Best Time of Year to Buy a New Pickup

When are new pickups the cheapest (close out)?

Thanks,
Glenn F.

When they switch to a new model, factories push hard to clear out the old trucks, proven, tried and true, all the bugs fixed....but not as hot!!!! as an all new design.

Like said above, a few more months from now whatever is left should start increasing on rebates etc.

I bought a 2010 F150 in March of 2011.Exactly what I wanted.Of all the new vehicles I've ever bought I can say it was the best deal I ever got.

Between Christmas and New year. Everybody wants a sale before the end of the year, and the customers are few and broke.

Generally, July - August as the dealers try to sell current model inventory in preparation for the new models. One can usually also negotiate a somewhat better deal near the end of a month as dealers and sales people try to make quota.

That said, GM just increased incentives on pick up trucks. This is likely to start an incentive war this summer.

Hold off a month or two to see what happens.

Dean

That is when by buy mine. Price even gets better if there is a little snow on the ground.
A lot of people's last thought is to buy a vehicle in December. They are out to try to raise the GDP of China.

Dec. to maybe Feb. to get a left over year old model. I bought a 2011 F150 on Jan.1 2012. $9500 rebate + $2500 recycle your ride for a 94 Ranger that wasn't worth $1000(needed brakes) and another $1000 off for a Costco card. Wasn't exactly what I wanted but I had a limited budget. Supercab, XLT trim, 3.7L, trailer hitch, 6 way power drivers seat, standard AC, possibly a fleet model but I figured a pretty good deal. A brand new full size truck for about $21,000. I've been very happy with it. Would have liked a 5.0L for more towing capacity but I also need a daily driver and it gets pretty good mileage. 800+ Km to a tank with a 98L tank. No problems at all with the 3.7L. It has plenty of get up and go. For 2015 the 3.7L was dropped. They have a new 2.7L Eco-Boost option.

Wait for next years models, then go to a dealer, get a quote on paper out the door price. Then go to other dealers and see if they will beat the price. I have a dealer who says he will beat anyone's price, which he does. He also goes on the internet, checks other dealers inventory, gets the truck you want. My last truck, a full size GMC 6 cylinder work truck, no bells, crank windows, 2007, $13,400 out the door tax included. They wanted to get rid of it real bad. Been a good truck, except for the distributor is old school.

I bought my last car, truck and kawasaki mule the same way. Saved the money people lose when they drive new vehicles off the lot, perhaps more.

I got one for 20% off list back in June of '05. It was the end of month, and of course end of quarter, and perhaps end of fiscal year. More recently I have done well by shopping on line and getting the internet price, which was about 16% off.

Anytime you can get 20% or more off of sticker, you are doing okay. You may not necessarilly have to wait till the end of the year to get this deal, but it is more likely to get to that number the more you wait.

I have had better luck buying one around Christmas time.

Between Christmas and New Years. Not very many folks in the showroom then.

Dec 31, about an hour or two before closing time.

I would agree with the time frame between Christmas and New Years - in general.

But you can pick up a great deal anytime. A specific vehicle that has been on the lot too long, a dealer trying to make quota or a sales goal and needs one more sale to do it, bank payment is due and cash is needed, hail storm sale (be very careful with them), model year close outs, new model introduction, a vehical that arrives with the wrong power train, color or options that will make it difficult to sell.

The best time to buy a new truck or car? 1-When no one else is looking at cars & trucks OR 2. When the dealer needs to move one or two more units by the end of the month, and beware they'll cheat and hold the books open a few days. OR 3. when the manufacturer puts rebates and factory cash on them to go away. If you're waiting for the manufacturer sweeten the deal understand the longer you wait on a leftover the cheaper it gets BUT you selection also gets thinner the longer you wait. Also understand if the manufacturer puts cash out there and dealer traffic goes up the dealer might start holding more money on each deal, or if the program put them over the top 5 days before the month end they might not make as sweet of a deal as if they needed to move 5 units.

To the guy that gets a deal from one dealer then shops it, well lets say a lot of dealers play games to get or get around your little plan. When I sold cars our dealership had a little policy, no one walks with a deal that's holding profit, get 'em about a grand lower than you can do and let them shop that price. A few dealers in our area started that one price or best price on the window, loved 'em for it for $50 I could steal the deal and usually hold more cash than credit union, AAA or insurance company deals. Your a special kind of stupid if you think car dealers are to dumb to figure that one out.

Want a good deal? research what you're wanting to buy. In this day and age you can usually find out invoice price and figure the hold back they might have. Watch the rebates- big rebates also mean they have factory cash behind the deal. Find a car/truck you want and negotiate. No need to be rude or nasty unless you're dealing with a New Yorker. When you get them down around where you think you should be ask for more, keep asking until they tell you no a few times. Sign the buyers's order and write them a deposit check or put a $50 dollar bill down, that way they know they have buyer and not a player in the box.

Most new car buyers don't know a good deal when it's offered. Timing is important too. A little tale to explain. I am a former new car salesman who worked in a large metropolitan area in a southern state that has a lot of coastline. A University Instructor shows up wanting to buy a new car. As a member of the Credit Union at The University he could get a pretty good deal through them, but that wasn't good enough for him, he shopped us, shopped until he got tired or figured out the game. Came back (3rd time), did I mention Mrs instructor was about 8 1/2 months along with their first child? The reason for a new car was the old one was totaled (no trade means no money we can make on the trade so it has to come from the new unit). He picks out a car with all the safety features he wants for his young and growing family. It's a rainy Wednesday afternoon and no one has sold a darn thing all day, on General Manager is excepting a real special butt chewing from the owner when he calls between 6 and 7PM. Our hero negotiates us down from his credit union price. It's a thin deal (after commissions the house would loose about $100) we're doing it for the unit count and telling the owner "one's in the box headed out the door and we working 2 more" may soften the owner's rant. Out hero bails on yours truly, says his wife has got to eat in her condition, he won't shop us he'll be back after dinner. The dirt bag proceeds to shop us, how do I know? He shops us at another dealer in town that we own, since he wants a car with all the heavy duty safety items it wasn't a normal stock item for either dealer our other dealer calls to get the car from us. We mention we were working a deal on it 1/2 hour ago to a University instructor and his pregnant wife whose name is XXXXX. Our sister dealer fesses up that's them so they're not real worried about stealing the deal from us. While this transpires the General Manager realizes this unit we're trying to sell was a dealer trade so we don't have any hold back so we'll actually loose closer to $500. About that time the owner calls and the GM gets that special butt chewing he wasn't looking forward to. Our young nnalert and the preggo Misses show back up on our door step about an hour to an hour and a half before closing wanting to buy the car at the deal we offered. It was fun explaining that 1. they weren't getting the car at that price, if they wanted it credit union price or walk 2. if they want it it won't be delivered tonight as it's late and all the GM wants to do is go home and kick his dog. 3. The other dealer in town put a hold on the car at invoice so we're only going to sell that car for more than the other dealer will pay. 4. No you weren't out on a low ball or a rocket, we would of sold you that car at the price we talked about then and there and ate the additional $400 loss after we found it, but since we know about it now it isn't happening.