Mercedes

They don’t offer direct factory-to-customer rebates but, instead, offer some very good low-APR loans and a number of very hefty hidden factory-to-dealer cash rebates, which dealers usually give back to customers as price discounts. All the current deals end 11/02/2009 and apply to most Mercedes models, but not all.

The factory-to-dealer cash incentives are all on 2009 models that need to be sold to make room for new 2010 models. However, most 2010 models have low-interest loan deals. Be aware that all the Mercedes low-interest rate deals contain a 1% reserve (dealer markup) and you might be able to negotiate some or all of that markup out of your deal. For example, you might be able to turn a 1.9% rate into a 0.9% rate.

 Here are examples of the new October Mercedes incentives. Remember, these incentives may not apply to all styles within a model class.

2009 Mercedes C-Class -  $3500 factory-to-dealer cash

2010 Mercedes C-Class – low-interest loan rate: 1.9% APR for 24/36 months and 2.9% for 60 months

2009 Mercedes E-Class – $10,000 dealer cash

2010 Mercedes E-Class – 3.9% APR loan rate for 24/36/60 months

2009 Mercedes GL-Class – $10,000 dealer cash

2010 Mercedes GL-Class – 2.9% APR loan rate for 24/36 months and 3.9% for 60 months

2010 Mercedes GLK-Class – 1.9% APR loan rate for 24/36 months and 2.9% for 60 months

2009 Mercedes M-Class – $6000 dealer cash

2010 Mercedes M-Class – 1.9% APR loan rate for 24/36 months and 2.9% for 60 months

2009 Mercedes S550 – $14,000 dealer cash

2009 Mercedes SL550 – $15,000 dealer cash

2009 Mercedes R-Class – $10,000 dealer cash

2009 Mercedes SLK-Class – 1.9% APR loan rate for 24/36 months and 2.9 loan rate for 60 months

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

Acura

The incentives include low-interest loans, special lease deals, and factory-to-dealer cash that dealers can pass along to customers as price discounts. Acura, like most other luxury car makers, doesn’t want to be viewed as a “discount” brand. Therefore, they offer no direct factory-to-customer rebates but, instead, offer other ways of creating attractive deals.

The new Acura incentives are a little out of the ordinary in a couple of ways. First, the factory-to-dealer cash is only offered on 2009 models that the dealer already had in inventory as late as September 9, 2009. The cash rebates, therefore, provide incentive for dealers to to get rid of “old” cars that have been sitting on the lot for a month or more — by using the rebate as a price discount for customers.

The second way in which the new Acura incentives are different is that customers can combine the factory-to-dealer cash with low-interest loans. Such combinations are not usually allowed.

Here is a summary of the new Acura deals. All apply to 2009 models unless otherwise indicated.

Acura MDX – $2000 conditional factory-to-dealer cash rebate (see above discussion of special conditions of this rebate), and 1.9% APR loan rate for 24/36 months and 2.9% for 60 months. A special lease deal is available for the Base model: $469 a month, 36 months, 10K mileage allowance, and $3299 due at signing, which includes the first month’s payment, a down payment (cap cost reduction), and a bank fee (acquisition fee).

 Acura RDX – $1500 conditional dealer cash (see above discussion). For the 2010 RDX Base model, a special lease deal is available: $399 a month, $3599 due at signing.

Acura RL – $3000 conditional dealer cash. For the 2010 RL, $2000 dealer cash and a special lease deal:  $569 a month, $3999 due at signing.

Acura TL – $2000 conditional dealer cash and low interest loan rates: 1.9% APR for 24/36 months and 2.9% for 60 months. The same low APR rates also apply to the 2010 TL but not the dealer cash.

Acura TSX – $1250 conditional dealer cash. For the 2010 TSX, two special lease deals are offered for October. For the 2010 TSX Base 2.4L 4-cylinder auto transmission, $299 a month, $3599 due at signing. For the 2010 TSX Base 3.5L 6-cylinder auto transmission, $359 a month, $3799 due at signing.

If you don’t understand how car leasing works and would like to learn, we suggest LeaseGuide.com. The site contains a free guide to car leasing and payment calculators.

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

Audi

Just to be clear, the “loyalty” rebates being offered are for current owners or leasers of 2003 or newer Audi vehicles. The vehicles do not have to be traded to qualify.

As is typical of Audi, the company does not want to be viewed as a discount car brand. Therefore they don’t offer straight out rebates. However, along with the “loyalty” rebates, they currently have generous factory-to-dealer cash that dealer’s usually pass along to customers in the form of price discounts (not rebates). 

Let’s take a look at the new October Audi deals:

Audi A3 – $1000 customer loyalty bonus rebate, $2500 factory-to-dealer cash, and 0.9% APR loan rate for 12/36 months, 1.4% for 48 months, and 1.9% for 60 months.

Audi A4 – $2000 loyalty rebate, $5000 dealer cash, and 0.9% APR loans for 12/36/48/60 months.

Audi A5 – $1500 loyalty rebate, $1000 dealer cash, and 3.9% APR for 12/36 months, 4.4% for 48 months, and 4.9% for 60 months.

Audi A6 – $3000 loyalty rebate, $4000 dealer cash, and 1.9% APR for 12/36 months, 2.4% for 48 months, and 2.9% for 60 months.

Audi A8 – $5000 loyalty rebate, $5000 dealer cash, and 1.9% APR for 12/36 months, 2.4% for 48 months, and 2.9% for 60 months.

