TrueCar

One of our favorite parts of the report is what the company calls “Price Flex Scores,” a measure of how flexible sales transaction prices have been over the past month. If a particular model car has a high “flexibility” score, it means customers have a better chance of getting a good deal than on a model with a lower flex score.

A high Price Flex Score can result from a number of factors, including all or some of the following: excessive number of unsold cars in stock, slow sales, high rebates, factory-to-dealer cash, and dealer willingness to negotiate.

Small cars with low dealer profit margins will have less room for price negotiation, and have low flexibility scores. Some luxury brands have high profit margins but are known for inflexible pricing to help maintain their premium status.

Car models that are being replaced with new versions typcially have high price flexibility, as do brands that are going out of business (e.g. Mercury and Saab).

Some of the cars that have the highest Price Flex Scores, according to TrueCar, are the following:

Large Car – Ford Flex

Large SUV – Nissan Armada

Large Truck – Nissan Titan 

Luxury Car – Lincoln MKZ

Luxury SUV – Mercedes GL Class

Luxury Sport Car – Chevrolet Corvette

Midsize Car – Mitsubishi Galant

Midsize SUV – Ford Edge

Minivan – Volkswagen Routan

Small Car – Dodge Caliber

Small SUV – Jeep Patriot

Small Truck – Ford Ranger

Sport Car – Dodge Challenger

Subcompact Car – Ford Fiesta

In addition to the above models in their respective categories, the Chrysler 200 and Mazda MX-5 Miata are in the Top-10 highest Price Flex Scores.

TrueCar also offers a free service that provides highly discounted prices on all car makes and models. Just fill out a simple online form to tell them what car you want and they will tell you what other people are paying for that car in your area — and give you a low price guarantee that will be honored by local dealers.

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Prior to 2009 used cars were relatively inexpensive, on average, based on a large supply fueled by trade-ins, lease returns, rental car replacements, and fleet turnover— all driven by a good economy.

Likewise, brand new cars were experiencing record sales with strong demand which kept new-car prices relatively high.

Then the economy changed and the automobile business changed with it.

Simply put, used car prices increased because more people chose to keep their old cars and fewer people bought or leased new cars, which not only reduced the supply of trade-in and replacement vehicles but created a longer-term shortage of lease returns. A smaller supply of used cars, particularly newer used cars, makes for higher dealer wholesale prices, which results in higher retail prices and fewer choices for used-car buyers.

The poor economy had the opposite effect on new-car prices. Since people stopped or slowed down their new-car purchases and leases, prices on new vehicles dropped significantly, primarily as a result of heavy incentives offered by nearly all major car companies to help boost sales again. There have been “cash for clunker” programs, “employee pricing” schemes, cash-back rebates, factory-to-dealer cash, loyalty bonuses, 0% APR loan rates, $0 cash down, and special low-payment lease deals.

And since used car prices are high, new-car buyers are getting great prices on their trade-in vehicles. Low new-car prices combined with high trade-in prices makes for some incredible deals.

New car deals have never been better than now and the last couple of years. 2012 looks to be as good or better.

The effect of all this is that used-car prices have become so high that they’re seriously competing with new-car prices. Used cars are not the bargains they were a few years ago.

With new cars you get a full manufacturer’s warranty, lemon-law protection, the latest technology and safety features, and better fuel economy. You also can get lower loan rates on new cars and leases, which you can’t get on used cars. New-car deals are especially good on last year’s leftover models.

Therefore, if you are thinking of getting a new-to-you car, don’t automatically assume that a used car is your best choice. Old rules don’t apply any more. Do your homework before you make a decision. Check out used car prices and compare them to new-car deals, especially those with manufacturer incentives like many of those listed in the articles here on Best-Car-Deals.org. You may be surprised at what you discover.

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You know the ones — the ones that get all the attention, can park just about anywhere, have unique styling and colors, get 38 miles per gallon, offer a ton of cool options, are very safe, and have plenty of room for two people.

The company offers essentially four different models including a convertible (cabriolet) and a limited-availability all-electric model.

For the first time, there are some incredible deals on the smart fortwo cars, including a $99/month lease deal.

The special lease deal is for the lowest priced model, the 2012 smart pure coupe. The deal is $99/month for 36 months and $999 due at signing. Previous best deals were $159 to $169 month. This model comes with standard 5-speed automated manual transmission, eight air bags, stability control, and more.

This is the lowest lease price we’ve ever seen for a 36 month lease on a brand-new car.

