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

Car manufacturers find valuable economies of scale by sharing ‘platforms’ or sets of components. One such project is the Saab 9-3 which, with some different bodywork and interior trim, is the Cadillac BLS. Cadillac has now launched the BLS Wagon. Cadillac has also said there is to be parity of pricing between petrol and diesel and between saloon and Wagon. And BLS models will only be available as one high-spec model with leather and satellite navigation as standard. This means a 180bhp diesel Wagon costs virtually the same as the 210bhp petrol saloon. Good value, perhaps, but when you compare it with an equivalent, near-identical, Saab 9-3 Sportwagon, the value is more startling. Choose options on the Saab to match the Cadillac’s spec, and the 9-3 Sportwagon is actually £8500 more expensive than the US-badged car. Not everyone will want a Caddy, but if you’re keen on the Saab Sportwagon and live near one of the few Cadillac dealers, it’s certainly worth a look.

SMALL CARS:

New: Ibiza is one to watch as new model nears
We’ve seen a few discounted SEAT Ibizas recently at main dealers. These cars were already registered and were priced at £1000 or more lower than the official list price. While this might sound attractive, the Ibiza could be one to watch over the coming months. A new five-door model is due in the summer, while the three-door will continue in its current shape until the end of this year. In the next few months dealers will be keener to see the back of any examples of the current model they may have in stock. The Ibiza looks quite sporty and is well equipped for the money.

Used: User Forfour is distinctive and cheap
The Smart Forfour was a short-lived joint project with Mitsubishi (it shares many components with the Colt and was built in the same factory). However, it was pitched as a premium product and stands out alongside other mainstream small cars. Best models to choose for specification are the Pulse and Passion - the Pure model is rather basic - and even the 1.1-litre three-cylinder petrol engine feels quite feisty. Production of the Forfour ended in 2005 but examples were still sold as new into 2006.

FAMILY CARS:

New: Discounts on last-of-the-line Lancers
The Mitsubishi Lancer saloon is replaced by an all-new version this month, but if you’re not too bothered about driving the latest one there are significant savings to be made on outgoing models. Many Mitsubishi dealers have cars already registered to them and we found a few 1.6 Equippe models with asking prices under £8000 — lower than the £10,189 list price. The Lancer is hardly state-of-the-art, but is well equipped with alloy wheels, air conditioning, a CD/radio and electric windows. Try to haggle a bit more off the asking price, though.

Used: Focus reaches new audience below £5k
The Ford Focus has just undergone a major revision, but the second-generation car launched in 2005 is becoming accessible to more people. Prices for average mileage examples now start at less than £5000, and even the 1.4 LX has air conditioning as standard (it was unavailable in Studio models, and optional on Zetec). There is an overlap in pricing with the earlier version of the Focus, so ensure you choose the right model. The more recent Focus has a plainer, but better quality dashboard, and has calmer styling.

4X4S AND PEOPLE CARRIERS:

New: Seek out discounts on pre-reg Multipla
It’s a pretty scarce sight on UK roads, and it is getting rather long in the tooth, but the Fiat Multipla is still amazingly versatile for the money. You might have to travel to find one, but several dealers are advertising pre-registered cars with significant discounts off list price. We found one offering an 07-plate 1.9 Multijet Dynamic Plus for £11,994 — that’s a saving of almost £5000 off list price. We also discovered a later 57-plate car for just £500 more. The Multipla will seat six people and carry their luggage, and its flat floor and vertical sides means it will swallow huge loads.

Used: Used Kia 4x4 for the price of a new Fiesta
The Kia Sorento proved that Korean manufacturers could produce competent and comfortable off-roaders that looked rugged and handsome. The Sorento, introduced in 2003, is decent to drive, good off road, and adept at towing. Its styling makes it look similar to the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Lexus RX300 available when it was launched. We found diesel auto versions of the Sorento, with below average mileage, available for less than £8500. If you don’t mind spending money on fuel, you could find a 3.5 V6 petrol model for £1000 cheaper.


SPECIALIST CARS:

New: £6k off Mazda’s stylish four-seat RX-8 coupé
If petrol was cheap, the Mazda RX-8 would be an almost perfect coupé. Unfortunately it isn’t, but Mazda dealers are offering discounts on pre-registered models which make the RX-8 more tempting. We found an 07-plate model with 12 miles on the clock for under £17,000 (a saving of £6k) and 57-plate cars for a few hundred more.

Used: Citroën’s sleek range-topper at C5 prices
Two-year-old examples of the stylish and luxurious Citroën C6 are now on the market. We found a few examples with the excellent twin-turbo V6 diesel engine and in the high specification Exclusive grade. Perhaps the best prospect was a 30,000-mile car at an independent dealer with an asking price of £16,987.

Manufacturer promotions
Many manufacturers are attempting to lure new car buyers with their New Year sales promotions. Ford, Audi and Skoda are offering free goodies and upgrades to sweeten the deal. Citroen is offering cashback across its range – including £5100 cashback on the Xsara Picasso 1.6i Desire – while Hyundai, Mitsubishi, SEAT and Subaru have all knocked thousands off the list prices of a good deal of their models. The multitude of low finance deals offered by a whole host of manufacturers is also welcome.