model in Northampton was the Range Rover Evoque.
Chris Delaney, Head of Business at CarShop Northampton, said:
“The surge of sports car sales in Northampton doesn’t surprise me – in these distressing times, people are looking for something positive, fun and exciting to distract them from the current climate. Holidays are on pause, weddings and large family gatherings are postponed, so why wouldn’t you treat yourself?”
Nigel Hurley, CEO of CarShop added:
“The bounce-back for the used car marketplace in terms of the British public’s confidence has been hugely encouraging. As other forms of transportation, such as airlines, suffer in this ‘new normal’, it seems vehicle sales are performing to nearly the same level that they were last year – if not, better.”
Find out more at www.carshop.co.uk
