Best car deals of the November.... - PT Forums - The PT Cruiser Enthusiasts and Owners Resource

Mr Lou R (Gary) · #1 (**permalink**) 26th November 2003, 07:12 PM

Best new-car deals right now

Consumer Reports New & Used Car Price Services regularly monitor and report on car prices in the U.S. Certain vehicles are identified as offering particularly attractive savings opportunities at certain times, based on supply and demand in the automotive market.

In the chart below, we list some of the 2003 and 2004 models in our price analysis that both carry substantial discounts and have been recommended by Consumer Reports based on performance and at least average reliability. The Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP, or "sticker price" ) is listed, along with the Consumer Reports Wholesale Price, which provides consumers with a close approximation of the actual dealer cost. The CR Wholesale Price incorporates the familiar dealer invoice with the behind-the-scenes financial incentives that manufacturers give dealers to increase sales of particular models.

Note that for most models that are carrying financing, a cash rebate is also available. This can be taken as a lump-sum payment, but it makes more financial sense to use it as part of the down payment. To find out which gets you the better deal, you need to crunch the numbers both ways. If you use the rebate as a down payment, you reduce the amount of money you need to borrow but you'll make payments at a higher rate. Our calculator will help you determine whether paying interest on a loan or getting a cash rebate would be best for you.

Make and model MSRP CR Wholesale Price Potential Savings
2004 Ford Explorer XLS Sport AWD
Expires December 1st, 2003
$30,480 $24,808
$5,672

2003 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 4WD
Expires January 2nd, 2004
$35,965
$26,516
$9,449

2003 Pontiac Vibe AWD
Expires January 2nd, 2004
$20,345
$16,465
$3,880

2003 Mazda6 3.0s
Expires December 1st, 2003
$21,740
$17,665
$4,075

2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Touring Edition