Advice for potential car buyers

It's the end of the year, and despite the fact that some 2008 models have been on dealer lots since March, you'll find a small number of 2007 model-year leftovers.

The question is: Should you bite?

"If you don't care about the year, it makes a lot of sense,"

says John Linkov, automotive editor for Consumer Reports. "It's still new, you have money on the hood and you still have room to negotiate."

David Thomas, an editorial producer at cars.com, says, "If a car or truck isn't being significantly changed for 2008, that's the big reason for going with a leftover."

Thomas offers the Hyundai Entourage minivan as a prime example. Introduced in 2007, it's been given a "top safety pick" designation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

For 2008, there aren't many changes, and there aren't any rebates. But choose the 2007 model and you'll get a $2,000 rebate.

Or, says Thomas, consider another top safety pick, the Ford Focus. For 2008, it has fresh styling and a new option called Sync, which allows your cell phone or iPod to wirelessly link with the car. Otherwise, the 2008 Focus is similar to last year's model.

If you can live without Sync, you'll want to consider a 2007 Focus. With an a retail price of about $17,000, the $2,500 rebate amounts to a discount of almost 15 percent before any dealer discount. And military personnel receive an additional $500 rebate.

But remember: Buying a leftover means buying a vehicle that's already considered a year old, so it has already depreciated. If you trade often, this might kill the deal.

Also, Thomas says, don't expect a car or truck to have exactly the options you want.

Finally, don't opt for the leftover if a new model offers new safety gear. You might be tempted to get a 2007 Cadillac DTS. But the 2008 model has two new safety features, blind spot detection and lane departure warning, as well as better brakes. That might be enough to put you in a 2008, not a 2007, Linkov says.

"It's most important to make sure you're buying a good car."