Top Ten July Deals

Trip while walking on a new car lot and chances are a nice fat rebate will break your fall. It’s reached that point. In fact, for some of our dear automakers, namely Ford (Funding Outrageous Rebates and Discounts), and GM (Great Markdowns), heavy discounting is now part of business as usual, life as they know it and just And if that means more money lands in the consumer pocket, hooray! Conventional wisdom dictates that rebates give car buyers more power. And though overwrought and stuffed auto analysts may grind their teeth and moan over the State of the Automotive Union, the bottom line is that rebates are good because they help sell more cars – at lower prices. Maybe. But look a little closer: there’s an illusion going on here, a sleight of hand barely detectable to the average car shopper. All these great savings on Fords, Chevys and Chryslers may well come out in the wash when you factor in previous rebates the Employee Discount Offers began, true pricing of the vehicle, and the value of the car after you drive it home. So instead of rushing out and lining up for a Pontiac G6 – one of the many cars available at an employee discount – take a look at the car, the actual price of the car, and whether or not you can get a better, though less glamorous deal. You may find better value in purchasing a Honda Accord. Or you might find that the discount really is significant and the G6 is a decent, stylish car. The point is to avoid the car shopper’s egg-on-the-face scenario, otherwise known as Yeah. Look at it, sitting there, glinting in the sunlight, mocking you for swallowing some marketer’s tripe about rebates. Just look at that car. You can avoid being a fool by doing some homework before you step onto a new car lot. Listed on these pages are ten vehicles with notable good deals that expire no earlier than the end of July, and are not included as part of the Employee Discount program from Ford, GM and DaimlerChrysler. As a result, the list is comprised of import brands – an alternative, if you will, to the Red, White, and Blue marketing madness currently on display from the Detroit Demigods. These vehicles offer either cash back or great interest rates, and are generally considered to be quality cars by the automotive press. The list also takes crash test scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) into account. The presumption is that a good deal means more than just cash back; it means a good price on a quality car that’s safe – one that will provide you with years of dependable service.

Honda Accord

2005 Honda Accord 1.9% - 2.95% financing – expires 09-06-2005 NHTSA: Frontal impact – five stars driver and passenger; Side impact – four stars; Rollover – four stars IIHS: Frontal impact – good, best pick; Side impact – good, with airbags, poor without airbags The Honda Accord comes in a whopping number of choices, and has a sticker price range of $16,295 to $32,140 – which is to say that there’s an Accord for just about anyone who cares to buy a proven, dependable winner. As a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, the Accord ranges from the DX 5-Spd manual transmission to the EX V-6 5-Spd AT w/ Navigation System/XM Radio. The DX is equipped with a standard 2.4-liter, 160-horsepower four-cylinder engine that achieves 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard. The EX V6 is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, 240-horsepower V6 engine that achieves 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 2005 Honda Accord Sedan received minor updates for 2005.

Hyundai Santa Fe

2005 Hyundai Santa Fe $2,000 rebate, 1.9% financing – expires 08-01-2005 NHTSA: Frontal impact – four stars driver, five stars passenger; Side impact – five stars; Rollover – three stars IIHS: Frontal impact – good; Side impact – acceptable The Hyundai Santa Fe sport utility vehicle comes in 6 trims and has sticker price range of $21,649 to $26,099. It’s a 4-door, 5-passenger sport-utility, ranging from the GLS 2.7L to the LX 4WD. The GLS 2.7L is equipped with a standard 2.7-liter, 170-horsepower V6 engine that achieves 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The LX 4WD is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, 200-horsepower, V6 engine that achieves 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe has been updated slightly for 2005.

Mazda 6

2005 Mazda 6 $2,000 rebate – expires 08-01-2005 NHTSA: Frontal impact – five stars; Side impact – three stars, front/four stars, back; Rollover – five stars, sedan IIHS: Frontal impact – good, best pick; Side impact – poor without airbags The Mazda 6 comes in 10 trims and has a sticker price range of $18,995 to $26,995. The 2005 Mazda 6 is available as a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, sports sedan, or wagon, ranging from the 6i Sports Sedan to the 6s Sport Wagon Grand Touring. The 6i Sports Sedan is equipped with a standard 2.3-liter, 160-horsepower, four-engine that achieves 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The 6s Sport Wagon Grand Touring is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, 220-horsepower V6 engine that achieves 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.

Mitsubishi Galant

2005 Mitsubishi Galant $1,000 rebate, 0% financing – expires 08-01-2005 NHTSA: Frontal impact – five stars; Side impact – five stars; Rollover – four stars, sedan IIHS: Frontal impact – good; Side impact – good, with airbags, poor without airbags The Mitsubishi Galant comes in 5 trims and has a sticker price range of $18,999 to $26,499. A 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, it ranges from the DE to the GTS. Upon introduction, the DE is equipped with a standard 2.4-liter, 160-horsepower, inline four-cylinder engine that achieves 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The GTS is equipped with a standard 3.8-liter, 230-horsepower V6 engine that achieves 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims.