The slightly more upscale 2012 smart passion coupe is offered with a $169/month lease, 36 months, $999 due at signing and the 2012 smart passion cabriolet is offered at $199/month, 36 months, $999 due at signing.

All the smart fortwo vehicles (except all-electric) are also offered for purchase with a 0% APR loan rate for up to 60 months.

Additionally, a $1000 loayalty bonus (rebate) is offered for current smart car or Mercedes-Benz vehicle owners.

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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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Everywhere.

Nearly every car company is currently offering incentives of some kind. Deals are actually not hard to find if you know where to look.

Some of these deals are outstanding, some very good, and others only so-so.

Luxury Brands

High-end luxury car companies, such as Porsche, Audi, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Mercedes, don’t normally offer common incentives for fear of looking like a discount car brand. When they do, it’s in the form of “bonuses” or “allowances” but not “rebates.” Or it might be in the form of special leases, where the “discounting” is not so obvious.

For example, at the time of this writing, Mercedes is offering a number of very attractive lease deals across its model lines. They are also offering 1.9% APR loan deals but in these days of record-low finance rates, 1.9% is good but not really an outstanding deal, especially when it’s limited to 24-36 month loans. The lease deals are better.

Same for Infiniti, who is currently (January 2012) offering a number of very good lease deals (all $0 cash due at signing) on all 2012 models except hybrids, and 1.9% APR loans for up to 60 months (better than Mercedes). Depending on where you live, there may be deals on left-over 2011 models.

Audi currently has no incentives for January (at the time of this writing) but even those for December 2011 were not very interesting – a few mediocre lease deals in which they make the first month’s payment and waive the security deposit (who doesn’t). Not much to get excited about.

BMW actually has some outstanding lease deals going on at this time (see New BMW Lease Offers for January) and some factory-to-dealer cash on a few models that translate into purchase price discounts.

Acura offers good lease deals on one selected style within each of its model lines. These are of the $0-$0-$0 variety ($0 down, $0 first payment, $0 security deposit) and are genuinely good deals.

Lexus has no deals worth mentioning, except possibly on a few left-over last-year’s models, or certified used cars.

Land Rover has lease deals on the Ranger Rover Sport and LR4 that are only rated Good by LeaseGuide.com, as well as 1.9% APR loan rates for only 36 months. Nothing here to jump up and down about.

Non-Luxury Brands

The very best deals in 2012 will come from American car brands such as Ford, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, and Ram. They offered some of the best incentives in the business in 2011 and are expected to do the same or better in 2012.

The most recent deals from these American companies include generous rebates, 0% APR loans (and other low-interest loans), special lease deals (although usually not as good as foreign car brands), and factory-to-dealer cash that dealers use to discount prices. Cadillac is offering a number of good $0 down leases. Left-over 2011 models are especially good deals right now.

At this time, Honda and Toyota are offering a few good deals, especially on leases, but you’ll have to wait until they’ve fully recovered from last years disasters in Japan before you see the best deals. Honda continues to offer their popular “$0 due at signing“ leases. These are genuinely good lease deals — much better than customers could negoitate for themselves.

Hyundai is coming on strong with some great deals on selected models. Their award-winning Elantra model is now being offered with a special lease deal (see Car of the Year for Only $179).

Nissan has 0% APR loan rates — for up to 60 months — on nearly every model, including 2012 and left-over 2011 models.

Subaru’s current incentives include 42-month lease deals on one style of each of its models or 1.9% APR loan rates. However, we don’t recommend 42-month leases on vehicles that only have 36-month warranties. You’re exposed for 6 months to paying for expensive out-of-warranty repairs near the end of the lease.

Mazda currently has a whole variety of new incentives including a number of moderately attractive 36 month leases with relatively low down payment requirements, a few 1.9% APR loan deals for up to 60 months, and a number of 0.0% APR loan deals that are combined with up to $1000 customer cash (rebate).

Mitsubishi is offering outstanding 24-month leases on its 2012 Lancer ES and SE ($189/month) and Lancer Sportback ES ($196/month). There are also 0% APR loan deals for up to 36 months on 2012 models and up to 60 months on 2011 models. Also available are rebates of up to $3500 on 2011 models and customer loyalty bonuses of $500. All in all, a nice set of deals from Mitsubishi.

Volkswagen usually has a nice selection of special lease deals across its model line. These are nearly always good deals and are better than customers could negotiate for themselves. They also offer a number of 0% APR loans for up to 72 months, which is a bit unusual.

Saab, the car company, has filed bankruptcy but dealers still have left-over vehicles at low, low prices.

