GM adds more cash to Red Tag Sale for '08 trucks/SUVs
Auto sales in the US are at a 25-year-low, and both dealers and manufacturers are dying to get showroom traffic going again. There isn't a whole lot working right now, so GM is throwing more cash on the hood of '08 models to shock some life into its Red Tag sale. Trucks and SUVs are getting the lion's share of the love, with rebates of $5,000 to $10,000 off selected 2008 models. The Equinox and Torrent sit on the low end of the rebate spectrum at five large, while the Silverado and Sierra tip the scales at up to $8,000.If you've been waiting for the chance to own a Tahoe or Yukon, they also have $8,000 in customer cash, while the General is willing to put $9,000 on the hood of the Suburban. Not surprisingly, the large-and-in-charge Cadillac Escalade and Hummer H2 have the biggest incentives at $10,000 off MSRP. It looks like GM is in the mood to deal, so if you play your cards right, you could probably get Rick Wagoner to pick you up in the Volt mule and drop you off at the dealer.
[Source: Kicking Tires]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
James 9:07AM (12/11/2008)
Can they do this? Do they have the cash?
Reply
rar 9:16AM (12/11/2008)
My local Chevy dealer (Lou Fusz Chevy) is one upping this offer. They sent me a email with this offer.
Ecample #2 $36,468 MSRP (2008 Silverado Crew Cab stock #081697)
-$8000 Rebates
-$2695 Supplier Pricing
$25,773 Your bottom line Price!!
That's a well equiped Z71 crew cab for $25,773. Wow, that make's me want to trade in my 04.
Sea Urchin 9:21AM (12/11/2008)
@ rar
Or you can simply buy a car that fits your needs and save money in the process.
Civic, Accord, Malibu
rar 9:31AM (12/11/2008)
Sea Urchin, I don't drive my truck that much. It sits in the driveway most of the time, but I drive it when I need to use it. A Camcord or a Malibu wll not tow my boat, so they do not fit my needs. Most of the time I drive a R/T Charger and my wife drives a Cobalt.
Mike 9:53AM (12/11/2008)
Sure they can. GM has a lot more margin in Trucks than they do in Cars. Every Auto Manufacturer does. They can't however give large rebates on small cars, that is why no one builds a Sub- $14K car in the US. In fact the only Cars under $16K that are built in the US are the Cobalt/G5, HHR and... I think that's it.
I like to call it the Walmart Effect.
montoym 8:56PM (12/11/2008)
@ rar:
My local Dodge dealer had an even better deal than that. They were offering a brand-new '08 Ram Crew Cab Diesel (MSRP $44K) for $24,995. That was with $2000 in customer cash, but still a hell of a deal for a diesel pickup. They had other deals for otehr Ram as well, but that one had the largest discount.
If I were in the market for a new truck, I'd be hard-pressed not to buy someting right now. That truck is selling for about $10K less "New" than I've seen for used models with 20K miles.
TigerMil 9:32AM (12/11/2008)
$30K off MSRP and 60/month 0% on a 2009 Escalade ESL and I'm in the showroom.
Damn things list at $67K which is at least $30K too much for the iron.
Lovely gas hogs!
Reply
jb 10:29AM (12/11/2008)
since GM is about to die, you better get a good price on their car...
Reply
Gstill 10:08AM (12/11/2008)
I think if you wait, the H2 will have $15-$20K off the sticker.
Probably still won't sell too many, but you never know.
Reply
Holden Miecranc 10:25AM (12/11/2008)
I love it when people tell others that they should buy a vehicle that fits their needs, without knowing what that persons needs actually are.
Reply
Jb 12:42PM (12/11/2008)
To be honest if there is anything this crisis showed us it's that most people don't seem to know what their own needs are. Not to mention their actual means...
