Err - so why go into a showroom... (or at least a new car showroom).

I don't know if you've noticed but cars are lasting *way* longer than they used to.
Fair enough - I'm not a typical car-buyer - but I've only ever bought 2 new cars. A 3 year old in good condition is so much cheaper anywhere in the price spectrum.
The concepts of 'budget' and 'new car' don't really gel to me.