Final Days of Summer "Sweet Spot" for New Car Shoppers, Says Edmunds.com

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The coming weeks should be a sweet spot for shoppers looking for the best deals of the year on a new car, advises Edmunds.com, the premier resource for car shopping and automotive information. The reason, says Edmunds, is that dealers generally accelerate sales of 2013 model-year inventories around this time of the year to make way for 2014 models.

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"Shoppers typically will find the perfect blend of discounts and selection during this late-August-to-September time period," says Edmunds.com Sr. Analyst Jessica Caldwell. "If they wait much longer, they might be able to find better discounts on a new car, but they'll find that inventory of those vehicles will be limited."

Edmunds.com's recommendation applies specifically to 2013 model year vehicles, which carry bigger discount percentages than all-new 2014 models. Last month for example, the average discount percentage on a brand new 2013 vehicle was 12.7%, compared to a discount percentage of just 7.7% for a new 2014 vehicle. As a result, Edmunds.com projects that most new cars sold through September will be 2013 models. As 2013 inventories dry up, the proportion of 2014 model-year sales will likely catch up in mid-to-late October.

But what are the very best deals available on the market right now? Edmunds.com identifies the top new car deals on its Deals of the Month page at http://www.edmunds.com/deals-of-month.html. This month's list includes the Cadillac CTS coupe, Fiat 500 C Abarth convertible, Honda Odyssey, Subaru Outback and Volkswagen Passat S.

The final weeks of summer prove that some days are better than others when it comes to getting a new car deal. For example, some veteran buyers insist that shoppers can maximize discounts early in the week or in the last days of the month. Edmunds.com examines the various philosophies behind the best days and times to buy a car at http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/when-to-buy-your-next-car.html.

About Edmunds.com, Inc.
Edmunds.com is a car-shopping Web site committed to helping people find the car that meets their every need. Almost 18 million visitors use our research, shopping and buying tools every month to make an easy and informed decision on their next new or used car. Whether you're at the dealership or on the go, we're always by your side with our acclaimed Edmunds.com  iPhone and iPad apps and our Edmunds.com Android App. Our comprehensive car reviews, shopping tips, photos, videos and feature stories offer a friendly and authentic approach to the automotive world. We're based in Santa Monica, Calif., but you can connect with us from anywhere by following @Edmunds on Twitter or by becoming a fan of Edmunds.com on Facebook.

Contact:
Jeannine Fallon/Aaron Lewis/Stephanie Mar
Edmunds.com Corporate Communications
www.Edmunds.com
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SOURCE Edmunds.com