CASH-CONSCIOUS car buyers are getting the best deals for eight years with average discounts of nearly £2,000, it was revealed today.

With the economic downturn biting, some cars are being offered at 45 per cent off the list price, research by What Car? magazine found. It has also discovered that those prepared to shop around might be able to get as much as £11,500 off a Jaguar XJ which is now being offered for £33,764.

What Car? reckons average discounts are about £1,932, which is £244 more than at the beginning of the year. The magazine said Ford Fiestas were on sale at 15 per cent off, while consumers could get 10 per cent off a Volkswagen Golf.

New car sales slumped in the UK in the past three months and are set to fall further over the winter, which is a notoriously slow time in the industry even when the economy is rosy. What Car? editor Steve Fowler said: "Even if you're not comfortable haggling on a price, it should be simple to get a brilliant bargain at the moment.

"With so few people dipping into their pockets, sales staff will be almost begging buyers to make an offer."