Audi Q5 – $1000 loyalty bonus, $1000 dealer cash, and 3.9% APR for 12/36 months, 4.4% for 48 months, and 4.9% for 60 months.

Audi Q7 – $5000 loyalty bonus, $4000 dealer cash, and 1.9% APR for 12/36 months, 2.4% for 48 months, and 2.9% for 60 months.

Audi S6 – $4000 loyalty bonus, $4000 dealer cash, and 2.9% APR for 12/36 months, 3.4% for 48 months, and 3.9% for 60 months.

Audi S8 – $5000 loyalty bonus, $5000 dealer cash, and 2.9% APR for 12/36 months, 3.4% for 48 months, and 3.9% for 60 months.

Audi TT – $2000 loyalty bonus, $3000 dealer cash, and 0.9% APR for 12/36 months, 1.4% for 48 months, and 1.9% for 60 months.

Audi TTS – $2000 loyalty bonus, no dealer cash, and 0.9% APR for 12/36 months, 1.4% for 48 months, and 1.9% for 60 months.

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

There are no special lease deals.

All 2009 model Pontiacs get a 5.9% APR loan rate for qualified customers for 36/48/60/72 months. This is lower than the current average new-car loan rate of about 7.5%, but not significantly less. Most customers will be better to take the alternative rebate.

All Pontiac models also get a $500 factory-to-dealer rebate, which dealers can do with as they like. However, these direct-to-dealer rebates usually end up being passed on to customers as a price discount (not rebate).

There are also factory-to-customer rebates as well. The amount varies by model. The 2009 Pontiac G3, G5, Solstice, Torrent, and Vibe all have a $2500 rebate, while the 2009 Pontiac G6 and G8 have a $3500 rebate.

The above Pontiac incentives end November 2, 2009.

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

In typical Honda fashion, there are no direct customer rebates. However there are hidden factory-to-dealer rebates on most models and styles — and low-interest loans. These rebates can, and usually are, passed along to buying and leasing customers in the form of price discounts. However the rebates cannot be combined with low-interest loan deals.

Following are some examples of current Honda deals. These are for 2009 models and the deals end on November 2, 2009.

Honda Accord – $1500 dealer rebate or 1.9% APR loan for 24/36 months, or 2.9% for 60 months. For the Accord LX sedan model, a special lease deal is available – $209 a month, 36 months, 12K mileage allowance, and $2799 due at signing. The $2799 includes first month’s payment, a down payment (cap cost reduction), and a bank fee, all of which are common for any car lease. The lease price includes the $1500 dealer rebate.

Honda CRV – $500 dealer rebate. No low-interest loans. A special lease rate is available for the CRV LX model – $239 a month, $2499 due at signing.

Honda Civic – $750 factory-to-dealer rebate. Low interest loans: 1.9% APR for 24/36 months and 2.9% for 60 months. A special lease deal is available for the LX sedan model – $199 a month, $1999 due at signing, and includes the $750 factory-to-dealer rebate.

Honda Element and Fit – Low-APR loans for recent college graduates.

Honda Odyssey – $1250 factory-to-dealer rebate or 2.9% APR loan for 24/60 months

2010 Honda Odyssey LX - Special lease deal: $299 a month, $2999 due at signing.

2010 Honda Insight LX - Special lease deal: $199 a month, $2799 due at signing.

Honda Pilot – $1250 dealer rebate or 2.9% APR for 24/60 months.

Honda Ridgeline – $1500 dealer rebate or 2.9% APR for 24/60 months.

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

Another incentive is a little unusual — a $500 cash rebate if the buyer wants to decline the General Motors 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. We would advise buyers who are not absolutely, totally, unquestionably sure they will want to keep the car to keep the 60-day guarantee and turn down the $500.

In general, the incentives are somewhat better than last month’s and apply in many cases to both 2010 and 2009 models, although the 2010 deals are not as good. In some cases, such as on the hot new 2010 Camaro, there are no incentives except the previously mentioned $500 for waiving the GM 60-day satisfaction guarantee.

All current GM incentives end on November 2, 2009 and are subject to change during that time. Furthermore, incentives may vary, depending on the area of the country. Low-APR loans are also subject to customer credit score requirements.

Following are examples of current (October) Chevrolet new-car incentives (2009 models except where noted) :

Chevrolet Avalanche – $3500 customer cash-back rebate or 2.9% APR loan rate for 36/48/60 months and 4.9% for 72 months

2010 Chevrolet Avalanche – $1000 rebate or 4.9% APR (36/48/60 months) and 6.9% for 72 months

Chevrolet Aveo – $1500 rebate or 5.9% APR

Chevrolet Cobalt – $1500 rebate

Chevrolet Corvette – $4000 cash-back rebate or 0% APR for 36/48/60 months (3.9% for 72 months)

Chevrolet Equinox – $2500 customer rebate or 4.9% APR for 36/48/60 months

Chevrolet HHR – $2000 rebate or 3.9% APR for 36/48/60 months

Chevrolet Impala – $2500 rebate or 4.9% for 36/48/60 months

Chevrolet Malibu – $1500 rebate plus $1000 bonus cash or 3.9% APR for 36/48/60 months

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – $3500 rebate plus $1000 bonus or 2.9% APR for 36/48/60 months and 4.9% for 72 months

Chevrolet Tahoe – $1500 rebate plus up to $4500 bonus cash or 5.9% APR for 36/48/60 months

Chevrolet Trailblazer – $3500 rebate or 2.9% APR for 36/48/60 months and 4.9% for 72 months

Chevrolet Traverse – $2000 rebate or 5.9% for 36/48/60 months

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