Although demand for Mazdas and Mitsubishis is hardly on fire, medium sector Japanese imports are generally faring well in the used market.

Not many models of any type can claim to be under-booked at present – but the classy-looking new Galant estate is certainly one of them.

We tried to buy a mint 97R 2-litre GLS estate with 18k for book the other day – but both leading guides sounded way too cheap to me. Sure enough, several dealers were already in with bids of around £13,000. They reckoned they could retail it several times over for close to £15,000.

If anything the 2.5-litre is even stronger, with a choice auto on 97P with 17k trading-on for £13,900 last week. Similarly the Mazda 323F is scarce on late letter and beating the guides quite easily if straight. The V6 GLX/ZXi is particularly wanted for retail and I have yet to see a clean, average mileage example trade for under £8,000.

We recorded a pretty blue ZXi on 96N with 35k moving in the trade for a strong £10,500, to be rapidly retailed for £11,795.