Car deals on for Christmas

It's almost Christmas and car dealers have been smitten by the Yuletide spirit, as they aim to have customers driving before they can say, "Happy New Year!"

Otis Hamilton, business development manager at Chelsea Avenue-based KIA Motors, told Automotives KIA currently having a clearance sale for all their 2010 models, as they make way for 2011 vehicles.

"Anybody can come, test drive one and make a bid," Hamilton said. "Whoever makes the best bid on any of these vehicles, will be driving it home."

Hamilton said KIA 2010 models on special include the KIA Rio - both its sedan and hatchback - as well as the KIA Picanto and Soul.

"We are willing to cut any deal on them. Just come in with your best offer."

He also pointed out that his company has an agreement with the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) to finance brand new vehicles.

"Each of these vehicles comes with a three-year warranty, which includes regular servicing and parts. We have also just finished upgrading our parts-and-service department, so we are fully stocked to service all KIA models," Hamilton said.

According to Hamilton, just for the Christmas season, KIA will upgrade the rims and radio for each Rio and Picanto bought, if the customer wishes.

"We will be displaying the cars on special on Sunday (today), the 23rd, Christmas Eve and on Boxing Day.

"So, if a customer makes his or her choice now, we can get them driving before the end of the Christmas Season," Hamilton said.

Dawn Green, public relations and marketing executive at Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG), said both the Subaru Forester and the Ford Fiesta are on special for the current season. The price of the Ford Fiesta starts at $2.3 million.

"Any purchase of the Forester, made up to the end of December, will qualify the purchaser for a rebate of $200,000," Green said.

"We are expecting some new vehicles at the end of January, but we won't say much about that, as we want to surprise the market."

Green also announced that KIG would be unveiling other surprises at the biannual Auto Dealers Association car show, set for February, 2011.

Kim Bernard, sales and marketing executive of Stewart Motors, was excited to tell Automotives of the Christmas specials on some 2011 models.

Special offers

"We have specials on the 2011 BMW X5, X3, as well as the 3 and 5 series, among others. Customers can get up to $500,000 off each of these vehicles, up to December 31," Bernard said.

"We also have fabulous Christmas gifts available in our showrooms from our lifestyle collection."

Bernard said some of the gifts are from the BMW line and ranges, from shirts and ties to 8GB USB flash drives.

President of the Jamaica Used Car Dealers' Association (JUCDA) and owner of Auto Channel Limited, Lynvalle Hamilton, said his company has some attractive deals for this the season of giving.

"If our customers get a car loan through NCB (National Commercial Bank) or BNS, they automatically get a $50,000 discount. This is because the JUCDA has a partnership with those banks," Hamilton said. He noted that his customers could also qualify for a full tank of gas each month, for 12 months, valued at $50,000.

"All our customers have to do is to make a deposit on the selected car while the vehicle is on the wharf," he said.

- Laranzo Dacres

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