What is the best time of year to get a good deal on a car?

It used to be that you’d find the best deals on a new car or truck in early fall, when manufacturers and dealerships were preparing for the arrival of new models. Another time to get a good buy was early winter, when car sales were typically in their doldrums. Much of that has changed, however. While you still can sometimes get a good deal during these times, manufacturers now introduce many new models to the marketplace throughout the year. As well, both manufacturers and dealerships now cut back on inventory during the traditionally slow selling times. Dealers that don’t have large inventories, for which they pay monthly interest to the manufacturer’s financial arm, may not be as hungry as they once were. Nevertheless, timing still counts.

To get the best deal, shop toward the end of the month. Every dealership is faced with meeting monthly sales quotas, a minimum number of cars and trucks that they must sell to get the next month’s allotment of the more popular vehicles. As a consequence, sales consultants also have to meet specific monthly sales goals to receive cash bonuses (a significant part of their pay plans). The bottom line is that you’ll often get a better deal toward the end of the month.

It’s also a good idea to keep track of the manufacturers’ rebates and incentives. They’re listed in the magazine Automotive News, available in libraries. If possible, buy toward the end of the incentive period, and as with all automotive purchases, be willing to walk away if you don’t feel it’s a good deal.



http://www.blogger.com