Why the holidays are the time to treat yourself to a car

 

If you’re currently in the market for a vehicle, congratulations on your timing because now is one of the very best times of year to make that purchase.

December is when the highest discounts on manufacturer suggested retail prices occur, according to Edmunds, while it’s a hot period for used-car discounts, too. Deals often improve as the month goes on and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve are all in the top 10 times to buy preowned, data from iSeeCars reveals.

But what should you buy? If you’d like to save on a new car, check out the holiday sales events to help make your choice. Even if the car you want does not come with a manufacturer offer, you may be able to negotiate an attractive deal as dealerships look to move outgoing model-year inventory and meet sales goals before the year closes. For a preowned vehicle, consider the cars most likely to be discounted in December.

iSeeCars analyzed 2.4 million one- to five-year-old used vehicles to determine those most likely  to offer savings of at least 5 percent, or $1,000 on the average used-car price of $20,243. Fans of sedans are in luck as they dominate this list, accounting for eight out of the 10.

 

 

Used vehicles with most deals in December

Includes percentage more deals than average

1. BMW 3 Series, 26.6 percent
2. Ford Fiesta, 24.2 percent
3. Ford Focus, 24.2 percent
4. Chevrolet Camaro, 23.1 percent
5. Volkswagen Passat, 21.7 percent
6. Mercedes-Benz E-Class, 21.2 percent
7. Volkswagen Jetta, 20.1 percent
8. Ford Mustang, 19.9 percent
9. Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 18.9 percent
10. Audi A4, 17.7 percent

SUV shoppers will not be disappointed, either. Some 38.5 percent of SUV listings included deals, only slightly below the 40.5 percent for all listings. These are the utility vehicles with most offers in December.

 

Used SUVs with most deals in December

Includes percentage more deals than average

1. Ford Edge, 21.9 percent
2. GMC Acadia, 19.9 percent
3. Dodge Journey, 17.1 percent
4. Nissan Pathfinder, 17.0 percent
5. Buick Enclave, 16.7 percent
6. Chevrolet Traverse, 16.5 percent
7. BMW X5, 16.5 percent
8. Lincoln MKX, 14.3 percent
9. Ford Escape, 13.5 percent
10. Chevrolet Equinox, 8.0 percent

 

Go prepared with a preapproved loan offer

Before you head to the dealership, take a moment to apply for a preapproved car loan with RoadLoans. It takes only a few minutes to complete our short, online application and you’ll receive an instant decision. If approved, we provide multiple offers designed to meet your unique needs. Select the best option and take your offer to the dealership so you’re ready to buy. Preapproval also gives you added strength in negotiations as you’ll know just what you have to spend, like a cash buyer.

Written by: Rob Looker on December 20, 2018