THERE has never been a better time to haggle over the price of a new car, a report into current price levels has revealed.
According to independent price tracker What Car?, the cost of new cars is currently frozen at the same level as June 2003, making the New Year the perfect time to bag a good deal.
The What Car? Index shows the cost of new vehicles has actually fallen during four of the past five months, bringing the average price tag down to 0.5 per cent less than just one month ago.
The news is confirmed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which has released figures confirming sales to private customers fell by four per cent overall in 2004, compared with the previous year.
But this puts buyers in the driving seat as car dealers may be keener to secure more business.
The latest What Car? figures show prices for city cars and family cars dipped the most during December, falling by 2.4 per cent and 2.3 per cent respectively.
Others, including MPV people carriers, 4x4s, executive cars and small car prices, have dipped more modestly.
The bad news comes, however, for people hoping to purchase luxury cars, superminis and compact execs that have all risen slightly. Deals on these vehicles are likely to be much harder to come by.
David Motton of What Car? said: "Whenever sales start to slow down, salesmen will be keener to offer a big discount. Now is a good time to snap up a new car bargain."
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