Parker’s Car Price Guide: This month’s trends, best buys and great deals

New car registrations during March exceeded industry expectations, and while there were no real surprises among the vehicles at the top of the table, there are some interesting trends emerging during 2007. For example, Audi is edging ahead of BMW for new car sales. However, this is likely to turn in BMW’s favour over the coming months. BMW began the year without X5, and 3-Series Convertible, both of which are now on sale as next-generation models. Meanwhile, both 5-Series and 1-Series have undergone changes, with new versions arriving with customers just about now. Most of the mainstream players are enjoying improvements over last year’s registration figures. Something worth looking out for in the near future is the introduction of the revised Ford C-MAX. It will no longer be called Focus C-MAX and therefore won’t count as a Focus registration. Perhaps there will be more chance of seeing Astra and Corsa topping the monthly tables later in the year.

SMALL CARS:

New: Supermarkets offer big discounts on Kalos
The Chevrolet Kalos is a minor player in the small car sector, and it doesn’t take too much searching on the internet to find pre-registered examples advertised at huge discounts. We found a few 1.2 SE five-door models - which have air conditioning as standard - with delivery miles on the clock for sale at a car supermarket at £5599 – more than £2500 lower than the official list price. As well as air conditioning, the cars come with a CD radio, electric front and rear windows and a height adjustable driving seat. We also found some less well equipped 1.2 S models at dealers advertised at just under £6000 - £1200 lower than list price.

Used: Peugeot 1007 makes attractive used buy
Peugeot’s gadget-laden 1007 hasn’t been a sales success. The four-seat small car with twin electric sliding doors hasn’t caught the imagination of car buyers in the UK. There are now plenty of cars available for less than £6000, many from Peugeot dealers being sold with the added value of the company’s used approved scheme. The cheapest ones we found were with the desirable 1.6-litre petrol engine, with asking prices below £5000. Not bad for a car priced at more than £11k when new.

FAMILY CARS:

New: Thousands slashed off latest SEAT Toledo
The latest version of the SEAT Toledo seems to be wide of the mark in terms of its appeal to buyers. Perhaps it’s because it appears similar to the other models in the SEAT range and doesn’t offer a great deal extra in terms of practicality. There aren’t many about, but there are a handful of pre-registered models around offering savings of almost £3000 against list price. We found a 2006/56 2.0 TDI Stylance model advertised at £12,995. The on-the-road price for one of these cars is £16,900. Not all savings on this spacious, well-built car are so larger, but you can almost guarantee some kind of discount.

Used: Attractive and sporty Mazda6 for £5k
The Mazda6 almost singlehandedly transformed the image of Mazda in the UK, managing to tick all the right boxes for value, practicality and comfort, as well as being a far more attractive design than its Mazda 626 predecessor and offering a spirited drive for those who enjoy being behind the wheel. We found a trader seller offering a 61,000-mile 2.0 TS for £4995. This car would come with alloy wheels, a CD radio, electric windows, electronic climate control and cruise control as standard.


4X4S AND PEOPLE CARRIERS:

New: Citroën C8 people carrier best for value

The larger variety of people carriers no longer have the following they once had thanks to better designed smaller cars also capable of carrying up to seven people, that are a little easier to drive. Discounts on pre-registered models, particularly on petrol engine models, don’t come much larger than those available on the Citroen C8. If you don’t travel many miles, then spending extra cash on a diesel version might not be worthwhile. We found a 56-plate 2.0 SX model - complete with standard electric sliding rear passenger doors, for £13,995, which is £2000 lower than Citroën’s own best ‘cashback’ offer on the car.

Used: Original Outlander beginning to look cheap

The original Mitsubishi Outlander struggled to establish a presence in the UK car market, hampered by being offered without a diesel engine, and coming only with a four-speed automatic transmission. However, it was pretty good to drive - as it was based on the Mitsubishi Lancer - with a four-wheel drive system aimed more at security and traction on the road rather than excursions into rough terrain. We found a 34,000-mile car offered for £6995. but it might be worth waiting for prices to drop a little further as the more capable Outlander II is now on sale.

SPECIALIST CARS:

New: Hot Mégane is excellent value for money
Renault must have the best value hot hatchback when buying new in the Mégane Renaultsport. Although list prices are around £20k, it is possible to find internet sellers with new cars from £15k. Not as rewarding as a Focus ST nor as charismatic as a Golf GTi, but stylish and top value.