Rebates, Incentives, APRs - Questions & Comments

ShagD16

I want to know what is the cheapest price that I can get a new Ford F150 or Dodge Ram 1500 shortwheel base with a V-6. The rest can be stripped down

CarMan@Edmunds

The Ford F-150 and The Dodge Ram are two of the top selling vehicles in the country. This will make getting a great deal on them difficult. However, Ford and Dodge are currently offering some incentives on these models. There is currently $1,250 customer cash on the '97 F-150. Also, there is $500 dealer cash on '98 and $1,000 on '97 Dodge Ram Pickups.

To figure out how much you should pay for one of these trucks, first calculate what the dealer paid for the truck. Take the dealer invoice of the vehicles, then subtract any relevant incentives and the dealer holdback amount. Now take this figure and add in a fair dealer profit. That is approximately how much you should pay. Click here to go to the Edmunds truck price guide: New Truck Prices. Good luck.

kayvtee

what happens to the Acura NSX? It's not featured in the Acura section anymore. Has Acura stopped making this model?
Does anyone know why Nissan replaced the
rear disk brakes with drum brakes on the PathFinder? Does Nissan accept special order of a PathFinder with rear disk brakes? Call it a
"personal thing" but the rear drum brakes stopped me "cold" from buying a PathFinder.

john1230

I have a financing question. I want to buy a Malibu and negiotiated a deal to order the one I wanted since its not on the lot. The dealer is telling me that I can't have the GMAC 5.9% financing if the car doesn't come in before it expires at the end of March? Why? If I've ordered it and put money down doesn't that constitute a legal transaction? Couldn't the dealer then delay shipment to affect my financning?
Do you know if GM will continue the financing on the Malibu after April 1st? Do you know of other incentives?
Thanks.
JJ

lglwizard

Edmunds is not currently listing any dealer incentives on the Infiniti QX4 SUV. Are there any incentives to be had on this vehicle, whether they be customer rebates or dealer rebates?

Thanks,
-Lglwizard

ajablenski

ok, so it turned out a viper gts for 72 months with 0 down and 8.8% financing costs 1370 a month and i don't feel like paying it. now i am looking into leasing and i have couple questions (i've negotitated many cars for friends, but none leased)...

i would like to lease the viper for 3 years. roughly speaking, the monthly payment is calculated based on the depreciation cost of the car over 3 years + tax, etc. ok, how do i know how much the car will depreciate over 3 years?? the viper is no toyota camry and the 55% depreciation from msrp is probably wrong. i know that it is hot car and i will pay a lot of money and the dealer will make lots of money on me. i just don't want to get waaaay taken. any thougts?

thanx,

alex

jor

CARMAN
CAN YOU OR ANYONE TELL ME WHAT PERCENTAGE RATE HONDA AMERICAN FINANCE IS CHARGING IN TEXAS FOR A LEASE. THE DEALER I AM WORKING WITH IN TEXAS SAYS HONDA AMERICAN FINANCE IS CHARGING 10.9% FOR A LEASE. THIS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN OFFERED IN OTHER STATES. IS THE 10.9% FIGURE TRUE AND IF NOT WHAT IS THE CORRECT FIGURE FOR HONDA AMERICAN FINANCE ON A 36 MONTH LEASE ON AN ACCORD EX-V6 COUPE.

guitarzan

Alex, call some banks up and ask them what their residual value is on a Viper for whatever term you are interested in.

CarMan@Edmunds

Acura has not stopped making the NSX. There is a 1998 model, kayvtee. For answers to your specific questions about the Nissan Pathfinder you should probably ask them in the Sport Utility Vehicles Conference. Click here to go there: Sport Utility Vehicles.

CarMan@Edmunds

Lglwizard, there is currently $700 dealer cash on the Infiniti QX4. Also, Infiniti is currently advertising a special lease on this vehicle. You can lease a '98 QX4 for $499/mo. for 39 mo. with $1,500 down.

CarMan@Edmunds

John, I'm not sure why the dealer told you that you would not be eligible for the 5.9% financing if your car is not delivered by the time the program ends. Maybe he's just saying this because he wants you to just purchase one that he already has on the lot. I can't guarantee it, but in my opinion there will probably still be special financing on the Malibu after the current program ends. This is shaping up to be a record year for car incentives.

