Car buying

Latest articles

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  Used car buying problems top of complaints list
  More consumers have had problems with buying a used car than anything else, according to a report by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). More than 56,000 people have complained, to the OFT-managed...
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  Up to £6,000 discount from Chevrolet
  It’s Christmas come early for prospective Chevrolet customers as the firm is offering up to £6,000 off some of its cars. If you place an order for a Spark, Cruze or...
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  Left-field family cars for £3k
  If you have two kids and you’re on a tight budget of £3k then you might think there’s little to choose from if you are looking for dependable family car. Don’t despair....
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  Showroom tax explained
  New car buyers now have to pay more for the one-off first year ‘showroom tax’. What is showroom tax? The ‘showroom tax’ is a way of charging extra money on those cars that are the...
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  Top five sexy soft-roaders
  If you’re after a car that looks tough but works in the city, why not take a look at a crossover? Built big and bold, they’re popular with younger buyers...
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  Are special trim packs worth it?
  Manufacturers will employ all sorts of methods to get you to part with your cash – special incentives, discounts, 0% finance, extended warranties, free insurance etc – but these are all...
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  Top five £5k drop-tops
  Are you on the lookout for a convertible for the summer? If so it’s your lucky day – we’ve been looking too. Here’s our pick of £5k convertibles to get the...
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  How to test drive your next car
  When you’re buying a new or used car, it’s incredibly important that you test-drive it before handing over the cash. After picking the selection of cars that might take your fancy, then the...
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  Top five convertibles for £20k
  With summer just around the corner and a faint glimmer of sunshine on show, it might be time you were looking at a convertible to make the most of the improving weather. Here, we’ve picked out five...
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  Will diesels save you money?
  You might be considering changing your petrol-powered car to a diesel model as fuel prices hit an all-time high and look set to rise even further.  Fuel efficient diesel-engined cars are looking...
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  2010's best and worst depreciators
  Kia’s Picanto was the car that lost the least money after a year of ownership, according to Parkers depreciation stats for 2010. The report is based on the average private...
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  The top 100 depreciation results
  With the Kia Picanto being announced as the car that lost the least money in 2010, and the Maybach 62 being the one that lost the most, you might be...
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  The top 20 cheapest cars - part one
  If you’re looking to buy a new car and need to do it on the budget, we’ve picked out the 20 cheapest new cars currently on sale. 1. Chevrolet Spark (10...
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  The top 20 cheapest cars - part two
  If you’re looking to buy a new car and need to do it on the budget, we’ve picked out the 20 cheapest new cars currently on sale. Here’s part two. 11....
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  Does a diesel car save you cash?
  Buying a diesel car is more fuel efficient and will save you more money compared to a petrol model and that seems to be the thinking of car buyers in the...
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  Top tips: how to get the best deal
  Do your research Before you go to the dealership know what car you want and how much you want to spend. Find out if discounts are available on the car you...
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  Car values on the rise
  Used car values are on the rise, Parker’s can reveal. Parker’s car ‘shopping basket’ compared March 2009 and March 2010 prices for a selection of ten top selling cars from different...
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  Beautiful Budget busters for 2010
  With the cost of fuel set to rise in the coming months following the 2010 Budget and the introduction of the new ‘showroom tax’, picking a desirable car that won’t break your...
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  The 2010 budget as it happened
  Parkers brings you the full details of the 2010 Budget and how it will affect you and your car. The biggest area of interest is the fuel duty rise. It will go up by...
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  Surprise showroom tax losers
  Suzuki Grand Vitara sz4 three-door 1.6-litre  manual   Price new £15,925 Emissions 195 g/km Road tax £245 ‘Showroom tax’ £445   Vauxhall Insignia SE 2.0-litre auto   Price new £26,220 Emissions 214 g/km Road tax £260 ‘Showroom tax’ £580   Chevrolet Orlando 2.0 VCDi (160bhp) LT Auto   Price new £19,970 Emissions 186 g/km Road tax £245 ‘Showroom tax’ £445   Subaru Impreza RC 2.0-litre manual   Price new £18,970 Emissions 199 g/km Road...