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IF YOU ARE looking to buy a 181-registered car there are some bargains to be had, you just need to be a little savvy with your shopping.
Luckily, we’ve put together our top tips for dealing with the dealers and driving away a 181 car at a reasonable price.
Timing is everything
January, February and March are strong months for sales but there is a drop off from April through to June. So now is the perfect time to shop around. Most car dealers work to monthly and quarterly sales targets so waiting until the end of the month is a good idea and will put you in a good bargaining position. June 30th (the last day of the 181 number plate and the last day of the first half of the year) is also a good time to head into your local dealer as they will be trying to boost sales figures.
It’s also worth looking out for bank holiday and other limited-time sales events. There are two more bank holidays before the new 182 period – May 7th and June 4th – so ring around your local dealers or search online for upcoming offers.
Be flexible
If you remain open minded about colours and optional extras, you can bag a bargain especially if you wait for these key end-of-period dates. Just head to your local dealer and see what they need to get rid of fast and get haggling.
Seasonal shopping
All-wheel drive and 4×4 models are sought-after in winter so buying now ‘out of season’ might save you some money as you get ahead of the price curve.
Buy a run out model
In 2018 there are a number of new models being introduced which should see bargain price tags slapped on to the cars they’re replacing. New models on the way include the new Audi A6 Avant, Ford Focus, Hyundai Tucson and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class as well as many others.
The savings on a run-out model can be significant, especially if a dealer has a lot of stock of the old model to clear before the new one arrives.
As long as you’re keeping the car for more than a couple of years, the extra small hit of depreciation will average out somewhat.
Buy a pre-registered car
The practice of pre-reging (dealers and car makers selling cars to themselves to artificially inflate their sales figures) means there are a few good ‘dealer demo’ or ‘delivery mileage’ or ‘ex-demo’ cars to be snapped up.
As these cars are show cars, much like show homes, they are usually very well kitted out with optional extras and a high spec. As long as you don’t mind not being the first registered owner, an ex-demo car is a great way to get a nearly-new well-specced car at a good price.
Cars are pre-registered to save the dealer some money so don’t be fobbed off, make sure you save some money too. Negotate well and you could an ex-demo car for around 17 per cent less than a new version.
Of course, the best time to buy a car is when you feel ready and when you have found the car that suits your needs and your budget but if you are looking for a 181 car following this guide should help you drive a bargain.
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Great day for democracy. Deny the will of the people, face the consequences.
@Valthebear: I genuinely believed her election manifesto that had has Jo Swinson on the cover, with the caption ‘”Your next Prime Minister”.
@Valthebear: You are aware she was beaten by a SNP MP? As in hardcore remain SNP? Not a brexiteer? Scarlet for ya!
@Valthebear: and they said turkeys don’t vote for Christmas!
@Shazam37: why..?
@Writeon: no need to be scarlet for anyone other than yourself you clueless amadán. Swinson was the poster girl for Remain, the ultra remainer in Britain leading the most hard core remainer party, with huge resources thrown in behind her. Her nauseating patronising claptrap was dismissed by both remain and leave voters hence the swing to the SNP. The vote was a win for Scottish nationalism and a reaction to the upper middle class disdain for democracy that people like you are so fond of.
@Valthebear:
It would have still been democratic, regardless of who won.
We need to remember that the brits didn’t know if they wanted leave the eu when they voted in a hung parliament with Theresa May (indicating an indecisiveness).
Before that, the Brexit ref vote was just over 50%, which meant that just about half the country said no. But yesterday they have decided, decisively. Which is good.
I just think the brits shouldn’t have easy access to Irish passports; they made their choice.
@Dean: but Swinson was simply arguing that Brexit should be revoked, full stop. As for Brits looking for our passports, it’s nearly all remainers who have suddenly discovered a new found interest in being Irish that they had no interest in previously.
@Valthebear: great tits
It’s like waking up on Christmas morning.
Nigel Dodds gone as well. Delighted.
@milton friedman: yep, fantastic. The UK will break up and England/Wales will get a deal with the EU that’s so close to membership that Brexit will have been pointless.
@milton friedman: a dirty gotten
Good she’s a gobshyte
@Luap: & Jeremy Corbyn, & Anna Soubry, Gina Miller.
Deliver the will of the people please!
@Dom Layzell: When it Dawn’s that leaving will bring no change and it will actually cause more poverty another referendum will happen its nailed on…..
@Peter Hughes:
*dawns
*it’s
I’m glad she was given the boot. She voted for all the austerity measures she now wanted rid of. To say she is two faced is being kind.
@Ed: Absolutely right Ed, & she doesn’t understand democracy either! The people voted for Brexit and she didn’t get it! Doh!
But she was meant to be the next pm?
One good thing from the UK election. She’s only got herself to blame.
Good luck and close the door behind you.
Isn’t that sexist?
@Gisbert Bayertz: No, Gisbert, it doesn’t work that way!
@Dom Layzell: sarcasm is not your strength is it?
Bye bye shouty.
Best candidate should replace her
surely the best person for the job should replace her
How is first past the post a true democracy representative of all people?
@David Lafferty FCCA: Democracy favours the favourite? FPTP is true democracy, PR is a 1 for everyone in the audience type of democracy!
@David Lafferty FCCA: Under pr labour + lib dems are 0.2% above the Torys. if you add snp even more. Labours fault for not getting behind a pr system. this archaic undemocratic uk system only suits the Torys.
Sexist much?? Imagine Jeremy Corbyn hinting that a man should take over Labour for *any* reason.
Jo Swinson is no great friend to women who were actually born women – she is a supporter of gender self-ID and has thrown “cis” women under the bus in support of same.
@Karen Lord: yes, she couldn’t define “woman” when asked.
As a former resident of East Dumbartonshire I can’t say I’m too upset at Jo’s loss and Amy’s gain.
That area was always such a strong Lib Dem seat, so much has changed over the last few years. I don’t think I could ever have predicted the swings between the SNP and the Lib Dems over the last few years!
And by woman, she possibly means bearded person who was assigned male at birth.
Leader of the Lib Dems is only a token role anyway, so nothing your average woman shouldn’t be able to handle.
That’s great, give someone else the kiss of death after you fail dismally. How did she become a politician?
How utterly sexist.
SNP make gains, that’s bad news for Ireland. An Independent Scotland could very well send Ireland back to the 50′s economically.
@MunsterPI: can you please explain,
@Paul O’Sullivan: Scotland would go back into the EU, first. Second they will still have an open border with England & Wales. Third, they already have gas & oil, so they will be able to reduce their Corporation tax rate to a rate that could be well lower than ours, they will tempt multinationals away from us, the ones here now and the ones that are thinking of coming here, as they have better infrastructure, will be members of EU and able to trade with what’s left of the UK.
@MunsterPI: LOL. Nice crystal ball you have.
@MunsterPI: and we have a corp rate that was never higher than it is, we came for a zero percent rate. That’s far different to lowering from 20%.
I pretty much don’t agree with anything you’re saying.
@MunsterPI: they also have free third level education which also makes them an attractive location.
@MunsterPI: Scotland can’t have an open border with the UK if they were to join the EU (assuming the UK hold their present course) or else NI could now.
Look she messed up the election. Above all today is just a sad day as the Uk leaves the Eu.
Yes, any woman.
It should always be the best person for the job, bitter loser she is
No way, she found out she lost down the Sports Centre, oh that’s just fantastic!!
HAHAHA, gubbed doon the Sportsie!!
Drip
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