Summer Turns Up the Heat on Deals for New Wheels

Summer months are when bargain hunters begin thinking about buying or leasing new vehicles at the end of the model year, hoping to score a bargain from dealers trying to clear out their inventory before the 2014 models start rolling in.

Those sales, however, won't really start heating up until July. But now is the time to start doing your homework on the new vehicle you want and getting yourself in game mode to negotiate.

The first thing you want to do is acquaint yourself with "The Five Critical Rules for Negotiating Your Next Vehicle Purchase from AOL Autos.

And if an electric vehicle is your list of considerations, now is a great time to think about buying. Honda has dropped its lease cost on a Honda Fit EV to $259 a month with no money down.

Looking for something larger? What about the Chevrolet Impala? The big, roomy but dull sedan has been the staple of rental fleets for years. But AOL Autos Editor-in-Chief David Kiley's review of the all-new full-sized sedan indicates that you may want to reconsider what you think you know about the 2014 Impala.

Shopping for a luxury cars? AOL Autos has reviews on the all-new redesigned 2014 Lexis IS 350 and the 2014 Audi R8 convertible this week.

If you're looking for a bargain now, check out AOL Autos' best deals, which are based on the average discount off the manufacturer's suggested retail price, or MSRP.

Lastly, here's a list of vehicles that may take a little more bargaining prowess, seeing as these hot models are in high demand and difficult to negotiate discounts on.

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