S is for...

Safety kit

Makers know they face a battle to convince buyers to specify safety options. Unlike alloys, leather or metallic paint, these life-saving extras aren’t visible. And as all cars have ABS and airbags as standard, drivers don’t feel they need further protection from the likes of ESP, blind spot warning and collision avoidance cameras. 

This is a view confirmed by Glass’s Jeff Patterson. “There is 

an expectation among second-hand buyers that modern cars 

are safe anyway,” he explained. “So they don’t think it’s worth paying extra for intangible kit that makes them even safer.”

However, the increased outlay could be worth every extra penny, even if you don’t recoup your investment at trade-in time. For instance, a 2007 Department for Transport study concluded that a staggering 380 lives could be saved and 7,800 accidents prevented each year if all cars in the UK were fitted with ESP.

On most price lists, ESP will add less to the price than optional metallic paint. And while the electronic safety net won’t make your pride and joy look any better parked on your drive, it will give you and your family peace of mind money can’t buy. Put simply, if it’s not fitted as standard, make sure you tick the box marked ‘ESP’.