Fiat has announced new $0 down leases its 500 and 500c models.

Deals Can Change

As you probably already know, car deals and incentives can (and usually do) change month-to-month, and sometimes week-to-week. Deals can vary depending on the region of the country you live in and can differ by dealer.

One of the best ways to know exactly what deals are best in your area is to use an online service such as TrueCar that not only shows you what local people are paying for specific car makes and models, but also the lowest price you should expect to pay, factoring in all current incentives. It’s free and they give you a guaranteed price quote that will be honored at local dealers.

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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 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 (2011 and 2012)
• Chrysler Town & Country (2011 and 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 (2011 and 2012)
• Ford Expedition (2011 and 2012)
• Ford F-150, 250, 350, 450 (2011)
• Ford Flex (2011 and 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 Yukon (2011)
• Hyundai Genisis (2011)
• Hyundai Sonata (2011)
• Hyundai Veracruz (2011)
• Jeep Compass (2011 and 2012)
• Jeep Grand Cherokee (2012)
• Jeep Liberty (2012)
• Jeep Patriot (2012)
• Jeep Wrangler (2012)
• Lincoln MKS (2011 and 2012)
• Lincoln MKT (2012)
• Lincoln MKX (2011)
• Lincoln MKZ (2011 and 2012)
• Lincoln Navigator (2011 and 2012)
• Mazda CX-7 (2011)
• Mazda CX-9 (2011 and 2012)
• Mazda 2 (2012)
• 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)
• Nissan Frontier (2012)
• Nissan Maxima (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Murano (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Pathfinder (2011)
• Nissan Quest (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Rogue (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Sentra (2012)
• Nissan Titan (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Versa (2011 and 2012)
• Nissan Xtera (2011)
• Suzuki Equator (2012)
• Suzuki Grand Vitara (2012)
• Suzuki Kizashi (2012)
• Suzuki SX4 (2012)
• Toyota Avalon (2011)
• Toyota Corolla (2011)
• Toyota Prius (2011)
• Toyota RAV4 (2011)
• Toyota Sienna (2011)
• Toyota Tundra (2011 and 2012)
• Toyota Venza (2011)
• Volkswagen CC (2011 and 2012)
• Volkswagen Eos (2011)
• Volkswagen GTI (2011)
• Volkswagen Golf (2011)
• Volkswagen Jetta (2011)
• Volkswagen Routan(2011 and 2012)
• Volkswagen Toureg (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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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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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 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.

Honda and Acura incentives expire on February 29, 2012. All others expire on January 31, 2012.

Here are all the current (January 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

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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Cadillac

Cadillac’s lease deals are interesting in that they are a bit wishy-washy on details. For example, Cadillac states that “dealer sets own price” and “example [of the deal] based on survey” and “lease-end purchase price [residual value] set at time of lease signing” and “your payments may vary.” Normally, when a car company offers special leases, it provides all the specifics and detailed figures in the small print accompanying the advertisement. Not so with Cadillac this month.

We will show you the currently offered Cadillac lease deals, all of which are excellent deals and well worth considering. However, you may find that when you visit your local Cadillac dealer, you may not be able to get exactly the same deal. In that case, you can evaluate the deal, or any lease deal, using this Car Lease Calculator  from LeaseGuide.com. It’ll tell you just how good, or bad, the deal is.

Here are the latest Cadillac special lease deals, already evaluated and rated by LeaseGuide.com.

2012 Cadillac CTS Coupe – $429/month, $0 due at signing, 36 months, 30K miles (Score: 95 Outstanding)

2012 Cadillac CTS Sedan – $399/month, $0 due at signing, 36 months, 30K miles (Score: 98 Outstanding)

2012 Cadillac Escalade- $747/month, $0 due at signing, 36 months, 36K miles (Score: 88 Excellent)

2012 Cadillac SRX w/1SB – $499/month, $0 due at signing, 36 months, 30K miles (Score: 84 Excellent)

Notice that all but the Escalade lease have a 30,000 mile allowance. For 36 months, this translates to only 833 miles per month (1000 miles per month for the Escalade). This is a relatively small mileage allowance and is part of the reason these are such good deals if you only look at the monthly payment and the fact that you pay no cash at lease signing (except for normal taxes and official fees).

Although all the leases rate Excellent or higher the 2012 Cadillac CTS Sedan is the best deal of the group.

So, before you go visit your dealer to accept one of these Cadillac deals, make sure you can live within the mileage allowance. Otherwise, you’ll pay a relatively hefty $0.25 per mile if you exceed the allowance. Also make sure you know your credit score before you go too. The deals are only available to customers with good credit. You can easily see your most recent credit score online from web sites such as FreeCreditScore.com with a quick sign-on.

