``Best Ever'' Bargains Feature Highest SUV Rebates On Record; From Huge Rebates to Free Equipment, Manufacturers Are Battling for Customers

    LOS ANGELES--Feb. 14, 2003--CarsDirect.com, the leading multi-brand online car buying service, today announced its February 2003 Best Bargains list, distinguished by all-time high rebates on several new models, and aggressive incentives and special offers virtually across the board.
    February's Best Bargains take the battle for new vehicle consumers up another notch by topping last month's rebate amounts yet again. Both the 2003 Dodge Durango and Chevrolet Avalanche now come standard with manufacturer rebates up to a whopping $4,500. Even one of the country's most popular high-volume cars, the 2003 Toyota Camry, is carrying rebates up to $1,000. With no shortage of inventory and manufacturers continuing to throw down the rebate gauntlet, consumers in the market for a new vehicle can continue to count on being courted.
    Each month, CarsDirect.com's team of pricing experts qualifies Best Bargain vehicles from a list of over 120,000 price configurations. Best Bargains choices include popular new cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles that currently offer the most attractive combination of national and regional manufacturer rebates and incentives, those that offer a historic low price point, or vehicles with prices that include other special programs.

    Creative Programs and Big Incentives to Move the Metal

    "This is absolutely the earliest that we have ever seen such aggressive manufacturer deals," said Joe Cashen, director, pricing strategy, CarsDirect.com. "Not even vehicles that were in short supply, such as the new Toyota Highlander, are being protected. The market right now truly is all about shoring up marketshare at any cost." Cashen also noted that some manufacturers were getting creative by substituting equipment upgrades for cash-back offers. Hyundai, for example, is currently promoting a $900 value automatic transmission for its Tiburon model -- a more cost-effective way of moving merchandise than a pure rebate, said Cashen.

    CarsDirect.com Best Bargains for February 2003

    For February, the CarsDirect.com Best Bargains list features heavily incentivized sport utility favorites, the most popular minivan in the country, and two of CarsDirect.com's top selling sedans -- the Toyota Camry and the Hyundai Elantra.

    Cars

        1. 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
           - Manufacturer rebates up to $2,500

        2. 2003 Toyota Camry
           - Manufacturer rebates up to $1,000

        3. 2003 Hyundai Elantra
           - Manufacturer rebates up to $1,000


    Sport Utility Vehicles

        1. 2003 Dodge Durango
           - Manufacturer rebates up to $4,500

        2. 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
           - Manufacturer rebates up to $4,500

        3. 2003 Buick Rendezvous
           - Manufacturer rebates up to $3,500


    Minivans and Trucks

        1. 2003 Chrysler Town & Country
           - Manufacturer rebates up to $3,500

        2. 2003 GMC Sierra
           - Manufacturer rebates up to $3,000

        3. 2003 Mazda MPV
           - Manufacturer rebates up to $2,000

    To see rebates and incentives or up-front transaction prices for any of these Best Bargains, shoppers simply go to www.carsdirect.com, and click on the vehicle make and model of their choice.

    About CarsDirect.com

    Los Angeles-based CarsDirect.com (www.carsdirect.com) is the leading multi-brand online car buying service, providing new and used automobiles and related products and services, such as loan and lease financing and in-demand aftermarket products including extended warranties. CarsDirect.com is the first online car provider to offer visitors three distinctive car buying options: buying a new car online through the company's award-winning direct channel; being matched with a top-quality new car dealer of their choice via the CarsDirect Connect channel; or locating and purchasing a previously owned vehicle through the CarsDirect Used channel.
    CarsDirect.com has been named one of the "50 Best Websites" by Time Magazine, chosen a "Forbes Favorite" three times by Forbes Magazine, selected as a "Gold Star Site" by Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine, and received the highest ranking for an online car buying site from SmartMoney Magazine. Technology experts at PC Magazine and PC World Magazine have also recognized CarsDirect.com as a leading e-commerce website since its inception in May 1999.