A DRAMATIC turn in a sales battle between Britain’s biggest car brands could leave buyers laughing all the way from the showrooms.
First round in the 'car wars' offensive of 2010 came earlier this month when Vauxhall unveiled an innovative deal offering discounts of up to £3,885 up to the end of March to Corsa and Astra buyers who trade in models over seven years old.
Then just a few days later, Ford responded by announcing it was making 10 cars from the Ka to the Galaxy available with discounts of up to £4,650 over the same period.
‘These lower prices will enable our dealers to seal deals in an intensely competitive market and maintain Ford’s clear leadership position,’ said Ford managing director Nigel Sharp.
But now Vauxhall has intensified its campaign to win a bigger slice of the new registration business by extending its sales plan to embrace models from the rest of its passenger car range.
Meriva and Zafira multi-purpose cars and the Insignia are now included in the programme that recognises any old vehicle as currency to reduce the cost of the new purchase - as long as it has insurance, road tax and an MOT certificate.
And though the trade-in is described as being worth at least £3,000, the allowance can be almost double that amount in some cases.
‘On a Zafira Life 1.6 that normally retails at £18,670, the price tumbles to just £12,995 with an eligible trade in vehicle,' said Vauxhall retail sales director Rory Harvey.
‘That represents a massive saving of £5,675 - so there really has never been a better time to buy a new Vauxhall.’