CarMan@Edmunds

Joe, the currently lease money factor for a 36 month lease on a '98 Honda Accord in the Northeast is .00315. This translates to 7.56%. I believe that this is the national program, not just limited to this region. However, even if this is not the national program I don't see how it is possible that Honda's rate is that much higher in Texas. How is your credit? Because if it is good, then you can definitely get a much better rate than 10.9%. Good luck.

CarMan@Edmunds

Alex, if you decide to lease a Dodge Viper through Chrysler Financial, here are the residual values:

MODEL 24 mo. 36 mo. 48 mo.
Viper ex. GTS 62% 55% 49%
Viper Coupe GTS 64% 57% 52%

These residual values are for if you lease the car with 15,000 miles per year. If you only lease the Viper for 12,000 miles per year add 3% to the percentage. Good luck.

doreintl

What has been the experience with the 1998 Cadillac Concours? Thanks.

CarMan@Edmunds

This is a great question for the Edmunds Sedans Conference. Click here to ask the opinions of our Edmunds staff and to speak with other Cadillac owners: Sedans Conference.

sarahlee

Does anyone know of current incentives to the dealer or customer cash back on the 1998 Toyota Camry v6 or 4 cyl. ?
Thanks

crimapp

Does anyone know about any special manufacturer to dealer incentives on Ford Escort SE sedans in New England (preferably MA, RI or NH)? I am interested in buying this car and getting the 1.9% financing now offered, but I do not want to pay more than I should for it.
Thanks!!!

lglwizard

I recently had a very unfortunate (though not totally unexpected) experience at the Nashville, TN Infiniti dealership. The sales manager tried to tell me that HIS dealership does not actually receive either the dealer holdback or the $700 dealer incentive from Infiniti currently available on the '98 QX4. He said some other regional dealership in Columbus, Ohio (where he says he gets his cars from) is the "dealership" that gets that money. This is contrary to everything I've read about dealer holdback and incentives, but I'd like some confirmation on whether I was experiencing a bold faced lie or not.

I've also heard from another dealer that the infiniti dealer holdback is 1% of MSRP, period, not the 1% of MSRP plus 1% of total invoice that is listed by Edmunds. Can anyone confirm one or the other? Does it depend on your area of the country? Comments appreciated.

--Lglwizard

Pladies

I am a recent college graduate. Does anyone know about available rebates?

bikerider

I am looking at a 98VW Jetta TDI. The salesman knowing this came out on his own with, "Unfortunately, the factory incentive doesn't apply to this model." I guess he assumed that there was nothing to lose by giving out incentive information for a car model as long as he made sure the incentive didn't apply for the version of that model I was interested in. Edmunds simply lists a $750 for 98 Jettas without any exceptions.

When I asked why not an incentive on the TDI he responded that VW just doesn't want to sell this diesel car in America. I was so surprised by the whole scenario that I didn't think of the next question until I left the lot: If VW doesn't want to sell this car in America then why are they selling this car in America? Also, if the car is a slow seller (and it apparently is) then wouldn't this be the most likely candidate for an incentive?
Am I missing something here? Anybody else experience anything like this?

cswesl

I've negotiated a fair price for a 98 Grand Prix GTP but finance rates seem high here in N.E. Wisconsin. I don't expect to see any rebates on the Grand Prix but wonder if Pontiac is planning to offer in the near term the kind of financing options Oldsmobile has been advertising?

rexx

Craig,

I doubt you'll see too many incentives. The Grand Prix is selling above last year's rate. It's not like the Grand Am which they seem to have plenty of (probably due to the upcoming redesign in 1999 and the fact they don't want them on the lot when the new ones come in). As usual, try to get outside financing. If you can, then go back to the dealer with that rate and see if they can do any better.

ken28

Has anyone bought the 1998 VW Passat recently. If so, what kind of deal did you get.

jor

TO CAR MAN;
YOUR ASSISTANCE LAST MONTH WITH INTEREST RATES FOR HONDA LEASE IS MOST APPRECIATED. I WILL PICK UP MY ACCORD EX-V6 COUPE IN TWO WEEKS AND AM HEARING RUMORS ABOUT A HONDA LOW INTEREST RATE INCENTIVE FOR ACCORD LEASES THIS MONTH, MARCH.
CAN YOU CHECK AND FIND OUT IF HONDA AMERICAN FINANCE IS GOING TO BE GIVING LEASE INTEREST OF LESS THAN 7.59% THIS MONTH.
THANKS

CarMan@Edmunds

To my knowledge, Sarahlee, there are currently no incentives on the Toyota Camry. This is an extremely popular car. In fact the Camry was the #1 selling car for all of 1997! Right now Toyota does not need to offer any incentives on it.