KKH 10:41AM (12/11/2008)
Mike,
The HHR is built in Mexico, North America but not the US
Reply
MichaelNietzsche 10:47AM (12/11/2008)
GM SHOULD DIE ALREADY! Instead of trying to pawn off their GAS GUZZLERS on an already overburdened us population, they should start feeding them all into huge car crushing machines for recycling. I'd like to know why I keep seeing adverts for the Planet KILLING Hummer????? Either send them to Iraq, with upgraded armour, or destroy them. People should start slashing the tires on all hummers wherever they're seen parked, anywhere. F--k GM LET THEM DIE if hummers, and Escalades are all they can build.
Reply
Jared 11:00AM (12/11/2008)
Michael:
GM didn't hold people down and force them to buy Suburbans. Furthermore, Toyota and Nissan are both full-line automakers, and make their share if gas-sucking trucks: 4Runner, Sequoia, LandCruiser, GX470, LX570, Tundra, Titan, QX, Pathfinder, Armada.
Paul 11:34AM (12/11/2008)
Just curious, what do you drive? The inline-5 engine in the H3 is smaller than most SUV's and the Hummer H3 gets up to 20mpg on the highway. Also the GM 1500 Truck (Chevy and GMC) get as much as 22mpg on the highway, the best Toyota Tundra is at 19mpg. These are all numbers quoted by car review sites and owners, the EPA numbers for the H3 are 15-18mpg, the 1500 truck is 16-20, and the Toyota Tundra is 13-16mpg.
Here are some other numbers from www.fueleconomy.gov
Honda Ridgeline and Pilot 15-20 (small truck with V6, getting less than a full size chevy truck)
Toyota 4 Runner 17-20 (V6)
Nissan X-Terra 16-20 (V6)
Jeep Wrangler 15-19 (V6)
VW Touareg 14-20 (V6) 12-17 (V8)
I understand the argument that most people don't need SUV's or trucks (Well trucks are more needed by small businesses), but if you do need or want a SUV the H3 is not a bad option. The H3 is the only SUV on my list here with full time All Wheel drive standard (great for cold winters).
I am not a Hummer owner! I just don't understand how it always gets the blame when it's the same as most other SUV's.
I drive a (2006) BMW 330 and average 29mpg (I can also hypermile and get 37mpg)
happy_penguin 12:02PM (12/11/2008)
Piss off, c*nt.
gslippy 10:58AM (12/11/2008)
Nothing like sawing off the tree limb you're sitting on.
Reply
bill cosworth 11:05AM (12/11/2008)
ITs so funny
Here we go again.
Detroit does not make gas guzzlers.
Detroit cars are actually safer and better than foreign cars
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/the-american-gas-guzzler-myth.htm/printable
I think people need to get an education on cars.
IF GM makes SUV then guess what Toyota Makes SUV
ME Jane you Harry
People read and learn get some brain power.
Reply
jamie 11:08AM (12/11/2008)
I wonder when Toyota will begin its Red Tag Tent Event? This one ought to be a doozie, and could actually force GM into bankruptcy. I know Toyota doesn't want GM to fail, but as noted yesterday on Autoblog, they have boatloads of Toyotas sitting on the docks with nowhere to call home.
Now Toyota is going to have to curtail severely production both at home and in the U.S., or face the Chrysler debacle of last year.
Synopsis: There is going to be far too many unsold 2008 models from all manufacturers sitting around for a long long time, thus negatively impacting 2009 production and sales.
Next year will not be a banner year for auto sales. In fact, I believe a number of smaller dealerships will likely fold up or go out of business. That is happening already. The new Hyundai dealer in Costa Mesa just closed its doors. I expect the same fate for Mitsubishi, Saab, Suburu and the like. They are just not big enough to survive in this economic downturn environment.
Soon, all that will be available in California and maybe the entire U.S. will come from 7 major manufacturers: GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen. The rest (except for exotic luxury marques) will find it increasingly hard to keep their head above water.
Reply
Nightcrawler 1:15PM (12/11/2008)
I just did a search of dealer inventory in my area (Albany, NY) out of curiosity, and they don't seem to have any 2008 Silverados/Sierras left around here.
I just searched for 4WD Extended Standard Bed models though. (Probably the most popular configuration around here) Maybe there are other less desirable one still available. But in general, I'm not sure the discounts help that much if there are no trucks left to buy.
Reply