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Car buyers urged to move fast before festive deals run-out

10th December 2009 Print

If Santa is thinking of upgrading his seasonal transport from reindeer-power to horse power then he had better get a move on.

Leading motoring website motors.co.uk is warning Santa - and other motorists looking to treat themselves to a new vehicle this Christmas - they will have to move fast to take advantage of the Government’s Scrappage Scheme and VAT reduction, both of which are due to expire in the New Year.

The reduced VAT has enabled drivers to save £250 on the price of an average £10,000 car, which, coupled with the Scrappage Scheme, has resulted in a 31.6 per cent rise in new car registrations in October, according to The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd (SMMT).

However with both of these inducements due to end in January, Christmas is expected to be busier than ever and could, for the first time, surpass January as one of the industry’s busiest periods.

Katie Wardle, Marketing Manager at motors.co.uk,said: “Traditionally January has been the more popular time of year to buy a new or used car, but the recession has changed all that. With so many incentives on offer there has never been a better time to invest in a new motor.

“To mark this new trend, we decided to have some festive fun and identify Santa’s perfect car. Santa is the ultimate long-distance driver so he needs a vehicle which is economical and durable with plenty of boot space for all those presents.”

If Santa were to upgrade his delivery vehicle this year, motors.co.uk recommends a Landrover Discovery, Mercedes E-Class Estate or a Hyundai i-800 MPV as the perfect alternative transport to Rudolph.

The Discovery’s impressive off-road capabilities will guarantee that Santa reaches every home on Christmas Eve from Tamworth to Timbuktu. With seven seats, there is plenty of room for the elves to sit and presents can be stored on the roof.

For more festive fun, the Hyundi i-800 MPV’s colour changing interior lights will keep Santa and his elves in good spirits and the high-quality CD player is perfect for a Christmas sing-along. The i-800’s practical diesel engine will ensure that Santa doesn’t have to fill up too often on route.

Santa’s wooden sleigh will be long forgotten after a drive in the luxurious Mercedes E-Class Estate. The plush leather seating and in-built satellite navigation will make this his most comfortable and stress-free Christmas yet. The Mercedes also has the biggest estate load area making it perfect for storing lots of presents.

Santa was unavailable for comment.

Top Five Cars for Santa

Landrover Discovery – plenty of seats for the elves and off-road capabilities
Hyundi i-800 MPV – practical diesel engine for long trips  
Mercedes E-Class Estate – luxurious with a large boot space for storing presents
Audi RS6 – the fastest estate car on the market
Toyota iQ – small and nippy for fast deliveries