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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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What we mean is that you would have to know the best time of day/month/year to buy, know your invoice prices and holdbacks, and know how to skillfully negotiate prices — and be prepared to go into long stressful haggling sessions with dealer salespeople who would try every trick in the book to wear you down — not a pleasant experience.

Not that it still doesn’t happen. It’s even necessary in many cases. But the best car deals are not made that way. Car manufacturers, in these tough economic times, are hungry for your business and are willing to offer ready-made deals that were unheard of in the past. These are deals that buyers could not possibly negotiate for themselves — because dealers are not capable of making the kind of concessions that their deep-pockets parent car companies can make.

Car manufacturers announce new incentive programs almost every month. These are special limited-time deals in the form of customer rebates, “employee” pricing, low-interest loans, 0% APR loans, special leases, loyalty bonuses, “conquest” bonuses, military bonuses, and “hidden” factory-to-dealer cash. The deals are usually limited to certain selected models and styles in any given month. And there may be restrictions, credit requirements, or down payments to qualify.

These monthly deals from car companies are nearly always genuinely good deals — often great deals —  and well worth customers’ consideration.

All car companies don’t offer incentives. Some luxury brands never offer advertised incentives which might brand them as a “discounter.” Some have hidden incentives that aren’t made public but are offered to potential customers in the store.  Others may offer special lease deals and “bonuses”, but never rebates or discounts.

In summary, the best car deals are the promotional incentives that are offered each month by car manufacturers, which require no negotiation and no stressful haggling. You can get free price quotes from Edmunds or TrueCar. The quotes will automatically include any promotional incentives that are currently available.

We tell you about the best new car deals every month here on this web site, Best Car Deals. Please stay tuned.

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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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Unless dramatic changes happen to our economy (which is not likely), we see 2012 being much like 2011 for automotive consumers.

Here are some of the things that we see occuring in 2012:

- Honda and Toyota will finally return to full production after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. They’ve lost business, market share, and some loyal customers. They will want it all back, and will offer some of the best incentives in the industry to help make it happen. We don’t know exactly when this will occur but expect it no later than mid-year 2012.

- As soon as Honda and Toyota begin their aggressive incentive programs, other car manufacturers will have to compete with their own programs. In this sense, an incentive war will be of great benefit to consumers. Good deals will be everywhere.

- Expect to see Hyundai and Kia make a big play for market share in 2012. New incentive programs and new styling will help make it happen.

- American car makers such as Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors have been taking advantage of the lull during 2011 with an excellent combination of rebates, factory-to-dealer cash, and 0% APR loans. It has been a good year to buy an American made car. We expect 2012 will be just as good if not better.

- Used car prices will remain high in 2012, as they have during 2011. The price gap between new cars and used cars has narrowed considerably. This makes new cars even better deals, especially when we consider that trade-in prices are also higher.

- We’ll continue to see many 0% APR and other low-interest loan deals because U.S. interest rates are at all-time lows and it’s not a big stretch for car companies to offer customers reduced rates as sales incentives.

- Luxury car makers will continue to resist offering incentives, knowing that their typical customer is not bargain hunting. BMW will be the exception, as they have been in 2011, by offering attractive lease deals, factory-to-dealer cash, and assorted bonuses (but not rebates). BMW leases are generally great deals.

- Great deals will be available early in 2012 on leftover 2011 models. Since there are very few differences (in most cases) between 2011 and 2012 models, the leftover vehicles make good deals. Mercury vehicles will no longer be made but there are leftover 2011 and 2012 models being sold by Ford dealers at fantastic bargains.

- Nissan will continue to be agressive with incentives in 2012, but we don’t quite know what to expect from other Japanese companies such as Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, and Subaru.

Overall, 2012 will be a good year for new-car buyers. Leasing will continue to grow in popularity, especially for luxury cars. Interest rates will continue to be low. Credit requirements will ease off a bit, but still remain relatively tight. Smaller cars and hybrids will be become more numerous. Electrics will remain a big question mark. We’ll welcome Fiat but will miss Saturn, Mercury, Pontiac, and Dodge Ram (now just Ram).

You can get free price quotes on any new-car make and model from Edmunds.comThe quotes will automatically include any cash-back rebates or discounts that are currently available.

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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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To others, vehicle brand is very important — although maybe not for the right reasons.

What are the best car brands?

