New Car Sales

[macarose]

It is still close to the highs and also still on the tail end of the peak cycle. A lot of the second-tier companies are still doing well (Mazda, Volvo, etc) while some of the larger firms are lowering production of their sedans.

The Toyota iA is probably the strongest deal out there if you're looking for a vehicle to keep for 12 years that will depreciate only about a grand a year while getting mid-30s mpg overall. The Elantra and Spark are also cheap.

One thing still holds true. Stickshifts for non-sporty cars are the tightwad's sweet spot.

 

[Andrew1972]

Sheer guess you are looking at sedans instead of CUVs. Yes sales have tanked on sedans so good deals in new market. Used market not as good because supply of sedans down due to shift to CUV sales in last few years.

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted By: macarose
A lot of the second-tier companies are still doing well (Mazda, Volvo, etc)

compared to who/what? used Delorean sales?

 

[wag123]

Watch how fast cars become popular again when the gas prices go to $4 or above.

 

[Sierra048]

As far as Toyota dealers, at least the ones in our neck of the woods, they seem to be discounting 2018 Camrys anywhere from 15% - 21% off MSRP. Spent the last week working with a few of them. One discounted a Camry with a sticker price od $27869 down to $21762 (21.91% off) plus tax, tag and title. No additional charges like dealer fees and the like. Didn't think the price was that bad. If I was paying cash, I might have done it. Problem arose with our trade. Usually I sell our cars before purchasing another but living up in the mounatains makes it a little more time consuming and problematic so I thought I'd try to get a decent price for it factoring in the sales tax savings. No luck. So we walked. Got one more claiming we can deal. We shall see. I haven't received a price from them yet but at the least, 21.91% off sticker will be my target.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: wag123
Watch how fast cars become popular again when the gas prices go to $4 or above.


Doubtful. With CUV's getting good (high 20's+) there is little incentive to downgrade to what many perceive as a "penalty box". It's a whole different scenario than when it was 8-12 MPG and $4 gas.

 

[Vuflanovsky]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
Originally Posted By: wag123
Watch how fast cars become popular again when the gas prices go to $4 or above.


Doubtful. With CUV's getting good (high 20's+) there is little incentive to downgrade to what many perceive as a "penalty box". It's a whole different scenario than when it was 8-12 MPG and $4 gas.


I think that if the public actually views sedans of all stripes ( and not just economy cars ) as penalty boxes it's more style over substance. The "public wants what the public gets" idea can trump the idea of station wagons. For example, if a CUV/SUV has an elevated driving position and other elements that have become popular versus the overall functionality of the station wagon, the SUV/CUV wins.

I'm sure if automakers can make more margin dollars from SUVs/CUVs versus sedans and the almost non-existent station wagons, and independent of current tastes, they do everything they can to build and promote them. At one time, I saw the figure of $6 dollars a gallon given as the demarcation line where that might change the dynamic of the current market toward smaller vehicles and hybrids/electrics. That sounds about right.

 

[emg]

Originally Posted By: wag123
Watch how fast cars become popular again when the gas prices go to $4 or above.


Meanwhile, my Forester was getting 45 (Canadian) mpg the other day.

That's better than the car I drove in the UK when gas was $10 a gallon.

 

[ls1mike]

I have never been a truck guy. I will say it comes in handy with the house and I need it for camping/RVing. 90 percent of the time my truck is hooked up to the trailer going somewhere. It is an 02, has been trouble free, and I will have it until I retire. At that point I will buy my last truck.
I have always been a 4 door sedan/wagon guy, minus the Trans Am I really don't want anything else.

Thing about a truck, especially a half ton, is they can do everything you need with only having to have the one vehicle.
Plus the new half tons are really phenomenal. They get good MPGs for their size and weight. Ride nice and smooth and can tow a nice size trailer.

 

[itguy08]

What Mike said. Never was a "truck guy" until I got one. It's a truly versatile vehicle. It seats 5 in comfort, tows our camper, hauls a bunch of stuff, is fast, gets decent MPG for what it is. If I had to downsize to 1 vehicle it would be the truck.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
What Mike said. Never was a "truck guy" until I got one. It's a truly versatile vehicle. It seats 5 in comfort, tows our camper, hauls a bunch of stuff, is fast, gets decent MPG for what it is. If I had to downsize to 1 vehicle it would be the truck.


have you ever owned a minivan?

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
have you ever owned a minivan?


No. Closest I got was almost buying a Ford Flex (Minivan without the height). Have driven them a few times though.

