There was recent evidence (since disappeared) that Hyundai charge out metallic paint to the dealers at a nominal cost so that it can be put in the quotation as a FOC "sweetner". This probably applies to most manufacturers.

Edited by colinh on 14/10/2011 at 15:57

There are lots of reason, one of the biggest is the depreciation in the value of the pound. The add in VAT, general inflation (car manufacturer's energy and transport costs have gone up and so they have of their suppliers hence the components have gone up) and the fact that manufacturers have cut a lot of excess capacity so are matching numbers made closer to numbers sold.

It is not just cars which have gone up but parts prices have gone up a lot too along with batteries, tyres etc.

"...one of the biggest is the depreciation in the value of the pound."

In theory that should make cars built in Britain better value, but as the makers are foreign-owned that probably won't happen, and they'll go up in privce like the others.

It's certainly more important than ever, if buying new, to go for something that holds its value. If you want a Ford or Vauxhall or something French, buy nearly-new or used and save money.

Minis are a poor buy secondhand as they drop very slowly. SWMBO has had four of them in a row, bought new, and each of the first three has been worth 80 % of cost at just under two years old. (She swaps at these intervals because the 2-year PCPs have been good value.)

No it wasn't, it was a great car, one of the weekly car magazines said it was the best small car of the time beating the Panda. It had a very well made interior, discs all round, nice controls and good mpg.

Great car? Great? Really? Think of all the achievements made in automotive history and the magnificent things on four wheels which have been created...i dont think so. Magazines know very little, Auto Express think a Ford Econetic is 'plenty to shout about' so i rest my case. It had a drab interior, as for discs..so what? There are Peugeot's with discs all round. Plenty of other cars give good mpg, controls are controls.

I take it you own one of these Kia shopping bags?

They sell a fair few copies every week, I'm sure you'll be starting a publication soon.

Sorry i forgot unless you sell a magazine that opinions are banned.

Please let me know the Peugeot models from 2004 that came with discs all round on every spec as the Picanto did.

Peugeot 406 from 1996 had discs all round and it didnt particularly benefit the car at all.

That they did, so why does it make the Picanto a bad car because it oftered similar or better MPG than the competiton? Actually control are not just controls, it's imporant where they are located and the quality of the movement.

Ok i'll admit what i really dislike about it. It looked horrible. The styling was a good 5-10 years out of date before it even came out.