Orlando, Fla.-Area Car Dealers Say Sales Adding Up with 0 Percent Financing.

Byline: Richard Burnett

Oct. 5--Far from the bleakness of the nation's economy, Robert Smith's confidence as a consumer flickered to life this week in the showroom of an Orlando car dealer.

The 21-year-old diesel mechanic from Lake County decided to buy a new car with his wife, Jennifer. He had heard car makers were offering some good deals these days, and it turned out to be true.

"I just bought a truck a good while back at another car lot, and it was a real aggravating experience then," Smith said. "But today it was totally different here. They really worked with us."

Lured by what one analyst describes as "probably the best deal in the history of auto rebates," motorists are flocking to dealer showrooms to save thousands of dollars in interest on new vehicles financed by loans carrying an interest rate of zero percent.

After coming to …