Car Choice: Deal looks too good to be true...

Mike Hilton is looking to purchase a new BMW 318Ci M Sport. The list price is £25,040 and he has been quoted a £4,000 saving on that price by the broker Drive The Deal.

It all sounds too good to be true: he gives the specification to the broker; it finds the best deal from all the main dealers in the country; he then deals direct with that dealer and even pays it the deposit. Mike wants to know if this is correct, and whether there are any alternative ways to buy his BMW.

Just to reassure Mike, if Drive The Deal (www.drivethedeal .com) does what it says, it's a great example of how a good car broker should operate. At The Independent we have never had any complaints about the company, but we must point out that there are plenty of other brokers out there.

What did happen a few years ago was that some people decided to become car brokers when it seemed like a good idea to import a new car from Europe for less than we paid here. Trouble was, a lot of these people asked for large deposits upfront and sometimes the car didn't materialise, or the nasty people went bankrupt.

That does not happen these days provided you take a few precautions, such as not paying a big deposit. Also, talk to previous customers and local trading standards, and ensure that if you are paying for a UK car, it is supplied in the UK from a dealer.

It is virtually impossible to get a better deal simply by telephoning around dealers and asking for a discount. Because brokers buy a certain volume of cars, they earn a discount and are paid a commission direct by the dealer, who is glad to have the extra business.

A CAR FOR THE HEAD

Is there a better coupé than BMW's 318? Probably not when it comes to driving enjoyment, but the problem is it looks a little too much like the ubiquitous saloon. That's why Mike should dare to be a little different and consider some more obscure and arguably more interesting choices.

There is the Mazda RX8, which utilises a clever award-winning rotary engine. It is lightweight and can produce the equivalent of 250bhp in its highest state of tune. That rotary may be in the front, but it is set well back towards the cockpit.

Even less conventionally for a coupé, the RX8 has four doors, thanks to its centre-opening Freestyle Door System, so it is easy for rear passengers to get in and out. So far, the Mazda has enjoyed BMW levels of depreciation resistance, yet it's still possible to buy the lower-powered 192 5-speed model for £18,900 (down from £20,500), or the more powerful 240 6-speed at £20,500 (from £22,300).

A CAR FOR THE HEART

If Mike wants a no-compromise coupé, the two-seat Nissan 350Z could be the answer, with its growly V6 and blunt, blokey styling. It has proved even more resistant to depreciation, so only modest savings of a few hundred pounds can be made on what is a more expensive and more raw car than the BMW will ever be.

If Mike wants to save money, the beautiful Alfa Romeo GT could be perfect. Here's a coupé you don't see often and, like the BMW, it's a proper four-seater.

Beneath the great body is an Alfa 156 - which is good news for handling and performance fans. There's a decent choice of engines, too, but the 2.0-litre should be perfect for Mike. Compared with the BMW, it is not as well packaged, but the Alfa has more character and lots more standard equipment. The 2.0-litre is £22,000, but through a broker it's around £18,500.

Even BMWs depreciate (see our feature, pages 8-9), but not as much as Alfas, so buying an Alfa depends on how long Mike plans on keeping the car. Otherwise he should buy a low-mile example from an Alfa dealer.

CAR CHOICE

Please write to Car Choice, Features, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, or e-mail James Ruppert at carchoice@independent.co.uk, giving your age, address and contact number, and details of the type of vehicle in which you are interested and your budget.

www.jamesruppert.com