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Labor Day Deals for Luxury-Car Shoppers

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

As Labor Day weekend approaches, we wanted to give car shoppers one more rundown of this weekend’s incentives – this time for luxury makes. Many luxury shoppers choose to lease cars, so we're breaking down both the best lease deals and the best deals for financing a car purchase.

Some of the top lease deals can be found at Acura, Audi, Lexus and Lincoln dealerships. Acura has an event going on that is especially noteworthy, offering $0 due at signing and the first month’s lease payment free.

The best financing deals can be found at Cadillac, which is offering six-year loans at 0% interest on most of the remaining 2010 models.

Both loan interest rates and leasing deals often vary by region. Like our APR interactive map showed us earlier this week, the best financing deals are offered to Midwest and East Coast residents. Western states seem to have the most attractive lease deals.

In the listings below, we've given a range of prices when the deals vary by region; otherwise, the numbers reflect a nationwide offer. Most of the deals we've listed end on Labor Day or Tuesday.

Acura lease deals

2010 MDX: $570/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), with $0 due at signing
2010 TSX: $360-$370/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), with $0 due at signing
2010 TL: $430/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), with $0 due at signing

Acura financing deals

2010 MDX, RDX, RL, TL, TSX, ZDX: 0.9-1.9% APR for 24-60 months

Audi lease deals

2011 A4: $379-$449/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $1,673-$2,894 due at signing
2011 Q5: $469-$619/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,874-$4,368 due at signing

Audi financing deals

2010 A3 A4, A6 A8, TT, TTS: 0.9% APR for 36 months

BMW lease deals

2010 5 Series Gran Turismo: $689/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $5,614 due at signing
2010 X3: $419/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $4,594 due at signing
2011 X5: $529/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $5,804 due at signing
2011 X6: $589/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $6,214 due at signing

BMW financing deals

2011 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X3, X5, X6, Z4, M3: 0.9% APR for 24 months
2010 M6, 5 Series Gran Turismo: 0.9% APR for 24 months

Cadillac lease deals

2010 CTS: $349/month lease for 27 months (22,500 miles), $1,999 due at signing

Cadillac financing deals

2010 CTS, CTS-V, CTS Sport Wagon, DTS, Escalade, Escalade EXT, ESV, STS: 0% APR for 72 months

Lexus lease deals

2010 IS 250: $339-$349/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,489-$4,038 due at signing
2010 ES 350: $339-$399/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,499-$3,695 due at signing
2010 HS 250h: $339/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,499 due at signing
2010 RX 350: $449-$469/ month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,499-$3,695 due at signing

Lexus financing deals

2010 IS 250: 0.9-1.9% APR for 60 months
2010 ES 350: 1.9% APR for 60 months
2010 HS 250h: 1.9% APR for 60 months

Lincoln lease deals

2010 MKZ: $349/month for 24 months (21,000 miles), $3,164 due at signing
2010 MKX: $399/month for 36 months (31,500 miles), $4,963 due at signing
2010 MKS: $399/month for 24 months (21,000 miles), $4,393 due at signing

Lincoln financing deals

2010 MKZ, MKX, MKT, MKS: 0-1.9% APR for 60 months
2010 Navigator 0.0-2.9% APR for 36-60 months

Mercedes-Benz lease deals

2011 C300: $349/month for 27 months (22,500 miles), $2,607 due at signing
2011 GLK350: $459/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $4,253 due at signing
2011 SLK-Class: $499/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $4,844 due at signing
2011 M-Class: $529/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $5,074 due at signing
2011 E350: $689/month for 36 months (30,000 miles), $3,159 due at signing

Mercedes-Benz financing deals

2011 C-Class, GLK-Class, R-Class, E-Class: 1.9% APR for 24-36 months
2010 S-Class: 1.9% APR for 24-36 months

*Lease and finance deals vary by region and year/model/trim availability. Higher lease rates apply for lessees with lower credit ratings. Lease excludes taxes, titles and fees.

Posted in Acura, Audi, BMW, In The News, Incentives, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz | Comments Off

Cars.com Podcast: 2010 Audi A5, 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300, 2010 BMW 750

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Three German cars, three 2010 models, three Cars.com editors yapping away. Yep, that’s this week’s podcast. While these models have updated 2011s on the way to dealers, there are plenty of 2010s still on lots, and there are few changes for 2011. Find out how the base A5 impressed, how the base C-Class didn’t, and how the 750Li didn’t live up to the BMW propeller on the hood.

Download the podcast via iTunes here or listen to the MP3 here.

