Some cars can be stolen legally.
Thanks to overproduction, sluggish sales and other factors, the deal of a lifetime may be waiting at a showroom near you.
But you have to know which models to look for.
Greg Rothfeldt, sales manager at Holler Chevrolet in Winter Park, Fla., says year-old models and cars redesigned, dropped or overstocked are unwelcome sights at dealerships these days. Their solution: Sell them, at bargain prices if necessary.
”Anything like that dealers want to move because of the floor plan expense,” he said. In plain English, the longer a car stays at a dealership, the more interest the dealer pays on money borrowed to buy the car from the factory.
That combined with the release of several 1991 models makes for a real buyer`s market on some cars and sport utility vehicles.
But which ones? Here`s a list of vehicles that, for one reason or another, dealers want to move quickly:
– 1990 Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon: In February, production stopped on Chrysler`s 12-year-old entry-level compact. The Omni/Horizon has been one of America`s favorite small cars because of its mechanical simplicity, low maintenance cost and excellent gas mileage. Mechanically it is largely trouble-free, but because Chrysler never updated its styling, sales finally slowed last year. The last ones in the pipeline are now on dealers` lots. Chrysler is offering a $500 rebate, and one dealer says the price is ”very flexible.”
– 1990 Ford Escort: Ford is launching its redesigned 1991 Escort, which likely will mean the old model will be as welcome as a toothache. By offering $1,000 rebates or cut-rate financing, Ford is making sure the old models disappear quickly. According to Automotive News, Ford told dealers it will keep at least a $1,000 rebate on the 1990 Escort until July, while the all-new 1991 Escort is being launched. About 70,000 1990 Escorts remain in inventory. – 1989 Merkur XR4Ti: After Ford decided last year that it would be too costly to make the slow-selling XR4Ti and its sister ship, the Scorpio, comply with the government`s passive restraint standards, it dropped both models. But not all XR4Tis have found a home yet.
The German-built XR4Ti is a snappy 4-cylinder hatchback that suffers from awkward styling but is mechanically reliable. If your Lincoln-Mercury dealer doesn`t have a Merkur and can`t find one, a call to the Lincoln-Mercury zone office should be able to turn up a few.
– 1989 Mercury Tracer: Here`s another car that dealers can`t wait to get rid of. There`s a new family of Tracers (based on the `91 Escort) on the way. The 1989 Tracer is an offshoot of the popular Mazda 323. Mercury is offering a $1,500 rebate on this economical little hatchback. Many dealers are sold out. You may need to wear out a little shoe leather finding one. Your best bet is to have a dealer find one for you or look to smaller dealers in remote areas. Price: About $9,000 before rebate.
– 1990 Subaru Legacy: Here`s a nice car that, although a bit pricey, thus far has failed to live up to sales expectations. Automotive News reports that not only are dealers` lots full, but as many as 1,500 Subaru Legacy models are stockpiled at the Subaru-Isuzu plant in Lafayette, Ind. Also, Subaru sales through February were down 43.3 percent from year-earlier levels. If you are interested in a Legacy, now is a good time to show up at your local Subaru dealer with cash. Prices range from about $11,000 to more than $17,000, the latter for fully loaded four-wheel-drive models.
– 1990 Alfa Romeo Spider: Two months from now, Alfa will launch a redesigned 1991 version of its classic sports convertible. Last year, the Spider sold for more than $20,000. You may now be able to buy it for just over $15,000, and that includes air conditioning. Dealers want the old ones gone by the time the `91 models roll into the showroom.
The Spider`s credentials speak for themselves. Automotive historians already consider it a classic. It has been in production for 18 years, outlasting all the British and German sports cars of the 1960s, `70s and `80s. Because of price gouging on the Mazda Miata, you probably can buy a new Spider for thousands less than the smaller and less powerful Miata. If you are into sports cars, this is the best deal of the year.
– 1989 Isuzu Impulse and I-Mark: Isuzu has offered rebates in an effort to clear out the leftovers. The new Impulse is now trickling into showrooms. The old Impulse never really did well, and the I-Mark is another also-ran. Its replacement, the Stylus, is expected out this summer. Isuzu makes great trucks and sport utility vehicles, but its cars just haven`t caught on. I-Marks range from about $7,800 to more than $11,000. 1989 Impulses cost between $14,000 and $17,000. If you absolutely must drive an Isuzu car, now`s the time to shop for one.
– 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity: Some dealers still have a few leftover `89s. All models except the station wagon have been discontinued. Chevy is offering a $1,000 rebate on `89s. With Corsica and Beretta now in the limelight and selling well, you can get a good deal on this dependable, though somewhat bland, sedan priced at about $11,000.
– 1990 Dodge Monaco: Thanks to some marketing and advertising miscues, the new Monaco, a nicely styled four-door sedan, has gotten off to a miserable start. Chrysler has a 292-day supply of Monacos waiting for customers, and is planning to close the factory for six weeks until some of the cars are sold. Chrysler recently added the Monaco to its rebate list: $500 for the Monaco ES and $1,000 for the LE. Prices start at $14,995.
– 1989-90 Austin-Rover Sterling: Ever since being introduced, these midsize luxury sedans haven`t sold well, not so much because of reliability problems-they have an Acura drivetrain-but because they never have been promoted and advertised effectively. There is just no demand for this car. A $5,000 rebate program designed to clear out the `89s was supposed to expire March 31, but has been extended until April 30 because there are still plenty left. You should still be able to get a fully loaded 1989 Sterling 827 SL or SLi for a price somewhere in the low $20s.That is good news for a buyer looking for a car with a pleasing appearance, Jaguarlike interior and Japanese reliability.
– 1989-90 Chrysler TC by Maserati: This expensive Italian/American blunder never had much going for it, even though it`s a nice looking, well-engineered car. It came to the United States two years late, overpriced and looking so much like the popular LeBaron convertible that you`d need a magnifying glass to tell the difference. But because it`s a low-production, high-performance convertible, it has future collectible written all over it. Chrysler is trying hard to dump the remaining TCs by making attractive deals. Some dealers don`t handle the cars. You may have to arrange to get one through Chrysler`s zone office. A Chrysler spokesman says there still are some left in inventory. Price: Should be about $29,500 after some intense haggling.
– 1989 Merkur Scorpio: As with the XR4Ti, the few remaining Scorpios are wearing out their welcome at Lincoln-Mercury dealers. This car is a very well- equipped four-door sedan with a rear that opens like a hatchback. Its odd styling never caught on, but it is a good car mechanically. The few remaining ones qualify for a $2,000 rebate. This is another car that you`ll have to hunt for, but you can find with a little patience. Price: About $20,000.
– 1989 Peugeot 405: There still are a few `89s left in stock. Peugeot makes good cars, but they don`t sell in large numbers, mostly because they are not advertised widely and because French cars never really found a loyal following in the United States. The 405 is a nice-sized, well-built, comfortable luxury sedan that offers good performance and decent economy. Peugeot also makes a 405 station wagon. There`s a $3,000 rebate. Sharp negotiating should drop the price below $20,000.
– 1990 Bronco and Bronco II: After serving faithfully for years, The Bronco II has been given the pink slip and has been replaced by a new vehicle called the Explorer. The Bronco continues with minor changes, but Ford is offering rebates of $1,500 on both vehicles. Prices start at about $12,000.
