Which Model Year Should You Buy: 2011 or 2012?
The question at this point becomes: is it better to buy a 2012 model or a leftover 2011 model?
It depends on how long you intend to keep the vehicle and what kind of discounts you can get. A leftover model is technically considered to be a one year old vehicle, so if you're forced to sell it soon, you may take a big loss due to depreciation.
Therefore, if you intend to buy a leftover, you should be willing to hold onto it for at least 5 years. You should also negotiate a price that is at least 10 to 15% lower than the 2012 model.
Be aware that the colors and options you desire may no longer be available. Leftover vehicles are part of a diminishing supply, so the least desirable ones are left for last.
Use the free CarWoo negotiation tool to see what kind of deals you can get on both model years.
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, CarsDirect, and NADAGuides 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.- Gregg Fidan
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author
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.
Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
July 2021
- Worst Cars to Lease Right Now Jul 29, 2021
- Best Car Deals by Category Jul 29, 2021
- New Cars You Should Wait to Buy Jul 29, 2021
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks Jul 29, 2021
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Jul 22, 2021
- Which Cars Better to Lease or Buy Jul 22, 2021
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars Jul 22, 2021
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Jul 22, 2021
- Best Car Deals Around the Country Jul 15, 2021
- Cars With the Largest Rebates Jul 15, 2021
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Jul 15, 2021
- Largest Hidden Dealer Rebates Jul 15, 2021
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Jul 08, 2021
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Jul 08, 2021
- Best 0% Finance Deals June 2021 Jul 08, 2021
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Jul 08, 2021
- Best Car Deals for 4th of July 2021 Jul 01, 2021
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Jul 01, 2021
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Jul 01, 2021
June 2021
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Jun 24, 2021
- Real Prices of Midsize Luxury Cars Jun 17, 2021
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Jun 10, 2021
May 2021
- Real Prices of Small Luxury SUVs May 27, 2021
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars May 20, 2021
- Luxury Lease Deals Under $500/mo May 06, 2021