Posted in Audi, Audi A5, BMW, BMW 750, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Podcasts | Comments Off

Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Audi A5

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Audi aims to be the world’s leading premium brand in the not-too-distant future, and the 2010 Audi A5 is a step in the right direction. The model is aimed straight at the BMW 3 Series coupe, Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class and Infiniti G37 coupe. We’ve driven this model before with the 3.2-liter V-6 but thought the powertrain was a mismatch for the model. This time around, with Audi’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, the model was just right in the eyes of Cars.com senior editor David Thomas. But how has the A5 aged since its 2008 debut? Continue reading to find out.

2010 Audi A5

2010|Audi|A5

Posted in Audi, Audi A5, Car Reviews | Comments Off

Credit Threshold Eases for Car Lessees and Borrowers

Monday, August 9th, 2010

Last month’s car sales were the second best of any month since September 2008, according to Autodata. That startling fact is partly due to the recovery of the automotive financing industry.

Nearly 89% of car shoppers borrow money or lease their vehicles instead of paying with cash, according to CNW Marketing Research. When the money dried up during the recession, many people were left without a way to buy a car. During this time, big lenders started to restrict borrowing. GMAC limited its lending to consumers whose credit scores were higher than 700, which is considered a good score. But now, many lenders seem to be turning the corner, which is great if your credit is less than stellar.

Ally Bank — the preferred lender for General Motors, Chrysler, Saab and Suzuki dealerships — has nearly doubled the amount of loans it has issued this year. The bank financed nearly 82% of all the vehicles sold at 5,000 GM and Chrysler dealerships in the U.S. this year, and Ally says it is ready to ease credit for leasing.

Ally has lowered the FICO score requirement for Chrysler lessees from 660 to a 620, according to Automotive News. A score of 620 is considered the upper limit of the subprime market, which is another way of saying less than perfect credit. That’s a stark change from last year, when the Automotive Lease Guide reported that a fair to poor credit score meant it was probably “difficult if not impossible” to find a lease.

Leasing ratings and approvals fell dramatically in 2008 and 2009 because of the collapse of used-car prices for SUVs and other fuel-inefficient luxury cars and because of the ensuing credit crisis. Auto lessors have lost $10.5 billion since 2005 due to overestimating the residual value of their leased vehicles, according to CNW Research.

Dealerships are also noticing the change in lending attitudes. Penske Automotive, one of America’s largest dealership groups, says it’s seeing an increase in the approval rates for automotive financing. Lending units for Honda, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz are starting to issue more loans and lease agreements, Penske says.

Improved access to leasing is also a good thing if you are a luxury car shopper or luxury automaker. BMW, Lexus and Audi are heavily leased, with Mercedes-Benz seeing nearly 60%-65% lease rates for its vehicles, according to Automotive News.

GM, which sold off its captive lending company GMAC (now Ally), is getting back into subprime lending. The automaker’s recent purchase of AmeriCredit will allow the automaker to re-enter the leasing business. This should give a leasing boost to GM, which is still America’s largest carmaker. Only 7% of GM sales are from leasing, compared with the industry average of 21%, according to CNW Marketing Research.

The overall effect is that we are starting to see more attractive lease offers and 0% APR lending from automakers, and many consumers are getting approved. Toyota is offering $179 leases for its new Camry, Prius and RAV4 to boost sales, and just recently, Chevy introduced a $350 lease offer for its Chevrolet Volt.

Posted in Audi, BMW, Chevrolet Volt, Chrysler, Finance, Ford, General Motors, In The News, Incentives, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Suzuki, Toyota, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius, Toyota RAV4 | Comments Off

Audi Unveils A7 Sportback

Monday, July 26th, 2010

A71

This just in from Ingolstadt, Germany: The trend of designing slightly ungainly hatchback, luxury cruisers that are no more utilitarian than sedans continues unabated.

This time Audi takes up the bulbous backside baton with the A7 Sportback. The A7 joins an Audi lineup between the A6 and A8 — just in case you couldn’t figure that out — and we’d guess the price tag will match.

In the U.S., it will be offered with just one engine, the 300-horsepower, supercharged six-cylinder from the current S4. It will come standard with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Unfortunately, we don’t have more information on sales timing or pricing, but there are a few more images below.

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A7interior

A7interior2

Posted in A7, Audi | Comments Off

Audi to Bring RS5 to U.S. in 2012

Monday, July 26th, 2010

What do you do when the big news you have to announce impacts a few dozen people in the U.S.? You add a little extra for hundreds more.

That’s what Audi did when it announced pricing for the 2011 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 Quattro. The sexy drop-top version of the R8 will cost $161,000 to start when it goes on sale in the U.S. in August.

The hand-built sports car won’t sell at high levels, but it’s not supposed to. For a more attainable rush, Audi fans were told that they’ll be able to get their hands on an RS5 coupe … in the 2012 calendar year. Yes, they have to wait another year and a half for the 450-horsepower V-8 that will be the only RS on the market in the U.S. The S5 is currently the only high-performance trim of the A5 available at a price of $53,100. We expect the RS5 to top the list price of the last RS 4, which for 2008 stickered at $66,910.

