This may be the perfect weekend to buy a car

updated 5:50 p.m. ET June 5, 2009

DES MOINES, Iowa - If you're looking for a new Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep, this just might be your weekend.

Chrysler dealers who will lose their right to sell new cars as early as Tuesday need to unload the remaining cars and trucks on their lot or face getting stuck with them.

Chrysler, which has filed for bankruptcy protection, has told 789 dealerships they'll no longer have a contract to sell new cars after next week.

Those with cars still on the lot will not be able to take advantage of manufacturers incentives like rebates, which will make selling them uncompetitive with other dealers.

Car dealers in that position expect a very busy weekend as customers seek deep discounts, knowing that the dealers are in a bind.

"We're obviously drastically discounting the vehicles," said Jerry Lande, new car sales manager for Des Moines Chrysler. "We have lots of inventory and we expect a big weekend."

Customers shouldn't expect ridiculous deals, though.

Some dealers have reported customers calling expecting half off or $10,000 off. Lande said he has had a few such calls.

"Clearly we get some of that, but that's not realistic," he said.

The dealership, which sells only Chrysler models will sell only used cars after next week.

It had 140 Chryslers still on the lot on Friday after selling 70 in 12 days, the result of a liquidation sale announced when Chrysler said it was one of the dealers to be cut.

So, if you're in the market for a Chrysler, what can you expect?

With the understanding that prices and incentives vary from market to market, here's an example of a realistic deal you might be able to negotiate this weekend.

Say you were interested in a $30,000 Chrysler Town and Country minivan, a popular family vehicle these days. Buyers may be able to negotiate as much as $6,000 off the price, said Jeremy Anwyl, chief executive of Edmunds.com, a Web site that provides detailed auto information for consumers.

A manufacturer's sticker price of around $30,000 would give you a minivan with a few nice options like a DVD player, running boards and flexible seats. It should be noted that you should rarely pay a manufacturer's suggested price unless it's a very popular or hard to get model.

In this example, the dealer invoice — the price the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car — would be about $28,000.

Incentives you could capture vary. Chrysler is offering buyers $1,500 cash back on the minivan.

Buyers can get another $1,000 if they currently own a Chrysler, a reward for brand loyalty. By financing through a credit union, you could get another $500 off and members of the military get another $500 credit.

The dealer also likely received as much as $2,000 cash from Chrysler to use in any way they want. You could reasonably expect the dealer to give you a fair share of that off the price as well.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you're thinking about Chrysler shopping this weekend:

1. Find a dealer in your area that's on the discontinued list. The list is part of the bankruptcy filing available here. 
2. Call the dealer before you leave to make sure it has the models you're looking for. The selection is likely very limited for reasons I'll explain in a moment.
3. Look up incentives for the models you're interested in on the Internet. Chrysler lists them on its Web site by ZIP code, the dealer's Web site likely does, too. So does Edmunds.com.
4. If you're looking to trade in, make sure you know the car's value, which also is available on several Web sites. Many customers frequently think they're getting a good deal but don't get as much out of their trade as they should, Anwyl said.

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