So far this year sales of the Chrysler 200 have almost doubled versus the model it replaced, the Chrysler Sebring. Two reasons: Chrysler improved much about this sedan for 2011, including the interior; and two, Chrysler lowered the price.
Amazing how a deal drives traffic, isn't it? Well, not really. We all like a deal.
The base price of the 200 is $19,995, but there's more money on the table. For cash buyers, Chrysler Canada has a $3,500 factory-to-dealer rebate in play. To get all of it, you'll need to negotiate with your dealer, but the savvy shopper conceivably could get a new Chrysler 200 for something like $16,500 plus taxes and fees. That's just plain cheap.
There are other end-of-2011 deals out there, too. The Infiniti G37 coupe is being pushed with a $3,500 incentive for cash buyers and Volkswagen Canada has as much as $3,000 in factory incentives in play on its Golf five-door – plus whatever a buyer can negotiate in the form of a dealer discount.
And then there's the 2012 Honda Civic. In what may be a first of all time, Honda Canada has slapped on a $1,000 "Gas Card" consumer rebate. You don't need to take the card, only ask for the $1,000 discount on Canada's all-new and most popular passenger car.
I can't remember the last time Honda put a fat sales sweetener on an all-new Civic. Oh, yes, it's competitive out there, folks. That's good news for buyers.
As usual, Deals of the Week obtained pricing information from www.carcostcanada.com, among other sources Here are the numbers.
2011 Chrysler 200 LX
MSRP: $19,995
Freight, dealer prep, air conditioning tax: $1,500
Dealer discount (estimated): $300
Factory discount: $3,500 (Consumer Cash Discount factory-to-dealer rebate)
Taxable subtotal: $17,695
Total price with 13% HST: $19,995
2011 Infiniti G37 Coupe RWD
MSRP: $46,700
Freight, air conditioning tax and dealer prep: $2,020
Dealer discount: $1,900
Factory discount: $3,500 (Non-stackable Merchandising Dollars factory-to-dealer rebate)
Taxable subtotal: $43,320
Total price with 13% HST: $48,951
2011 Volkswagen Golf 5-door hatchback Highline
MSRP: $26,475
Freight, dealer prep and air conditioning tax: $1,465
Dealer discount (estimated): $1,100
Factory discount: $2,000 (Dealer Cash non-stackable factory-to-dealer rebate)
Factory discount: $1,000 (Build-out Bonus factory-to-dealer rebate)
Taxable subtotal: $23,840
Total price with 13% HST: $26,939
2012 Honda Civic DX sedan
MSRP: $14,990
Freight, dealer prep and air conditioning tax and Green Levy: $1,395
Dealer discount (estimated): $450
Factory discount: $1,000 (Gas Card Consumer Incentive Dollars factory-to-consumer rebate)
Taxable subtotal: $14,935
Total price with 13% HST: $16,876
Pricing information source: www.carcostcanada.com. Calculations based on Ontario customers. Please note that while the information above is accurate at the time of publication, incentives are given at the discretion of individual dealers, and may be changed or discontinued at any time. Dealer discounts are negotiated with the customer on a case-by-case basis.