These GM rebate offers end on February 29, 2012. Most of the GM vehicles also have 0% APR loan offers, although customers must choose between rebates or loan deals. You can’t have both.

Rebates can be used as down payments on a car loan which makes them nice if you are short on down payment cash. Rebates, if more than about $2000-$2500, can be better than 0% APR interest loans in terms of lowering monthly payments (see 0% APR Loans – Good Deal or Not? for more details).

Here are the largest rebates currently being offered by General Motors:

2012 Buick Regal – $4425

2012 Buick LaCrosse – $4300

2011 Buick Lucerne – $4000

2012 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V – $5450

2012 Cadillac Escalade – $5175

2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Escalade Hybrid - $4575

2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade ESV - $4000

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 1500 Hybrid – $4750

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 1500 Hybrid – $4005

2011 Chevrolet Avalanche – $4000

2011 Chevrolet Impala – $4000

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe – $3850

2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 – $3850

 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban 1500, HHR - $3500

2011 Chevrolet Malibu – $3000

2012 Chevrolet Impala – $3000

2012 GMC Sierra 1500 and 1500 Hybrid – $4750

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 and 1500 Hybrid – $4005

2012 GMC Yukon XL 1500, XL 2500 – $3850

2011 GMC Yukon, Yukon Hybrid, Yukon XL 1500, Yukon XL 2500 – $3500

2011 GMC Canyon – $3000

In terms of percentage of MSRP, rebates on the 2011 and 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 are the highest at about 19%-21%. This represents a substantial savings for these vehicles and is well worth your consideration if you are in the market for a truck.

You can get free price quotes on any of the above GM vehicles from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

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That’s $0 due at lease signing — not even the first month’s payment.

Honda and Acura lead the pack with no-money-down leases, followed by Infiniti and Cadillac.

Honda and Acura actually offer their leases both ways — with a down payment, which makes for a lower monthly payment, and without a down payment.

Actually, almost any car lease can be had with or without a down payment, but you may not be able to get special promotional deals without money down unless the deal specifically makes that offer. All the promotional deals listed below do make the offer.

Making no down payment doesn’t change the value of the deal. However, since you are not pre-paying some of your financed lease amount, your payments will be a bit higher.

All these lease deals allow 10,000 miles per year with the exception of those from Honda and Infiniti which allow 12,000 per year.

All incentives expire on February 29, 2012 or March 1, 2012.

Here are all the current (February 2012) $0 down lease deals, listed in alphabetical order:

YEAR	MAKE	MODEL	MONTHS	PMT
2012	Acura	MDX	35	570
2012	Acura	TL	35	420
2012	Acura	TSX	35	350
2012	Acura	ZDX	35	570
2012	Cadillac	CTS sedan	36	399
2012	Cadillac	CTS coupe	36	429
2012	Cadillac	Escalade	36	747
2012	Cadillac	SRX	36	499
2012	FIAT	500	42	199
2012	FIAT	500c	42	299
2012	Honda	Accord sedan	35	250
2011	Honda	CR-V	35	270
2012	Honda	Civic sedan	35	230
2012	Honda	Crosstour	35	340
2012	Honda	Odyssey	35	350
2012	Honda	Pilot 2wd	35	340
2012	Honda	Pilot 4wd	35	350
2012	Infiniti	G25 Journey Sedan	39	389
2012	Infiniti	G37 Journey Sedan	39	429
2012	Infiniti	G37 Journey Coupe	39	479
2012	Infiniti	G37 Convertible	39	619
2012	Infiniti	M37 Sedan	39	639
2012	Infiniti	M56 Sedan	39	849
2012	Infiniti	EX35 Journey RWD	39	569
2012	Infiniti	EX35 Journey AWD	39	579
2012	Infiniti	FX35 RWD	39	619
2012	Infiniti	FX35 AWD	39	629
2012	Infiniti	FX50 AWD	39	809
2012	Infiniti	QX56 2WD	39	899
2012	Infiniti	QX56 AWD	39	949
2012	Mazda	Mazda3	42	257
2012	Mazda	Mazda6	42	246
2012	Mazda	CX-9	42	386
2012	MINI	Hardtop	36	249

If you don’t understand how car leasing works, or how to determine if you are a good leasing candidate, please visit our sister web site, LeaseGuide.com. You will find all the information, advice, calculators, and tips you’ll need to be able to lease a car with full confidence.

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Some manufacturers are also offering cash-back rebates but, as you may already know, you generally must choose between the rebates and the special low-interest (or zero interest) loans. You can’t take both.

Often, rebates are a better deal, especially if you need down payment money (rebates can be used as down payment cash). However, in many cases, you don’t have a choice when only a rebate, or only a low-interest loan is being offered. See our article, 0% APR Car Deals – Good Deal or Not? for more details.

Here are some of the current  car makes and models with 0% APR loan deals. Note that the 0% APR rate usually (but not always) only applies for shorter-term loans — 24, 36, or 48 month loans — and may not apply to all styles within a model line.  Terms and conditions can vary by car company.

Following are some of the current 0% ARP loan deals for 2011 and 2012 vehicles.

