Auto Trends

Car For Sale (28th/52), originally uploaded by skippyjon

It has been a few months since our last report on car deals, as things have not changed a whole lot since April. This month however is a bit different. For one, many experts are claiming this should be the absolute bottom of the barrel the automotive industry will experience before pulling itself slowly up by its bootstraps. Both GM and Chrysler have thrown up their hands to bankruptcy, so there is not much lower they can go.

The second thing is this month signifies the end of the payment protection plans currently being offered by Ford, GM, and Hyundai. If you would like to ensure your ability to pay for a new vehicle over the next several months, June is the last foreseeable month this offer will be available. A far as the incentives in general go, we expect they should be around awhile, but the best deals arguably are still domestics over foreign when comparing apples to oranges.

So without further adieu, here are the best new car deals for June 2009.

Audi
Look who’s offering new car deals this month. Audi has not been as consistent with deals this year as others, but this month they are certainly trying to gain a piece of the action with their 2.9% APR Financing (36 months) for many of their popular vehicles. (Offer lasts through June 30, 2009)

BMW
BMW outdoes Audi this month with APR financing rates going anywhere from 0.9 % to 2.9% (60 months). In addition, they are offering 60 days no payment on many of their 2009 models. This should help you enjoy a good chunk of your summer, payment-free. (Offer lasts through June 30, 2009)

Buick, Cadillac,Chevrolet, GMC, HUMMER, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab
The GM Total Confidence Plan is fading from existence, but 0% APR financing (60 months) can still be found on many models. There are also the remnants of a few cash back rebates available on some models.

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep
Chrysler dealers are no doubt feeling the pinch, realizing they may one day be without a business. Many of them will be quite willing to make a deal, so take a risk, you’re the only one with nothing to lose here. Also be aware of their cash back offers up to $6,000. (Offer lasts through June 30, 2009)

Ford, Lincoln, Mercury
Ford should feel pretty smug, being the last survivor of the Big Three. They are not however, and this month they will be working just as hard as anyone else trying to make a deal. They are currently armed with 0 % APR financing (60 months), and rebates up to $5,000 on a good portion of their 2009 vehicles. Don’t forget to take advantage of their payment protection plan, called the Ford Advantage Plan. (Offer lasts through June 30, 2009)

Mercedes-Benz
Look who else the cat dragged out of the bag this month. While you aren’t going to see any 0% financing, Mercedes-Benz is offering 1.9% APR financing (36 months) for many of their models, which is pretty good for this class of vehicle. (Offer lasts through June 30, 2009)

Toyota
It’s hard to give you the real scoop, as Toyota has split their deals between regions. Toyota is probably trying to focus where their sales are lacking, which could be in your hometown if you are lucky. The general deals to keep an eye out for will be 0% financing (no month limit) and your standard cash-back rebates up to $4,000 on a good portion of their models. (Offer lasts through June 30, 2009)

Mazda
Not much has changed with Mazda, who is still offering their standard fair 0 to 0.9% APR financing (36 months). There are also a few cash back incentives floating around on many popular models, so keep your eyes peeled. (Offer lasts through June 30, 2009)

Volkswagen
A few months ago Volkswagen was offering 0% APR financing (60 months) on only their Passat Wagon, Routan, and Touareg. Well, they must have gotten most of that stock pile off of their hands, as this same deal is not being offered across the board for many other models. (Offer lasts through June 30, 2009)

Don’t forget, you only have until the end of June for many of these deals, so its best to get out there… while the gettin’s still good!

Source:
U.S. News & World Report: Best Car Deals, June 2009

Balloons Sell Cars, originally uploaded by manotron

Dealerships have to work hard to bring new buyers onto their lot. They give away key chains, food, gas, free test drives in fancy cars, and anything else they think will bring in a crowd. Since the recession started back in December of 2007, they have become even more desperate. They would practically do anything to get you in the door, and that is exactly what one dealership in Greeley, Colorado did.

The Weld County Garage is your typical GMC, Pontiac, and Buick dealer. They came up with a rather creative gimmick designed to help them sell a few extra cars through the month of may. What they did was tell each customer that for every vehicle sold through the month of May, if it rained one inch through the hours of 7AM through 7PM on Memorial Day, those vehicles would be free.

Now we all know how hard it can be to get a free vehicle. You could go through the rigmarole of the television game show The Price is Right, you could lose your shorts in Las Vegas, or play every sweepstakes known to man… But you will still probably never in your life experience the triumph of receiving a free vehicle.

Well, the gimmick worked, the dealership sold over $700,000 worth of vehicles. As Memorial Day came the forecast called for lots and lots of rain. The day started off with heavy rain. Then it rained, and rained, and then rained some more. By the time the late afternoon hit, the owner of the dealership must have been sweating bullets. I’d say Mustang Bullitt’s, but that’d be a whole other dealership.

The day produced well over one inch of rain, but there was one bit of saving grace. They had mentioned that the rain would have to come from the airport. While the dealership itself received bucketfuls of rain, the airport was just shy of an inch total rainfall. Thankfully, the dealership had taken out an insurance policy prior to making the deal, so they were covered even if they did have to shell out the $700,00 in new vehicles.

A Moral to this Story?
Moral 1- Insurance is your friend!
This includes car insurance, house insurance, life insurance, and health insurance. You can never have too much insurance.

Moral 2- Murphy’s Law (Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong) is not your friend!
If there is anything in life you can always count on, it is not to count on anything!

Hyundai Assurance, originally uploaded by Jeff Woelker

The Hyundai Assurance Program is a gamble like none other, but it appears to be paying off for Hyundai in a big way. Trying to sell vehicles during poor economics, is no easy feat. It involves throwing just about everything at your customer, including the kitchen sink. For instance, last year we saw many dealers offering free gas or a guaranteed $2.99 a gallon with every vehicle purchased. Then we saw 0% APR financing and thousands of dollars “cashback” become the next greatest thing. But what Hyundai has done is really hit the public where they are concerned most…

Yeah, most consumers are concerned about the price of gas, but it is not really a deal maker or breaker for the most part. Consumers like to get a good deal on financing and a few bucks back, but this still does not really hit home with what currently is on most peoples mind. They want to know whether or not their car company has got their back should they fall behind on their payments. Not much good a gas card is going to do in this scenario. And while they may have a 0% APR now, after a few missed payments on their new car, they are still going to owe more money than their next months mortgage.

What the Hyundai Assurance Program is all about?

This is exactly where Hyundai beats out just about every new vehicle deal out there. In their Assurance Program, Hyundai is offering all new customers the piece of mind that should they lose their job within their first year of ownership, they are free and clear to return the vehicle and not be subjected to payback of the vehicle. They can just “walk away”. Walkaway USA is providing this coverage to Hyundai customers free of charge throughout the 2009 fiscal year.

So far the program has only had two customers follow through with the program and return their vehicle. But one thing is for sure, there are a whole lot more Hyundai fans this year than there were last year. How do we know this? Well, because Hyundai is the only manufacturer who has been making any money during the start of 2009. They reported an amazing 14.3 percent boost in car sales from a year ago. Most every other auto manufacture reported a huge loss, and will most likely be facing another one this month.

Get with the Program Ford, Chevrolet, and Chrysler

Could a program such as this be the salvaging grace for the U.S. big three? Perhaps. But are they thinking along with something like this? No, the last we heard their next option is going to be increasing the cost of their vehicles to compensate for poor sales. Say goodbye to the “not-so” Big Three, folks!