If you want to take advantage of special end-of-year deals, you have to act quickly because, this year, most promotions end on January 4, 2010, the first Monday after the first of the year.

Let’s take a look at some of the current year-end 2009 special deals (most are for new 2010 models):

Ford Focus – $500 rebate, plus $1500 Ford Credit rebate, plus $1500 year-end promotional rebate — or $1500 and 0% APR financing. 

Ford Fusion – $1000 rebate, plus $1000 promotional rebate — or $1000 rebate combined with 0% APR loan

Ford Mustang – $1500 rebate, plus $1000 Ford Credit rebate, plus $1500 promotional rebate — or $1500 plus $1000 rebate and 0% APR loan rate

Lincoln MKS – $2000 rebate, plus $1500 promotional rebate — or $1500 rebate and 0% APR loan rate

Lincoln MKZ – special year-end lease deal – $329 a month for 27 months, $3929 due at signing

Lincoln Navigator – $4000 rebate, plus $1500 year-end promotional rebate

GMC Sierra – 2009 models – $4000-$6000 rebate or 0% APR loan rate

GMC Yukon – 2009 models – $6000 rebate or 0% APR loan

Buick Enclave – $2500 rebate or 1.9% APR special loan rate — or $399 a month special lease for 39 months, $2549 due at signing

Honda Accord EX – special lease deal – $249 a month for 36 months, $2399 due at signing

Saturn – 2009 models – $4000 rebate, plus $1500 bonus cash, plus $1000 loyalty cash to owners of previous GM vehicles

Chrysler 300 – $4000 customer rebate cash

Chrysler PT Cruiser – $2000 customer cash

Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander – $4000 customer rebate cash

Dodge Charger – $4000 customer rebate

Dodge Ram 1500 – $5500 customer rebate, plus $1500 bonus cash

Mazda – special 42-month lease deals on Mazda3 ($239/mo), Mazda6 ($269/mo), CX-7 ($299/mo), and CX-9 ($399/mo) with $0 due at signing — or 0% APR loan rate for 36 months

Nissan Altima 2.5 – special lease deal – $199 a month, 39 months, $2999 due at signing

These are all great deals but remember that it’s the car manufacturer who is making the deal, not the dealer. You should actually be able to improve on the deals by asking the dealer to chip in with his own price discount on top of the manufacturer rebates. This is the way to get some incredible end-of-year bargains. Don’t let a dealer tell you he can’t do it. If he wants to sell cars, he will do it.

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

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