SCRAPPAGE might be gone but there are still deals around for pushy customers with some garages offering tempting discounts on new cars.
Prices are all over the place at the moment what with big players like Ford putting on big increases only to bring them down again when the fleet customers kick up a fuss, and Vauxhall pushing the boundaries with the Astra.
It seems that the last 12 months has seen a surge in areas where sales are buoyant in the family hatchback sector while the more expensive end of the market is a little calmer.
Down in the bargain basement area Nissan Pixo was one of the models to make hay while the scrappage sun was shining, not that the worst recession since World War Two was anything to celebrate.
But if you had the cash then a new car for five grand or less was a given with a little help from HM Government.
The launch of the Pixo could not have been timed better hitting the ground running and entering the showrooms at seemingly rock bottom prices thanks to the £2,000 scrappage incentive.
That is gone now and forking out £8,000 for a small new car just one level up from a two-seater smart isn’t quite so appealing, but set against the price of many family buys it is still relatively cheap.
Pixo isn’t the cheapest tiddler on the market and has a twin sister to worry about. If you think Pixo looks familair then you would be right. Shrewd observers of all things motoring will tell you the Nissan is a dead ringer for a Suzuki Alto which is where its origins lay.
Nissan has taken a share in the Alto and given its own identity with headlights and grille fashioned on its Note mini MPV. No matter, it’s a cute little thing although some might argue the softer styling of the Alto gives that a slightly prettier face.
So it a small car viable? Of course it is. The Pixo will give you four seats for four adults although the likelihood is the back seat passengers will be children - small second car syndrome - and a small boot that will offer enough space for around four or five bags of shopping. Yes it is only a small boot but it can be made bigger by dropping the back seats and suddenly there is enough room for mum or dad to stow the golf clubs and a trolley.
Under the bonnet is a little three-cylinder 1-litre engine which is supposed to major heavily on economy with an official average of 64mpg, a figure I didn’t even get close to although I was quite pleased to have easily topped 50mpg with a petrol car. No doubt 60 plus mpg is achieveable but the road conditions would have to be favourable (not too many hills) and the driver very light footed.
Nevertheless by today’s standards this is an economical petrol engine though one which can’t be expected to deliver too much. It will rev freely, even to the higher limits and what performance can be found starts at higher rev limits but it has to be said that this is not a car for charging around. The object is cheap, economical motoring and that can be achieved with sensible driving.
Entry Pixo comes in at £7,150 but given that we have become accustomed to our creature comforts the Tekna with its electric front windows, air conditioning, parcel shelf, handy when there are prying eyes around, anti-skid programme and ISOfix anchorage points for child sreats, along with CD player with MP3 playback might be worth and extra £1,500.
Nissan Pixo Tekna
Engine: 996cc; 67bhp
Performance: 0-62mph 14secs; 96mph
Economy: 64.2mpg combined
Emissions: 103g/km. VED £30
Insurance group 4
Price: £8,645