Some cars sell so fast that people have to pre-order or wait months to guarantee one will sit in their garage. In contrast, some high-end cars lounge around dealerships for months.
In the case of those slow-selling cars, dealers are eager to rid their inventory of unsold vehicles. Keeping them around costs money in terms of floor space, financing, and depreciation. This can work in your favor since it lets you negotiate a great discount and go home with a bargain.
This list offers ten cars that have plenty of negotiating room and five cars that are better left alone.
1. Dodge Hornet (Negotiate)
Dodge cars fly off the shelves when they are fast, big, and affordable. Unfortunately, the Hornet doesn’t fit this criteria. The current Hornet is a small compact SUV with a base model starting from $31,400, which is similar to the prices of larger compact SUV competitors.
The premium model costs more than $46,000 without offering anything significant. The Market Day Supply (MDS) is at 15,679 units for 550 days. That means Dodge will officially be selling 2024 Hornets until 2026.
2. Volvo C40 (Negotiate)
The Volvo C40, a stylish and eco-friendly electric crossover, hasn’t had the same luck with buyers as its sibling, the XC40 Recharge. In today’s market, SUVs with more space and versatility sell faster, leaving sportier SUVs, such as the C40, collecting dust at dealerships.
The result? Dealers are itching to negotiate, making this a prime time to snag a deal. If you’re eyeing an electric vehicle with style, the Volvo C40 could be your perfect match at a great price.
3. Jaguar I-PACE (Negotiate)
Since its release in 2018, the Jaguar I-PACE has been the sole torchbearer of Jaguar’s EV segment, but it wasn’t the golden child that Jaguar hoped it would be (in terms of sales). That’s not because it’s a bad car. Jaguar claims that they needed to get the timing right with the release.
The company plans to release fresh EVs in 2025, and they’ve clarified that the I-PACE isn’t scheduled for a revamp. This makes the already present inventory ripe for great discounts.
4. Nissan Titan (Negotiate)
The Titan has been a major stepping stone for Nissan in North America for 20 years, but all good things must come to an end. Nissan reports that production of the Titan will end in the summer of 2024. One reason for this halt is underwhelming sales.
The Titan sold 19,189 units in 2023, compared to 750,789 units for the Ford F-series. And with Nissan focusing on releasing 27 all-electric models by 2030, dealers are eager to move Titans off their lots, translating to fantastic discounts for buyers.
5. Chevrolet Traverse (Negotiate)
In the first quarter of 2024, GM’s largest crossover, the Chevy Traverse, dropped in sales even harder than in the previous quarter. Despite combining sales with the GMC Acadia, GM’s three-row crossovers still couldn’t break into the top five, falling behind competitors like Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, and Volkswagen.
One reason for this might be the production challenges and the transition to the all-new 2024 Chevy Traverse. This slow sales trend makes it an excellent candidate for a juicy discount.
6. Chevrolet Blazer EV (Negotiate)
The Chevrolet Blazer EV was supposed to be a car that gave Tesla a run for the money. It had everything, plus it qualified for federal tax credits and was affordable. However, General Motors had to pause sales of the vehicle for 11 weeks after receiving many reports of infotainment and charging system failures.
Returning from its 11-week hiatus, the Blazer EV is now offered at a $6,000 price reduction, and that doesn’t include the $7,500 federal tax credit. This discount makes the Blazer EV an excellent option as an affordable entry into the electric vehicle market.
7. Jeep Wagoneer (Negotiate)
No one wants to spend more than $60,000 on a vehicle without getting a V-8 engine and the latest cabin tech. For these reasons, Jeep is having difficulty getting rid of its inventory, especially the Wagoneer.
In the case of the Wagoneer, there is an MDS of 9,856 units for 258 days. However, Jeep still needs to get rid of the 2023 inventory. Since the company has so many cars to move, you can negotiate a sweet discount on a reliable off-road vehicle.
8. Lincoln Navigator (Negotiate)
Lincoln’s inventory has been higher than necessary for a few years now. Vehicles like the Navigator are on the slow-selling list because they’ve been around for years and are due for a redesign. This three-row, seven-seater, full-size luxury SUV starts at $83,265.
