Parker’s Car Guides: April trends, best buys and great deals
February has become the weakest month for new car registrations as buyers tend to hold off until March when the new registration comes in. The benefit of waiting for the 07-plate instead of a late 56-plate could mean the car is worth hundreds of pounds more when you come to sell it. Let’s take the country’s best seller, the Ford Focus, as an example. A five-door 1.6 Zetec with climate pack registered on February 28 2006 with 10,000 miles on the clock would now be worth £8910 if sold privately. If the customer had waited until the day after and got the same car registered on March 1, 2006, it would be worth £9260 - £350 more - such is the sensitivity of the market to the March registration plate. When we changed to a twice-yearly plate change in September 1998, September was originally the most popular month for new car registrations, with August having been the boom month under the previous system. But gradually March has become to most popular month to take delivery of a new model.SMALL CARS:
New: Three-door Colt offers cheap motoring
Mitsubishi’s Colt is an often overlooked versatile small car. It’s spacious and good to drive, plus it’s relatively easy to find a cheap one if you look at stock already registered to the dealer. We found a selection of Colt CZ1 models registered over the last six months or so, with delivery miles on the clock and an asking price under £6000 – about £1500 less than the official on-the-road price. The Colt CZ1 comes with twin airbags, remote central locking, a CD/radio, electric front windows, a trip computer, and split/folding/reclining rear seats. The 1.1-litre three-cylinder engine is feisty and economical too.
Used:Used Picanto comes with choice features
If you need a compact runabout with five doors and a few creature comforts, the Kia Picanto looks like a good choice. Choose a 1.1LX model and you get a 64bhp engine, a CD/radio which can play MP3 files on CD, remote central locking, alarm, electric windows and door mirrors, plus air conditioning. We found a private seller offering a 14,000-mile example on a 54-plate for £3500. Newer versions sell for only slightly higher, and there will be more of the manufacturer’s warranty left on the car.
FAMILY CARS:
New: Laguna makes a bargain new family car
Renault’s Laguna is in a sector of the market that the British consumer is passing over in favour of more versatile or more upmarket vehicles. However, if you choose a pre-registered car it represents a huge saving over list price. We found a 56- registration 2.0 Expression hatchback advertised at £10,000. A little more will by a higher specification Dynamique model, and we also found a high-performance 2.0 turbo GT on an 06-plate with delivery mileage advertised at £11,995 - a reduction of nearly £10,000 off its list price. The Laguna will be replaced by an all-new model late this year, so now is the time to look for a bargain.
Used: Hi-tech Primera is great value used buy
The Nissan Primera is not as popular as it used to be. But the most recent version of the car - no longer on sale in the UK - had plenty of equipment and was good to drive. Choose one with a 54-registration to be sure of picking the latest version - these had more kit, nicer interiors and were better on the road than those from 2002 to mid-2004. We found a 1.8 SX with 22,000 miles on the clock for £5995. This comes with a six-CD changer, colour reversing camera, cruise control and 17-inch alloys.
4X4S AND PEOPLE CARRIERS:
New: Big discounts on Volvo’s off-road estate
Volvo’s XC70 is based on the successful V70 estate, but is distinguished by its extra ground clearance along with its all-wheel drive system, The current version is in its last few months of production and Volvo dealers are already offering healthy discounts on pre-registered cars. We found several XC70 D5 SE models fitted with Volvo’s Geartronic automatic gearbox for less than £27,000 - about £5000 less than the car’s on-the-road price. This is a bigger saving that you’d be able to make on its nearest rival, the Audi Allroad, which is a more capable vehicle, but whose prices start at just under £34,000.
Used: Multipla seats six and swallows luggage
The Fiat Multipla is a cleverly designed vehicle. It offers an alternative to the typical five-seat/seven seat compromise in compact people carriers. Five seat cars offer only a small benefit over a traditional family hatchback, while seven-seat versions have little luggage space when all seven seats are used. The Multipla seats six and offers 430 litres of luggage space up to window height. Its stance makes it easy to handle on the road. Earliest examples of the Multipla, with a 1.6 petrol engine and average mileage, sell from £2500. Diesels are slightly higher.
SPECIALIST CARS:
New: Pick up a new Copen convertible for £10k
The Daihatsu Copen has recently swapped its 659cc turbo engine for a 1.3-litre four-cylinder. There are a few 659cc Copen models registered to dealers with asking prices under £10,000. This is the cheapest folding hard-top convertible on sale in the UK and depreciation is slow.