THE Detroit Motor Show is upon us and car makers from all over the world are wheeling out their latest concepts to tempt the all important American market.
There is some impressive stuff including the startling and long overdue new NSX from Honda, the svelte new Mercedes SL and the potentially game-changing Hyundai Genesis Coupe.
All very good but you have to wonder if certain manufacturers' design departments have been taking it a little easy.
With some designs it's hard to spot the difference between new models and their immediate forbears.
This begs the question, why would you pay serious money for a new car that looks exactly like the old one - particularly as the gap between generations of cars these days tends to be small.
From a current Mondeo to the next is not going to be the quantum leap we saw as when Sierra became Mondeo.
Why spend the money? Here are three good examples from UsedCarExpert.
BMW 3 SeriesTo say the new car resembles the just current E90 would be something of an understatement. They look exactly the same. And the current car is the class leader. It's styling has not dated, it rides and handles as a BMW should and will hold it’s value. Be canny and opt for cheaper petrol power.
UsedCarExpert.co.uk Cars for sale: £10,900 gets you a 2008 318i SE petrol with a lowly 51,000 miles on the clock. This for a facelift model with current alloys. The new car starts at around £28,000 for the 2.0 diesel.
Ford Mondeo I had to do a double take when I saw the new car - unveiled at Detroit as the Ford Fusion - because the differences are so small. Merely some dimensions and details. As with the 3 series, the current Mondeo leads its class. It’s huge inside, looks smart and its road manners are top of the tree. Go diesel as values are comparable to petrol cars and the diesels are better.
UsedCarExpert.co.uk Cars for sale: The Mondeo is, as ever, quite an incredible bargain on the used market. £8,500 get’s you a 2010, 2.0 Edge diesel. Still in warranty! Or pay £20,000 plus for a new car.
Bentley Continental GTBentley has recently face lifted the GTC and at Detroit presented the new V8 model. It uses a lot less fuel and looks ever so slightly different but you’d have to park the new and old next to each other to see the changes. The popularity of these cars has hit used values and they now represent something of a bargain if you like your cars big and bold.
UsedCarExpert.co.uk Cars for sale: Wow. A gorgeous, 2005 Emerald Green GTC with a full service history and 35,000 on the clock can be had for £38,000. A new V8? That will be £122,000 sir…
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