FROM NOVEMBER 1st, Vauxhall Motors began selling cut-price cars via its website, slashing up to £1,000 from the price of many of its best-selling models including Vectras, Astras and Corsas. Customers can now select their car online, have it brought to their front door for a test drive and if they opt to buy, have their purchase home-delivered. Finance deals and used car trade-ins can also be arranged via the site (http://buypower.vauxhall.co.uk/).

The move is seen as a response to the barrage of criticism from consumer groups and the Competition Commission which recently pilloried UK car dealers for charging the highest prices in Europe. The news was received with scepticism by the Consumers' Association, which in October announced its own cut-price cars venture: 'Why offer cheaper prices just to Internet customers?', questioned a CA spoke. 'These should be for everyone. Even so, £1,000 is still not enough. This smacks of a half-hearted response'.