HERE'S my rundown of what's making it in the prestige car market...and those cars ending up as also rans.

HOT

Audi A5 Sportback

THIS five-door variant suffered some negative feedback in the industry pre-launch, but is now performing well on the used market. Volume continues to be low and demand (for now at least) is matching or exceeding this.

Jaguar XF

THE Jaguar XF is hanging on particularly well to the RV crown in the large executive sector. The competition are all too new to appear on the used radar and, although volume is up on last year (due to the demise of X-Type), a production issue has meant less volume than Jaguar anticipated six months ago. Values will continue to be affected gently by the summer lull, but 3.0 (petrol), 2.7d and 3.0d continue to outperform, especially Premium Luxury models.

MINI

VALUES for the MINI continue to defy gravity, having been sector- (and close to market-) leading for nine years. Despite hundreds of thousands in the market, demand continues to be well balanced with supply. All variants (yes, even diesel and Clubman) continue to perform, with nothing (not even Audi A1 introduction) looks like denting the MINI's universal appeal.

NOT

Audi A5 Coupe

AFTER several years of dominating the sector and having RVs that are second to none, the strain is starting to appear on the grille of the Audi A5 Coupe. Values are now under pressure, and falls this month are likely to be matched in August's edition of Glass's Guide.  It's still a cracking car, but used car buyers are left to question whether it is £3,000 better than the equivalent BMW 3 Series Coupe.  I'd say the answer is 'no' and values appear to be re-aligning right now.

BMW 5 Series GT

Not received well by the market (the buzz is: shouldn't a premium 5 Series be more attractive, not less?). Supply, although limited, is exceeding demand, so values are under pressure. Most trade buyers I speak to are not planning to add to their stock, unless they have to.

SE and lower spec models

PREMIUMS for models with sports styling – think, for example, Sport (Mercedes-Benz), M Sport (BMW) and S line (Audi) – are already very healthy, but the market continues to shun base models and SE grades. Will the time come when these non-sporty offerings are so much cheaper that they sell quickly as value-for-money buys? Well, perhaps, but not yet, and next month's Glass's Guide will see the gap to the sports variants (especially Audis and BMWs) grow further still.

You can read more of Richard's views on the prestige car market here: http://www.glassguide.co.uk/Editors-Blog.