ANCHOR LEAD
IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A NEW CAR, YOU'LL SOON BE FACED WITH A DECISION: SHOULD YOU BUY A 2004 OR 2005? REPORTER SCOTT HANSON GIVES YOU A HEADS UP ON HOW TO FIND THE BEST DEALS ON WHEELS.

SOT
Key@ :02 Joe Reilly, Truck Buyer
"Nowadays, every penny counts, you know. Instead of watching dollars, everyone's watching pennies."

TRACK ONE Length :05
WHEN JOE REILLY SET OUT TO BUY A NEW TRUCK, GETTING A GOOD PRICE WAS A TOP PRIORITY.

SOT
Key @ :10 Joe Reilly, Truck Buyer
"I come here for thhe rebates; 2004 versus 2005.

SOT
KEY @ :15 Phil Lienert, Edmunds.com
"A dealer is likely to give a discount on an '04 model at this time of year because the closer it gets to the next model year, the less likely the consumer is going to want to buy an '04 model."

TRACK TWO Length :16
BUT. ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS AT EDMUNDS, DOLLARS ALONE SHOULDN'T DICTATE WHAT YOU DRIVE OFF THE LOT.... YES, YOU'LL GET BIGGER INCENTIVES ON THE 2004...BUT YOU'LL ALSO GET BIGGER DEPRECIATION...
SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? IT DEPENDS ON HOW LONG YOU PLAN TO KEEP THE CAR... IF IT'S FIVE YEARS OR LESS...

SOT
KEY @ :41 Michael Devan, Car Dealer
"You might want to give consideration to an '05."

TRACK THREE Length :06
THAT'S BECAUSE THE '05 WILL HOLD ITS VALUE LONGER... ESPECIALLY IF THE DESIGN IS NEW AND DRAMTICALLY DIFFERENT...

SOT
KEY @ :50 Phil Lienert, Edmunds.com
"Initially a redesign is going to hold up in value much better than a car that has been on the final stages of its design cycle."

TRACK 4/STANDUP CLOSE Length :12
BUT IF THE '05 IS BASICALLY THE SAME...OR IF YOU PLAN ON KEEPING THE CAR FOR 5 YEARS OR MORE.... THE DIFFERENCE AT TRADE-IN TIME WILL BE MINIMAL....SO EDMUNDS SAYS CONSIDER THE '04. FOR HEADS UP, IM SCOTT HANSON.

ANCHOR TAG
IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO LEASE, EDMUNDS SAYS CONSIDER AN 04. YOU WON'T OWN THE CAR, SO DEPRECIATION DOESN'T MATTER AND YOU CAN NEGOTIATE HARDER SINCE THEY'LL BE MOTIVATED TO MOVE THE 04'S OUT.

SOURCE LIST

Phil Lienert
Edmunds.com
Contact Jeannine Fallon (503) 796-0090 or (310) 505-5355

Phil Lienert is the New York Industry News Editor for Edmunds.com. Edmunds.com, Inc. publishes new and used automotive pricing guides for automobile buyers.