• Buick Enclave (2011 and 2012)
• Buick LaCrosse (2011)
• Buick Lucerne (2011)
• Buick Regal (2011)
• Cadillac  CTS (2011)
• Cadillac Escalade (2011)
• Cadillac SRX (2011)
• Chevrolet Avalanche (2011)
• Chevrolet Camero (2011)
• Chevrolet Colorado (2011)
• Chevrolet Corvette (2011)
• Chevrolet Equinox (2011)
• Chevrolet HHR (2011)
• Chevrolet Impala (2011 and 2012)
• Chevrolet Malibu (2011 and 2012)
• Chevrolet Silverado (2011)
• Chevrolet Suburban (2011)
• Chevrolet Tahoe (2011)
• Chevrolet Traverse (2011 and 2012)
• Chrysler 200 (2011 and 2012)
• Chrysler 300 and 300c (2012)
• Chrysler Town & Country (2012)
• Dodge Avenger (2012)
• Dodge Caliber (2012)
• Dodge Challenger (2012)
• Dodge Charger (2012)
• Dodge Durango (2011 and 2012)
• Dodge Grand Caravan minivan (2012)

• Dodge Journey (2012)
• Dodge Nitro (2011)
• Dodge RAM (2012)
• FIAT 200 and 200c (2012)
• Ford Escape (2012)
• Ford Expedition (2011 and 2012)
• Ford Flex (2012)
• Ford Fusion (2012)
• Ford Mustang (2012)
• Ford Ranger (2011)
• Ford Taurus (2011 and 2012)
• GMC Acadia (2011 and 2012)
• GMC Canyon (2011)
• GMC Sierra (2011)
• GMC Terrain (2011)
• GMC Yukon (2011)
• Hyundai Genisis (2011)
• Hyundai Sonata (2011)
• Hyundai Veracruz (2011)
• Jeep Compass (2011 and 2012)
• Jeep Grand Cherokee (2011 and 2012)
• Jeep Liberty (2011 and 2012)
• Jeep Patriot (2011 and 2012)
• Jeep Wrangler (2011 and 2012)
• Lincoln MKS (2011 and 2012)
• Lincoln MKT (2012)
• Lincoln MKZ (2012)
• Lincoln Navigator (2011 and 2012)
• Mazda CX-7 (2011 and 2012)
• Mazda CX-9 (2011 and 2012)
• Mazda 2 (2011)
• Mazda 3 (2011)
• Mazda 6 (2011 and 2012)
• Mitsubishi Eclipse (2011 and 2012)
• Mitsubishi Endeavor (2011)
• Mitsubishi Galant (2011 and 2012)
• Mitsubishi Lancer (2011 and 2012)
• Mitsubishi Outlander (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Altima (2012)
• Nissan Armada (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Frontier (2012)
• Nissan Maxima (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Murano (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Pathfinder (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Quest (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Rogue (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Sentra (2012)
• Nissan Titan (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Versa (2012)
• Nissan Xtera (2011 and 2012)
• Suzuki Equator (2012)
• Suzuki Grand Vitara (2012)
• Suzuki Kizashi (2012)
• Suzuki SX4 (2012)
• Toyota Avalon (2012)
• Toyota Camery (2012)
• Toyota Corolla (2012)
• Toyota Highlander (2012)
• Toyota Prius (2012)
• Toyota RAV4 (2012)
• Toyota Sienna (2012)
• Toyota Tundra (2012)
• Toyota Tacoma (2012)
• Volkswagen CC (2011 and 2012)
• Volkswagen Eos (2011)
• Volkswagen GTI (2011)
• Volkswagen Golf (2011)
• Volkswagen Jetta (2011)
• Volkswagen Routan(2011 and 2012)
• Volkswagen Touareg (2011 and 2012)

Of course, the best deals result from having both a 0% loan and a good price discount. Many car buyers are so happy to get a great loan rate that they overlook the fact that they should also be getting a price discount (not rebate) from their dealers. Shop for or negotiate your best price, even when you are getting a zero-percent loan. Don’t let dealers try to tell you that you can’t have both.

We also remind you that you need a good FICO credit score to qualify for a 0% APR loan rate. If you don’t know your credit score, you should. You can get your score online at sites such as FreeCreditScore.com.

If your credit score is significantly below 700 you won’t be able to get a low-interest (or 0% interest) loan but you may be able to qualify for a “sub-prime” rate at a loan company, such as Auto Credit Express, that specializes in providing car loans to people with no credit, poor credit, bankruptcies, or even repossessions on their record.

You can get free price quotes on any of the above cars from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

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BMW

The company is offering special leases on 55 different models and styles (trimlines). All deals are for 2012 models, except for five 2011 models, which are exceptionally good deals.

The BMW lease deals are for 36 months except for two 2011 models with 33 month offers (see details below). All expire on February 29, 2012. Each requires a down payment, first month’s payment, and a usual $725 lease aquisition fee be paid at the time of lease signing.

All of the lease offers have been evaluated by LeaseGuide.com and generally rated as Excellent or Oustanding on a 5-level scale of Poor/Average/Good/Excellent/Outstanding.

Although most of the deals are based on full MSRP price (some have a $1500-$2500 “allowance” discount), they all have very high lease-end residual values (around 65%) and money factors in the .0005 range, which is equivalent to about 1.2% APR interest. These factors combine to create a low monthly payment for each vehicle, a payment that customers would not be able to negotiate for themselves.

Also don’t forget that BMW vehicles come with free factory recommended maintenance for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This only sweetens the special lease offers.

Following are examples of some of the current BMW lease deals:

2012 BMW 128i Coupe – $369/month, $2500 down payment (cap cost redution)

2012 BMW 135i Coupe – $439/month, $2500 down payment

2011 BMW 328i Sedan – $389/month, $2500 down payment, $2500 allowance (can be used as down payment)

2011 BMW 328i xDrive Sedan- $349/month, $2500 down payment, 33 months, $1500 allowance (can be used as down payment)

2011 BMW 335i Sedan – $449/month, $3000 down payment, $2500 allowance, $1305 option credit

2011 BMW 335i xDrive Sedan – $419/month, $3000 down payment, 33 months, $1500 allowance, $1840 option credit

2012 BMW 328i Coupe – $449/month, $2500 down payment

2012 BMW 328i Convertible – $489/month, $3200 down payment

2012 BMW 528i Sedan – $599/month, $1900 down payment

2012 BMW 550i Sedan – $769/month, $3000 down payment

2012 BMW 650i Coupe – $899/month, $5000 down payment

2012 BMW X3 xDrive28i – $459/month, $2750 down payment

2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i – $519/month, $2500 down payment

Again, these BMW special lease deals for February 2012 are some of the best new-car lease values in the market at this time.