Lincoln wants to sell the Navigator so badly that it’s paying up to $3,500 to the dealers for every Navigator sold as part of a national sales program. This could allow shoppers to bag a deal on a luxurious SUV.
9. RAM 2500 (Negotiate)
In addition to Jeep, RAM is Stellantis’s other volume brand. Inventory is flooded, and sales are down. Part of the problem is that RAM vehicles have become too expensive over the years. The truck has an average sales price of $50,000.
According to CarEdge, the RAM 2500 has 47,611 units to sell in 231 days but has only sold 9,281 trucks. This is a basic supply-and-demand issue. Manufacturers and dealers are willing to negotiate a discount to get rid of some of the inventory.
10. Jeep Gladiator (Negotiate)
Jeep has always been a brand for off-road enthusiasts. The Gladiator is a mid-size truck representing an alternative to the Wrangler. However, a few reasons, like the lack of a V-8 engine and a small cargo bed, have caused the dealerships difficulties in getting rid of their 2022 inventory.
Jeep even issued an MSRP reduction of up to $3,500 on the units already in dealerships. Pair that with some good old negotiation tactics, and you might score a $10,000-15,000 discount.
11. Land Rover Range Rover (Avoid)
Some cars sell so quickly that they not only meet their designated quotas but supersede them. The SUV segment is the most crowded segment in the automotive industry today, and each car faces stiff competition.
The 2024 Range Rover starts at more than $100,000 and nears the $400,000 mark for models with the premium trim. It’s only cheap for multi-millionaires, and dealers around the country keep adding a few thousand dollars to the cost to keep the supply and demand in check.
12. Toyota Sienna (Avoid)
Some may argue that minivans like the Toyota Sienna are the best vehicles to buy, especially for a family. Why? They have better gas mileage, higher safety ratings, and more cargo volume. Toyota sold 54,347 units of the Sienna in 2023 alone.
This surge in demand has caused a supply shortage, leading to production and delivery delays. As a result, most buyers are content with overpaying or waiting a long while to get their hands on one. So avoid the Sienna if you want a reliable vehicle that doesn’t empty your wallet.
13. Toyota Camry (Avoid)
Everyone and their mother wished their car was as good as the Camry. This marvel of a car is more than four decades old and represents the best the Japanese automaker Toyota has to offer. Thanks to its frugal fuel efficiency, the Camry is among the best-selling sedans ever.
The latest Toyota Camry has a starting MSRP of $28,400, making it one of the best and most reliable hybrid sedans. However, like most other best-sellers, it suffers from low production. The Camry sold 45,770 units in the second quarter of 2023, almost doubling its sales target of 23,732 in 23 days.
14. Toyota RAV4 (Avoid)
Since the rise of hybrid vehicles and increasing gas prices, every hybrid car or any car with a combined MPG over 30 is in very short supply. Toyota’s next best-seller in the U.S. is the RAV4, and demand is outstripping supply on an already limited inventory.
Even though the RAV4 starts at $28,675, paying extra to move farther up the waiting line can be tempting. Therefore, dealer markups for the RAV4 or any other vehicle should be avoided despite the tight supply.
15. Honda Civic (Avoid)
Since 2016, Honda has sold over 2 million Civics in the U.S. Additionally, the Civic has consistently been America’s top-selling certified pre-owned car.
In the third quarter of 2023, most Honda dealerships had few cars, thanks to a chip shortage hindering production. The fact that the Civic is finally receiving the electric treatment doesn’t help the short supply. It’s destined to fly out of every dealership. Avoid the Civic if you want to avoid paying through the nose.
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Andrew Herrig is a finance expert and money nerd and the founder of Wealthy Nickel, where he writes about personal finance, side hustles, and entrepreneurship. As an avid real estate investor and owner of multiple businesses, he has a passion for helping others build wealth and shares his own family’s journey on his blog.
Andrew holds a Masters of Science in Economics from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has worked as a financial analyst and accountant in many aspects of the financial world.
Andrew’s expert financial advice has been featured on CNBC, Entrepreneur, Fox News, GOBankingRates, MSN, and more.
