What Car? Q&A - Should I worry about web discounts?

Q: I want to buy a Jaguar X-type 2.2 D Sovereign, and have visited several dealerships and looked at internet brokers. There appear to be some large discounts available online, but I am suspicious – why are there such large discounts available? Is there a problem with the Jaguar X-type?
Wayne Webber

A: When comparing prices from internet car brokers, make sure you are comparing like with like. Some companies may be selling imported cars, which can cost less than models sourced from a UK dealer. If the car is an import it should be clearly stated as such, but if you are still concerned, simply ask the supplying company. Many reputable internet brokers source their cars through UK dealers, however.

The X-type 2.2 D Sovereign is new to the market – but as the What Car? Target Price shows, discounts of £2000 are already possible from dealers if you haggle. Brokers can reduce the list price even further because they buy in bulk from dealers so can negotiate big discounts.

The X-type is a fine compact executive, which is good to drive and well equipped, and in 2.2 diesel form it is powerful yet economical. It holds its value well, too – it should retain 52% of its original value after three years of ownership, compared with 59% for the BMW 3 Series and 53% for the Audi A4.