However, if you read the small print in these offers, they are only available to “qualified customers,” which means customers who have good credit scores. You should know your most recent credit score before you go to accept one of these deals. Fortunately, you can get your credit score online for free at services such as FreeCreditScore.com with a quick enrollment.

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Mitsubishi

These incentives come in the form of rebates, 0% APR loans, special lease deals, and loyalty rebates. All deals expire on January 31, 2012.

Let’s take a look at deals on 2012 models first.

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer – 0% APR loan rate for 36 months and $500 rebate for current Mitsubishi or Saturn customers

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer ES CVT – Special lease: $189/month, 24 months, $2388 due at signing

2012 Missubishi Lancer SE 2.5L AWC CVT – Special lease: $189/month, 24 months, $2388 due at signing

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback – 0% APR loan rate for 36 months and $500 loyalty rebate for current Mitsubishi or Saturn customers

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback ES CVT – Special lease: $196/month, 24 months, $2395 due at signing

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution – 0% APR loan rate for 36 months

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR – Special lease: $349/month, 48 months, $3698 due at signing

2012 Mitsubishi Galant – $3500 factory rebate or 0% APR loan rate for up to 60 months

2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupe  - 0% APR loan rate for 36 months

2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder – 0% APR loan rate for 36 months

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport – 0% APR loan rate for 36 months and $500 loyalty rebate for current Mitsubishi or Saturn customers

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ES 2WD CVT – Special lease: $219/month, 36 months, $2768 due at signing

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander – 0% APR loan rate for 36 months and $500 loyalty rebate for current Mitsubishi or Saturn customers

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 ES 2WD CVT – Special lease: $249/month, 36 months, $2998 due at signing

In addition to the above deals on 2012 models, there are also some excellent deals on left-over 2011 models, as shown below:

A $1000 factory rebate is being offered on the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport; a $1500 rebate for the 2011 Lancer, Lancer Sportback, and Eclipse Coupe; a $2000 rebate for the 2011 Eclipse Spyder and Outlander; a $3500 rebate for the  2011 Galant; and a $4500 rebate for the 2011 Endeavor.

There are also 0% APR loan rates offered for up to 60 months (36 months on Eclipse) on all the above 2011 models, as well as a $500 customer loyalty rebate on some of the models.

If you read the fine print accompanying the Mitsubishi incentives, you’ll find that the loan and lease deals are available only to customers with “approved credit” which means customers must have a good credit score. It is always a good idea to know your most recent credit score before you visit a dealer regarding one of these deals. It’s easy enough to get your latest credit score online at services such as FreeCreditScore.com.

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Fifty independent auto journalists voted on a number of finalists including not only the Hyundai Elantra but also the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Focus.

This award is like winning an Oscar in the movie business and is significant because the voters are people who really know cars and review them day in and day out.

Hyundai has created a solid reputation for building cars with innovative styling, quality, reliability, safety, and luxury at affordable prices. The award-winning Elantra is no exception.

Special Low-Payment Lease Deal on 2012 Hyundai Elantra – Car of the Year

The best news for automotive consumers is that Hyundai is currently offering the 2012 Elantra GLS with auto transmission at only $179/month with a special lease deal that is good through January, until January 31, 2012.

The deal is based on a reduced capitalized cost (lease price), low money factor (finance rate), and a high lease-end residual value. It is a 36 month lease with 36K miles allowance. It requires a $1820 down payment and $179 first month’s payment, both due at lease signing along with any local taxes and official fees.

LeaseGuide.com has evaluated this deal and gives it a Lease Value Score of 79, which rates as Excellent on a 5-level scale of Poor/Average/Good/Excellent/Outstanding. This is a deal well worth considering and a deal that a customer could not negotiate for themselves.

Hyundai is currently offering other special lease deals on the following vehicles:

2012 Hyundai Accent – $169/month, $1530 down payment

2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring – $199/month, $2000 down payment

2011 Hyundai Equus Signature – $739/month, $2260 down payment, plus up to $3000 bonus cash that would reduce lease payment

2012 Hyundai Equus Signature – $739/month, $4260 down payment

2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan – $399/month, $2600 down payment, plus up to $3000 bonus cash that would reduce lease payment

2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0 Manual Transmission Standard Package – $259/month, $2440 down payment

If you need to learn more about car leasing and whether it is right for you, please visit LeaseGuide.com for free information and advice.

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BMW

There are 55 different BMW models with special promotional lease deals this month. Five of those are 2011 models, which are the best of all the excellent deals, and the remainder are 2012 models.

All the 2011 model lease deals listed below have been rated Outstanding by LeaseGuide.com on a 5-category scale of Poor/Average/Good/Excellent/Outstanding.

All the 2012 model lease deals listed below have been rated Excellent. This high rating also applies to nearly all the other BMW leases that we haven’t listed.

All deals are for 36 months (except where noted) and 30K miles allowance (except where noted). This translates to only 833 miles per month. If you drive more miles than the allowance, you’ll pay at the rate of $0.20-$0.25 per mile. Before you apply for one of these leases, make sure you can live with the relatively low mileage allowance. These deals expire on January 31, 2012.

With each deal, at lease signing, you’ll pay a down payment, the first monthly payment, and a $750 lease acquisition fee (a standard non-negotiable fee with all car leases). In some cases, the down payment is offset by an allowance or credit (aka, rebate) that totally or partially covers the down payment.

