Honda Car Forum

When is the best time to get the lowest price on a new car?

So you've heard that there are "soft spots" in vehicle merchandising,
industry secrets about when dealers will absolutely sacrifice profit, pride
and practical business sense to move machinery at any price. You've heard
these rumors, haven’t you?

Unfortunately, they’re not true. Of course, you might swing a deal on a
convertible during the coldest blizzard of the year. But the rest of the
time, the dealer knows all the "timing" tricks you might try.
a.. Rainy or snowy days? Forget it: The dealer sales people know that if a
customer comes in during bad weather, he or she is generally ready to buy.
b.. The end of the month, dealer-quota time: Although quotas do exist,
they're for different models at different times, and many of them have
already been made earlier in the month or carried over.
c.. The end of the model year: Bargain hunters create demand by thinking
they're getting a deal because the model has been outdated, and dealers can
respond by raising prices.
The best time to buy a new car is when you're truly ready.

edb wrote:

> c.. The end of the model year: Bargain hunters create demand by thinking
> they're getting a deal because the model has been outdated, and dealers can
> respond by raising prices.
I have to disagree with this one. Usually June is a good month to buy
Hondas. The new models are out soon, but there is still a good
selection of current year models. Honda sells on brand, not on
discount. They are giving Dealer incentives on some models, not cash
to customer incentives now. So there are deals. This year is skewed
by the high gas prices. I don't think you are going to get a deal on a
Civic. OK a particular model could be unpopular in a specific area and
if it's in a funny color, you could make a deal. The Civic SI and Fit
seem pricey.

> The best time to buy a new car is when you're truly ready.
Actually the best way to buy is to be well informed. Ignorance is very
expensive.

The whole thrust of your article is that it's not worth trying to get a
good deal, it will never happen. How convenient for car salesmen.
Actually an informed buyer can get a better than average deal anytime.