Since cars typically don’t change much from one model year to the next, a dealer with both 2009 models and similar 2010 models sitting on his lot has to make the 2009 models attractive to potential customers. How does he do it? He and the manufacturer offer incentives that significantly reduce the cost of the older models. The incentives can be direct customer rebates, price discounts, low-interest (or zero interest) loans, and factory-to-dealer cash.

Because of the incentives being offered on the leftover models, some great deals can be had without a lot of messy negotiating.

What’s the catch?

If there’s a catch, it is that dealers may not have exactly the model, style, and color you want in their inventory of leftover 2009 cars. You might have to be a little flexible since your choices may be limited. Since different dealers have different leftover styles and colors, you could shop around to try to find the model that best fits your needs.

 Here are examples of some of the best deals currently being offered on leftover 2009 vehicles:Nissan - Customer cash rebates of $1250-$5000 or 0% APR loans on most 2009 models

Infiniti – 0% APR loan rates on 2009 Infiniti G37

Mazda – $1000-$5000 rebates, or low-interest loans on many 2009 models

Kia – $1500-$5000 customer rebates on most 2009 models, depending on the model

Suzuki – $1000-$4000, or 0% APR loan rate on most 2009 models

Acura – Low-interest loans on 2009 Acura MDX, TL, and TSX

Honda – Low interest loans on 2009 Honda Odyssey and Pilot

Buick – $2500-$4500, or 0% APR loans on most 2009 models

Cadillac – $3000-$10,000 rebates, or 0% APR loans on most 2009 models, depending on model

Chevrolet – $1500-$4000 rebates, or 0% APR loan rates on most 2009 models, depending on model

GMC – $1500-$4000 rebates, or 0% APR loans on most 2009 models

Hummer – $6000 rebate on 2009 Hummer  H3, $3500 on H3T, or 0% APR loan rate – $5000 dealer cash on 2009 Hummer H2 and H2 SUT

Pontiac – $4000 rebate, or 0% APR loan on most 2009 models

Saab – $7500 rebate, or 0% APR loan on 2009 Saab 9-3, 9-5, and 9-7X

Saturn – $4000 rebate, or 0% APR loan on 2009 models

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

However, BMW offers “back door” price discounts by giving dealers money (“dealer cash” or “marketing support”) in the form of factory-to-dealer rebates on certain models during a promotion period. Dealers can use the money for advertising or sales events but most, if not all, of the money goes back to customers in the form of price discounts.

Currently, BMW is offering some incredibly large factory-to-dealer incentives, good during January and February 2010, ending on March 1, 2010.

Let’s look at some of the BMW dealer rebates:

2010 BMW M6 – $12,000 dealer cash

2010 BMW 6-Series – $10,000 dealer cash

2010 BMW 5-Series and M5 – $7500 dealer cash

2009 BMW 6-Series and M6 – $10,000 dealer cash

2009 BMW 7-Series – $7500 dealer cash

2009 BMW X5 and X6 – up to $5500 dealer cash

2009 BMW Z4 – $5000 dealer cash

2009 BMW 3-Series and M3 – up to $4500 dealer cash

2009 BMW X3 – $3500 dealer cash

2009 BMW 1-Series – up to $3500 dealer cash

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

Nissan

There are customer rebates, low-interest loans, 0% loans, and a few good lease deals. The lease deals are genuinely good deals except that only a few models and styles have the deals. So, if you like the model/stye being promoted, you can get an excellent car lease without further negotiations.

All the current Nissan deals end on 2/1/2010.

Here are some examples of the new Nissan deals:

2010 Nissan Altima – $1000 rebate, or 1.9% APR loan for 12/24/36/48/60 months — or a special lease deal on the 2.5S CVT sedan ($189 a month, 39 months, 12K miles per year, and $2889 due at signing) or a special lease deal on the 2.5S CVT coupe ($269 a month, 36 months, 12K miles per year, and $2999 due at signing).

2010 Nissan Pathfinder – $2500 rebate, or 0.9% APR loan rate for 12/24/36 months, 1.9% for 48/60 months — or a special lease deal on the Pathfinder S 4WD model ($329 a month, 39 months, 12k miles per year, $2999 due at signing)

2010 Nissan Versa – $750 rebate, or 1.9% APR loan for 12/24/36/48/60 months

2009 Nissan Versa – $1250 rebate, or 0% APR loan for 12/24/36 months, 1.9% for 48/60 months

2010 Nissan Sentra – $500 rebate, or 0.9% APR loan rate for 12/24/36/48/60 months — or a special lease deal on the Sentra 2.0 SR model ($149 a month, 39 months, 12 miles per year, $2449 due at signing)

2009 Nissan Rogue – $1250 rebate, or 1.9% for 12/24/36/48/60 months

There are similar deals on most other Nissan models. Special lease deals are available for certain models of the Nissan Rogue, Murano, Maxima, Frontier, Armada, and Cube (2009 model).

You can get free price quotes on any new Nissan vehicles from Edmunds.com.The quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

Ford’s

There are some decent customer rebates, but the best news are the zero percent loans on their new 2010 models. All the current deals expire on 2/1/2010.

As you probably know, you can’t take both a rebate and a low-interest loan. You have to choose one or the other.

Here are some of the current Ford deals. These are all on 2010 models except where noted.