The 2011 BMW models with special leases are as follows:

2011 BMW 328i Sedan – $389/month, $3614 due at signing before $2500 allowance

2011 BMW 328i xDrive – $349/month (33 months), 27.5K miles, $3574 due at signing before $1500 allowance

2011 BMW 335i Sedan – $449/month, $4174 due at signing before $1500 option credit and $2500 allowance

2011 BMW 335i xDrive Sedan – $419/month 933 months), 27.5K miles, $4144 due at signing before $1840 option credit and $1500 allowance

2011 BMW 335d Sedan – $459/month, $3684 due at signing before $3500 ECO credit and $1500 allowance

Make no mistake, the above 2011 model lease deals are truly outstanding deals.

A few examples of the 50 other special lease deals on 2012 models from BMW in January are the following:

2012 BMW 128i Coupe – $369/month, $3594 due at signing

2012 BMW 328i Coupe – $449/month, $3674 due at signing

2012 BMW 335i Coupe – $499/month, $4224 due at signing

2012 BMW 528i Sedan – $599/month, $3224 due at signing

2012 BMW 535i Sedan – $679/month, $3504 due at signing

2012 BMW 550i Sedan – $769/month, $4494 due at signing

2012 BMW 650i Coupe – $899/month, $6624 due at signing

2012 BMW 750i Sedan – $929/month, $5654 due at signing

No other car maker is offering the value and scope of excellent car leases on 2012 models as BMW is offering for January 2012. Also remember that BMW provides 4 years or 50,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance. If you’re even halfway thinking of leasing a BMW, now is a good time to act on it.

One of the “catches” to getting one of these great lease deals is that the deals are only available to “qualified” customers. What this means is that customers must have a good credit score to qualify. Be sure you know your most recent credit score before you set foot in your dealer’s showroom to avoid being surprised with what he knows about you that you don’t know about yourself. It’s easy enough to get your current credit score online and free at web sites such as FreeCreditScore.com. All it takes is a simple sign-on and you can see your score instantly.

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Toyota

Just so that you know, and as we’ve explained before, Toyota’s monthly car deals can vary by region of the country due to the way the company uses different distributors and finance companies. For example, if you live in the Southeast U.S., all Toyota dealers in that area get their cars through Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC in Jacksonville, Florida. If you apply for a loan or lease at a dealership, the distributor’s finance company, Southeast Toyota Finance (SETF), handles it.  And all monthly incentives come from SETF, not directly from Toyota.

Therefore, when we discuss Toyota new-car incentives, our job is made a bit more difficult by the fact that these regional variations exist. However, since all the incentives originate with the Toyota parent company, the variations that come about through different distributors are generally limited to slight differences in monthly payment, down payment requirement, lease term (months), and vehicle style.

For example, in New York a specific lease offer might be $269/month for 36 months, while in Florida the same vehicle might have an offer for $259/month for 39 months. These deals usually evaluate essentially the same. If one is evaluated to be good deal, then the other is a good deal too. It’s just the details that are different, usually not the deal itself.

So with that in mind we now present the current Toyota lease deals for January 2012. All deals are for 39 months, have a 46,800 miles allowance (very generous!), and require $1999 down payment, plus first month’s payment.

2011 Toyota Avalon – $379/month (Rated 70 – Good)

2012 Toyota Camry LE Sedan - $229/month (Rated 78 – Excellent)

2011 Toyota Corolla LE Sedan – $159/month (Rated 83 – Excellent)

2011 Toyota Prius – $249/month (Rated 77 – Excellent)

2011 Toyota Venza – $319/month (Rated 69 – Good)

2011 Toyota Tundra – $339/month (Rated 68 – Good)

2011 Toyota Highlander – $309/month (Rated 73 – Good)

2011 Toyota RAV4 – $239/month (Rated 73 – Good)

2011 Sienna LE – $249/month (Rated 70 – Good)

The ratings on the above Toyota lease deals were made by LeaseGuide.com using the Real Lease Value Calculator.  Ratings can range from below 50 to over 100 and ranked on a 5-category scale from Poor/Average/Good/Excellent/Outstanding. Note that the 2012 Camry and 2011 Corolla score the highest and are the best lease deals of the group. However, even those with a Good rating are better than an average, non-promotional deal and are almost always better than a customer could negotiate for themselves. In other words, these are genuinely good deals for anyone interested in leasing a Toyota vehicle.

One more thing — if you read the fine print associated with these or any other promotional lease deals, you’ll find a statement that says the deals are only available to “qualified lessees” which means “customers with good credit scores.” A “good credit score” can range from 680 to 720, depending on the lease finance company. It’s always wise to know your latest credit score before you visit a dealer for one of these deals.  You can get your score online with a quick sign-up at web sites such as FreeCreditScore.com.

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Saab

You either love them or your hate them. It’s the way it has always been.

If you love them and want a bargain of a lifetime, now is the time to buy. Prices on brand new Saab cars are the lowest they have ever been — and will ever be in the future.

So, what’s happening and why are these cars such great bargains all of a sudden?

You may or may not know that the Saab company, which has tetered on bankruptcy a number of times and has bounced around between different owners, is finally closing its doors. Unless a near-miracle occurs sometime soon, Saab is stopping production and support immediately. The company and its car brand will cease to exist.

However, there are Saab dealers all over the United States that still have new Saab vehicles on their lots. These vehicles must be sold. Dealers are making unbelievable deals on these cars — at great loss to themselves — to get rid of them and not get stuck with them.

Is there a catch?

Yes. Saab has suspended warranty coverage on all new vehicles as of December 19, 2011. This means you would not have traditional factory warranty protection that normally comes with a new vehicle.

However, you could purchase extended warranty coverage on your Saab from a reputable after-market warranty company such as Warranty Direct at a very reasonable price, especially for a brand new car. The cost of the warranty would be more than paid for with the huge savings you’ll get on the price of your car. Repair parts for your Saab should be available for years to come.

Summary

If you want a Saab, now is the time to buy, while you still have choices of colors, styles, and options. The Saab company is going out of business and dealers still have cars that must be sold. Great deals are available now but it won’t last forever.

