What are the top 10 best selling cars, the most desirable? What are the slowest selling models? Knowing how various cars are selling is one of your best tools for negotiating with the dealer. After all, if the dealer knows a model is desirable and will get sold in a week, he can charge close to sticker.
This "Days on Lot" information will give you an edge before you even set foot on the lot. Days on Lot measures the average number of days a model sits on a dealer's lot before it is sold. This is one predictor of a dealer's willingness to negotiate.
The first step is to study the Top Ten Fastest/Slowest Sellers lists:
Top 10 Fastest Sellers (toughest to negotiate price)
Analysis: This month's Fastest Sellers list finds us in the middle of the 2011 model launches. However, most of this month's launches aren't particularly noteworthy. For example, the
Ford Fusion and
Escape are almost unchanged from last year. The same holds true for the
GMC Terrain and
Chevy Equinox. On the other hand, each of these vehicles was popular in 2010 so it's no surprise that the 2011 version is doing well.
There is one model on the Fastest Sellers list that is new from the ground up, the
Honda CR-Z. The coupe's design looks back to Honda's 80s favorite, the CR-X. But the CR-Z is a full-out hybrid -- one of the sportier hybrids out there. We will have to see if the sporty look, great mileage and aggressive pricing keep this car on the Fastest Sellers list for a while.
Negotiation Tip: If you are interested in a car on the Top 10 Fastest Selling list, you're probably not going to pay much below MSRP. We believe most of these cars will continue to be popular for quite a while, so factor that into your buying strategy.
But there is one trick you can use to lock in a good deal—Internet pricing. Customers who lock in a price quote ahead of time using the Internet tend to get much better prices. That's because the Internet Sales Manager knows you've gotten multiple Internet bids and done your homework. Click on the Get a Quote button to the right to have a dealer email you a competitive price quote.
Top 10 Slowest Sellers (easiest to negotiate price)
Analysis: The Slowest Sellers list can be an indicator of a car maker that's in trouble — or a tool for spotting a great car deal. Chevrolet and Dodge owned the Slowest Sellers list early in the year and that made perfect sense given the economy and the recent bailout.
This month, Ford owns the Slowest Sellers list and for them, that's not a problem. After all, their 2011 cars are selling like hotcakes. So why are the well-received 2010
Mustang,
F-250, and
F-350 such slow sellers? Because the 2011 models are major redesigns and the newer models are getting all the consumer focus.
On the other hand, several vehicles on the Slowest Sellers list have no 2011 models to compete with. The
Lincoln MKT,
Subaru Legacy, and
Jeep Commander are slow sellers because they just aren't exciting enough. That said, if you are looking for a great new car deal, the Slowest Sellers list is the place to start.
Negotiation Tip: If you are interested in a car on the Top 10 Slow Sellers list, you’re in luck. You should be able to get this car at something close to invoice – or better. But the trick is to lock in the price you want now, before going to the dealership. The dealership’s Internet Sales Manager can send you a price by email and he will be more than ready to deal. Just go to the Ready To Buy box on the right, select the make and model you're interested in, and click on Get a Quote.
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