WE MIGHT BE entering into the new 181 registration period, but if you’re not fixated on having the very latest prefix on your number plate, there are some deals to be had.
In these early stages of the new year many dealerships have put on a fresh fleet of 181-registered demonstrator cars, meaning there’s a good chance that the previous demo cars are now in the used stock. These models can often have the most popular engine and feature higher levels of standard equipment. Hence they can represent good value.
With many new cars going out, often this means lots of used stock coming back in as trade-ins, so garages should be keen to do deals to clear their demos.
Another great way of bagging a bargain can be considering an outgoing model. If having the most up-to-date and very latest model isn’t your thing, there have been numerous models that came in for slight facelifts towards the end of 2017. With dealers keen to start selling the newest models, those slightly older versions can represent a good deal.
During the latter part of 2017, Renault introduced a slightly updated version of the evergreen Captur. This model has sold well in Ireland since its initial launch, so there’s usually a wide selection of stock available.
There is very little difference between the previous and updated Capturs, but the easy way of telling them apart is to look at the LED daytime running lights on the lower section of the front bumper. If they’re a short horizontal design, it’s the older car. The newer model, which also got an improved cabin quality gets a C-shaped DRL design.
The two cars drive pretty much the same, so you’re not really missing out on much by opting for the older model.
The Ford Fiesta has proven to be a highly successful car in Ireland over the years and for good reason.
Sure, it might not be the most striking looking, but it is one of the best handling cars in the segment and offers a good choice of engines. There is now a new version of the Fiesta, but it uses an evolution of the older versions chassis and boasts a better interior.
That said, the outgoing model is still a cracker, and many dealers have great examples of that model sitting on the forecourt, quite often with only delivery miles on the clock. These can make for quite a bargain, especially if you’re good at haggling.
Staying with superminis, the Toyota Yaris is another car that saw an updated version arrive in 2017. As with its predecessor the Yaris Hybrid makes sense for those sticking to urban driving where motorway journeys are less frequent.
It features an automatic transmission, making driving in traffic that bit less taxing, and it can travel short distances using only its onboard battery for propulsion. Unlike plug-in hybrids or electric cars, you don’t need to do anything special with the Yaris Hybrid, like plugging it in although it won’t travel all that far on electrical power alone.
It might not be as cheap to buy as a regular petrol-only car, but the cost of ownership over time can be lower.
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