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Unfortunately, car manufacturers don’t even tell their dealers about new special deals and incentives until shortly after the beginning of the new month, after any previous incentive programs have expired.

In this case, all current incentive programs from all car companies end on January 3, 2012. That means dealers, and all of us, won’t know about any new programs until a day, or two, or three after January 3.

However ……. we’ve been around long enough to be able to anticipate the gist of what’s coming with these programs. It’s all based on how a car company’s sales have been going (slow = more incentives), how competitve it needs to be to gain market share, how many of its vehicles are in inventory that must be sold, and how much money the company is willing to risk to gain sales.

So what does this mean for January 2012?

First of all, car companies and dealers still have plenty of left-over 2011 models that must be sold. They can’t sell 2011 models if the price is the same as newer 2012 models. So there will be many excellent incentives on 2011 models, including rebates, factory to dealer cash, low interest rates, and special lease deals.

Next, American car makers Chrysler, General Motors, and Ford have been fighting their way to improved sales since their near-death experiences caused by the recent recession. Some of the best incentives of 2011 have come from these companies and their dealers. 2012 will almost certainly be as good, if not better. They will want to get off to a strong start in January to set the pace for the coming year.

Nobody quite knows when Toyota and Honda will unleash their expected new incentive programs after fully recovering from the March earthquake and tsunami but we don’t expect it be in January 2012, although we do expect it within the next few months. Once their programs begin, other car companies will have to try to compete, which means automotive consumers will see some of the best deals in years.

Don’t expect much in the way of great deals in January from luxury car companies, possibly with the exception of BMW, especially with their great lease deals. But if you’re in the market for a high-end car, price really isn’t that important is it?

Korean car maker Hyundai/Kia is working hard to draw attention to its stylish new vehicles, top-notch quality, and value pricing. To get that attention, we expect to see attractive new incentives beginning in January 2012. This company’s vehicles will be some of the best buys of 2012.

You may know that Mercury closed down in 2011 and there are still Mercury vehicles available for bargain prices. January deals will be even better as dealers try to get rid of every Mercury vehicle. These are good deals because warranties will be honored by Ford dealers and parts will still be available for years.

There may be great deals on Saab vehicles in January now that it has been recently announced that Saab will be filing for bankruptcy soon. Any left-over Saab vehicles will be offered at great prices.

Low-interest loan deals, including 0% APR deals, will continue to be offered widely in January as they have for most of 2011. While the economy remains stagnant and interest rates low, car companies can afford to offer such deals without great risk. As a result, it’s a great time to take out a car loan or lease.

You can get free price quotes on any of the above cars from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

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A new company has come along that has the potential to greatly improve and simplify the way we buy cars now and in the future.

The company helps answer the question “What should I pay for my new car?” based on what dealers pay for the car and what other customers are paying for the same car.

If you know a dealer’s cost (invoice price) for a car, the MSRP (sticker price), and what other people in your area are paying for that car, on average, you then know how much you should pay.

If you could then get a written price guarantee backed by local dealers stating they will sell you the car for even less than that price, often less than invoice, it’s even better. You can then be certain that you’re getting about the best deal you could hope for — without the usual haggling and stressful game-playing.

TrueCaris the company we’re talking about here. It hasn’t been around very long but has already established a good reputation for itself in the automobile industry. It’s data and pricing information is often referenced in automotive trade papers and car magazines.

More than just providing free car pricing information like many other sites, TrueCaralso gives you a haggle-free, guaranteed price quote on brand new cars from dealers in your area. The price quotes are typically much less than average prices being paid by customers — and usually less than dealer invoice price. 

How does it work?

It’s easy enough. Select your vehicle make and model, enter your zip code, and then see the best local prices for the car or truck you want. TrueCargives you price quotes in writing from up to three dealers near you.

They show you dealer cost, average price paid in your area, factory invoice price, and MSRP (sticker price) for the exact car you want.

You simply print your TrueCar Price Protection Certificate and take it to your local car dealer to purchase your new vehicle at a significant savings off of the sticker price — usually less than dealer invoice price. It’s that simple.

Dealers will include any current rebates or factory-to-dealer cash savings in your price quotes.

The advantage of this great new service compared to other car price services is that it shows you exactly how your price quote compares against the average price being paid by other customers. With other services you can’t quite be sure your price quote is the best you can get. Not so with TrueCar.

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Scion

Toyota created the brand specifically for a young and young-at-heart customer set, with fresh new styling and features, but retaining the value and reliability that the company has been famous for.

For December, Scion is offering a number of special special lease deals on selected styles of each of its models (except the brand new Scion IQ not yet available in all parts of the U.S.), including both 2011 and 2012 models.

All these deals are for 36 months, 36,000 miles allowance, and vehicles with automatic transmissions. All require a down payment of only $650 and first month’s payment, due at lease signing.

The deals end on January 3, 2012.

Following are the current Scion lease deals:

2011 Scion xB – $219/month, $869 due at signing (Rated 75 – Excellent)

2011 Scion xB Release Series – $239/month, $889 due at signing (Rated 85 – Excellent)

2012 Scion xB – $237/month, $887 due at signing (Rated 70 – Good)

2011 Scion xD – $209/month, $859 due at signing (Rated 73 – Good)

2011 Scion xD Release Series – $229/month, $879 due at signing (Rated 81 – Excellent)

2012 Scion xD – $219/month, $869 due at signing (Rated 71 – Good)

2011 Scion tC – $219/month, $889 due at signing (Rated 78 – Excellent)

2012 Scion tC – $254/month, $904 due at signing (Rated 75 – Excellent)

The ratings shown with the above listings were determined by LeaseGuide.com. As can be seen, all the lease deals are good deals but some are better than others. The 2011 Scion xB Release Series is the best, followed closely by the 2011 Scion xD Release Series. Since all these leases are subvented by the manufacturer, each is better than a customer could negotiate for themselves.

