Two-for-one deal shifts top-end cars

Five people have taken advantage of one Auckland dealer's buy-one-get-one free car promotion.

Newmarket dealer Andrew Simms raised a few industry eyebrows when he offered anyone who bought a $115,000 C6 Citroen or $90,000 Alfa Romeo Brera a free second car, worth about $30,000.

Mr Simms yesterday told the Weekend Herald the dealership had sold three of the Alfa Romeos - which came with a free Fiat Punto - and two C6 Citroens with accompanying Citroen C4.

The promotion will now run for an extra month to the end of May, or while stocks last.

Mr Simms said that despite other dealers dismissing him as "mad", the promotion had helped to boost sales in other departments.

Total sales of Alfa, Citroen and Fiat marques for April had totalled 31, double the 16 sold in the previous three months combined.

"At the end of the day, it was a stunt, and we are happy with the way it played out."

While would-be car buyers could expect to see some "pretty strong offers" from dealers, the industry did appear to be recovering from recession, Mr Simms said.

His company is also offering the opportunity to go into a draw for a trip for two to Paris and Milan. The competition is being run by Ateco, the NZ distributor of Alfa Romeo and Fiat.

Mr Simms said the company had other sales stunts planned, but "a wee way down the track".