Car Shopping

[Gilligan]

I've closely followed the saga that has been the development and introduction of the new Ford Bronco. Missus and I have been keen to buy one when they finally become available. But...Ford has fumbled the program badly..are wayyyy behind schedule on first deliveries. Just within the last week Ford sent out an email to everyone that had put down a deposit and selected all the options they wanted, that a bunch of the popular options, including one of the two engine/transmission options was going to be seriously delayed even further. The wording in the email was awful, from a sales and marketing viewpoint, because the email ended with something like "if you give up all those options you wanted and take this here base model, we might be able to expedite the production of your vehicle". Good grief...I'm glad we have not ordered ours yet and had no plans to before sometime next year anyway.

 

[stgislander]

I was talking to a good friend of Gilligan and me the other day. What happens to rollout of the 2022 models in a few months with all these 2021 models sitting at the factories waiting on chips?

 

[Kyle]

This is what happens when you depend upon an enemy for your manufacturing.

Hopefully we'll get Trump back in 2024 since he was the only one that seems to recognize and acknowledge Chinas nature.

 

[GURPS]

Once that inventory wasn't spoken for, chip customers with sales surges like videogame consoles and other home electronics snatched up that capacity.

Yep the FABS are running at 100% capacity ....

 

[itsbob]

Chip shortages?? WHo Cares?? Can a Transgender Female compete in women's weightlifting... THAT"s what's important.. Who cares if you can't drive, get gas, or find beef.. pay attention to the REALLY important stuff.

 

[itsbob]

I've got a "reservation" on a Cybertruck, but in no rush to buy. I'll let them got the production process down. For me, its as simple as the charging network and never having to worry about the finish. No chips or scratches, just hit it with a scotch bright once in a while. Well, that and feeling a bit safer after dark in the Park... those guys are not usually going over 9mm

Didn't know Indian made trucks..



oh wait..

 

[Ken King]

This is what happens when you depend upon an enemy for your manufacturing.

Wait till NATO needs fuel for an encounter with the Ruskies.

 

[glhs837]

Didn't know Indian made trucks..



oh wait..

 

[TPD]

Now lets throw in the rental car market. Didn't all those companies sell off their cars last year? They now need to rebuild their fleet. I've heard of some horrendous pricing for daily and weekly rental cars lately. I don't imagine there will be any deals or incentives on new cars for the next 12 months and used cars will probably fetch a premium.

 

[glhs837]

Now lets throw in the rental car market. Didn't all those companies sell off their cars last year? They now need to rebuild their fleet. I've heard of some horrendous pricing for daily and weekly rental cars lately. I don't imagine there will be any deals or incentives on new cars for the next 12 months and used cars will probably fetch a premium.

Last month, I rented a one way to Reagan to fly to Boston. Avis wouldnt even show me one on the website. Enterprise wanted to add a $100 "airport fee" Went in into Avis in person, lady explained that the website wont allow one way to the airport, the cars are piling up. She finagled the system for me though. My one way rental back from Boston was reasonable though, three days at $60 a day for a minivan, although when they didnt have the van they gave me an Expedition for the same price. Later that month went to Philly for two days, again, the price was reasonable.

 

[Sneakers]

Enterprise wanted to add a $100 "airport fee

That's really not a new thing. Some 20 years ago I needed a one-way to Regan. Went into Hertz when it was still where the Sheetz is now. A round trip was something like $50, one-way to Regan was $150. The extra $100 was an 'airport drop off fee', same reason; too many cars at the airport.

 

[Merlin99]

I was talking to a good friend of Gilligan and me the other day. What happens to rollout of the 2022 models in a few months with all these 2021 models sitting at the factories waiting on chips?

they'll change the date codes on the 21's and call them all 2022's.

 

[vraiblonde]

I went car shopping a few months ago and if they think I'm going to pay upwards of $50k for a freaking car they are smoking drugs. That's absurd. I'm going Cuba with my antique 2006 and getting it rehabbed when needed.

 

[Bann]

Not at all, the issue is that most car makers cancelled a lot of orders last year, and as these are basic building blocks for computers, the digital equivalent of 2x4s, anyone can use them.. Once that inventory wasn't spoken for, chip customers with sales surges like videogame consoles and other home electronics snatched up that capacity.

A LOT of industries were unsure how to order future inventory due to the Pandemic. It was hard to predict what their numbers in sales, and therefore, demand would be. Demand is through the roof now, but many businesses are not prepared for it and customers are waiting long periods of time for a lot of items they want.

People who would not normally be BUYING those items were getting a lot of money they weren't getting in the past, too. Unemployment money, and the Stimulus checks.

Just wait until all that money dries up. The economy is going to tank, it has to. I sure hope businesses are not then stuck.

 

[PrchJrkr]

A LOT of industries were unsure how to order future inventory due to the Pandemic. It was hard to predict what their numbers in sales, and therefore, demand would be. Demand is through the roof now, but many businesses are not prepared for it and customers are waiting long periods of time for a lot of items they want.

People who would not normally be BUYING those items were getting a lot of money they weren't getting in the past, too. Unemployment money, and the Stimulus checks.

Just wait until all that money dries up. The economy is going to tank, it has to. I sure hope businesses are not then stuck.

The marine industry has been hit pretty hard on the supply end and anything that floats is getting bought up as soon as they become available. It's almost as crazy as the housing market. It's still a seller's market. Just ask my son. He may have over paid, but he managed to get a nice starter home. I don't think it was ever offered on the open market. His agent earned her commission.

 

[SamSpade]

I’m not in the market for a new car but the chip shortage just hit me last week. I was in Ashland and noticed the 2 GM dealers had almost empty lots. Looked like they were going out of business. Got thinking about it on the ride home when I realized the chip issue. So today as I’m hauling corn I start taking note of local dealerships. Yup looks like some dealerships are going out of business.

Anyone been new (or used) car shopping locally lately? What has been your experience with availability and pricing?

Bought a used car - 3 years old - last summer. Now that I am working from home, it barely gets any miles anyway.

But I cashed in on an idea that a friend mentioned - during the pandemic, many businesses with large fleets of cars noticed their inventory was gathering dust and were eager to unload them. So if you're in the market for the kind of car that a business is likely to have a LOT of - you'll probably do well. Mid-size SUVs, minivans, mid to large size sedans - SOMETIMES pickup trucks.

Carmax was great to me. I love my car.

 

[Kyle]

I'm the outlier here.

I have had far better fortune buying something new and taking care of it than buying used.

My recent truck purchase was just under the $50k mark, but was loaded to the hilt and since I never trade in, it's an expense I can live with in the long term.

 

[Gilligan]

The marine industry has been hit pretty hard on the supply end and anything that floats is getting bought up as soon as they become available. It's almost as crazy as the housing market. It's still a seller's market. Just ask my son. He may have over paid, but he managed to get a nice starter home. I don't think it was ever offered on the open market. His agent earned her commission.

I’m having a terrible time getting Yamaha outboard parts. And forget trying to buy new motors...

 

[BOP]

Jackasses... I do 45mph in second gear. I've got 5 of 'em and I ain't affeared to use 'em all!

 

[PrchJrkr]

If I open that link, I'll have an earworm all day long. No thanks.