2010 Ford Escape
Rachel the lawyer and her family have just purchased a 2010 Ford Escape and did they ever get a good deal.
"We are all happy and thanks for reinforcing to me that the Escape was a good thing," she writes, noting that in buying her new Ford she used information gathered here to "stack" or combine a pile of incentives and rebates:
- $2,000 for recycling her ride
- $1,000 Costco member rebate
- $3,500-plus in rebates from the dealer
"And after all that was done the (federal government's) Recycle Your Ride sent me another $300 to say thanks."
So almost $7,000 in discounts on a compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV) with a base sticker price that comes in at less than $25,000. This is exactly how a savvy shopper gets a great deal.
Rachel had been looking for something like the Escape, but she was not married to that particular vehicle. What she and the family wanted most was a smallish but useful wagon with good fuel economy. She looked at hybrids and other wagon-like offerings before settling on the Escape. The combined discounts added up to make for a deal-maker.
The patient and resourceful shopper, the one who takes the time to research a list of satisfactory vehicles and then follow that work up with a bunch of test drives, ends up with a better than fair price on the "right" ride. This is Rachel's story.
The latest story here at Deals of the Week runs the gamut, from a close-out sale on a very good minivan, to the potential for $12,000 or more in discounts on a sexy Mercedes-Benz. The pricing service carcostcanada.com warns that here, mid-month, various auto makers are applying mid-month updates to their incentive offerings, so be aware that these deals can change without notice.
Rachel, though, was sharp enough to stack her deals and drive away with a good buy, fully aware that the final is a product of hard work and firm negotiation. Perhaps that will be you, too.
Oh, and to Rachel, thanks for this last comment: "Keep up your columns; I am a middle-aged female reader who enjoys them."
2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS 5.5L: Here is one of the prettiest cars for sale anywhere, at any price, in the world. We've estimated the dealer discount at $4,000, which seems reasonable given the total markup on the dealer invoice price.
On top of that, a $8,500 is out there for current owners of a CLS who trade in their car for a new one. That money can be stacked with 0.9 per cent financing for five years.
Oh, and if you are not eligible for the $8,500, Mercedes has a $4,000 factory-to-dealer rebate for buyers who make a cash purchase. It cannot be combined with lease or finance rates.
- MSRP: $88,500
- Freight, dealer prep, air conditioning tax, Green Levy: $2,095
- Dealer discount (estimated): $4,000
- Taxable subtotal: $86,595
- Total price with 8 per cent PST and 5 per cent GST: $97,852.35
- Factory-to-customer rebate: $8,500 (Loyalty Program)
- Final price: $89,352.35
2010 Toyota Sienna LE FWD, seven-passenger: Toyota officials say there are only about 225 2010 Siennas out there in all of Canada. That's because for a couple of months now, Toyota Canada has been selling down the outgoing version of the Sienna to make way for an all-new 2011 version now moving on to dealer lots.
Dealers will deal on the old Sienna, though. Buyers who combine a solid dealer discount with a Loyalty Bonus (for current Toyota owners), Consumer Cash and up to $500 in matching cash for those who use the benefits of their RBC card, could put together more than $3,000 in discounts.
And these discount can be combined with 1.9 per cent financing for three years.
- MSRP: $33,390
- Freight, dealer prep and air conditioning tax: $1,590
- Dealer discount (estimated): $1,200
- Taxable subtotal: $34,380
- Total price with 8 per cent PST and 5 per cent GST: $38,849.40
- Factory-to-customer discount: $500 (RBC matching dollars)
- Factory-to-customer discount: $500 (Loyalty Bonus)
- Factory-to-customer discount: $500 (Consumer Cash)
- Final price with all awards: $36,894.40
2010 Infiniti G37 RWD: Infiniti is a brand that is not keen to offer factory discounts, but there is a $1,500 factory-to-dealer incentive here called "Merchandising Dollars." You'll need to negotiate for your piece of that, and for a decent dealer discount.
- MSRP: $38,690
- Freight, dealer prep and air conditioning tax: $1,300
- Dealer discount (estimated): $1,100
- Factory-to-dealer rebate: $1,500 (Merchandizing Dollars)
- Taxable subtotal: $38,890
- Total price with 8 per cent PST and 5 per cent GST: $37,390.00
- Final price: $42,250.70
2010 GMC Acadia SLE FWD: The incentive array on this GMC, as is the case with many vehicles from General Motors, is fairly complicated. So if you're interested, take your time to work through the numbers.
Deals crunched them assuming a buyer who is trading in a 1995-or-older model, thus taking advantage of the big Cash for Clunkers money. In addition, Deals is assuming that the older vehicle is a GM, Toyota or Ford product. That way the buyer can claim another $1,000 factory-to-dealer discount.
- MSRP: $37,930
- Freight, dealer prep and air conditioning tax: $1,450
- Dealer discount (estimated): $1,700
- Factory discount: $4,200 (factory-to-dealer on cash purchases and certain finances buys)
- Taxable subtotal: $33,480
- Total price with 8 per cent PST and 5 per cent GST: $37,832.40.
- Factory discount: $3,000 (Cash for Clunkers)
- Government discount: $300 (Cash for Clunkers)
- Factory discount: $1,000 (Loyalty Bonus)
- Final price: $33,532.40
Pricing information source: www.carcostcanada.com