From the Inside Out

If you’re planning on buying a car before the end of the year, you may want to stay out of the malls on Black Friday and head to the car dealerships instead. According to car pricing researchers from Truecar.com, the day after Thanksgiving is the best day to buy a car. These researchers analyzed day-by-day car prices over several years and found that Black Friday is the day that yields the largest discounts for consumers.

So, what should you expect to pay this year? Truecar.com expects the average new car discount on Nov. 27 to be 7.5% compared to 4.7% which is what buyers tend to receive on a typical day. If you are buying a Suzuki SX4 compact car, you can expect even higher discounts, up to 28% off sticker price! Truecar.com also predicts that Nissan Titan buyers can get 26% off and Ford F-150 truck buyers should receive a 20% discount.

Another factor that may sweeten the deal (or the discount) this year is the fact that Black Friday falls very close to the end of the month. It’s a crucial time for car dealers as they are trying to meet their quotas to receive manufacturer incentives and clear out 2009 models.

If you’re in the market for a new car, don’t wait for Christmas to buy it this year. Take advantage of the discounts and end of the month timing to get the best deal now.

Gary brought home his swaddling bundle of joy tonight — a 2006 Pontiac GTO. For the past few years, he’s been chained to an SUV, and he’s been itching to get back into a car for some time now. The GTO has the same engine that powers the Corvette, and Gary is loving it. I don’t think I’ll be able to get that smile off his face for weeks.

I have to admit it’s fun to drive. The GTO boasts 400 horsepower, which means it accelerates from 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. I’m not a speed freak, but that kind of power is sweet — even for me. The manual transmission makes it even more fun because you have complete control over the power (thanks Dad for teaching me to drive a “stick shift”; it comes in handy from time-to-time).

The exterior is bright blue, and the interior is black with some well placed blue stitching and brushed nickel on the cockpit. For more details, check out Gary’s blog and be sure to congratulate him on his new baby.