In order to get these special deals customers are required to be “qualified” as specified in the fine print of the offers. This means customers must have a good credit score to be accepted. Of course, anyone thinking of buying or leasing a new car should know their most recent credit score, which is easy enough to get from online sources such as FreeCreditScore.com.

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Toyota

These deals come from Toyota or from a Toyota distributor, depending on where you live. Because the lease deals have different origins, the details of each deal might differ from those we give you here. In some cases, the specific model and style might be slightly different, or it might be the monthly payment or amount due at signing.

Here are the most recent Toyota special leases, all of which expire on January 3, 2012. All are for 39 months, 39,000 miles. The cash due at signing includes a down payment and first month’s payment.

2011 Toyota Avalon – $359/month,  $2358 due at signing

2011 Toyota Camry – $199/month, $2599 due at signing

2012 Toyota Camry – $229/month, $2228 due at signing

2011 Toyota Corolla – $149/month, $2148 due at signing

2011 Toyota Highlander – $309/month, $2308 due at signing

2012 Toyota Highlander – $269/month, $2268 due at signing

2011 Toyota Prius – $249/month, $2248 due at signing

2011 Toyota RAV4 – $209/month, $2208 due at signing

2011 Toyota Sienna – $349/month, $2348 due at signing

2012 Toyota Sienna – $329/month, $2328 due at signing

2011 Toyota Tundra (dbl cab) – $339/month, $3330 due at signing

2012 Toyota Tundra (dbl cab) – $299/month, $3298 due at signing

2011 Toyota Venza – $319/month, $2318 due at signing

If you are considering any of the above special lease deals, make sure you understand how car leasing works, and if you are a good leasing candidate. Leasing is a bit more complicated than buying with a loan, which makes it a little easier to make mistakes. You can get all the information you need, including lease calculators and a Lease Kit, at LeaseGuide.com.

You should also know that when car companies offer special loan and lease deals, they nearly always require that customers be “highly qualified” in order to get the deals. This means the customer must have a good credit score. If you don’t know your credit score, you’ll almost certainly be surprised when you learn how much your dealer knows more about you than you know about yourself. It’s easy enough to get your latest score online and it’s free with a simple enrollment at web sites such as FreeCreditScore.com.

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Chevrolet

The deals come in the form of special leases and 0% APR loans on selected 2012 models (and some 2011 models). All deals expire on January 3, 2012. All the leases being offered are $0 due-at-signing leases, meaning there no down payment, no security deposit, and no first month’s payment – sign and drive.

Following are the latest Chevrolet incentives:

2012 Chevrolet Cruze LS (manual transmission) – Special lease: $199/month, 39 months, 39,000 miles

2012 Chevrolet Malibu LS - Special lease: $229/month, 39 months, 39,000 miles

2012 Chevrolet Traverse LS - Special lease: $299/month, 39 months, 39,000 miles

The above leases have been evaluated by LeaseGuide.com using the Lease Value Calculator. All of the deals have rated as Excellent or Outstanding. Specifically, the Traverse lease scores a 96 which rates Outstanding. The Malibu scores a 94 which is also Outstanding. The Cruze deal scores a bit lower at 83 but still rates as Excellent.

Special leases such as those being offered by Chevrolet are made possible by discounted lease prices, low money factors, and high lease-end residual values. These are better deals than customers could negotiate for themselves since dealers are not authorized to negotiate money factors and residual values, only price.

Chevrolet is also offering a few special 0% APR loans, some with delayed payments. Here are the vehicles with these incentives:

2012 Chevrolet Equinox – 0% APR for up to 36 months, with delayed payments

2012 Chevrolet Traverse and Impala LS – 0% APR for up to 60 months, delayed payments

2011 Chevrolet Traverse, Avalanche, Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban – 0% APR for up to 72 months, $500 bonus cash

2011 Chevrolet Camero Convertible - 0% APR for up to 72 months, $1000 bonus cash

You can get free price quotes on any of the above Chevrolet vehicles from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

For more information and details about $0 down car leases, visit LeaseGuide.com.

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To help dealers sell 2011 inventory, the car companies offer limited-time “marketing support” factory-to-dealer cash on selected car models and styles. Dealers typically use the cash to provide price discounts to customers. The more cash, the larger the discount.

By knowing which cars currently have the largest factory-to-dealer cash incentives, we can know where to find the best deals.  

Let’s take a look at the best factory-to-dealer incentives for December 2011:

2011 Infiniti EX, G Convertible, G Coupe, G Sedan – up to $2000

2011 Infiniti FX – up to $3000

2011 Infiniti M37 – up to $4000

2011 Infiniti M56 – up to $5000

2011 BMW 3-Series – up to $1500

2011 BMW 7-Series – up to $10,000

2011 BMW Alpina B7 – up to $10,000

2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 – up to $2000

2011 BMW M3 – up to $1500

2011 Acura RL – up to $2000

2011 Volvo S60 and S80 – up to $3000

2010 and 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis – up to $5500

2010 and 2011 Mercury Mariner – up to $3500

2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan – up to $3500

2011 Lincoln MKS – up to $2500

2010 Lincoln MKT – up to $5000

2012 Lincoln MKT – up to $2000

2011 Jeep Compass – up to $3000

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee – up to $2000

2011 Jeep Liberty – up to $3000

2011 Jeep Patriot – up to $2000

2011 Jeep Wrangler – up to $1000

2011 Land Rover LR2 – up to $2000

2011 Land Rover Range Rover – up to $3000

2011 Lexus ES350 – up to $2000

2011 Chrysler 200 – up to $3500

2011 Chrysler 300 – up to $4500

2011 Chrysler Town and Country – up to $3500

2011 Dodge Avenger – up to $3500

2011 Dodge Challenger – up to $2000

2011 Dodge Charger and Nitro- up to $3000

2011 Dodge Durango- up to $4000

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan and Journey – up to $2500

2011 Ram 1500 – up to $5250

2011 Ram 2500 – up to $4500

2011 Ram 3500 – up to $5000

In addition to the price discounts associated with the above mentioned “hidden” rebates from manufacturer to dealer, you should also expect to get an additional discount directly from the pockets of your dealer. With a contribution from both car company and dealer, you have an opportunity to get an incredible deal.

