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Bay Area Car Shoppers Find Deals As 2011s Roll In

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - If you've been in the market for a new car, now might be the time to act as dealerships are eager to unload this year's inventory to make room for the 2011 models.

"A lot of car companies would love to go out at the end of this year on a high note," said John McElroy, Detroit-based auto industry analyst. "Typically December is a very good sales month, especially the last week of the year. In fact there are a lot of businesses that would like to get a write off, a tax credit, for purchasing a vehicle, and they want to do it right now."

KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:

Unfortunately, Mother Nature is wreaking havoc on the industry, with heavy rain on the West Coast and heavy snow on the East Coast keeping people out of the showrooms, meaning there's even more desperation to move the product.

"We just sold a $65,000 GT500 to a customer, and we dropped the car off at his house with all of the contracts and everything, just to make it easier for him with all the holidays and everything," said Andrew Dwyer, the Internet sales manager at San Francisco Ford on Van Ness Avenue, who says they go the extra mile to make customers happy.

McElroy says if you have been thinking about buying a new or used car, now is the time, and if you're a competent negotiator, you'll probably be able to swing a nice deal on a price as well.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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