Model-Year Clearance Sales and Incentives Make it the Right Time to Buy Family Car, According to Mother Proof

With new 2008 vehicles hitting dealer lots, attractive incentive offers and dealership model-year clearance sales have made it a great time to find that family car, according to Motherproof.com, a car-shopping website aimed at women, especially mothers.

For most families, purchasing a car is a major expense in their household budget. The experts at Mother Proof offer tips to help families take advantage of current incentives so they can keep more money in their pockets.

Automakers, especially U.S. ones, typically offer big discounts during the summer, and this summer is no exception. In an effort to keep their sales figures up and clear out the 2007 models still hanging around, they're offering big cash and low interest rates on many cars. Because family cars are usually big, and gas prices have driven down sales of big cars, those family cars might have some really good deals.

“The catch here is that a lot of these incentives run through the end of July or will end in the not-too-distant future,” said Kristin Varela, chief mother at Mother Proof. “Families who are in the market for a new car should definitely take a look at the incentive offers and pay close attention to the expiration dates.”

Here are some helpful hints from Mother Proof that might help you get a better deal if you’re in the market to buy a new car for your family:

Know if you qualify for special interest rates, and shop interest rates before you go: There’s a chance you may not qualify for those special interest rates if your credit is marginal or bad. Find the lowest interest rate you can prior to going to any dealerships. You need to know what the best deals are from other lending institutions so you have some leverage and know what to expect at the dealership.
Check local offers: While there are all kinds of national offers going on, there are also regional ones in the form of dealer incentives. This is often where the money is. Different cars are popular in different markets, and dealerships need to move cars specific to their area. Dealer incentives tend to be local, while manufacturer incentives are sometimes offered nationwide.
Earn rewards for loyalty: Some manufacturers are offering loyalty bonuses, which give cash back to those buying a newer version of their current vehicles. If you like your vehicle and just want a new one, this is a nice offer and sometimes can be added to another offer.
Mother Proof has identified several leasing incentives available on popular family vehicles. Consumers can expect to find these manufacturer offers at most local dealerships, where they can also inquire about incentives available to those who’d rather buy than lease.

Mazda

Mazda5: $249/mo for 24-month lease, $2,844 due at signing
CX-7: $229/mo for 24-month lease, $2,824 due at signing
CX-9: $329/mo for 24-month lease, $3,424 due at signing
Honda

Odyssey: $279/mo for 36-month lease, $2,499 due at signing
4-Cyl LX Accord: $199/mo for 36-month lease, $2,399 due at signing
4-Cyl EX Accord: $209/mo for 36-month lease, $2,399 due at signing
V6 EX Accord: $239/mo for 36-month lease, $3,333 due at signing
Pilot: $299/mo for 36-month lease, $1,999 due at signing
Toyota

Camry: $279/mo for 36-month lease, $2,499 due at signing
Sienna: $299/mo for 36-month lease, $2,999 due at signing
BMW

X5 3.0i: $649/mo for 36-month lease, $4,149 due at signing
X3 3.0si: $409/mo for 36-month lease, $3,359 due at signing
Nissan

Quest 3.5 with Seat Package: $279/mo for 39-month lease, $2,999 due at signing
Chrysler

Pacifica 5-passenger: $2,000 lease cash, $1,000 bonus cash and $1,000 lease loyalty
Pacifica 6-passenger: $2,500 lease cash, $1,000 bonus cash and $1,000 lease loyalty
Town & Country LWB: $4,000 lease cash and $1,000 lease loyalty
Town & Country SWB: $3,000 lease cash and $1,000 lease loyalty
Aspen: $1,500 lease cash, $500 bonus cash and $1,000 lease loyalty
Volvo

Volvo XC90 3.2: $459/mo for 24-month lease with $0 down, $0 security and $0 first payment
Dodge

Caravan SWB: $3,000 lease cash and $1,000 lease loyalty
Grand Caravan LWB: $4,000 lease cash and $1,000 lease loyalty
Magnum RT: $3,000 lease cash and $1,000 lease loyalty
Magnum SE/SXT: $3,000 lease cash and $1,000 lease loyalty
Durango: $3,500 lease cash, $1,000 bonus cash and $1,000 lease loyalty
Saab

9-3 Sportcombi: $500 Owner Loyalty Cash on lease
9-5 Sedan: $1,000 Owner Loyalty Cash on lease of models with automatic transmission and metallic paint, starting at $419/mo for 27-month lease, $2,999 due at signing
9-5 Sportcombi: $1,000 Owner Loyalty Cash on lease
9-7: $1,000 Owner Loyalty Cash on lease of models with automatic transmission, starting at $429/mo for 27-month lease, $2,999 due at lease inception.
Land Rover

LR3 V8 SE: $0 first payment, security deposit, acquisition fee and down payment, $699/mo for 24-month lease
Mitsubishi

Outlander ES 2WD: $269/mo for 42-month lease, $2,568 due at signing (after applying $1,000 factory lease cash rebate)
Endeavor LS 2WD: $319/mo for 42-month lease, $2,568 due at signing (after applying $1,000 factory lease cash rebate)
Galant DE: $269/mo for 42-month lease, $2,568 due at signing (after applying $1,000 factory lease cash rebate)
Volkswagen

Passat Wagon: $1,000 off lease of a 2007 or 2008
Touareg V6: $399/mo for 36-month lease, $3,474 due at signing