Don’t count on a new vehicle discount

Would you pay complete price tag for a new auto?

Most purchasers are ready to haggle to get a great deal in the auto showroom – and for years motorists have enjoyed generous discounts of up to 20% or more.

But the days of big discount could be numbered as dealers slash the savings on offer you to customers. The average discount at the end of February was 9.4%, compared with 10.3% just 6 months ago, according to figures from What Car?’s Target Price tag team.

The discounts can make a large difference to cash-strapped buyers.

Take the new Ford Concentrate. The recommended price tag is £13,995 for a basic model. If the dealer gives a discount of 8.3%, you could spend £12,554. But if the discount is only 9.4%, the automobile will cost £12,680, or £126 much more.

Size matters

You can secure the largest discounts if you are buying an executive, luxury or open-prime automobile. In truth, the savings obtainable on the leading-end cars have really gone up month on month by .7%.

It’s motorists who prefer (or who are restricted to) little cars who are not so fortunate. The discounts have dropped from 79% to 7.6% on compact models. But purchasers of chunky SUVs are similarly squeezed, with savings slumping from 7.9% to 7.1%.

Viva Volvo

If you want to know the UK’s most significant discounter, it’s the Swedish auto manufacturer Volvo, providing an typical of 14.7% off its models.

Renault is also generous, with average discounts of 13.6%. So also is BMW, with an average saving of 13.2%.

With discounts in decline, it is even far more crucial to shop about – including between marques – in search of the largest savings.

But why are savings shrinking?

Driving demand

It’s all down to provide and demand. Properly, primarily demand.

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The credit crunch put the dampeners on demand for new cars. A lot of men and women could hardly afford to spend their gas bill, never thoughts splash out on a new set of wheels.

But consumer confidence is steadily growing, supported by a stronger economy and healthier employment figures.

Today’s a lot more confident customer has fuelled a surge in demand for new vehicles, culminating in new vehicle sales hitting a 10-year higher of far more than 2.5 million in 2014.

Of course, if we are keen to buy automobiles, dealers don’t need to lure us into the showroom. Hence the disappearing discounts, particularly for well-known cars.

Difficult occasions

Jim Holder, editor of What Auto?, says: “We have always encouraged purchasers to haggle to get a good deal, but buyers should be aware that it’s going to become much harder to come away with a substantial discount in the coming months.

“There are nonetheless some sectors, such as executive and luxury automobiles, where a very good deal can be negotiated, but the signs from some of the most common segments of the market show that companies are starting to stand firmer on their prices.”

Don’t count on a new vehicle discount

Do not count on a new car discount

Would you spend full cost for a new auto?

Most purchasers are prepared to haggle to get a very good deal in the auto showroom – and for years motorists have enjoyed generous discounts of up to 20% or a lot more.

But the days of large discount could be numbered as dealers slash the savings on provide to consumers. The typical discount at the end of February was 9.4%, compared with 8.3% just 6 months ago, according to figures from What Vehicle?’s Target Price team.

The discounts can make a huge distinction to money-strapped customers.

Take the new Ford Concentrate. The advisable price tag tag is £13,995 for a simple model. If the dealer offers a discount of 10.3%, you could pay £12,554. But if the discount is only 9.4%, the automobile will cost £12,680, or £126 much more.

Size matters

You can secure the greatest discounts if you are getting an executive, luxury or open-prime car. In truth, the savings accessible on the prime-finish automobiles have truly gone up month on month by .7%.

It’s motorists who favor (or who are restricted to) little automobiles who are not so fortunate. The discounts have dropped from 8.9% to 7.6% on compact models. But buyers of chunky SUVs are similarly squeezed, with savings slumping from 7.9% to 7.1%.

Viva Volvo

If you want to know the UK’s largest discounter, it’s the Swedish car manufacturer Volvo, supplying an typical of 14.7% off its models.

Renault is also generous, with typical discounts of 13.6%. So as well is BMW, with an average saving of 13.2%.

With discounts in decline, it is even much more critical to shop around – including amongst marques – in search of the most significant savings.

But why are savings shrinking?

Driving demand

It’s all down to supply and demand. Properly, mainly demand.

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The credit crunch put the dampeners on demand for new vehicles. A lot of people could hardly afford to spend their gas bill, by no means thoughts splash out on a new set of wheels.