CarMan@Edmunds

You're right, bikerider. It really doesn't make sense that Volkswagen would not offer an incentive on a slow selling car. I have never heard that Jetta incentives do not apply to diesel models. A good idea would be to call up another dealer and ask them if this model is eligible for the incentive.

CarMan@Edmunds

I am not aware of any special regional incentives on the Ford Escort, crimapp. The 1.9% financing is probably the best incentive that you will get on that model. Usually Ford does not allow consumers to combine cash incentives and special financing programs.

CarMan@Edmunds

Lglwizard, assuming that the dealer that you are going to is an official Infiniti dealership I don't see why they would not get the holdback or dealer cash. If he told you that he gets his cars someplace else which does get them then maybe you should call his bluff and tell him that you are going to shop there instead. In regards to your holdback question, it is my understanding that the "holdback" amount for Infiniti is 1% of the MSRP, not including destination charges.

CarMan@Edmunds

What type of car are you interested in buying, Pladies? I will let you know if they are currently offering any type of college graduate or first time buyer incentives.

wail

I testdrove the new Passat and the salesman quoted me about 5% above invoice, I think it's a fair deal, agree?

abcxyz

I am a recent college graduate, and I am planning to buy a Honda Civi HX coupe. Do they have any credits for college graduates? How long it will this be in effect, say, one year after graduation date? What about current rebates or incentives on Civic?

CarMan@Edmunds

I think that 5% over invoice is a pretty fair offer on a new VW Passat, considering it is such a popular car right now. However, it wouldn't hurt to try to get him to come down a little.

bikerider

Thanks CarMan. Actually, your idea about calling the other dealership about the incentive...that was my idea, too. Here's the best part. The other dealership denied that there were ANY incentives for ANY Jettas.

Makes me feel good about humanity.

CarMan@Edmunds

In response to the post about Honda Civic lease rates, here they are: Civic DX / HX .00164 for 30 mo. & .00189 for 36 mo.; Civic EX / EX-A .00273 for 30 mo. & .00290 for 36 mo.; Civic Sedan .00248 for 30 mo. & .00265 for 36 mo.; Civic Hatchback .00139 for 30 mo. & .00168 for 36 mo. These are equal to DX / HX 3.94% & 4.54%; EX / EX-A 6.55% & 6.96%; Sedan 5.95% & 6.36%; Hatchback 3.34% & 4.03% respectively. I hope that this helps.

ksbox

I was wondering on the dealer holdbacks do you deduct that amount from the msrp or the the total invoiced paid by the dealer? also what is the money factor for a lease on a gmc any ideas

guitarzan

The cost of the car to the dealer is the invoice minus holdback minus dealer incentives. You may or may not be able to cut into the holdback amount. But you don't know until you try hard!

rzhang1

I just graduated from school. And I am interested in Honda Civic Ex coupe. Is there any new graduate rebate(or whatever rebate) available on this car?

Mr_Shiftright

Hi rzhang, and welcome. Glad you're out of the educational mill...congrats!

I checked the Edmunds data base for you concerning rebates, etc on the Honda (at the home page, you can click on and periodically check on this yourself) and currently there does not appear to be any rebates offered on that car. There is a dealer holdback of 2% which may or may not be of help to you in negotiations.

May I suggest that you a) find the Honda homepage
<<A HREF="http://www.honda.com/">http://www.honda.com/&gt; and check there, and b) come back periodically to Edmunds site and see if any new rebates are posted?

good luck

Mr Shiftright

rzhang1

Mr. Shiftright, thanks for your suggestion. I did check Honda homepage and didn't find any rebate thing. I even tried to call American Honda( it seems that they don't have a toll free number) and was put on hold for about 20 minutes, then I quit...

Anyway, thanks
rzhang1

zima

Can you provide me with the latest rebate on the 1988 Sonoma SLS 2DR X-Cab.

