We're living in difficult times these days, and if your in the market for a vehicle its difficult choices as well. New cars for sale have been suffering from shortages of inventory both domestic and foreign. In turn, slower summer sales mean less pre-owned cars jacking up used car prices.
So people have been waiting, hoping a re-supply of inventory will lead to more lucrative new car incentives as auto dealers look to unload the end of year models during clearance sales. And now just when the best new car prices seem to be on the horizon a new cloud rolls over head.
Recent saber rattling over the debt ceiling, credit score down rating, and trouble in Europe have lead to questions about the security of peoples savings, the lending rates on an online car loan, and peoples willingness to spend. If this economic down turn plays out, it leaves two questions. How good will new car incentives get to lure stock market shocked shoppers, and can you take advantage of them?
Japanese automakers have been pounding hard to get inventory levels back up and regain market share. The dealerships should be eager to sell as well loaded with so much late year inventory. Will this push them over a barrel when they come loaded to market and find shoppers gun shy for new cars for sale? What about used car prices?
Unless automakers are very successful at luring shoppers out en-mass, prices on the used car search engine are unlikely to move much. And while new car prices are predictable in at least what direction they will go and used car prices are locked, car loan rates, online or otherwise could go in any direction and will play the wild card in the days to come.
So while much is unknown in the days ahead, this much we do know. Put down the used car search engine and start hunting for the best new car price in the next couple weeks. If the cards fall your way you could find yourself catching the dealers between a rock and a hard place, with you holding the rock. Don't be gentle.