Is this as low as car prices can go?

Posted by on Jan 25, 2012 in 9th Article | 0 comments Rebates, clearance pricing and cutthroat competition mean car prices at `historic lows’. How many times have you heard this lately: “There’s never been a better time to buy a new car”? Problem is, automobile dealers have been repeating it for years, diminishing the claim to just another tired sales pitch. New-car shoppers have been wooed by a dizzying array of factory rebates, zero-per-cent offers, gas cards and other incentives long before the present economic downturn graphics card. So, is it true that new vehicles have never been cheaper – or is it just hype? George Iny, president of the consumer group Automobile Protection Association, believes consumers who are in the market for a vehicle have it especially good right now. “New-car prices are at historic lows. Thanks to rebates and clearance pricing among the domestics, this has put pressure on the import brands” to be more competitive, says Iny lieder illegal downloaden strafe. The rise of Korean nameplates Hyundai and Kia in Canada has given other importers a run for their market share, he adds. “Hyundai and Kia now have several vehicles in the top tier of their segments, while still managing to sell at prices below much of the competition.” Iny points to some examples of recent price cuts: a $6,500 rebate on the Dodge Grand Caravan; about $6,000 off the all-new Pontiac G8 and the outgoing Ford Fusion; $3,850 plus no-cost financing on the Hyundai Elantra, and almost $10,000 off some Acura MDX models. He suggests the deals are ripe for the picking because once the bailout money runs out and the domestics have found their footing, prices have nowhere to go but up Download icloud photos on ipad. “General Motors and Chrysler both have about five months of inventory and are selling at low prices that cannot last after they restructure,” Iny says. Yet despite the deep discounts, consumers have been sitting on the sidelines. Compared to one year ago, new-vehicle sales in March were down 15 per cent in Canada and 36 per cent in the U.S bildschirmschoner handy kostenlos downloaden. “There’s a perception that the market is behaving somewhat like a Dutch auction; that is, prospective buyers are watching the prices drop and won’t get involved until the absolute bottom is reached,” says Chris Travell, vice-president of Maritz Research Automotive Group. Travell acknowledges there are more “cash on the hood” incentives now and even...
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