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

Luxury saloons have lost out to top-end 4x4s in recent years in terms of their resale value. It used to be that the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Jaguar XJ were relatively safe places for companies to invest £40,000 or so for their directors and chairmen to drive around in for three years. However, the appeal of premium 4x4s like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz ML, as well as a growing appetite for diesel in large cars, has made the traditional luxury saloon less desirable. It is possible to pick up a four-year-old aluminium-bodied Jaguar XJ6 for less than £14,000, and there is no shortage of other large premium saloons, such as the BMW 7-Series, Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class at a similar age for similar money. It’s better news for Volkswagen’s rival, the Phaeton. Although the Phaeton looks rather pricey at £16k and upwards, considering the brand’s lack of heritage in the luxury saloon sector, there are fewer around and with them generally having lower mileage and most kept within the VW network it would appear that dealers are able to ask higher prices.

SMALL CARS:

New: Pre-reg Peugeot runabout is great value
It isn’t the first time we’ve drawn attention to the Peugeot 1007 in our reports, but we think buying a pre-registered (or nearly new) example represents incredible value compared with official list prices. The 1007 has been slow to sell from Peugeot showrooms crammed full of good small cars. So it’s not difficult to find cars registered to dealers having covered only delivery mileage with savings in excess of £5000 compared with the £11,000-plus on price lists. The cheapest one we found was at £6495, but it’s possible to find 07-reg examples at less than £7000.

Used: Panda proves its worth as a used model
The Fiat Panda of 2004 was proof that Fiat is still very good at making small cars. A cosy four-seater, the Panda is great for nipping around town, and is available with a wide range of equipment. The least expensive on the used market is the entry-level 1.1 Active model, which is fine if you’re happy with a cassette player instead of a CD. Otherwise look for a 1.2 Dynamic model, which is rather happier than the 1.1 on the motorway and is more likely to be fitted with more desirable features, like air conditioning.

FAMILY CARS:

New: Delivery mileage Subaru for less than £10k
In October 2005 Subaru introduced a new entry-level Impreza Sport Wagon called the 1.5R. Not many came to the UK and most were accounted for in the first few months of sale. However, we’ve found a few Subaru dealers advertising 07-plate versions of the car at less than £10,000. When you add in the cost of metallic paint on the five cars we found it represents a saving of almost £3000 over the official list price of £12,872. With the 1.5-litre engine the Impreza isn’t that quick, but it is well equipped and offers the security of four-wheel drive in poor conditions. A newer version of the Impreza is now on sale.

Used: Stand-out styling, great kit and good value
Nissan’s final Primera model always looks good value in the used market. Nissan stopped producing the model for the UK in 2006 because of slow sales, and if you choose a model registered after August 2004, you’ll be getting the final development of the car. Choose a 54-reg or later to be sure, as these models are better to drive and have more kit. We found a 20,000-mile 1.8 SE on a 54-plate which comes with alloy wheels, automatic climate control, a CD player and a rear-view camera for reversing.

4X4S AND PEOPLE CARRIERS:

New: Rare savings on BMW’s X3 compact 4x4
The BMW X3 is not as desirable as the larger X5 model, which often results in dealers offering significant discounts on pre-registered vehicles. Used X3 models with up to 5000 miles on the clock being sold under BMW’s Approved Used Cars scheme are quite common, but it is possible to find a few with only delivery miles on the clock what will show the dealer as the first owner. The least expensive 2.0d model we found advertised was an 07-plate SE at £24,945 - a saving of almost £4000 over the official list price. The X3 isn’t a proper off-roader, but will deal with most light off-road duties.

Used: Grand Espace is a practical people carrier
Renault’s Grand Espace is a good deal more useful than the standard model thanks to its extra length behind the rear wheels. It means carrying seven people plus luggage isn’t the challenge it would be in the standard Espace. The best engine in terms of balancing performance and fuel economy is the 2.2 dCi, which is available both with a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic. We found a 59,000-mile Expression model on a 53-plate with an asking price of £8995, as well as slightly newer, lower mileage model advertised by a private seller for £9500.

SPECIALIST CARS:

New: Savings on Mazda’s racy four-door coupé
Mazda offers two versions of the RX-8. The lower power version, which still musters 192bhp seems in less demand, and it’s possible to find pre-registered examples with big savings. List price for one with metallic is £21,850, we found several at £17,995. Thirsty, but practical and fun.

Used: Latest Honda Legend dips below £25,000
Honda’s latest Legend is a hi-tech sports saloon that costs nearly £40,000 new. The earliest examples are now at Honda dealers with prices as low as £24,995 for a 9000-mile car fitted with the extra safety kit. Thoroughly engineered great to drive, rare and should prove very reliable.