The sun may be setting on the Great Automotive Rebate Era of the 21st century.

Seriously.
And while we’ve all heard that before, this time it looks like automakers are intent on providing what they call Value Pricing (read: a realistic price) instead of slathering on fat and then paring down with rebates to the actual transaction value. Ford and General Motors have both committed to such value pricing for the 2006 model year, and the result of these lower prices promises to have a ripple effect throughout the industry. For example, the 2006 Ford Explorer will be priced around $3,000 less than the 2005 model.Combined with improved features, and with slight increases to the price of mainstream Toyotas, this may well turn into an auto buyer’s wake-up call concerning domestic brand vehicles.

And thank goodness for that – if they stick to it. It’s time for the rebate tomfoolery that has gone on since 2001 to stop, and time for automakers to slap a reasonable MSRP on the window.

Ah. But between now and then, there are still some incredible discounts to be had, especially as dealers scramble to sell the rest of their 2005 stock. Of course, rebates are only part of the equation, which is why we bring you this monthly list of the “top deals.” The idea is to find a good car and a good price, and you do that by doing your homework.

Listed on these pages are ten vehicles with notably good deals that expire no earlier than the end of August. We don’t count Employee Discount deals as part of the equation – that’s an extra benefit – and do include dealer incentives, though regional differences may apply to the actual deal you get on a new car. These vehicles offer either cash back or great interest rates, and are generally considered to be quality cars by the automotive press. The list also factors crash test scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). The presumption is that a good deal means more than just cash back; it means a good price on a quality car that’s safe – one that will provide you with years of dependable service.