New legislation to effectively introduce all prices as driveaway

Some new legislationis about to come into effect that in essence will force car dealerships to advertise all their car prices as driveaway - i.e. it'll include such things as CTP insurance, dealer delivery and stamp duty into the charge. While this may be a good thing (it'll make my job in comparing car prices much easier!) it may also be bad thing for both car dealerships and car purchasers that like to haggle, since will there be much leeway to do so with a mandated minimum price set?

EDIT:

Oh and just in case anyone was interested, here's the ACCC's manual that explains what's going on.

Best Dirt Cheap Cars of May 2009

Well this is our new section for cars that are really so low in price new that it'd make you reconsider buying second hand. Hence why they're called dirt cheap. Our limit for this month is $16,000 so there's only one car that creeps into a price this low, and that's the Kia Rio.

#1 Kia Rio

Base Model Estimated Price: $13,490

Pros:

• Cheap to buy and maintain

Cons:

• Kia's image (although it's improving)


• Average safety


• Might be too small for some as it's a light car

Best Compact SUVs of May 2009

With the price changes only two Compact SUV manufacturers made it into the mix: the sister companies, Hyundai and Kia.

#1 Hyundai Tucson

Base Model Estimated Price: $22,990

Pros:

• Safer


• Alloy wheels standard


• Full size spare


• ESP standard


• Alarm standard

Cons:

• No alloy wheels standard

#2 Kia Sportage

Base Model Estimated Price: $21,990

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Alloy wheels standard

Cons:

• No ESP Standard


• No alarm standard

Best Compact Cars of May 2009

With the price limit being drastically reduced there are now far fewer choices in the Compact class. Only one choice has a 5-star ANCAP (Hyundai's i30) so now we have 4-star ANCAPs in the mix with the Toyota Corolla and Suzuki SX4.

#1 Hyundai i30

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,990

Pros:

• Safe


• Full size spare


• Alarm standard


• Great warranty


• ESP standard

Cons:

• No alloys standard

#2 Toyota Corolla

Base Model Estimated Price: $21,990

Pros:

• Full size spare


• Made in Japan

Cons:

• No alloy wheels standard


• No alarm standard

#3 Suzuki SX4

Base Model Estimated Price: $19,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan

Cons:

• Space Saver spare


• No alloy wheels standard


• No alarm standard

Best Light Cars of May 2009

#1 Suzuki Swift

Base Model Estimated Price: $18,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan


• Alloy wheels standard

Cons:

• None

#2 Toyota Yaris

Base Model Estimated Price: $16,990

Pros:

• Made in Japan

Cons:

• None

#3 Fiat Punto

Base Model Estimated Price: $23,590

Pros:

• Safe

Cons:

• None

Big change in circumstances

I realised I couldn't really afford that much for a car especially with current economic conditions so I've downgraded the price substantially to $25,000. This really limits the number of choices (which can be a good thing) so large cars and medium cars are really rare now. I've also included a dirt cheap segment as well which at the moment is going to have the $16,000 limit. Both of these limits will of course increase with time.