You can get free price quotes on any of the above vehicles from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently being offered.

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There are a number of good rebates being offered now, until 1/3/2012, that are worth considering.

As you might expect, some — but not all — of the largest rebates are on “leftover” 2011 models. However, considering that there are very few, if any, differences between most 2011 and 2012 models, the 2011s make great buys.

Let’s take a look at some of the best customer rebates currently being offered:

2011 Acura RL and ZDX – $2000

2011 BMW 335d – $3500

2011 BMW 760 – $10,000

2011 BMW Alpina B7 – $10,000

2011 Buick Lacrosse – $3000

2012 Buick Lacrosse – $3825

2011 Buick Lucerne – $4000

2011 Buick Regal – $3000

2012 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V – $5100

2012 Cadillac Escalade – $5250

2012 Cadillac Escalade EXT and Hybrid – $4650

2011 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 – $4500

2011 Chevrolet Corvette – $3000

2011 Chevrolet HHR – $3500

2011 Chevrolet Impala – $4000 (2012 model: $3000)

2011 Chevrolet Malibu – $3000

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Hybrid – $4505

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – $4850

2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 and 2500 – $3500

2011 Chevrolet Tahoe – $3500

2012 Chrysler 300 and 300C – $3500

2012 Dodge Avenger – $3000

2012 Dodge Durango – $3500

2012 Dodge Journey – $2250

2011 Ford Flex – $3000

2011 GMC Canyon – $3000

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 and Hybrid – $4505

2012 GMC Sierra 1500 and Hybrid – $4850

2011 GMC Yukon, XL 1500, and XL 2500 – $3500

2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid – $3500

2011 Hyundai Equus – $3750

2011 Hyundai Veracruz – $3000

2012 Jeep Liberty – $4500

2011 Kia Sedona – $3500

2012 Kia Sedona – $3000

2011 Lincoln MKS – $2500

2011 Lincoln Town Car – $3000

2012 Ram 1500 – $3000

2011 Suzuki Equator – $3000

2012 Volkswagen Touareg – $2500

Just a reminder: Incentives on 2011 model vehicles are subject to availability from your local dealers. Generally, you must select from a dealer’s inventory which might limit your choices of features, options, and colors. The earlier you shop, the better your choices.

You can get free price quotes on any of the above vehicles from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

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Fortunately, a number of car makers announced deals at the beginning of November that are good through December 2011. At the time of this writing, we expect to know about deals from all the car companies during the first week of December.

General Motors (Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC) in particular has a number of good $0-down lease deals on selected models good until 1/3/2012. Actually, it’s even better; it’s zero cash due at lease signing — sign and drive — which means no down payment, no security deposit, and no first month’s payment — on most but not all of the lease deals. There are also a few 0% APR loan deals.

Of the companies who have already announced new-car incentives that we’ve previously discussed on this web site are:

BMW (http://best-car-deals.buyerreports.org/bmw-offers-outstanding-leases-november-and-december)

Chevrolet (http://best-car-deals.buyerreports.org/new-chevrolet-deals-for-november-and-december-2011)

Honda (http://best-car-deals.buyerreports.org/special-honda-leases-for-november-and-december)

Other December car deals are available as follows:

2012 Buick Regal w/LEA – Special lease: $313/month, 39 months, 39K miles, $0 due at lease signing

2012 Buick Regal w/LHU – Special lease: $337/month, 39 months, 39K miles, $0 due at lease signing

2012 Buick Lacrosse - Special lease: $331/month, 39 months, 39K miles, $0 due at lease signing

2012 Buick Enclave – 0% APR loan rate for up to 60 months

2011 Buick Lucerne – 0% APR loan rate for up to 60 months

2012 Cadillac CTS Coupe – Special lease: $419/month, 36 months, 30K miles, 0$ due at lease signing

2012 Cadillac CTS Coupe – 0% APR loan rate for up to 36 months

2012 Cadillac Escalade – Special lease: $749/month, 36 months, 30K miles, $0 due at signing

2012 Cadillac Escalade – 0% APR loan rate for up to 36 months

2012 Cadillac SRX – Special lease: $479/month, 36 months, 30K miles, $0 due at signing

2012 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe – Special lease: $288/month, 39 months, 39K miles, $0 due at lease signing

2012 Chevrolet Corvette – Special lease: $559/month, 39 months, 39K miles

2012 Chevrolet Cruze – Special lease: $199/month, 39 months, 39k miles

2012 Chevrolet Impala – Special lease: $299/month, 39 months, 39K miles

2012 Chevrolet Impala – 0% APR loan rate for up to 60 months

2012 Chevrolet Malibu – Special lease: $229/month, 39 months, 39K miles, $0 due at lease signing

2012 Chevrolet Malibu – 0% APR loan rate for up to 60 months

Similar deals are also available on selected 2012 GMC models. Toyota and Volkswagen have a few current 0% APR loans deals on selected models that are good through December, but we expect more incentives to be announced in the first week of December.

As we always remind our readers, car deals and incentives sometimes vary from region to region.

We also remind that special lease deals and zero-percent loan rates are only available to “qualified” customers, which means customers who have a good credit score. It’s always a good idea to know your current credit score before you visit a dealer to get any special deal. Fortunately, you can get your most recent credit score online at web sites such as FreeCreditScore.comwhere you can see your score immediately with a simple sign on.

Stay tuned as we announce more new-car incentives later.

