Good deals at local car dealerships? Yes. 50 percent off? 'Um, no.'

Frank Kay, of River Front Chrysler Jeep in North Aurora, finishes his inspection on a used vehicle. (Rob Winner – rwinner@kcchronicle.com)

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Bill McSkimming knows that, right now, the marketplace does not lean in his favor. But that, said McSkimming, owner of Riverfront Chrysler Jeep Dodge, does not mean customers should roll into his car dealership expecting to drive out with a cut-rate deal.

"There's word going around right now that dealers are selling cars for 50 percent off or such," McSkimming said. "Now, people are getting really good deals right now. But 50 percent off? We're not here to lose money, or go out of business. And the serious customers know that."

In the wake of bankruptcies by automakers Chrysler and General Motors, auto dealers who specialize in those brands are reporting that they are receiving a steady stream of interest from customers interested in trying to drive away with a steal.

And in some instances, customers are finding relatively steep discounts.

"The bargain-hunters are definitely out, there's no question about that," McSkimming said.

At Richard Chrysler Jeep Dodge in St. Charles, for instance, dealers there just completed selling off their new inventory earlier this week, in anticipation of Chrysler's move to terminate the dealership's franchise agreement on June 9.

"Activity around here since it was announced that we were on Chrysler's list was fabulous," said Marnie McConnell, manager at Richard. "It was absolutely a great time to buy."

But a sizable contingent of would-be customers left disappointed, McConnell said.

"We took maybe 500 calls or more within a week of the news from Chrysler from people wondering if we were offering our cars at 50 percent off with zero percent financing," McConnell said. "And the answer to that was, 'Um, no.'

"We just had to have fun with this, because otherwise it would have gotten overwhelming."

Overall, attitudes at car dealerships have not changed much across the country, even in the wake of the bankruptcies and dealer consolidations.

In some instances, the moves have meant that some car dealers might offer temporary discounted prices on some makes and models, as both Chrysler and G.M. reshuffle their existing inventory from disenfranchised dealers to those they have decided will still be allowed to sell new Chrysler and G.M. automobiles.

At Riverfront, McSkimming said he expects to receive a shipment of new Dodge vehicles within the next few weeks.

"These aren't surplus vehicles, or anything like that," McSkimming said. "But people might just be able to land a good deal right now, as we're trying to get the word out that we're in the Dodge business."

At the National Association of Automobile Dealers, spokesman Charles Cyrill said that as the market has dealt a blow to the fortunes of automakers and the dealers that sell their products, it has only improved the bargaining power of consumers.

"It's a tough time for some businesses," Cyrill said. "But it's a great time for consumers who have a stable job and solid credit scores to consider the purchase of a new vehicle."

He also stressed that in most instances, credit is available for those seeking to buy a new vehicle.

That view was echoed by Ryan Easter, general manager at Bob Jass Chevrolet in Elburn.

The Jass dealership was one that was spared by G.M. last month when the automaker notified hundreds of dealers that they, too, would lose their franchise agreements, Easter said.

"We are not going anywhere," Easter said.

While some dealers might have struggled, Easter said the last five months have yielded some of the best sales figures at the Jass dealership in years.

"People coming on this lot looking for cars know what they want and what to expect," Easter said. "And they know that this is a great environment with a lot of good deals."