What Car? Q&A - What discount should I look for?

Q: I'm looking to buy a new Honda Jazz. Is it worth paying £1000 extra for the Sport version? I'd also like to have satellite navigation, but Honda quote £1,740 for this. Is this worth it? I'm also considering a sunroof for £400 and metallic paint at £350. What discount I should be looking to get for the extras and the car?
Hugh Chappell

A: The Honda Jazz is a fine choice. For a £1000 premium over the SE, Sport models feature steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, climate control instead of air-conditioning, alloy wheels, rear speakers, body kit, remote central locking, rear electric windows, side airbags and body-coloured door mirrors and handles.

So, you certainly get plenty of extras for your money, and they're not just cosmetic. Most of the features mentioned either improve convenience and safety, or make the car more attractive to potential future buyers. A price of £11,700 is a lot for a supermini, but the Jazz does hold its value very well.

Paying an extra £1760 for satellite-navigation on a car which is already pricey doesn't make much sound financial sense, however. It's not something that many future buyers will be looking for in such a car, so it doesn't really justify the extra cost. Our advice would be to buy a portable system (expect to pay around £300 for a good quality package) which you can take with you when you sell the car.

Metallic paint is always desirable, so it's definitely worth spending £350 on. An electric sunroof is a matter of personal taste, so it's up to you whether you think you should splash out an extra £400. Bear in mind that not everyone likes them, and they also cut down the available headroom in the car.

Honda dealers are pretty stingy people, so don't expect a massive discount. Add extras to the basic price of the Jazz you decide on, and then aim to get at least a 3.5% discount.