Ford Edge – $2000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for 36/48/60 months

Ford Escape – $2000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for 36/48/60 months

Ford Expedition – $2000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for 36months, 0.9% for 48 months, 1.9% for 60 months

Ford Explorer – $2000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for 36months, 0.9% for 48 months, 1.9% for 60 months

Ford F150 – $2000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for 36 months, 3.9% for 48 months, 4.9% for 60 months

2009 Ford F150 – $3000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for 36/48/60 months

Ford Flex – $1500 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for 36 months, 0.9% for 48 months, 1.9% for 60 months

Ford Focus – $1500 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for 36 months, 4.9% for 48 months, 5.9% for 60 months

Ford Fusion – $1000 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for 36 months, 2.9% for 48 months, 3.9% for 60 months

Ford Mustang – $500 rebate, 0% APR loan rate for 36/48/60 months.

Ford Taurus – 0% APR loan rate for 36months. 2.9% for 48 months, 3.9% for 60 months

You can get free dealer 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.

General Motors

The GM deals are in the form of direct customer cash rebates and low-interest loans, with a number of 0% APR loan deals as well. All the current January incentives end on 2/1/2010.

Here are some of the best General Motors deals at this time:

2010 Buick  Lucern $2000 rebate

2010 Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban, Tahoe, Cobalt, Impala – $2000 rebate

2010 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Sierra – $2000 rebate

2010 Pontiac Vibe – $4000 rebate

2009 Buick Lucerne – $4500 rebate 

2009 Buick Lacrosse – $4000 rebate

2009 Cadillac XLR, XLR-V – $10,000 rebate

2009 Cadillac Escalade – $6000 rebate

2009 Cadillac CTS-V, DTS, STS, STS-V - $5000 rebate

2009 Cadillac SRX – $4000 rebate

2009 Chevrolet Avalanche, Impala, Tahoe – $3500 rebate

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt – $3000 rebate

2009 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL – $4000 rebate

2009 GMC Envoy – $3500 rebate

2009 Hummer H3 – $6000 rebate

2009 Pontiac (most models) – $4000 rebate

2009 Saturn (most models) – $4000 rebate

Furthermore, low-interest loans are available on all the above 2010 models and 0% APR deals available on all the 2009 models above. Of course, you know that you can accept either the rebates or low interest loans, but not both. With these GM rebates being so large, it is usually better to accept the rebate instead of the loan deal, especially if you need down payment money (rebates count towards your down payment).

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

Infiniti

As always, Infiniti doesn’t want to be viewed as a “discount brand” and doesn’t offer direct customer rebates. But it does offer dealer cash, which are  ”hidden” rebates from the manufacturer to the dealer. The dealer then gives most or all of the money as a price discount to customers.

Infiniti is also offering some generous 0% APR loan rates on all of it’s models for January, February, and March. 

Here are the current deals being offered by Infiniti: 

2010 Infiniti EX35 – $3000 dealer cash, or 0% APR loans for 12/24/36 months, 1.9% for 48/60 months

2010 Infiniti FX35 – $4000 dealer cash, or 0% APR loans for 12/24/36 months, 1.9% for 48/60 months

2010 Infiniti FX50 – $5000 dealer cash, or 0% APR loans for 12/24/36 months, 1.9% for 48/60 months

2010 Infiniti M35 – $5000 dealer cash, or 0% APR loans for 12/24/36 months, 0.9% for 48/60 months

2010 Infiniti M45 – $6000 dealer cash, or 0% APR loans for 12/24/36 months, 0.9% for 48/60 months

2010 Infiniti QX56 – $6000 dealer cash, or 0% APR loans for 12/24/36 months, 0.9% for 48/60 months

2009 Infiniti G37 – $3000 dealer cash, or 0% APR loans for 12/24/36 months, 1.9% for 48/60 months

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

Some of the incentives for January 2010 are in the form of factory-to-dealer cash (marketing support) that dealers give back to buyers in the form of a big price discount. Actually, discounts are better than direct rebates because you pay sales tax on rebates, but not on discounts.

Other incentives are offered as direct customer rebates and as 0% APR loans.

Here are the current Hummer deals for January:

2009 Hummer H2 and H2 SUT – $5000 dealer cash

2009 Hummer H3 – $6000 direct customer cash rebate, or 0% APR loan rate for 36/48/60 months

2010 Hummer H3 – $3000 dealer cash

2009 Hummer H3T – $3500 direct customer rebate, or 0% APR loan rate for 36/48/60 months

2010 Hummer H3T – $1600 dealer cash

You can get free dealer price quotes on any Hummer vehicle from Edmunds.com.The quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

Here are the deals currently being offered by Dodge on it’s 2010 models:

Dodge Avenger – $2000 rebate, 0% interest loan for 36-60 months, 1.9% interest for 72 months

Dodge Charger -  $2000 rebate, 0% interest loan for 36-60 months, 1.9% interest for 72 months

Dodge Grand Caravan – $1000 rebate, 0% interest loan for 36-60 months, 1.9% interest for 72 months

Dodge Journey – $1500 rebate, 0% interest loan for 36months, 2.9% interest for 48/60 months

Dodge Nitro – $2000 rebate, 0% interest loan for 36-60 months, 1.9% interest for 72 months

Dodge Ram 2500 – $1000 rebate, 1.9% interest for 36/48/60 months

Of course, you know that you can accept the rebate or the low interest loan, but not both. We normally suggest that buyers take the rebate over the loan, but these Dodge rebates are not huge, which means it’s really a toss-up as to which option you take. If you need down payment money, take the rebate.

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