As many of you are probably aware, I am very close to
negotiating a lease for a '08 Cadillac. I would rather wait
for the '09 models due to bluetooth capability, but the lease
on my current vehicle expires at the end of June.

Generally, how are newer year cars priced? Do they generally
get more expensive than previous years or do they stay the same?

I'm thinking perhaps it would be best to extend the lease
of my current Acura until the '09 vehicles come out.

Any thoughts on this? Will I expect to pay more for a loaded
CTS when they first come out or can I make a better deal on
an '08 CTS right now despite the fact it lacks bluetooth and other
possible improvements?

Thanks, guys! Love this forum!

When the '08s first came out, autos.msn.com said this in an online review:

"The best news of all: The new CTS, with all its added performance and refinement, arrives with an MSRP starting at $32,990—$540 less than the 2007 CTS."

I will be buying an '09 (no reason to rush for me like a lease ending soon or something), so it will be very good news if this trend continues.

Generally, when do the '09 models come out?

How soon before can I order one?

There are lots of GM insiders in this forum who can answer that question readily. I do think new model year cars usually hit the dealerships in late summer (August/September, I would say). Last year might be different than this year because it was a MAJOR upgrade to the CTS, but I can't speak with any type of authority whatsoever.

The '08 is so immensely popular that there might be some delays in the pre-ordering process for the '09s...but I don't know for sure how all that stuff works.

By the way, I agree--this forum is OUTSTANDING! Love it.

The new base price of the 08 CTS is $33490 which began in December when the pricing change occured. My guess is that the 09s will be priced just shy of $34000 with the inclusion of BT and the electronic parking brake release.

The difference should be the usual couple hundred dollars, give or take.

As for dates:
April 1: Order cut-off for 2008's
June 9: Start of production for 2009's

So, after the cut-off of April 1st, the last of the 2008 CTS's should roll off the line in late May. Then the changeover, and the first 2009's should start showing up very late June, early July.

The 2009 information should be available next month, when the ordering guides are posted.

Commodity prices are going up. This includes oil (plastics), steel, copper and others. I believe given the popularity of the CTS and general commodity, raw materials price increase the 09 CTS prices will go up. How much? Nobody is going to predict it now…

Commodity prices are going up. This includes oil (plastics), steel, copper and others. I believe given the popularity of the CTS and general commodity, raw materials price increase the 09 CTS prices will go up. How much? Nobody is going to predict it now…

Gotta agree. GM/suppliers' commodity costs will continue to rise - i.e., right now there's a shortage of platinum & palladium mine production S. Africa, so the cost of a catalytic converter is definitely headed higher.

The CTS price hike in Dec 2007 suggests that GM does NOT intend to eat rising costs for raw materials and added, continuously-improved CTS features.

I think GM has learned their lesson about continual price increases, and will only do prices increases that are commensurate with actual rises in costs, with a little extra thrown in for high demand vehicles.

IMO leases always go up the second year of a car release, the reason for this is that they try to bang out as many cars they can for the first year so people start seeing the car. From years of leasing cars, I have noticed the second year they go up. Seen that happen with my Audi A4, and 335 BMW, got them both the first year of release.

The Grand River Plant is running one extra week of 2008 production and workers will only get one week of vacation instead of two. My son in law works there. Captured fleet/GP3 vehicles will be built the week of 6/23/08 and have to be validated by engineering before there sale-able. Sale-able vehicles built the week of 6/23 and after will be held until an OK is given usually sometime around 7/7/08 if everything is a Go. Vehicles will then be released to the carriers for delivery.
This is standard GM policy.

Prices will go up as stated before, the US Dollar has lost between 15% to 18% against all major currencies over the past year.

All commodities are based on world market demand, that why oil is now $100 US Dollars a barrel.

The other major reason is that the competition will also be requiring increased pricing as they are recieving less valued USD for their German and Japanese models even if built in the US because many of their parts come from overseas.

I would suspect a 4-5% min and as much as 5-10% on special models.:(

will there be any effect on the Lincoln MKS 2009 to the CTS 2009 market??

lordbaby:

All Commodities, Aluminum, Steel, Plastic, Copper etc. will be up for both mfg. and buy the way both companies are loosing lots of money.