There may be as many theories on this topic as there are days in the year, but here are a few good ones to consider:

• Rainy days: Is there any truth to if there are no other buyers on the lot, will the salesman offer a deep discount to get your business? Yes, but you have to be willing to slosh around on the lot.
  
• End of the year: Business is slow during this time of year so you might be able to get an early Christmas present from hungry dealers. They like to end the year strong on sales.
  
• Luxury for less: Gas prices certainly have the attention of everyone including luxury car dealers. With gas prices going up, luxury auto dealers are having to bring their prices down. Gasoline prices are a drawback, but you'll be driving in style.
  
• 15 minutes before closing: Savvy buyers think that if they pop into the dealership 15 minutes before closing, the sales staff will want to go home and therefore won't do the usual two-hour back and-forth with the boss. This theory is pretty misguided. What they actually do is put up the closed sign, lock you in and keep neogtiating.
  
• Early in the week: A dealer once said that car salesmen refer to the weekends as the "tuna run" - there are so many customers on the lot, you just pull them into the boat. So why not shop during the week, when there is less foot traffic on the lot and you can get the saleman's undivided attention.
  
• End of the month: Now we're getting somewhere. Dealers might be a car or two short of a quota that will give them a big bonus. They might just discount the car to you and make up their difference in their bonus.
  
• End of the model year: As the new car begin to arrive, last year's model loses its luster and also its high price. There are some surprising discounts and often a lot of customer cash rebates.
  
• End of the car's lifecycle: Sometimes the manufacuturer announces that the car will be discontinued forever. Now we're talking off-the-chart savings.
  
• End of the car's design cycle: The manufacturer is going to continue making a certain model car, but it is about to introduce a completely redesigned car under the same name. Now we're seeing some serious discounts. True, you are buying a car that is essentially outdated and out of fashion, but some people are more bargain hunters than they are trendsetters.
  
• When you need it: Actually, the best time to buy a new car is when you need one and only after you have completed your research. Get pre-approved with an auto loan from OECU, find the car you want and then negotiate your best deal as a cash buyer.