[October 12, 2009] IntelliChoice.com's October Best Deals Shows Average Auto Rebate Increasing Tweet Campbell, CA, Oct 12, 2009 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) -- IntelliChoice.com, the leading source for automotive ownership cost and car values (http://www.intellichoice.com) analysis, today announced its "Best Deals of the Month" for October 2009, revealing an increase in incentives as automakers continue to struggle with a sluggish market. What's New and Notable In October, with the end of the "cash for clunkers" program and the seasonal beginning of model-year closeouts, average new car rebates (http://www.intellichoice.com/lease/rebates) increased to $1,450, up from an average of $1,100 in August and September and $1,040 in July. That there are fewer large rebates of $6,000 or $7,000 suggests that automakers are spreading the incentives. "We are in that part of the year when manufacturers and dealers want to make room for new model-year cars," said Eric Anderson, senior analyst for IntelliChoice.com. "The new car market is still under pressure, and automakers are likely to get more creative to move product." Rebates of the Month A $4,000 rebate on the Chevrolet Corvette is enough to vault the classic sports car back to pole position in the Sport class, a segment where it has been a frequent winner. For the first time, the Chrysler 300C wins out among Sport Sedan/Wagons under $38,000, powered by a $4,500 rebate. Trending Up Audi. With no significant rebates on offer from competitors, the automaker returns to the Best Deals list with the Audi A3 and the Audi A4 Convertible taking the Luxury Convertible and Near Luxury Car segments, respectively. The Domestics "So far we are not seeing a great deal of impact on Best Deals from the pending shut down of Pontiac and the surprise decision not to move forward with the deal to save Saturn," said Anderson. "Saturn, of course, has historically not offered rebates, but that may change as GM moves to shift cars off the lot." Many of the auto rebates for October 2009 are concentrated among full-size pickup trucks, whose shrinking sales have led to greater competition among U.S. automakers. Full-size truck winners for the month include the Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram 3500 and GMC Sierra--all of whom sport rebates of at least $3,000. The Winners IntelliChoice.com's "Best Deals of the Month" rank the new cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs that deliver the best cost of ownership in 31 vehicle classes. The best car values for October 2009 are: Class - Brand / Model Subcompact Cars - MINI Cooper Hatchback Compact Cars over $17,000 - Volkswagen Jetta TDI Sedan Compact Cars under $17,000 - Honda Fit Midsize Cars over $21,000 - Toyota Prius Midsize Cars under $21,000 - Toyota Prius Convertible - MINI Cooper Convertible Luxury Convertible - Audi A4 Convertible Near Luxury Cars - Audi A3 Luxury Cars - Lexus LS Large Cars - Hyundai Sonata 4cyl Base Sports Cars - Pontiac Solstice Coupe Sports Cars - Chevrolet Corvette Small/Midsize Wagon - Volkswagen Jetta TDI Wagon Sport Sedan/Wagon over $38,000 - Lexus GS Hybrid Sport Sedan Wagon under $38,000 - Chrysler 300C Compact Utility/Crossover - Mazda Tribute Hybrid Midsize Crossover - GMC Acadia Luxury Crossover - Lexus RX Intermediate Utility - Nissan Xterra Utility - Toyota Land Cruiser Luxury Utility - GMC Envoy Denali Minivan - Dodge Grand Caravan Full-Size Van - Chevrolet Express 1500 Compact Pickup Truck 2WD - Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD Compact Pickup 4WD - Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD Full-Size Pickup 2WD Half Ton (tie) - Silverado Crew Cab Hybrid 2WD Sierra Crew Cab Hybrid 2WD Full-Size Pickup 2WD 3/4 Ton Ram 2500 Quad Cab 2WD Full-Size Pickup 2WD One Ton Ram 3500 2WD Full-Size Pickup 4WD Half Ton (tie) - Silverado Crew Cab Hybrid 2WD, Sierra Crew Cab Hybrid 2WD Full-Size Pickup 4WD 3/4 Ton - Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4WD Full-Size Pickup 4WD One Ton - Ram 3500 4WD The Methodology IntelliChoice.com's "Best Deals of the Month" analyzes monthly car values based on the seven primary factors that determine a vehicle's long-term ownership costs: fuel economy, maintenance, repair, retained or resale value, licensing, state fees and taxes. Using these factors, IntelliChoice.com determines what it costs to own and operate new cars over five years. The firm examines each and every new car model-year trim line, as ownership costs can vary significantly among different trim lines of the same model. Visit www.intellichoice.com for complete car value rankings, including the best used cars on the market. About IntelliChoice.com and Source Interlink Companies, Inc. IntelliChoice.com, part of Source Interlink Media, LLC., is the market leader in automotive ownership cost and car values analysis. Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice.com is committed to empowering consumers to make better purchase decisions by providing independent and essential automotive information and tools. Through the IntelliChoice.com web site (www.intellichoice.com), consumers get the help they need to research, compare, configure and price new cars. The site also connects buyers to the buying alternatives of their choice, including vehicle manufacturers and an online car buying guide. Source Interlink Media LLC is a subsidiary of Source Interlink Companies, Inc., a recognized provider of targeted media and marketing services, a leading U.S. distributor of home entertainment products and services and one of the largest publishers of magazines and online content for enthusiast audiences. # # # Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/intellichoice/bestdeals/prweb3022484.htm. PRWeb.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]