Is it me? Or is 2007...
Is it me? Or is 2007 flying by? It only seems like yesterday that I was putting the Christmas baubles up in the loft, and today I"m chasing the fast-growing grass round the garden on the lawnmower as summer arrives. I"ve got so many things to do this year that I hope it slows down so I can catch my breath. So far in 2007 I"ve signed up for another series of Pulling Power for ITV1, which starts in August. I"ll also be presenting the TT races on the Isle of Man in late May, and it"s now my sixth year as host of the British Rally Championship for Sky Sports. But my big job of the year has just taken place. It"s one I enjoy and always look forward to. Auto Express readers will now have read the results that get car showroom bosses and manufacturers trembling like a turkey being shown the Cranberry sauce.
Initially, the CityRover...
Initially, the CityRover edged ahead when a dealer incentive slashed í‚á£1,496 off the list price to offer the supermini for í‚á£4,999. However, the lead was shortlived, as Perodua announced its revised Kelisa is now available from í‚á£4,824.
The Malaysian car gets a new grille, revised bumper and a redesigned rear, while the cabin trim is upgraded. There"s a three model line-up, the cheapest of which is the entry-level EX. Buyers with a little more to spend can opt for the í‚á£5,642 GXi or í‚á£6,562 EZi automatic.
All models come with power-steering and an immobiliser as standard, while the flagship gets body-coloured door mirrors and handles. According to used value expert CAP, the Kelisa is also the cheapest car to own, with three years or 60,000 miles of motoring costing a mere 14.1 pence per mile.
The enterprising MG Rover dealer which briefly held the accolade of selling the cheapest model in the UK was Dunham and Haines in Luton, Beds. It has a limited number of delivery-mileage 04-reg CityRovers on offer. A spokesman for the Longbridge company explained: "This is a dealer offer, and the showroom has chosen to introduce it to get cars seen out on the road."