Scrappage scheme car buyers making a ‘false economy’, says Which?
The car scrappage scheme may have revived interest in the new car market, but Which? Car has found that some manufacturers have raised their list prices by as much as 14 per cent meaning buyers are often no better off. The price of a mid-range Ford Fiesta for example has jumped from £11,570 in October 2008 when the car was launched to £13,195 in July 2009 – a massive 14 per cent increase. While Vauxhall’s new Insignia looked affordable in January 2009, priced at £17,981 but it has now broken the £20K barrier with a list price of £20,430 in July 2009, also a 14 per cent jump. Chart-topping supermini, the Nissan Micra, was priced 11 per cent higher in July 2009 (£12,395) than in September 2008 (£11,200). It appears manufacturers are inflating prices just when the scrappage scheme requires them to chip in at least £1,000 worth of discount on a new car. The reality is more complicated – global economic conditions have forced a rethink of UK car prices. But some manufacturers have managed t
