CarsDirect.com Lists March 2003 Best Bargains
While domestic manufacturer rebates and incentives -- including nationwide loyalty programs from GM -- continue strong, Asian manufacturers are starting to raise the stakes as well. Popular and more fuel-conscious small and mid-size SUVs like the Toyota Highlander and Hyundai Santa Fe come equipped with the highest-ever savings during March. And, just in time for families considering a domestic road trip for Spring Break, Kia joins the rebate team with an all-time high offer on the 2003 Kia Sedona minivan.
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.
Domestic Manufacturers Change Offers to Keep Appeal Fresh
"Fewer manufacturers are offering the really big money up front this month," said Joe Cashen, director of pricing strategy, CarsDirect.com. "DaimlerChrysler's Dodge Durango is one of a small handful of models to still carry a hefty $4,500 rebate, while GM and Ford shifted gears, making their programs more complex." Cashen said that GM, for example, set the pace for this new form of gamesmanship by reducing incentives, while simultaneously introducing a combination of owner loyalty and conquest programs. "Together, these programs deliver virtually the same high level of savings as February's straight rebates, but consumers will need to be more mindful of researching all the available rebate and incentive data."
CarsDirect.com Best Bargains for March 2003
For March, the CarsDirect.com Best Bargains list includes the following new vehicle choices:
Cars
1. 2003 Ford Mustang Convertible
-- Manufacturer rebates up to $2,500
2. 2003 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
-- Manufacturer rebates up to $2,500
3. 2003 Mazda Miata
-- Manufacturer rebates up to $2,000
Sport Utility Vehicles
1. 2003 Saturn Vue
-- Manufacturer rebates up to $2,000
2. 2003 Toyota Highlander
-- Manufacturer rebates up to $1,000
3. 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
-- Manufacturer rebates up to $1,000
Minivans and Trucks
1. 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan
-- Manufacturer rebates up to $3,500
2. 2003 Toyota Sienna
-- Manufacturer rebates up to $2,500
3. 2003 Kia Sedona
-- 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.
