Buyers looking for deals should have a look at the monthly Top 10 best sellers. That's where you'll find a fistful of 'em.
No secret here: more often than not, vehicles that are moving fast are also loaded up with big discounts.
Deals looked closely at four of the fastest-moving 2010 models in Canada and found sales sweeteners potentially tasty enough to lower the price of a well equipped GMC Sierra pickup to $24,498.75 from an MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price) of $35,425 - taxes all in. That's $11,000 off the sticker. No wonder Sierra sales are up 32 per cent so far this year.
To be clear, Deals has included a $6,000 bonus for buyers who trade in their General Motors hybrid pickup. But even if you're not a hybrid pickup owner, there is a good chance a new Sierra buyer has an old one to trade.
If so, GM has a $3,000 Cash for Clunkers incentive; if you qualify for that, you also qualify for a $300 federal government clunker handout. That route puts the final price, taxes all in, at $27,198.75., according to the pricing service www.carcostcanada.com,.
Crossover wagons? Well, Dodge Journey sales are up 71.2 per cent this year and Hyundai Santa Fe sales are up 48.3 per cent. Yes, there is big money to be found there. The Journey is already well priced, but there are some nice cash offers available for buyers who negotiate hard.
Finally, four-door sedans. If you need one, consider the Chevrolet Impala. Sales this year are up an astonishing 260.5 per cent. Buyers who can stack together all the money GM has on the table could see discounts that add up to $5,300 or more.
Here's a closer look at the details:
2010 Chevrolet Impala LT: The fattest wad of cash on the table is a $2,500 factory-to-dealer rebate that is "stackable" - it can be combined with any other factory offer. In honour of the Olympics, GM also has a $500 Gold Medal Bonus factory-to-dealer incentive. Add in Cash for Clunkers money and either the GM Loyalty Bonus or GM's Toyota/Ford Conquest money, and the nicely priced Impala is a pretty affordable for a family sedan.
MSRP: $28,215
Freight, dealer prep, air conditioning tax: $1,450
Dealer discount (estimated): $1,400
Taxable subtotal: $28,265
Factory discount: $2,500 (stackable factory-to-dealer)
Factory discount: $500 (Gold Medal Discount)
Total price with 8 per cent PST and 5 per cent GST: $28,549.45
Factory-to-customer rebate: $1,000 (Cash for Clunkers)
Federal rebate: $300 (Cash for Clunkers)
Factory-to-consumer consumer rebate: $1,000 (Loyalty Bonus)
Final price: $26,249.45
2010 GMC Sierra SLE 2WD Crew Cab: The pickup truck customer is the best example of a "needs-driven" buyer. Most pickup buyers need their vehicle for work- or lifestyle-related purposes. So the deals here should really sharpen the interest of any buyer who "needs" a new pickup. For the deal below, Deals is assuming an older trade-in is in play - not a GM hybrid pickup.
MSRP: $35,425
Freight, dealer prep and air conditioning tax: $1,450
Dealer discount (estimated): $2,000
Taxable subtotal: $34,875
Factory discount: $6,500 (cash purchases, factory to dealer discount)
Factory discount: $500 (Gold Medal Bonus)
Total price with 8 per cent PST and 5 per cent GST: $31,498.75
Factory to consumer discount: $3,000 (Cash for Clunkers)
Government discount: $300 (Cash for Clunkers)
Factory to consumer discount: $1,000 (Ford/Toyota/GM Loyalty Bonus)
Final price with all awards: $27,198.75
2010 Hyundai Santa Fe GL FWD: All the deal money below can be combined with 0.0 per cent factory financing. That's another bonus worth considering if you want a crossover wagon.
MSRP: $25,995
Freight, dealer prep and air conditioning tax: $1,860
Dealer discount (estimated): $750
Factory to dealer rebate: $4,000 (stackable)
Taxable subtotal: $23,105
Total price with 8 per cent PST and 5 per cent GST: $26,108.65
Factory to consumer discount: $500 (Clean Air discount)
Federal discount: $300 (Cash for Clunkers)
Factory to consumer discount: $500 (Graduate Program)
Final price: $24,808.65
2010 Dodge Journey SE FWD: The Journey is one of the Chrysler Group's best sellers, largely because it is a well-priced wagon. The discounts aren't huge, but they come on top of already good pricing.
MSRP: $19,995
Freight, dealer prep and air conditioning tax: $1,500
Dealer discount (estimated): $800
Factory discount: $500 (factory to dealer, cash purchases)
Taxable subtotal: $20,195
Total price with 8 per cent PST and 5 per cent GST: $22,820.35.
Factory to consumer discount: $500 (Cash for Clunkers)
Federal discount: $300 (Cash for Clunkers)
Factory to consumer discount: $750 (Loyalty or Conquest Bonus)
Final price: $21,270.35
Pricing information source: www.carcostcanada.com.