Shop around for new car deals

When you’re looking for a new car, as well as deciding exactly what kind of vehicle you’re after and making sure you get as close to that description as possible, it’s a good idea to check out any new car offers before deciding on a particular make and model.

At the moment, each manufacturer and dealership is offering different incentives to entice people to buy their new car from them rather than the competitor. Honda, for example, offers flexible finance packages, a number of years of complimentary servicing on its CR-Z and Jazz, and with the CR-V it offers an upgrade worth £2,520 for free.

Of course, the offers that come with a new car aren’t ever enough to convince you to change from another brand that you’re particularly attached to, but if you’re non-committal about brand and one offers a better deal than another, the chances are you’d take the better deal.

Another thing to check out is the length of the warranty that a new car comes with. On the Honda hybrid CR-Z, for example, the warranty is for three years, but a current new car offer option is to extend that to four years.

The standard length of warranty is three years in Europe, but the manufacturer which offers the longest warranty is Kia. Kia offers a seven year or 100,000 mile warranty on all its models. Similarly, its parent company Hyundai offers a five year warranty with unlimited mileage and Fiat has a five year warranty on some of its models.

Of course, buying a new car is far more expensive than buying a second hand one. And as soon as you leave the showroom or forecourt, the car depreciates in value considerably, so you have to weigh up the advantages of any new car offers against the extra cost involved.

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New car or used car?

If you’re thinking about changing your car – is it wiser to buy new or used?
Conventional financial wisdom has it that used cars generally present better value than used cars. This is because a brand new car has lost a great deal of its value the moment you sign on the dotted line. It is, by definition, immediately second-hand and the value added tax completely seals the deal.

On the whole, it remains true that used cars offer better value for money. But many of us are simply happier buying a brand new car. If you’re one of these people, then there are a few things you should consider in the name of ‘fighting back’ against the additional expense.

First of all, you have peace of mind. If you buy a good quality make of car, then it comes with a legal warranty and if you look after it, it should give you many years of completely trouble-free motoring. You know where it’s been and what it’s been through.



It goes without saying that you should also hunt around for the best possible new car offers you can find. In the current tough economic climate, carmakers and car sellers are having to fight harder for your business, trimming their margins and coming up with all sorts of special offers. So make sure you drive a hard bargain; remember - you can always simply walk away from the deal.

If you are thinking about a new car, consider a hybrid car. Hybrid cars are topping the miles per gallon charts and qualify for subsidies and tax relief in most countries.

Also, these are very much the ‘coming thing’, which suggests you should be able to get a good second-hand price, if you pick the right manufacturer, when you want to trade up in a few years’ time.
Overall, it comes down to personal choice. If it’s all about money – then used cars still have the edge. But if it’s complete peace of mind you’re after, and you can afford it, buy new.

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