Should you wait for a sale to get a deal?

By Chad Lückhoff 

Who can resist a special deal? A considerable sum off of your purchase or the promise of cash back!? As irresistible as it seems, a sale is often only as good as the paper or billboard it is written on.

So should you you wait for a sale to get a good deal on your next vehicle purchase? Yes and no.

One of the first rules for buying a new car in my opinion is to wait. Don't be in a rush and don't snap up the first deal that comes along. Much like gambling, the house always wins. The house in this instance, is the dealership.

It may seem like a great deal, getting 15% off of your next double cab during a spacial month of the year, but that deal could very likely have been structured at any time of the year, if you knew what to ask for and why.

So here's a few ways to get yourself a deal of your own, without having to wait for a sale to crop up.

1. Buying a car at a particular time of the year.

If it's getting close to the end of the year, or especially the financial year end, you may find that there is more room for bargaining with the dealership as they are trying to clear some stock and make targets. The same goes for quarterly targets.

This means that in March, June, September, December and February (for some on traditional financial years) you may stand a chance of getting a better deal, especially closer to the end of the month.

2.Buying a car just before the facelift or new model is released.

Keeping your eye on the press and the news channels will let you know which new cars are being released. As this new stock makes its way onto the floors, you may be able to pick up a current model for a better price as the dealership will want to clear its floor of the 'old' model.

This is a double edged sword though as your resale value is instantly lower, thanks to the newer model being released in the same year. If you plan on holding onto the car for a few years, this can be a great way to score yourself a really good deal!

3.Right after a vehicle's launch.

While this is similar to a sale, manufacturers will order a set amount of vehicles for the first sale consignment. This is often done months prior to the actual launch and the vehicle becoming available to the public. This difference of a few months can have quite an effect on the price of the car and it's not uncommon to see “launch specials” at dealerships.

The reason for this is that the vehicles have to paid for in advance and if the Rand has weakened over that period of time, the next batch that the manufacturer orders will come in at a higher price, thanks to the weaker currency and the knock-on effect with transport and taxes.

Remember, every transaction is negotiable. It's ok to ask for a discount and for the dealership to sharpen their pencils. Keep it respectable and within reason and you should be able to walk away with a deal at any time of the year!