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The Best Deals on Mainstream Cars
November 28, 2012
Consumer Reports released their list of recommended vehicles with the best potential deals this holiday season. Most of the vehicles are leftover 2012 models, which you should only consider buying if you intend to keep it for at least 5 years or longer. Remember, these vehicles are already considered a year-old, so you should expect significant discounts over the 2013 model.
All of these vehicles have met Consumer Reports' criteria to be recommended - meaning they all scored well in road tests, had average or better reliability in surveys, and performed well in crash tests. Check out the full list below and make sure to use the free RydeShopper to get the best deals on any of these vehicles.
| Vehicle | MSRP | Customer rebate | Dealer incentive | Potential savings below MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Honda Pilot | $37,150 | No | Yes | 15%+ |
| 2012 Nissan Murano | 39,655 | Yes | No | 15%+ |
| 2012 Lincoln MKZ | 35,630 | Yes | No | 15%+ |
| 2012 Ford Flex | 34,775 | Yes | No | 15%+ |
| 2012 Mazda CX-9 | 35,920 | No | Yes | 15%+ |
| 2012 Honda Accord | 24,070 | No | Yes | 15%+ |
| 2012 GMC Yukon XL | 51,520 | Yes | No | 10%+ |
| 2012 Chevrolet Traverse | 35,585 | Yes | No | 10%+ |
| 2013 Chevrolet Suburban | 59,435 | Yes | No | 10%+ |
| 2013 Kia Sorento | 26,150 | Yes | No | 10%+ |
| 2012 Nissan Rogue | 26,635 | Yes | No | 10%+ |
| 2012 Mazda5 | 24,820 | No | Yes | 10%+ |
| 2012 Infiniti M37 | 49,495 | No | Yes | 10%+ |
| 2012 Toyota Highlander | 38,040 | Yes | No | 10%+ |
| 2012 Lexus GX 460 | 54,120 | No | Yes | 10%+ |
| 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee V6 | 40,220 | Yes | No | 10%+ |
| 2012 Ford Fusion | 26,220 | Yes | No | 10%+ |
| 2012 Dodge Durango | 36,990 | Yes | No | 10%+ |
| 2012 Toyota Camry | 23,395 | Yes | No | 10%+ |
3 Steps Every Car Buyer Needs to Take to Save Maximum Money
The key to getting the best deal is to gather price or lease bids from as many local dealers as possible. Then shop that best price around until no one can beat it. Here are the steps:Step 1 Get Prices From My Trusted Network
Select the vehicle you're interested in to see if there are local dealers in my network who will provide you with their best upfront price. You will get direct access to an internet sales manager who you can further negotiate with online (no need to visit dealership).Select Vehicle to Get Local Pricing
Step 2 Get Prices From TrueCar / CarsDirect
TrueCar, and CarsDirect are my top 2 online price quote recommendations. These services show you pre-negotiated prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually pretty decent. But remember, you can still negotiate further.Step 3 Complete my Checklist
Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
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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.
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