Used cars 'getting cheaper'

CONSUMERS holding on to their motor for longer are driving down the cost of used cars, according to new research. The average price for a second-hand car in July-September 2011 was £8,870 - a 2.4% decline compared with the same period a year ago, according to the Auto Trader company. It is the first time the price has dipped below £9,000 since the company started tracking the market in January 2010.

2012 Volkswagen Passat priced at $20,765

The all-new 2012 Volkswagen Passat, looking to be a big player in the highly competitive midsize segment and the first car to be built at a new Chattanooga, Tenn., assembly plant, will come to market this fall with a base sticker price of $19,995, plus $770 destination charge. The 2012 Passat will be sold with three powertrains and a variety of equipment levels. “The 2012 Passat is a true Volkswagen, offering German engineering, class-leading standard features and superior fuel economy, all for a remarkable value,” said Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.

Peugeot 207 Economique – the 99g car

The Peugeot 207 Economique - guess what its CO2 is?! As you may well have guessed, this is another car maker rolling out the usual low rolling resistance, lowered suspension, gear-change-light, steel wheels version of their regular runaround to create a car that magically dips below 100g/km CO2. Of course it’s completely disingenuous, because unless you drive like you’re carrying the last live eggs of the Dodo all the time you won’t get the CO2 levels quoted, and nor will you get the headline economy.