New Car Incentives Heat Up
With the US economy taking a hit thanks, in part, to the housing crunch and high fuel costs, the auto industry is also suffering. Various publications are saying that a year-to-year sales drop will take place, translating into hundreds of thousands of vehicles going unsold.
Manufacturer Incentives Remain Strong
Manufacturers can cut production and some have. However, in a bid to maintain market share, some will slash prices or offer other incentives to attract buyers. Truly, it is a buyer’s market when it comes to getting a new car.
Even Toyota is getting into the act, a company not known for offering widespread discounting. To help you shop, I’ve compiled a list of incentives currently available as the Spring season gets underway. Please note, that some of the incentives many vary; I pulled together the popular ones for the Raleigh, NC area:
Toyota
Get $1000 cash back on America’s most popular selling car, the Camry. Get a $2185 Sienna upgrade package for free.
Buick
Get $3000 back on the Lucerne or $2500 back on the LaCrosse — this special incentive expires today, but you can expect additional discounts as the year wears on.
Volkswagen
Another incentive which ends today is VW’s Sign and Drive event. Lease a new Jetta, GTI, Touareg, or other VW model and it is no money down for you. In return, you’ll lease your new wheels for the next 39 months.
Suzuki
Still trying to push out left over 2007 models, Suzuki is offering as much as $2500 back on the XL7 as well as 0% financing on all 2007 models. For 2008 models, discounted financing also applies.
Hyundai
The Sonata is Hyundai’s midsize car and much rides on the success or not of this model. To that end, 0% financing for 60 months is available while left over 2007 Sonatas (when they can be found) get you a $2500 rebate. Hyundai is currently offering discounts across their entire fleet.
Dodge
Across the board, Dodge is offering discounts or low financing on every model. Leading the way is the Ram 1500 Mega or Quad Cabs — you get $6000 back when buying this car or you can low rate financing plus bonus cash.
Saturn
It used to be that Saturns weren’t ever discounted as “fixed pricing” was the name of the game. That game has ended.
You can get $2500 back for the VUE or the V6 AURA, but no incentives are currently be extended to other models.
Mitsubishi
With the 2009 Galant already out, the 2008 Galant is carrying a generous $3000 rebate or customers can elect to go with 0% financing for 60 months. Interestingly, Mitsubishi still has some 2007 Galants available and they are letting those cars go with a $3500 discount. Lots of other specials across the line too.
Mercedes
Across the board, Mercedes is offering discounts and special lease incentives on all 2008 models. Regional discounts may vary, check with your local dealer to see what savings are available to you.
Honda
One company that doesn’t generally offer incentives is Honda, but that is changing. As Honda seeks to grow their business, they are offering discounts in a bid to maintain/expand market share.
For Honda, special lease and financing deals are being offered, but you’ll be hard pressed to find cash back incentives. Check their regional offers for specials in your area.
Kia
One visit to the Kia website and you’ll quickly think, “what isn’t being discounted?” Indeed, Kia is being aggressive by offering competitive bonus discounts on a variety of models as well as deep discounts on left over 2007 models.
Most 2008 models are discounted as well and/or low rate financing is available.
Chevrolet
Get 0% financing on most models or cash back and/or cash incentives as much as $3000 on select Silverado models.
Many of the current discounts end today, but expect that a new program will be developed almost immediately.
Nissan
Nissan is celebrating its 50th year and with this anniversary is offering discounts through March 3rd. The biggest discounts are on the Titan, a truck that was remodeled for the 2008.5 model year. Therefore, discounts on older 2007 and 2008 models totaling $5000 are possible.
Other brands are being discounted including Cadillac, Mazda, Subaru and Chrysler. Visit the web pages for each manufacturer and dig deep to uncover the best incentives available to you.
GM Mulls A Compact Sedan For Buick
One of the brightest lights in the GM portfolio is Buick, a brand that once served the senior set really well. In truth, it still does.
Yet, beyond all of that Buick has been making a name for itself, with twice as many Buicks sold in China as there are in the US. The US fleet has been scaled back over the years, with only the full sized Lucerne sedan, mid-sized LaCrosse sedan, and the Enclave crossover in its line up. Still, the brand continually ranks well in consumer satisfaction surveys year after year.
A Limited Number Of Models
As I learned when I attended the NAIAS in Detroit earlier this year, GM is content to have its many brands sell just 3 or 4 vehicles instead of the 6 or 7 they had offered in the past. Long guilty of badge engineering — the practice of reselling virtually the same car as a Pontiac, Chevrolet or Saturn, GM is gradually moving away from this practice. Besides, in most areas of the country, Buicks are sold alongside of Pontiacs and GMC vehicles.
Enter The Excelle
A new compact sedan will be debuting in the Chinese market next year, the Excelle, a car that may find its way to the North American marketplace. Roughly the size of a Toyota Corolla, the Excelle will be rear wheel drive and be based on the company’s Alpha architecture, currently under development in Germany.
Although many of the automotive bloggers are trying their hardest to guess what the Excelle will be like (suggesting it is a rebadged Suzuki, for one), the car being planned will actually be quite different.
Responding To $4 Gallon Gasoline & CAFE
GM has stated that they want to build smaller, more luxurious cars which would help the company meet stringent CAFE requirements that will take place in 2020.
With gasoline expected to rise to as much as $4 per gallon later this year, a compact Buick will arrive a bit late, but when it does show up it could provide welcome relief to car dealers and buyers alike.
(Source: AutoWeek)
Sharing the Linking, Automotive Style
I find a lot of good automotive sites when I scour the internet 
for fresh material. When I find something that inspires me, I give full credit to that source.
There are many sites I stumble across or visit while 
bookmarking besides the ones that give me a story idea. Among them are the following blogs, particular articles you may find interesting:
Toyota Camer Monitors Sleepy Drivers @ Slash Gear
Profile: The Man in Charge of the Chevy Volt - Frank Weber @ GM-Volt
UK Traffic Cameras Detect How Much Blood is in Your Car @ DailyTech
The Saab Naming and Model Nomenclature @ Saab History
Toyota to Rebadge Prius as a Lexus @ Winding Road
2009 Ford E-Series Gets Upgraded @ The Torque Report
The Million Mile Pickup Truck @ Frugal Dad
Kia unveils a bit of its Scion-killer @ Petrol Head
Review: 2008 Dodge Caliber SE @ A Fool and His Words Are Soon Parted
Lexus Hybrid Wagon on its Way? @ Hybrid Cars
Solar Powered Car From University of Michigan @ lifegoogles
coBRANDiT at the North American International Auto Show @ Kino-Eye.com
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Hyundai @ Checkered Blog
Crazy Ray’s: an Eden for car parts @ The Towerlight
Buick may add new entry-level sedan @ Motor Authority
Top 12 Greenest and Meanest Cars in the USA @ Treehugger
More Pics of Prototype S Surface @ JPCN
Sunday Review - The Ford Sync @ WonderDawg
General Motors continues its Family-Friendly Commitment @ Alpha Mom
Hummer H3 Still A Safe Bet @ Hummer Guy
I must confess that at least eight of the links are for people I met while attending this year’s NAIAS in Detroit. I’m impressed by the work so many are doing, most of whom are maintaining their sites on the side.
Good reading to you!
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