Too Much Demand for Luxury Cars - Wait a Few Months
Luxury car brands such as Mercedes, BMW and Audi have been having a hard time keeping up with demand lately. This doesn't bode well for consumers wanting to buy these brands.
Demand from the U.S. and China has caused them to expand operations in 2011, as their plants have been running at full capacity, yet remain months behind in filling orders.
Audi says their highest demand is for its A3 ($27,000) and A6 ($44,000) models, with a wait time of nearly four months.
BMW and Mercedes-Benz are also working hard to keep up with demand.
What does this mean to you? If you’re in the market for a German luxury car, you may want to wait several months for supply to catch up to demand.
If you want to shorten your wait time, consider buying a leftover 2010 model if there are still some in your area. They will likely have steep discounts compared to 2011 models.
Additionally, if demand remains high, automakers won’t offer significant financing or cash back deals on their 2011 models, meaning a longer than usual wait without the usual incentives.
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar, Edmunds, and 1-800 Car Show are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.California Residents - Important:
There is a new online car buying service called Roadster, available only to California residents, which I highly recommend you try - especially if you hate the stress of haggling with a car salesman. They provide an expert concierge who negotiates the price of the car and delivers it to your home with zero hassle - you never have to interact with a dealership. Here is my in-depth review of Roadster and why I recommend it.- Gregg Fidan
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About: Gregg Fidan
Gregg Fidan + is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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