Quick Smart

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday June 28, 2008

David Berthon

With the end of the financial year just around the corner, there are plenty of bargains, reports David Berthon.

Rising fuel prices and interest rates have pushed the cost of owning the family car through the roof this year. And, with the price of fuel expected to hit $2 a litre at the pump by the end of the year, there is little relief in sight.

However, the bright note is that Australia is the most competitive car market in the world - which means new car prices are sharp.

The end of the financial year is one of the best times to buy a car. Dealers don't want to have to count stock and try to get as many cars as they can out the showroom door before June 30 - Monday.

Along with slashed price tags, there is a range of incentives, including extra equipment at no extra cost, special editions, drive-away deals, extended warranties and, more recently, free fuel.

But buyers, beware. Always do your homework before stepping in the showroom door. Free on-road costs do not always mean "drive-away" as dealer delivery charges could still be applicable. Never settle for the first price you see - it is a good idea to get three quotes before signing on the dotted line.

Here's Drive's quick guide to the best deals on offer.

CITY CARS

Toyota's Yaris is the top-seller in this class. Phil McCarroll Toyota at Hornsby has the manual 1.3-litre three-door YR hatchback at $14,790 drive-away, a saving of $2200. Equipment includes dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, power windows and air-conditioning. The automatic 1.5-litre YRS sedan at $21,700 drive-away saves $2710. Metallic paint adds $300 to both.

The Hyundai Getz is also good value. Until Monday all dealers have the manual 1.4-litre three-door for $13,990 drive-away with anti-lock brakes, dual airbags and air-conditioning, a $2500 saving. Metallic paint adds $320.

The manual 1.6-litre three-door at $14,990 drive-away gains free stability control, a total saving of $3490. It becomes the most affordable car with this safety feature on the market. Side airbags are a $500 option.

Priced at $15,990 drive-away, the 1.6-litre manual three-door Ford Fiesta hatch is also good value. Most Ford dealers are offering this price, a saving of $3000.

The Fiesta has dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, remote central locking, power windows and air-conditioning. Metallic paint adds $350.

The Mazda2 is still new on the block but most dealers will now negotiate a $500 discount. The hatch is also available in both three- and five-door models. Penrith Mazda Centre will provide free registration and CTP insurance with a saving of about $650.

SMALL CARS

The Toyota Corolla is not only the leader in the small car sales race but is challenging the Holden Commodore for outright honours as Australia's favourite car. Still, most dealers have the 1.8-litre manual Ascent sedan and five-door hatch for $19,990 drive-away, a $3600 saving.

Phil McCarroll Toyota at Hornsby, which is closing for renovation, has some 1.8-litre automatic hatches for $21,690 drive-away, a saving of $3900.

Standard equipment on the Corolla Ascent models includes dual airbags, remote central locking, front power windows and air-conditioning.

And, given the growing focus on safety, the dealer has cut the price of the optional safety pack (which includes side and curtain airbags) on the Corolla from $750 to $599. Metallic paint adds $300.

The Mazda3 sedan and five-door hatch are strong sellers but stock is tight and finding a discount is hard.

Penrith Mazda Centre will provide free registration and CTP insurance valued at $650. Depending on the model, most dealers will only discount by up to $1000.

The Mitsubishi Lancer is good value at Steve Jarvin Mitsubishi at Burwood, with $2000 in free fuel. Pay $22,885 drive-away for the manual 2.0-litre ES Lancer with stability control, air-conditioning and cruise control, a saving of $1359, as well as the $2000 Caltex fuel card. Metallic paint is $350.

Subaru's 2.0-litre Impreza is gaining sales momentum - Scuderia Veloce Motors Subaru at Lindfield has several of the RS automatic five-door hatches for $31,990 drive-away, which is a saving of $3026.

Equipment on the RS includes 17-inch alloy wheels, stability control, six airbags and air-conditioning.

MEDIUM CARS

The biggest seller in this class is the Toyota Camry but that doesn't mean that deals are hard to find.

In fact, all Toyota dealers have cut the price of the most popular model, the Altise four-speed automatic, by $3510, so it is now $28,990 drive-away.

Phil McCarroll Toyota at Hornsby will take off a further $1000 on the Altise, dropping the price to $27,990 drive-away.

Standard equipment on this model includes dual airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, cruise control and air-conditioning. Metallic paint adds $375.

Buyers can save $8000 on the better-equipped Ateva at Pennant Hills Toyota, which has dropped the price to $28,990 drive-away. The Ateva gains side and curtain airbags, alloy wheels, and dual-zoneair-conditioning.

The all-new Mazda6 has only been on sale for four months and is selling well, so discounts are hard to find.

Penrith Mazda Centre is adding free registration and CTP Insurance - a saving of $700. Pay $34,300 drive-away for the Mazda6 Limited.

Dealers generally will negotiate a $1500 discount on most models and up to $2000 on the Luxury and Luxury Sport variants.

Ford's European-built Mondeo, especially the turbo diesel, is proving popular. City Ford in Crown Street has the 2.3-litre petrol LX Mondeo automatic sedan for $29,990 drive-away, a saving of $3615. Standard equipment includes seven airbags (front, side and curtain airbags as well as a driver's knee airbag), stability control and air-conditioning.

Metallic paint adds $350. An optional pack of alloy wheels, cruise control and rear power windows costs $1500.

LARGE CARS

This class has been hit the hardest by the rising cost of fuel, with buyers moving out of large cars in droves.

The Commodore remains Australia's most popular car but its sales lead is under threat and this could be the year the family car loses its crown after almost four decades at the top. Dealers are advertising two-year-old VE Omega sedans from $18,990 and discounts on new models sharpen by the week.

Holden has added extra equipment to the 3.6-litre V6 Commodore automatic with onyx leather seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity. The local maker recently raised the standard safety equipment to six airbags on all models.