Nissan Murano

2005 Nissan Murano $500 rebate, 3%-4% financing – expires 08-01-2005 NHTSA: Frontal impact – four stars; Side impact – five stars; Rollover – four stars IIHS: Frontal impact – good, best pick; Side impact – not rated The Nissan Murano comes in 6 trims and has a sticker price range of $27,150 to $31,200. A 4-door, 5-passenger sport-utility, the Murano ranges from the S 2WD to the SE AWD. Upon introduction, the S 2WD is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, 245-horsepower V6 engine that achieves 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. The SE AWD is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, 245-horsepower V6 engine that achieves 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. A variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims.

Saab 9-2x

2005 Saab 9-2X $5,000 - $6,000 rebate, 0% financing – expires 08-01-2005 NHTSA: Not tested IIHS: Not tested Here is a vehicle that hasn't sold well, so there will probably be plenty to choose from at the dealer’s lot. With an inflated sticker price of $26,950, buyers may well get a Saab 9-2X for just over $20,000 – where it should probably be priced without rebates. It’s a 4-door, 5-passenger wagon available in two trims, the Saab 9-2x Linear and Aero. The Linear is equipped with a standard 2.5-liter, 165-horsepower horizontally-opposed engine rated at 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The Aero is equipped with a standard 2.0-liter, 227-horsepower, horizontally-opposed turbo engine with a fuel mileage rating of 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims, and a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The 2005 Saab 9-2X is all new for 2005.

Subaru Forester

2005 Subaru Forester $500 - $2,000 rebate, 1.9%-3.9% financing – expires 08-01-2005 NHTSA: Frontal impact – five stars; Side impact – five stars; Rollover – four stars IIHS: Frontal impact – good, best pick; Side impact – good The 2005 Subaru Forester is a 4-door, 5-passenger sport-utility, available in 5 trims, ranging from the 2.5X to the 2.5XT Premium Package. Upon introduction, the 2.5X is equipped with a standard 2.5-liter, 165-horsepower horizontally-opposed engine that achieves 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The 2.5XT Premium Package is equipped with a standard 2.5-liter, 210-horsepower, horizontally-opposed turbo engine that achieves 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims, and a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The 2005 Subaru Forester is a carryover from 2004, and will be replaced by a reskinned version for the 2006 model year.

Subaru Outback

2005 Subaru Outback Up to $1,500 rebate, 1.9%-4.9% financing – expires 08-01-2005 NHTSA: Frontal impact – five stars; Side impact – five stars; Rollover – four stars IIHS: Not tested The Subaru Outback comes in 8 trim levels and has a sticker price range of $19,145 to $33,645. A 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan or sport-utility, the Outback ranges from the 2.5i Wagon to the 3.0 R VDC Wagon. The 2.5i Wagon is equipped with a standard 2.5-liter, 168-horsepower, horizonatally-opposed engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The 3.0R VDC Wagon is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, 250-horsepower, horizontally-opposed engine that achieves 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The Outback has been redesigned for 2005.

Toyota Camry

2005 Toyota Camry $700 - $1,000 rebate – expires 08-01-2005 NHTSA: Frontal impact – five stars; Side impact – four stars, front/three stars back; Rollover – four stars IIHS: Frontal impact – good, best pick; Side impact – good with side airbags, poor without airbags The Toyota Camry comes in 7 trim levels and has a sticker price range of $18,195 to $25,555. A 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, the Camry ranges from the Standard to the XLE V6. The Standard is equipped with a 2.4-liter, 160-horsepower, four-cylinder engine that achieves 24 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The XLE V6 is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, 210-horsepower, V6 engine that achieves 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The 2005 Toyota Camry has been updated slightly for the 2005 model year.

Toyota Sienna

2005 Toyota Sienna Up to $1,250 rebate – expires 08-01-2005 NHTSA: Frontal impact – four stars driver, five stars passenger; Side impact – five stars; Rollover – four stars IIHS: Frontal impact – good, best pick; Side impact – not tested The 2005 Toyota Sienna is a 4-door, up to 8-passenger minivan, available in 9 trims, ranging from the CE to the XLE Limited AWD. The CE is equipped with a standard 3.3-liter, 230-horsepower, V6 engine that achieves 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. The XLE Limited AWD is equipped with a standard 3.3-liter, 230-horsepower, V6 engine that achieves 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims. Sticker prices range from $23,425 to $37,695.

Photos courtesy auto manufacturers