FLEETS are understandably wary of all-singing, all-dancing hot hatches. For many they represent all that is worrying in the world of fleet - fast driving, poor accident records, risk of theft and relatively high fuel costs. But, come time for disposal, they are beating the run-of-the-mill fleet models hands down.

Helped by a drop in insurance premiums for young people over the last few years, GTIs and sport models are becoming increasingly hot property. Glass's chief car editor Alan Cole said: 'Anything out of the ordinary is selling very well. Bread and butter ex-fleet models are harder to shift, but anything from a manufacturer's basic range with something a bit different on it is doing well. 'This has been helped by insurance for young people being much more reasonable than it was a couple of years ago.'

CAP Black Book also reports that buyers are becoming bored with run-of-the-mill vehicles. CAP publishing director Andrew Wilkinson said: 'With the fun factor returning to the market place, hot hatches seem to be outperforming the general market. Retail customers are looking for something different in contrast to the somewhat boring offerings of recent years.'