Best end of year car sales deals

Forget the New Year’s resolutions, it’s the new year revolutions car buyers should be paying attention to. Dealers are looking to usher in 2013 with the same fervour you are but their focus in on removing 2012-plated vehicles.

As a result there are bargains across the board from light cars to heavyweight SUVs. Carsguide takes a potted look at the promotions, deals and runout specials carmakers have on the books this week.

TOP FIVE

Mitsubishi Pajero. Solid turbodiesel, seven seats and a major price cut make the Pajero a belated Christmas present for off-road families. $54,990 will put you behind the wheel of a GLX-R fitted with an auto transmission, dual-zone climate-control, Bluetooth with USB and iPod inputs and cruise control. Now that’s worth toasting.

PEUGEOT 308

This is a franc discount. The baby Pug’s hatch is $29,990 and the wagon just $34,990 drivaway. The catch is the stocks are limited to what’s on dealer lots, the deals have to be done by Monday and the vehicles have 2011 build plates. Still, at these prices, buying an old new car starts to make sense.

FORESTER X

The forester is the fourth most popular mid-sized SUV on the road and there’s now more reasons to own one. A 31,990 tag for the Forester X “Luxury Edition” manual includes plenty of bling, from front fog lights to heated front seats with leather trim and and de-icers for the front wipers. Subaru says that represents a $5900 saving over the normal price.

TOYOTA AURION

Big cars aren’t big sellers these days and, despite Toyota’s reputation for reliability, the Aurion is tanking just like the Falcon and Commodore. The Japanese carmaker’s loss is your gain, with the AT-X selling for $32,990. That’s almost $8000 off the usual price and the AT-X includes dual-zone climate-control, a 6-inch touchscreen, seven airbags and reversing camera. That’s a big saving.

FORD MONDEO

Ford’s EcoBoost engine line-up is a ripper and the 2.0-litre fitted to the Mondeo Zetec hatch is no exception. The driveway price of $33,990 represents a $3750 saving before calculating the on-road costs. It comes with a nine-speaker sound system, Bluetooth with voice control and front and rear parking sensors.

CITY CARS

A Suzuki Alto with satnav, weathershields and a bonnet protector can be yours for $11,990 driveaway. Like all Suzukis sold until year’s end, it comes with a five-year/130,000km warranty. Nissan’s Micra range starts at $13,490 and has a 0 per cent finance offer until December 31.

LIGHT CARS

Hyundai is pushing driveaway pricing and 2.5 per cent finance on its fleet. Be quick, though, as the deal ends on Monday. The Active i20 three-door hatch can be driven off the showroom floor for $13,990, a saving of $1400 over the regular price before on-road costs, including compulsory third party insurance, dealer delivery fees and registration.

The base Ford Fiesta CL manual hatch’s price of $15,990 is just $500 more than its recommended list price. Kia’s three-door Rio S is $14,990 driveaway, while the base model five-door starts at $16,990. Both come with a $500 Myer gift card. Toyota has a 1.9 per cent finance rate on all Yaris models while the $16,990 driveaway price on Volkswagen’s Polo Trendline five-door hatch makes the on-road costs free.

SMALL CARS

The bargains in this segment start with the Peugeot 308. If you’re happy with a 2011-plated vehicle, the Active hatch and wagon can be driven away for $29,990 and $34,990 respectively until December 31.  Ford’s Focus Trend automatic hatch and sedan are also worth a look. The pair is good value with driveway prices of $21,990 and $23,990 that are $300 and $600 less than their book value. 

A Kia Cerato starts at a driveaway price of $18,990 for the hatch or sedan, plus a $1000 gift card, while South Korean sibling Hyundai’s Elantra Active manual sedan is being rolled out for $20,990, which is just $400 more than the manufacturer’s regular price. The Mazda3 is fighting on the same terms, with a $20,990 all-up price that’s $660 more than the normal list value.

Opel’s Astra stock in dealerships is on special until Sunday from $24,990 driveaway. It is $1000 more than its regular price and includes capped price servicing at $299 a visit. VW’s base model Golf with a DSG auto transmission is $23490 and includes free metallic paint. Those with a sporting bent can pick up one of 250 special edition Subaru WRX manual sedans for $47,275 on the road.

MEDIUM CARS

The Citroen C5 diesel sedan heads the savings here, with more than $5000 off its list price plus free on-roads. The $34,990 pricing only applies to white and black coloured cars in dealerships now - and the deal must be made by Monday. Ford’s 2.0-litre Mondeo Zetec hatch is almost as good a deal at $33,990, a saving of $3750 plus on-road costs.

Those looking for a Liberty can now join the Subaru set for just $31,990 for a manual or auto base sedan, undercutting the list price by $3000. The Toyota Camry Altise is being registered for $1500 less than book value at $28,990, while Honda’s Accord Euro can be driven away for $29,990, saving $350 before calculating the on-roads.

LARGE CARS

Aurions are unloved and that makes them a great buy at this time of the year. Toyota is selling the AT-X for $32,990 driveway, a saving of $3500. The Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo’s $42,990 all-inclusive price is more than $3200 off its recommended price and that’s before worrying about the on-roads. Buy a Nissan Maxima and the finance rate is 0 per cent. Skoda has the same deal on its Superb sedan and wagon

SMALL SUV

A $25,990 driveaway price for the ASX 2WD means the on-road costs are free, while Hyundai is effectively charging $1000 to put the ix35 Active on the streets at $27,990. Skoda and Nissan both have 0 per cent finance on their Yeti and Dualis ranges respectively.

MEDIUM SUV

Subaru reckons the $31,990 price on its Forester X manual is a $5900 saving and is the best buy in this group. Land Rover has free on-roads for its rugged Defender and family friendly Freelander ranges. Suzuki’s $26,990 driveway pricing for the five-door Grand Vitara Urban is just $500 more than its book price.

LARGE SUV

The Pajero GLX-R is the pick of the bunch at $54,990 for the automatic model. That’s $4000 better than the book price. Subaru has almost as good a deal with its Outback 2.5i at $35,990, a $2500 saving plus free on-roads. The $39,990 driveaway price for a rear-drive Ford Territory TX puts the big SUV on the road for free and Toyota has the same offer on its Kluger KX-R.