But consumer self-assurance is steadily growing, supported by a stronger economy and healthier employment figures.

Today’s a lot more confident consumer has fuelled a surge in demand for new automobiles, culminating in new car sales hitting a 10-year higher of more than 2.5 million in 2014.

Of course, if we are keen to buy automobiles, dealers don’t require to lure us into the showroom. Hence the disappearing discounts, particularly for well-liked cars.

Hard instances

Jim Holder, editor of What Automobile?, says: “We have constantly encouraged purchasers to haggle to get a great deal, but buyers need to be aware that it is going to turn out to be considerably tougher to come away with a substantial discount in the coming months.

“There are nevertheless some sectors, such as executive and luxury vehicles, where a good deal can be negotiated, but the signs from some of the most popular segments of the market place show that makers are starting to stand firmer on their prices.”

Do not count on a new car discount

LeMons Southern California Inspections: A Humber, a Dacia, and More Mazdas Than We Can Count

We’ve been placing on 24 Hours of LeMons races at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, just north of Bakersfield, since way back in 2009. It’s hot right here in California’s Central Valley, but today’s 99-degree temperatures have been pleasant compared to last year’s punitive sweat-fest, and we managed to get by means of the inspections of the 120 or so entrants to the 2014 Button Turrible 24 Hours of LeMons with out any person being rushed to the ER with heatstroke. Here are some of the hightlights of the automobiles and teams that will be competing this weekend.

The number of BMW 3-series, Mazda Miata, and Mazda RX-7 race vehicles was basically off the charts at this race. These boring vehicles sort of blur with each other for us, even though the Schtuffinzpants E36 “Trans Am” looked excellent.

We usually suggest to the 3-series teams that they think about acquiring a genuine race automobile. Say, a 1978 Ford Fairmont Futura with 200-cubic-inch straight 6 engine.

Or a Mercury Zephyr with exceptional “Super Troopers” theme.

Of course, we do like to see a Porsche 911 in LeMons… offered it has a Volkswagen diesel engine in the back.

The 911 Diesel group brought their usual complement of umbrella boys.

This very first-time team identified a extremely original (i.e., entirely worn out) C4 Corvette, comprehensive with automatic transmission and additional-loose suspension.

You can also make a “Barbie Corvette” by attaching a handful of physique panels to a considerably-battered Honda Civic. The sensible money says that this vehicle will beat the true Corvette.

The “Saanda” Saab Turbo-engined Honda 600 is back, and the team hopes that it will handle more than its usual handful of laps this time.

Creative team costumes abounded. This team gave their Volvo 242 a great “I Can not Believe It is Not Better” theme, complete with stick-of-butter outfits.

The “Cowmaro” team performed incomprehensible rituals.

The BRIBED stencil for this race honored the incredibly LeMon-y Edsel. Rumor has it that we’ll have our 1st genuine Edsel LeMons car in Texas this fall.

8-Bit Racing brought their hyper-uncommon Subaru RX, soon after their engine-swapping frenzy won them the Judges’ Selection award at the Utah race a few weeks ago. Class C, of course.

Class C will be difficult this time, even though, with such vehicles as the Team Tinworm Humber Super Snipe wagon in our favourite class. The original Tinworm 1959 Super Snipe won the Index of Effluency trophy at Buttonwillow 2 summers ago, then flipped over and was destroyed at the Chuckwalla race later that year. Now the running gear out of the wrecked auto has been transplanted into a replacement Super Snipe, and the result appears good.

San Diego madman Spank has carried out it again, this time bringing a Dacia 1100 (in fact a mechanically identical Renault 10) with a Ceaușescu-era Romania theme. True reside goats and chickens on the automobile!

Far more chickens inside.

Nadia Comăneci is part of the team.

Spank provided American cigarettes and blue jeans to Chief Perp Lamm, in keeping with Iron Curtain-era Romanian tradition.

We’ve by no means had a Renault 10 in LeMons prior to, so no one knows how this dead-stock automobile will execute this weekend. Perhaps it will run away with Class C.

Like a bad dream that just won’t go away, the worst auto in 24 Hours of LeMons history is back to break some more racers’ hearts.

Verify in Saturday evening to learn how the 1st day’s race session goes.

LeMons Southern California Inspections: A Humber, a Dacia, and More Mazdas Than We Can Count