That would be my guess. However, your very best option is to be well informed before going in. Make sure you know the market for the car you’re interested in like the back of your hand. My husband (who is not a guy that will take you for everything you’ve got just for fun, but used to work with a couple of them) says that not even those guys mess with you if you really know what you’re talking about and go in with realistic expectations. Again, YMMV.
Yes, they are freakin’ desperate to sell cars. The US car companies have had the worst few quarters anybody can remember. The way their contracts are set up, it’s terribly, horribly expensive to shut down assembly plants for poor sales. It’s cheaper to sell cars at little or no profit. Besides, there’s a long term benefit; brand loyalty. Market research tells us that most buyers, unless they really hate the car, will buy the same brand the next two times.
So after a week I’m still the only one who actually bought a car under this deal?
American automakers, good luck!