In the market for a new car? Discounts all around!

If you're currently in the market for a new car, you should know that dealers are doing lots of discounting in an effort to move cars off their lots. The collective financial struggles of consumers have left auto dealers reeling, especially those selling new cars. The auto makers are hurting too, leaving the consumer in a good position to benefit from many discount programs.

Bankrate.com says that over 150 models of cars have some sort of discount or special deal attached to them right now. SUVs are seeing even bigger discounts, as consumers are leery of buying gas guzzlers during this time of record-high gas prices.

The ten most deeply discounted cars identified by Bankrate include: Chrysler 300C, Dodge Ram 1500, Ford Explorer, Mercury Grand Marquis, Cadillac DTS, GMC Envoy, Nissan Pathfinder, BMW 7 Series, Land Rover LR2, Lexus RX 350. These cars come with rebates/incentives of $2,000 to $5,000, and some also have special financing rates too. So maybe now is the right time to go find yourself a deal on a car with that delicious "new car" smell.

Oh... and about the fact that buying a brand new car is a bad deal because it depreciates so quickly? I know, I know. But there are some consumers who are determined to drive new cars, so who am I to stop them? They still need this information to help get the best deal possible.

Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE performs fraud examinations and financial investigations for her company Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting, and is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud.