The Best Time to Buy a Car

I am frequently asked by my clients, When is the best time to buy a car?There are as many theories on this topic as there are fleas on a stray dog, so I thought we would examine some of them this month.

Some people think that rainy days will deter car shoppers from trudging through lots, and make dealers more desperate to make a sale.On the other hand, if you are slopping around in the rain, the salesman may think that you are desperate for a car and push for a higher price!Many highline dealers (BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, etc.) insist that rainy days are great sales days because their customers would rather spend the warm, sunny ones on the golf course instead of in their showroom.At any rate, I wouldn’t recommend making a major financial decision based solely on the weather report.

Weekdays are typically better for car shopping, since most people peruse the lots on the weekends.Car dealers refer to weekends as the “tuna run” there are so many customers on the lot, they just pull them into the net.It’s harder to demand a low price when the salesman can simply turn to the next customer in line.You stand a better chance during the week, when there are fewer fish in the sea.

An even better time to shop is the end of the month or quarter when dealers are trying to make their quotas.The number of cars a dealer sells each month determines the number of cars he can get from the manufacturer next month.It also affects the types of cars he gets (models and colors that are selling well vs. ones that are not) as well as marketing support dollars.If a dealer is falling short of a quota for the month, he may forgo a profit on the car just to make his numbers.

The end of the model year and the end of the calendar year are often good times to buy.Dealers need to clear out the previous model year vehicles in order to take delivery of the new ones from the manufacturer.Many customers would rather have the newest model year, especially if there has been a re-design (like the new 2008 Honda Accord), so dealers must make the older vehicles more attractive by reducing the price.The manufacturers will usually offer incentives in the form of customer rebates, cash discounts and low finance rates to help dealers move the old inventory.But, don’t think this is the only time to find great incentives.Manufacturers will offer them any time during the year when they feel the need to increase sales.

To confuse matters further, certain types of cars tend to sell better at certain times of the year.Trucks and SUVs are popular fall and winter buys for customers living in snowy climates.Conversely, convertibles command higher prices in the spring and summer, save for those sunny states where going topless is feasible year-round.

The bottom line is that the price of any given vehicle depends on supply and demand.(Remember high school economics?)If the dealer needs to move a car, you can get a better deal.If a car is hot in the market and flying off the lots, be prepared to pay accordingly.

LeeAnn Shattuck is the owner and Chief Car Chickof Women’s Automotive Solutions, Inc. Women’s Automotive Solutions is a unique car buying service dedicated to helping women through the entire car selection and buying process. Their automotive experience enables them to save clients hundreds to thousands of dollars on a new or used car without the usual frustrations that come with car shopping. www.WomensAutomotiveSolutions.com