Best Deals?

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gareth

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What is the best time to buy? For instances, if I want a 2003 Accent, will they be significantly discounted when the 2004's show up on the lots?

Gary
 
gareth said:
What is the best time to buy? For instances, if I want a 2003 Accent, will they be significantly discounted when the 2004's show up on the lots?
Click to expand...

Given that Hyundai is selling cars right around invoice right now, with $1500 or even more cash back rebates, I am dubious that you will save a lot more money by trying to time your purchase. I believe that in any case the end-of-year discounts (usually dealer incentives) are more a domestic automaker practice.
 
Given that Hyundai is selling cars right around invoice right now, with $1500 or even more cash back rebates, I am dubious that you will save a lot more money by trying to time your purchase. Hyundai's overall strategy is different than the more established brands.

Your leverage is limited by: 1) the dealer's invoice, 2) the dealer's "holdback" (about 2.5 percent on Hyundais; up to 5 percent on competitive makes), and 3) rebates.

If the dealer made absolutely no money on the deal, he *could* sell you the car for ( 0.975 * invoice - rebates ) .
 
Jerry Kindall wrote:
In article , gareth
wrote:

> What is the best time to buy? For instances, if I want a 2003
> Accent, will they be significantly discounted when the 2004's show
> up on the lots?

Given that Hyundai is selling cars right around invoice right now, with $1500 or even more cash back rebates, I am dubious that you will save a lot more money by trying to time your purchase. I believe that in any case the end-of-year discounts (usually dealer incentives) are more a domestic automaker practice.
...
Click to expand...

Yeah ... my local dealer is offering 1000 dollar discount OR a 1.9 apr. Seems I remember better deals last Feb on the left over 2002's

Gary
 
[QUOTE="gareth said:
Given that Hyundai is selling cars right around invoice right now, with $1500 or even more cash back rebates, I am dubious that you will save a lot more money by trying to time your purchase. I believe that in any case the end-of-year discounts (usually dealer incentives) are more a domestic automaker practice.
Click to expand...

Yeah ... my local dealer is offering 1000 dollar discount OR a 1.9 apr. Seems I remember better deals last Feb on the left over 2002's[/QUOTE]

Last January, when I bought my GT, the dealer I bought it from had about three 2002 models. They were a bit cheaper but only because Hyundai increased the sticker for 2003 -- there was no special price break on the older models.

Most automakers have at least one mid-year price increase. They have already increased the price of the 2003s by a couple hundred bucks this year and could do so again before the 2004s arrive. So even if you get a couple hundred bucks off, you might still be paying what you would have paid if you bought now.

So I'd still say buy now if you want a 2003. Or if you want to wait and see what they offer for 2004 (variable valve timing on the engine, for one -- might be worth it if you can wait), then do that.
 
Jerry said:
[QUOTE="gareth said:
What is the best time to buy? For instances, if I want a 2003 Accent, will they be significantly discounted when the 2004's show up on the lots?

Given that Hyundai is selling cars right around invoice right now, with $1500 or even more cash back rebates, I am dubious that you will save a lot more money by trying to time your purchase. I believe that in any case the end-of-year discounts (usually dealer incentives) are more a domestic automaker practice.
Click to expand...

Yeah ... my local dealer is offering 1000 dollar discount OR a 1.9 apr. Seems I remember better deals last Feb on the left over 2002's
Click to expand...

Last January, when I bought my GT, the dealer I bought it from had about three 2002 models. They were a bit cheaper but only because Hyundai increased the sticker for 2003 -- there was no special price break on the older models.

Most automakers have at least one mid-year price increase. They have already increased the price of the 2003s by a couple hundred bucks this year and could do so again before the 2004s arrive. So even if you get a couple hundred bucks off, you might still be paying what you would have paid if you bought now.

So I'd still say buy now if you want a 2003. Or if you want to wait and see what they offer for 2004 (variable valve timing on the engine, for one -- might be worth it if you can wait), then do that.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Jerry - What is variable valve timing and what is its advantage?

Gary
 
gareth said:
Thanks Jerry - What is variable valve timing and what is its advantage?
Click to expand...

Basically, they manipulate the timing of the intake and/or exhaust valves, depending on conditions. There is no single timing that is best for all conditions, so engines with fixed timing are a compromise of sorts. The result of variable valve timing is better fuel economy and/or more power, depending on how the system is tuned. I imagine they are going for the "more MPG" tuning on the Elantra, but I happen to think a little extra low-end torque wouldn't hurt.

Variable valve timing is one of the reasons a gas-powered 2003 Civic gets 38 MPG highway while a gas-powered 2003 Elantra gets 33 MPG hwy. There are other reasons, of course. For one, the Civic's engine has a smaller displacement and generates less power. But the variable valve timing is probably responsible for at least 3 MPG of that.

Hyundai's variable valve timing system is already on Elantras currently being sold in Korea and I believe it is slated to appear on the 2004 models here in the US.
 

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