Earliest would be around now. June-ish. I am always looking!
I haven't yet bought
next year's winter beater before I've sold the current beater... but I could see it happening theoretically.
One year, I bought one early (
this base Echo hatch) and ended up selling it in the fall (ie. before using it) because my plans changed and I didn't end up needing a victim to sacrifice to Ontario road salt (I went to the east coast for the winter).
I also have my eye on another cheap Mirage, but while cheap as Mirages go, its price disqualifies it from this thread.