So, GM is going to allow car buyers to return a car in the second month of ownership for a refund. Or, buyers can opt for an extra $500 rebate instead. So, how many people are going to forego $500 for the right to return the car? The fine print, as I understand it: 1. Dealer processing and titling fees… More →
Category: Sales Incentives
Sales Incentives
What’s GM thinking?
GM added owner loyalty bonuses for many models this month, but reduced the regular rebate by the same amount. So while people who currently own a GM car can get as large a rebate as last month, those who don’t are often being offered $1,000 to $1,500 less. This doesn’t strike me as a good way to sell more cars.
GM and Ford join Hyundai in offering payment protection plans. Any value?
In January, Hyundai addressed consumer uncertainly by providing job loss insurance with every sale. Lose your job? Then return the car, and they’ll make up the difference between the trade-in value and what you owe, up to $7,500. But only if you lost your job within a year of purchase. Later they enhanced the plan. Lose your job, and they’ll… More →
$10,000 rebate
Well, it was bound to happen.Factory-to-dealer incentives have reached $10,000 in the past for some very expensive luxury models that failed to sell. But I’ve never come across a $10,000 rebate–until now. Saab is on it’s deathbed, with just a slim chance of surviving. So GM has amped up the rebates on remaining 2008 Saabs. The 9-3 Aeros and the… More →
February car buying incentives: take the zero-percent loan or the rebate?
January was the worst month for car sales since 1982. So it’s no surprise that rebates are up. At GM, interest-free financing for 60 months is available on most car models–for people with stellar credit. Or take the rebate. Especially notable: $2,250 on GM’s recently hot large crossovers, $2,750 on the Chevrolet Malibu sedan (for which owners have been reporting… More →
Even Toyota is piling on the rebates
As it becomes clear that auto sales aren’t going to be picking up any time soon, even Toyota is relying on rebates more than ever before. And, unlike six months ago, small cars are also getting significant cash on the hood. You’ll find a $1,500 rebate on the Corolla, a $1,250 rebate on the Matrix, and even a $500 rebate on the… More →
How much do you save with zero percent financing?
Auto sales are so low that even Toyota has just announced zero percent financing for most of its remaining 2008s. Others, including GM, are doing the same. Usually the maximum term is 36 months. If you can swing the resulting payments, how much does the zero percent financing save you? You can actually find out using TrueDelta’s Vehicle Price Comparison… More →
GM Employee Pricing sale
GM started a new “employee pricing for everyone” sale today, and it will run through at least September 2nd. I still had the formula to calculate GM’s employee prices laying around from the last time this sale was run, three years ago. So, with a few tweaks, it’s now on the site, making TrueDelta the only non-GM site I’m aware… More →
Rebates are up — with one curious exception
I’ve uploaded incentive information for April, and at nearly every mainstream make rebates are higher and special interest rates are lower. General Motors is an exception–widespread bonus cash went away–but as in many previous months they’ll probably load on the bonus cash in the latter half of the month. I did come across one curious exception. The rebate on the Toyota… More →
What happens if the rebate changes?
Rebates can change as often as every two weeks, though most manufacturers have at least a monthly rebate period. Problem is, no one wants to barely miss a higher rebate when buying a car, either by buying a few days too early or too late. What to do? When I last bought a car, I did so at the end of the rebate… More →