New Astras entering used car market – opportunity on older model

With the arrival of an all-new and very attractive Astra at the end of Last year, the used market for nearly new Astras is in flux.

Used Car Expert magazine & website estimates that there are roughly 2,000 used Vauxhall Astras for sale at garages around the UK at any one time.

New-shape Astras (launched at the end of 2009), mainly 5 door variants, are entering the market already at all sorts of discount rates. There are less than a 100 out there but those numbers are going to increase rapidly over the next couple of months.

Editor Matt Tumbridge commented, "A 1.7 CDTI SRI is over £19,000 when new, but ex-demonstrators are already around for as little as £12,500. Which is the sort of money you would normally expect to pay for a 1 year old old-shape model at a Network Q centre. That being the case, it is a buyer’s market for the nearly new, old shape Astras. Main dealers need rid to make way for the more desirable new model. So why not make an insulting offer?"

His advice to car buyers prepared to haggle was, "Open with £9,000 for a 1 year old car with 6,800 average miles and reluctantly move to £10,000 in £250 increments. Grind them down and you will walk away with a car that feels like new but is literally half price."