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you might want to take care in selecting your car brand. It’s simply not true that all are alike.

Value
The old adage “you get what you pay for” is not the same today for the automobile market as it was, say, 25 years ago. In those days, an inexpensive car would probably get you poor reliability, poor quality, few safety features, and minimal creature comforts. For more money, you could get more luxury and creature comforts and possibly a little more in the way of improved reliability, quality, or safety. 

Today, the car you get for your money is light-years ahead of those of 25 years ago with significant improvements in quality, reliability, safety features, comfort, construction materials, paint, fit-and-finish quality, rust protection, engine technology, fuel efficiency, emissions control, sound systems, navigation systems, and luxury features. The lowest priced cars today are far better than the most expensive cars of yesterday.

Today, different car brands are more alike than they are different. A Honda Pilot Touring at $39,000 is not so much different than a Land Rover Range Rover at $79,000 — same quality, same features, same technology, same safety, similar styling, most luxury features same, same reliability (actually, the Land Rover brand is rated by Consumer Reports as having much poorer long-term quality than less expensive Honda).

Stated a little differently, there may be a difference in perceived value between a Honda (or other moderately priced brands) and a Land Rover (or other expensive luxury vehicles) but very little, if any, difference in actual value. The incorrect notion that more money gets you a better car has been successfully propagated by high-end car makers using slick advertising. 

Overall, the best value brands are Honda, Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru, and Mazda.

Resale Value
The best car brands are those that have high future resale or trade-in values. It’s the cars that people will most want to buy in the future as used cars. They’ll want cars that hold their value, have proven to be reliable, have good safety records, have not been discontinued, and have not changed dramatically in style. Honda and Toyota hold the high spots in this list.  Many luxury brands, such as Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, and even Land Rover fall high in this list not so much for reliability but for long-term luxury appeal and value retention (as used cars).

Reliability
According to Consumer Reports annual surveys of actual owners, the car brands that have the fewest problems are, in general, Japanese models. Next are American models. And last are the high-priced luxury brands from Europe. It doesn’t make sense that the brands that cost the most money are the ones you can depend the least on, but it’s true. Other than surveys such as those by Consumer Reports and JD Powers, new car buyers can also check Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) issued by car manufacturers to dealers regarding known problems. Expensive luxury brands have, by far, the greatest number and most serious TSBs. 

Safety
There can be significant differences in safety ratings between different car makes and models. All are not the same. If you can buy a car with a 5-star safety rating versus one with only a 3-star rating for the same price, which would you choose? Check Vehicle Safety Ratings online before making your decision. 

Luxury Image
Although many car brands have luxury features such as leather seats, power/memory seats, navigation systems, high-end sound systems, faux wood trim, and heated steering wheels, these features are not limited to “luxury” car brands. High-end car brands no longer have an exclusive on such features. In fact, there are few if any “luxury” features offered on luxury brands that are not also offered on much less expensive brands. Luxury cars have a luxury image, but not much more.

Performance and Fuel Economy
Many car buyers who are “price” shoppers overlook the fact that the lowest priced cars are those that have the smallest 4-cylinder engines. This is great for price and fuel economy but make sure you do a test drive before you decide to buy. Although an everyday car doesn’t require high performance, it does need to have sufficient response for emergency situations and highway driving. For most cars with small engines this is not a big problem, but don’t assume you have to give up performance for good fuel economy. Many cars with larger engines get excellent gas mileage too.

Reputation of Company – American vs Others
Unfortunately, American car brands have not enjoyed the same reputation for quality and customer service as many foreign brands in past years. However, this has been changing lately. American companies have made great strides in making improvements that put many American car models on par with similar foreign models. Ford has made the most improvement; Chrysler the least. Before you buy, check online for test-drive reviews from companies such as Consumer Reports and Edmunds.

Insurance Cost
Auto insurance rates car be dramatically different between car brands and models. For example, rates for a Honda Accord are much lower than for a similarly priced Mitsubishi Lancer. Why? The Misubishi is wrecked more often by young drivers, which increases insurance rates for all of us who own that vehicle. When you are trying to decide between car models, check Auto Insurance Rates online first.

Cost of Ownership
Cost of car ownership varies between brands, models, and styles. It is a combination of many factors, some of which we’ve already discussed — initial vehicle cost, gas mileage, insurance cost, reliability, cost of scheduled maintenance, tire replacement cost, repair cost. In general, luxury cars cost more to drive and own than economy cars but there can be significant differences even between vehicles in the same price and size category. Online sources such as Cars.com and Edmunds usually have this kind of information.

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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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