Posted in Audi, Audi R8, RS5 | Comments Off

Cars.com Podcast: 2010 Honda Civic, 2010 Dodge Charger, 2010 Audi R8 V-10

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Want to know all about senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder’s time in the rip-roaring, V-10-powered Audi R8? Well, you’ll have to wait until he and editors Kelsey Mays and David Thomas discuss the highs and lows of the Honda Civic and Dodge Charger, both nearing the end of their life cycles.

You can download the podcast via iTunes here or the MP3 version here.

Posted in Audi, Audi R8, Civic, Dodge, Dodge Charger, Honda, Honda Civic | Comments Off

Audi Sound Concept Uses 62 Speakers

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Audi really wants you to enjoy your music. The German automaker has developed the Audi Sound Concept, which creates “wave field synthesis” using five woofers, five tweeters and 52 midrange speakers.

A spatial audio rendering technique, wave field synthesis essentially creates a sound quality that permeates the cabin of the car — in this case, a prototype Q7. No spot in the car has less sound quality than any other spot.

The speakers are arrayed in the roof pillars, in doors and even in the instrument panel beneath the windshield. The system can even create the illusion of sounds coming from outside the car. In its demonstration, Audi included the sounds of a lion roaring nearby and a helicopter buzzing overhead.

Don’t get excited too quickly, though: There are no plans yet to make the Audi Sound Concept commercially available. The project is mostly about demonstrating what is possible with in-car sound technology (not to mention it’s probably quite expensive). For now, Audi buyers are stuck with the 14 speakers of the Bang & Olufsen advanced sound system.

Audi Sound Concept: One Car, 62 Speakers (Gizmag.com)

Posted in Audi, Audi Q7, Car Gadgets | Comments Off

Audi Puts e-tron On Le Mans Track

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

It’s not often that a prototype is rolled out in front of thousands of people. It’s less often when it’s rolled out in front of thousands of people who know about cars. It’s nearly unheard of that an automaker will then let the car drive on a track in front of said throngs.

That’s what Audi did with its e-tron electric supercar over the weekend at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Currently in the shell of an R8 sports car, the e-tron’s technology is pretty impressive. Four electric motors power each wheel and the battery pack is placed behind the passengers, which is where the R8’s engine usually rests. This helps with weight distribution.

Oh, and it hits 62 mph in 4.8 seconds with up to 70% of power able to go to the rear wheels.

While not as fast as a Tesla, the R8 is a much heavier vehicle, and we’d expect the final e-tron to be designed specifically to address the weight issue. Meaning it should be a lot faster.

More on the Audi e-tron

Posted in Audi, Audi R8, Hybrids/Alternative Fuels | Comments Off

Reader Review of the Week: 2010 Audi A8

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Reader Review “Audi Fan” from the mid-Atlantic coast just moved up from an Audi A6 to a 2010 Audi A8, and he’s a big fan. He also did his fair share of research before going ahead with his purchase, and that depth of knowledge is reflected in his review. Both the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class came under his scrutiny, but the A8 eventually won out. Read his full review to find out why, and then be sure to submit your own review here.

“This is my second Audi. I upgraded from an A6, and the difference between the A6 to the A8 is substantial. I always questioned the justification of the price jump, but there really is no comparison between the two vehicles. The A8 is actually built on virtually the same platform as the Bentley Flying Spur and Continental. I did a lot of research before I bought my A8, and I feel very good about this car.

“Motor Trend and other auto rags have consistently rated the A8 above the BMW 7 Series and just below the Mercedes S-Class. I am partial to Audis because I think they have a unique look, and I believe they are the up-and-coming luxury brand. To me, the S-Class seems designed for the over-50 crowd, and the BMW is a little too viva Las Vegas for my taste. The Bimmer has better acceleration and torque but is not refined, and it really doesn't feel like a luxury car should. The Audi has less power, but the transmission is so much smoother and refined then the BMW. I don't feel the A8 is underpowered in any way; I find it fairly sporty on the rare occasions I can open it up a bit.

“Let’s be clear: this is a luxury sedan, not a sports car. I really like the ability to adjust the suspension on the MMI interface. This allows the driver to tighten or loosen the suspension and raise or lower the car based on driving conditions. Even though the interior is largely unchanged from 2004, it’s hard to improve perfection. Bottom line for me was the 2010 A8 was about $10 to $15K less than a comparable 7 Series and about $20K less than an S-Class. For me, going with the Audi was an easy choice, and I am very pleased with my decision.”

Posted in Audi, Audi A8, Reader Review of the Week | Comments Off

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