Advertisement

Drive off with an end-of-financial-year deal

Volvo is providing running-cost certainty to most of its range, including the V60.

Now is a great time to get the European badge many motorists desire: end-of-financial-year deals abound.

Italian cars, in particular, are going cheap, starting at $12,990 for a funky Fiat Panda at Barbagallo - and that's a drive-away price, as are all the figures in this article.

The reasons for the recent dive in Fiat and Alfa Romeo prices are twofold: the factories have taken over distribution in Australia from a private operator and sharpened their pencils.

The other factor is the opening of the Wanneroo Fiat-Alfa Romeo dealership, providing more competition.

And now with June 30 approaching, the fluoro graphics on the windscreens are showing crazy-low prices.

For example, Fiat Punto Pop five-door hatches are going for $13,000, or $14,000 for the mid-spec Easy variant - an $8000 saving. And cute-as-a-button Fiat 500 Pops - or "Bambinos" - are $15,000.

All are chic little city cars and, with five-star safety, ideal for first-car buyers.

Alfa Romeos, whose grille is arguably motoring's most evocative, start at $24,000 for a little MiTo while the bigger Giulietta has a special on the mid-spec Progression model.

The latter is $27,000 and includes TomTom sat nav.

Barbagallo also has the sporty 1.8-litre turbo Quadrifoglio Verde (or four-leaf clover) version for $24,990, a saving of $8500.

The French are also out in force.

Citroen's "French Art Sale" synchronises the price slashing.

C3 models lose $3000, C4 $4000 and, you guessed it, C5 drops $5000.

The C4 Aircross SUV also gets a $4000 haircut and the sporty- quirky DS models break new ground in warranty and roadside assistance coverage, providing peace of mind; it's for six years with unlimited kilometres.

Peugeot's hook is free on-road costs and five years of capped- price servicing, and includes a 208 auto hatch at $19,990, 2008 baby SUV at $24,990 and 308 auto hatch for $26,990.

Renault's lures for its Toyota RAV4-sized Koleos SUV are one per cent finance and discounted prices, which start at $28,490.

The biggest discounts are for the audio-enhanced Bose range, which begins at $34,990.

Among the German marques, BMW is discounting the 3 Series sedan and the running-out X1 SUV by the value of the GST payable - in other words, by 10 per cent.

Mercedes-Benz is calling its big discount and extra kit on the running-out C-Class a "Once in a Blue Moon Sale".

The C200 Sport is $54,900 and has AMG 18-inch wheels and body kit.

Audi's offering is about $4000 worth of enticements for all-wheel-drive models.

It can be taken in any of four ways - a $4000 discount, an extension to four years of the warranty and roadside assistance, free rego, stamp duty and third-party insurance, or the option of $4000 worth of accessories.

Cheaper sister-brand Volkswagen has a mix of offers, which include free on-road costs for the Polo, the Golf 90TSI with metallic paint for $22,990 and the Tiguan at $27,990 and 2.8 per cent finance.

Zero per cent finance is offered on an array of dual-cabs and vans.

And Volkswagen's budget operator - the Czech Republic's Skoda - is seeking to seduce buyers to the already sharply priced Octavia range with an offer of 2.8 per cent finance and $500 cashback.

Across the way to Sweden, Volvo is providing running-costs certainty to most of its range by making the first three years of servicing and fuel free.

The car maker estimates the value at $7000.

Lastly, the Brit brands, though they're now owned by Indians and Germans.

Jaguar has the car with the most ambient interior for its price, the XF, at $74,990 while the Mini range comes with zero per cent finance.

Land Rover, also owned by India's Tata, has the Freelander 2 at $44,990, with an auto transmission and three years of free servicing thrown in.