Although for my use I don't think it would be good - I've often bought bulk landscaping stuff as well as hauled other stuff in the bed of the truck and don't want another trailer to store. Not to mention I don't know of any minivans that can haul our 10k camper.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
Originally Posted By: itguy08
What Mike said. Never was a "truck guy" until I got one. It's a truly versatile vehicle. It seats 5 in comfort, tows our camper, hauls a bunch of stuff, is fast, gets decent MPG for what it is. If I had to downsize to 1 vehicle it would be the truck.


have you ever owned a minivan?


It would be useless for my trailer.

 

[supton]

I was always a truck guy--but for years it didn't make sense for me to have one. Probably still doesn't... but I have one anyhow. If Chevy had kept the Astrovan up to date that would have been a strong contender though.

 

[KrisZ]

Logic and reason is not what sells vehicles meant for personal transportation for the most buyers out there. Never was and most likely never will.

No point dwelling over it. Sedans may not be popular now, but that should be a good thing for people looking into buying one now. The trends come and go, so will the SUV/CUV trend.

 

[wag123]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
Originally Posted By: wag123
Watch how fast cars become popular again when the gas prices go to $4 or above.


Doubtful. With CUV's getting good (high 20's+) there is little incentive to downgrade to what many perceive as a "penalty box". It's a whole different scenario than when it was 8-12 MPG and $4 gas.

Yes, but, most compact to mid size cars are getting in the high 30's +, and some even get into the mid 40's or higher on the Hybrids. Many/some people panic when gas prices go that high and look for the maximum mileage that they can get. We have all seen this scenario before. I saw it in the 70's when people were trading in their 1 year old Electras on new Pintos.
In 2008 my elderly father even panicked. Given the low number of miles he was driving (he had a LaSabre that he was driving less than 3K miles per year) and the fact that he didn't have many years of driving left, I tried (in vain) to talk him out of doing anything rash, he did it anyway. Even showing him the math on paper didn't convince him, he was obsessed with the high gas price and there was NO reasoning with him.
I stand by my opinion/statement.

 

[Zee09]

Originally Posted By: wag123
Originally Posted By: itguy08
Originally Posted By: wag123
Watch how fast cars become popular again when the gas prices go to $4 or above.


Doubtful. With CUV's getting good (high 20's+) there is little incentive to downgrade to what many perceive as a "penalty box". It's a whole different scenario than when it was 8-12 MPG and $4 gas.

Yes, but, most compact to mid size cars are getting in the high 30's +, and some even get into the mid 40's or higher on the Hybrids. Many/some people panic when gas prices go that high and look for the maximum mileage that they can get. We have all seen this scenario before. In 2008 my elderly father even did this. Given the low number of miles he was driving (he had a LaSabre that he was driving less than 3K miles per year) and the fact that he didn't have many years of driving left, I tried (in vain) to talk him out of doing anything rash, he did it anyway. I stand by my opinion/statement.



Seen it many times!

 

[jeepman3071]

I'm curious how many of those people that buy new have insane 84 month loans with crazy interest.

 

[earthbound]

Originally Posted By: wag123
Originally Posted By: itguy08
Originally Posted By: wag123
Watch how fast cars become popular again when the gas prices go to $4 or above.


Doubtful. With CUV's getting good (high 20's+) there is little incentive to downgrade to what many perceive as a "penalty box". It's a whole different scenario than when it was 8-12 MPG and $4 gas.

Yes, but, most compact to mid size cars are getting in the high 30's +, and some even get into the mid 40's or higher on the Hybrids. Many/some people panic when gas prices go that high and look for the maximum mileage that they can get. We have all seen this scenario before. I saw it in the 70's when people were trading in their 1 year old Electras on new Pintos.
In 2008 my elderly father even panicked. Given the low number of miles he was driving (he had a LaSabre that he was driving less than 3K miles per year) and the fact that he didn't have many years of driving left, I tried (in vain) to talk him out of doing anything rash, he did it anyway. Even showing him the math on paper didn't convince him, he was obsessed with the high gas price and there was NO reasoning with him.
I stand by my opinion/statement.


I agree with your statement...

 

[dareo]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
I'm curious how many of those people that buy new have insane 84 month loans with crazy interest.


People can get a 97 month loan these days. 144 month on exotic cars available too. With the super high demand on trucks and shrinking incentives many people go that route. Its quite hard to find a good deal on a used or new F150 these days. Even with the market flooded with grey market canadian imported trucks. I recently lucked out on a 2016 Sierra bank sale scenario and now some relatives really want a newish F150 and its very hard to find anything with meaningful savings.