With these extras, the Omega normally would sell for $45,500 drive-away. The advertised $33,990 drive-away price represents a saving of more than $11,500.

Many buyers are still not shying away from the V8 versions but there are substantial discounts on the luxury V8s. Hunter Holden at St Leonards has the 6.0-litre V8 Calais V for $63,000 drive-away with a sunroof, 19-inch alloy wheels and two-tone leather trim. Total saving is $6100.

Heartland Holden at Parramatta has the V6 Statesman for $60,335 drive-away, a $6000 saving, while the V8s are $63,535 drive-away, a $7000 saving. Equipment includes six airbags, stability control and dual-zone air-conditioning.

The same dealer has the V8 Caprice for $70,885 drive-away - again, a $7000 saving and you get a leather interior.

It's too early for discounts on the new FG Falcon but City Ford has heavily discounted the discontinued 4.0-litre six-cylinder Fairlane Ghia automatic.

You pay $47,990 drive-away - a saving of $14,610.

COMPACT SOFT-ROADERS

The top four spots in the small soft-roader sales race are held by Japanese-built all-wheel-drives.

The Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail and Subaru Forester are the most popular small soft-roaders, with the Honda CR-V just 44 sales (to the end of May) short of claiming third spot.

Honda Eastwood has the flagship 2.4-litre CR-V Luxury automatic for $39,990 drive-away - save $5510. As the dealership is closing its doors for good on Monday, all vehicles must be registered by 5pm. Standard equipment on the Luxury model includes stability control, six airbags, a sunroof and leather trim.

Scuderia Veloce Motors Subaru at Lindfield has some manual 2.5-litre Forester X models. Normally priced at $34,143 drive-away, they have been reduced to $32,990 drive-away.

The Forester is the only one of the top four sellers to have a five-star ANCAP crash rating. Equipment on the X models includes stability control, six airbags, hill-descent control and air-conditioning.

Toyota's 2.4-litre RAV4 CV represents the best value at Western Toyota, Guildford. Pay $30,390 drive-away for the manual model and save $5102. It has air-conditioning, cruise control and anti-lock brakes.

Suzuki dealers have the manual 2.7-litre V6 Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away (with free alloy wheels). Save $4500. Metallic paint adds $300.

MEDIUM SOFT-ROADERS

The battle for supremacy in this class has been fierce since the all-new Toyota Kluger came onto the scene last August.

The Ford Territory lost the top spot to the Kluger in March and the Ford has yet to regain the crown.

City Ford has some 4.0-litre six-cylinder rear-drive TX wagons (five- and seven-seaters) with good discounts - pay $33,990 drive-away for a TX five-seater and save $7948. Pay $35,990 for a seven-seater and save $7748. They have stability control, anti-lock brakes and air-conditioning.

The same dealer has the 4.0-litre turbo six-cylinder FPV F6X Territory (five-seat) for $79,990 drive-away with stability control and 18-inch alloy wheels. Save $5000 and get $2000 cash back or forgo the cash back and get seven seats.

Phil McCarroll Toyota at Hornsby has cut the price of the front-drive 3.5-litre V6 Kluger KX-S seven-seater by $6871, now $46,690 drive-away.

The same dealer has the all-wheel-drive KX-S seven-seater for $51,185 drive-away (save about $6800). Equipment includes six airbags, a rear camera, stability control, leather interior and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Mitsubishi has a 25th anniversary edition of the Pajero. The special model, the petrol 3.8-litre five-speed auto, gains extras valued at more than $4000, including side and curtain airbags, leather trim, satellite navigation, power seats and a rear camera.

Alto Mitsubishi at Gordon has this model for $61,800 drive-away, a saving of $3000. Save a similar amount on the 3.2-litre turbo diesel automatic at $63,400 drive-away. Standard equipment includes stability control, air-conditioning and cruise control.

LARGE FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVES

The all-new Toyota LandCruiser four-wheel-drive went on sale in November last year but deals are surprisingly large for such a new model, with savings of almost $10,000.

Mosman Toyota has the 4.7-litre petrol V8 LandCruiser 200 Series automatic for $62,990 drive-away, a saving of $9953. Equipment includes stability control, six airbags and dual-zone air-conditioning.

Western Toyota at Guildford has the flagship, the 4.5-litre turbo diesel automatic Sahara, for $106,822 drive-away, a saving of $5000. Equipment on this model includes eight airbags, hill-descent control, leather trim and four-zone air-conditioning.

PEOPLE-MOVERS

The 2.7-litre V6 Kia Carnival eight-seater is good value at $32,990 drive-away, with the benefit of $1000 in free fuel, a total saving of $4600. It includes tri-zone air-conditioning, anti-lock brakes and cruise control.

Phil McCarroll Toyota at Hornsby has the 2.4-litre automatic Tarago GLi for $47,490 drive-away, save $5700. The extra equipment includes stability control, dual airbags and dual sliding doors.

SPORTS CARS

There is actually very little by way of performance car deals.

Hunter Holden at St Leonards has the 2.2-litre automatic Astra twin-top convertible for $46,500 drive-away, a saving of $5000. This includes a power top, four airbags and air-conditioning.

Luxury car dealers are relying on the imminent luxury car tax increase to draw buyers to showrooms before the close of business on Monday.

At the luxury tax threshold of $57,000, the changes are minimal but it compounds as you move up in pricing. For example, at $60,000 the increase in luxury tax from 25 to 33 per cent will add just $170.

The new tax rate starts to add extra dollars when you get over $100,000. If you buy a car at $140,000 after the increase you will pay a $4911, at $180,000 that increases to $7281 and, if you are fortunate enough to afford a luxury car worth $400,000, you'll probably be able to afford the extra $20,318.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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