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To help dealers sell surplus 2011 inventory, Chrysler is currently giving dealers “hidden” factory-to-dealer cash for each 2011 vehicle sold. Dealers can use this cash almost any way they choose but most of it goes back to customers in the form of big price discounts. This money is sometimes called, “marketing support.”

Chrysler’s current (November 2011) dealer cash offerings are the largest in the industry and apply to nearly every 2011 model vehicle.  Furthermore, each of the vehicles also has a $1000 “conquest” bonus rebate which applies if a customer has at least one non-Chrysler vehicle in his household. It doesn’t have to be a trade-in.

What this means is that customers who are in the market for a Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep have an opportunity to get one of the best deals of the year out there right now in these “clearance” sales. These are all good deals because there are relatively minor differences between most 2011 and 2012 models.

Let’s take a look at the Chrysler factory-to-dealer cash offers available in November. By the way, if there are still significant numbers of 2011 vehicles still available in December and January, expect these incentives to continue into those months, but supplies and selections may be more limited.

2011 Chrysler 200 – $1000-$3000 depending on specific model

2011 Chrysler 300 – $3000-$4500 depending on specific model

2011 Chrysler Town & Country - $3000

2011 Dodge Avenger – $1000-$3500 depending on specific model

2011 Dodge Caliber – $1500

2011 Dodge Challenger- $2000

2011 Dodge Charger R/T – $2500

2011 Dodge Durango Citadel 2WD – $4000

2011 Dodge Durango Crew 4dr 2WD – $3500

2011 Dodge Durango Express, Heat, R/T – $2500

2011 Dodge Durango Citadel 2WD – $4000

2011 Dodge Dakota – $4500

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan – $2500

2011 Dodge Journey – $2500

2011 Dodge Nitro – $3000

2011 Dodge Ram 1500 – $3500-$5250 depending on specific model

2011 Dodge Ram 2500 – $5000

2011 Dodge Ram 3500 – $5000

2011 Jeep Compass – $2000

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee – $2000

2011 Jeep Liberty – $3000

2011 Jeep Patriot – $2000

2011 Jeep Wrangler (except Unlimited Sport RHD) – $1000

Since these discounts are being funded by dealers’ parent company, Chrysler Corp., it’s only fair that the dealer himself should also contribute an additional discount from his own pocket. Be sure to ask if you go in for one of these deals.

You can get free price quotes on any of the above Chrysler vehicles from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

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November brings a number of large rebates, especially on left-over 2011 models.

Typically, rebates only apply to selected models and styles, and only for a limited time.

Dealers apply rebates at the time of purchase. Rebates act as a down payment and reduce the amount a customer pays.

Rebate amounts can vary, depending on how strongly the manufacturer wants to promote that particular model.  

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest and most attractive rebate offers for November 2011:

2012 Jeep Liberty – $3000

2011 Chrysler 200 – $4000

2011 Ford Flex – $3000

2011 Lincoln Town Car – $3000

2012 Chevrolet Impala – $3000

2011 Buick Lucerne – $4000

2011 Buick LaCrosse, Regal – $3000

2011 Cadillac Excalade EXT – $4000

2011 Chevrolet Silverado – up to $4500

2011 Chevrolet Avalanche – $4500

2011 Chevrolet Impala – $4000

2011 Chevrolet HHR – $3500

2011 Chevrolet Corvette, Malibu – $3000

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 – up to $4500

2011 GMC Yukon – $3500

2011 GMC Sierra 2500HD, 3500HD – $3000

2012 Mitsubishi Galant – $3000

2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor – $4500

2011 Mitsubishi Galant – $3500

2012 Nissan Titan – up to $3000

2011 Nissan Titan – up to $5250

2011 Nissan Armada – $4000

2011 Nissan Frontier – up to $3000

2011 Suzuki Equator – $3000

Since car companies are the ones funding rebates, customers should dealers to also contribute with an additional price discount funded from his own pockets. Dealer discounts on top of manufacturers’ rebates make for some very sweet deals.

You can get free price quotes on any of the above vehicles from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

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Nissan

Included in the new Nissan incentives are attractive rebates, low-interest loans, 0% APR loans, and special car lease deals. Deals on leftover 2011 models are especially good. All offers expire on November 30, 2011.

Let’s take a look at some of the best deals that Nissan is currently offering:

2012 Nissan Titan – $2000 rebate ($3000 on Pro-4X King Cab), $1350 bonus cash for SV Crew Cab, 0% APR loan for up to 36 months, $499/month special lease on Pro-4X King Cab

2011 Nissan Titan – $4250-$5250 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for up to 48 months, $300 lease bonus cash

2012 Nissan Frontier – $2500 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for up to 36 months, $229/month special lease on SV King Cab

2011 Nissan Frontier – $2500-$3000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for up to 60 months, $50 lease bonus cash

2012 Nissan Armada – $2000 rebate, 0.9% APR loan rate up to 36 months, $599/month lease on SV 4WD

2011 Nissan Armada – $4000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate up to 36 months, $1650 lease bonus cash

2012 Nissan Maxima (3.5 S)  - $2000 rebate, 0.9% APR loan rate up to 36 months

2011 Nissan Maxima (3.5 S) – $3000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate up to 60 months, $800 lease bonus cash

2012 Nissan Altima – $1250 rebate, 0% APR loan rate up to 60 months, $350 lease bonus cash (2.5 and 3.5 CVT sedans)

2011 Nissan Murano – $3000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate up to 60 months, $600 lease bonus cash

2012 Nissan Pathfinder – $2000 rebate, 0.9% APR loan rate up to 36 months, $349/month lease on S 4WD

2011 Nissan Pathfinder – $2500 rebate, 0% APR loan rate up to 60 months, $1475 lease bonus cash

2011 Nissan Xterra – $2000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate up to 36 months, $289/month special lease on X 4WD

You can get free price quotes on any of the above Nissan vehicles from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

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