If You Buy a Car Before the End of 2022 It Should Be a Tesla, Expert Says

There's a tried and tested car buying philosophy that says that waiting to purchase a car later in the month or at the end of the year, can result in a buyer getting the best deal as dealerships scramble to hit target sales numbers.

But, 2022, like 2021, is an exception to the rule. Inventory shortages, long order lead times and historically high transaction prices are the norm.

"The week between Christmas and New Years's Day has historically been the top selling week with luxury buyers cashing in on seasonal deals and truck buyers racing to complete new vehicle purchases for tax purposes," Tyson Jominy, Vice President of Data and Analytics at J.D. Power told Newsweek.

"However, this year do not expect as many deals as in years prior. There will still be seasonal red bow advertisements, but the last few seconds of the spot where the deal offer typically went, will now have brand building or vehicle feature highlighting."

That doesn't mean automakers aren't celebrating Happy Honda Days or not promoting the annual Toyotathon event. It also doesn't mean that buyers can't have a December to Remember.

"Modest offers are starting to appear in the market, primarily in the form of APR deals, such as 2.49 percent for 60 months. For the most part these offers are much worse than we would see at this time of year. In the past, it would not be uncommon for a zero-percent/72-month offer to be the deal at this time of year," Jominy said.

Customers looking for the best deal they can get should shop for a Tesla, Jominy recommended, citing the $3,750 no-strings-attached incentive offered on Model Y and Model 3 vehicles earlier this month.

From December 15 to 31, buyers can get a Model 3 or Model Y with a $7,500 credit and 10,000 miles of free Supercharging. The free charging part of the deal will be credited to an owner's Tesla Account in January 2023, remaining valid for two years from the date of delivery of the new car.

The automaker current sells the Model 3 and Model S sedans, Model Y crossover and Model X SUV. All Teslas run only on electrons.

The company is the most popular electric vehicle maker in the world, with around half a million sales so far in 2022. But, that doesn't mean that they make perfect models.

"Tesla stands out in terms of overall user experience and its Supercharger network, arguably its biggest competitive advantage," Paul Waatti, manager of industry analysis at AutoPacific told Newsweek. "AutoPacific data suggests Tesla owners love the intuitive, easy-to-use interfaces and the widespread charger network that's reliable, fast, and works seamlessly, in stark contrast to the current third-party charger network infrastructure everyone else uses.

"Tesla falls short in its fit and finish, and overall product quality that varies wildly across the board. Many Tesla buyers report outstanding quality but seemingly just as many also report horrendous mishaps from the factory. Tesla's mixed-bag level of quality is not something we typically see from other automakers in the U.S. market, particularly at the high price points of Teslas.

"Tesla products have great range and performance, but their designs are getting long in the tooth, and an influx of competitive, fresh-faced products are giving them a run for their money. The Model S, for example, has been on the market since 2012, and while there have been many mechanical and software updates along the way, it still has more or less the same design as when it launched."

Update 12/22/22, 11:55 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include the most recent deal Tesla offers.