They're not going to just give this new truck away, but...

One question that seems to pique consumers' curiosity is whether there are any hot sposts within the sales cycles of car dealerships that can result in significant price breaks for potential buyers. Or to phrase it another way, 'Are there certain times of the year, with some makes and models, where you can negotiate a price that some might call 'embarrasingly low' (embarrasing for the dealerships)?' The answer to that question is a definite, "Yes", and today I'll talk about just one of these hot spots.

You may have heard that year-end sales are a prime time to buy a new vehicle as dealers are trying to move their old stock and get ready for next year's models. This is more than just rumor, but is a truth based on industry quirks and sometimes goofs. For example, outside of the normal yearly model transitions, if there have been certain models that have been slow sellers and parked in the manufacturer's back lots, there are going to be pressures from the manufacturers to the dealerships to take their surplus, 'move the iron' and get these "leftovers" into buyer's hands.

If you are willing to consider a make/model that has been clearly over-produced, these slow movers could allow you to negotiate some hefty discounts. Case-in-point is a table below provided by the auto industry (12/1/07) that lists some year-end pickup trucks piling up in the manufacturer's and dealer's lots. The higher the inventory, you can bet the more the model is going to be heavily advertised and incentivized, which could mean a great deal for you.

Outstanding inventory in units ending December 2007:

Chev Silverado - 233,800
GMC Sierra - 82,900
Dodge Ram - 117,200
Ford F series - 186,100
Nissan Titan - 21,100

If you are flexible on the type of vehicle you drive, you can find some killer year-end deals. When you start seeing the heavy marketing on a vehicle like the Chev Silverado (look for the advertising blitz), you know the dealers are going to be chomping at the bit to negotiate. Of course they're not just going to give it away, but you can still walk away with the satisfaction of knowing that you've bought a great vehicle at a competitive price.