Also, what's the track record with other's as far
as the 3rd door? i.e., does it rattle, leak or
other problems.....Or have the experiences been
rather pleasant???????

TIA

Dkas

Can you provide me the dealer rebate/holdback for a Dodge Intrepid ES. Thanks

marsjazz

I am in the process of considering a lease (Toyota Camary, 4x4 SR5, or Lexus). Most leases allow you 12,000 miles per year. Can I negotiate higher mileage (15K or 20K). If so, what should I keep my eye on when entering into this type of lease agreement (higher payments, value of car at the end)

Mario

CarMan@Edmunds

Mike, there is currently a $1,500 rebate on '98 Sonoma 4 Cyl. models and $1,000 on '98 Sonoma 6 Cyl. models. In order to find out other owners experiences with this model, try looking in the Pickups Conference. Click here to go there: Pickups Conference. Good luck.

CarMan@Edmunds

There are currently no incentives on the 1998 Dodge Intrepid ES, Dave. However if you can find a dealer who still has '97s in stock there is a $2,000 rebate on the '97 Intrepid ES.

There is also a 3% dealer holdback on all Dodge models. To figure out what this amount would be take 3% of the car's MSRP not including the destination charge. Keep in mind that the holdback amount is not intended for consumers. However, you may be able to get the dealership to dip into the holdback if you drive a hard bargain.

CarMan@Edmunds

Yes Mario, you can negotiate higher annual mileage when you enter into a lease agreement. Leases that allow 15,000 miles per year are very common. In fact before manufacturers began advertising all of these cheap leases using 12,000 miles per year, 15,000 used to be the industry standard. If you think that you are going to drive more than 12,000 miles annually then it is definitely a very good idea to purchase the extra mileage up front. If you put a lot more miles on your lease than you originally pay for it can become extremely expensive. Miles purchased up front may cost you as little as half of what they will at the end of a lease.

In order to understand how this will affect your lease it is important to know the two main components that are used to calculate a lease. One is the money factor, what interest rate you are being charged. The other is the car's residual value, how much the car's original value depreciates during the lease term. The lower the vehicle's residual value percentage is, the more depreciation you have to pay for over the length of the lease. Since you are going to be putting a lot of miles on the car per year, it will depreciate more and have a lower residual value. The fact that the car is worth less at the end of the lease will make your monthly lease payments increase, but the car less expensive to purchase at the end if you decide to.

Pladies

Car Man, I am looking at the Dodge Durango. Can you tell me of any incentives and/or rebates available to me?

RedFoxx

Hi carman...me again...just wanted to see if there is any rebates/incentives on the audi a4 that you know of running at this time (its a 1.8t, loaded except cd player, but does have the hookup

RedFoxx

EDLABUT....as for the prizm DONT DO IT!!!! I have one now and Im am desperately trying to get out of my lease (5 months early) before the transmission goes (38,000 on it and not under warranty anymore. It has good interior room, good trunk room, and is fairly comfortable, however, I cannot begin to tell you all the problems I have had with it for the "little stuff". Not sure if the quality has improved with chevy taking over the geo name on this car, but I have a 95. The other thing that even the chevy dealer told me when I talked to him about it (after numerous trips to the service garage) was that the car did not hold a good resale value and therefore Im getting trouble getting anywhere what I owe on this car for trade in or just to walk away from the lease. Every dealer I have been to so far as I look for a new car is saying "prizm...oh well, here's about all your going to get for it" The audi dealer about laughed when I said I wanted more money for tradein value (almost 3,000 below what I still owe on it). I hope you live in a southern state, becuase the care stinks in the snow and not only that in the rain (even with good tires). I would reconsider, however this is only my opinion on the car, anyone else around here have an opinion on it?

jor

TO CAR MAN:
THANKS IN ADVANCE:
PLEASE GIVE ME INFORMATION CONCERNING LEASE PERCENTAGE OR MONEY FACTOR FOR 1998 HONDA ACCORD FOR MARCH 1998. I NEED THIS INFORMATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS I AM CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING A LEASE ON AN IN STOCK CAR.

blues

I am starting to think about getting a new car to replace my 95 leased Altima. The Altima was fine but am looking for something a bit more appealing. My choice are a Jeep Wrangler Sport or a Subaru Forester. Any opinions ?