Guess we won’t be buying a new car after all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has audited cars they hedge everything in a model year, cost of metals, rubbers, Platinum, even cost of filling up gas tanks.

Car companies at parent level lock in MSRP for a year. And really big companies like GM lock in inventory and make a lot of parts themselves. They are also have ability to add shifts, or even add entire 2nd and 3rd shifts. I only did my audit at GM but it is locked. They have futures contracts and everything.

I did the audit of the Chevy Impala they weigh around 4,000 pounds and they sold around 300,000 a year. That 1,200,000,000 pounds of material. Before first car is built on next model year they come up with MSRP and they have hedged or locked in prices on all 1,2000,000,000 pounds of material needed.

Using Chevy as an example as I did an audit there. They most like have locked in 2026 MSRP already. At recent DC auto show they had 2026 models coming out concept cars with suggested MSRP.

Since talking GM where are Cadillacs made. Five American plants and one location in China. So Cadillacs can be sold in China and the US mostly tarriff free.

Lansing Grand River Assembly, Michigan, U.S.
Arlington Assembly, Texas, U.S.
Fairfax Assembly, Kansas, U.S.
Spring Hill Manufacturing, Tennessee, U.S.
Shanghai GM, China

Where do the engines and transmissions come from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So my Honda that's made in Alabama will not be hit as hard? I would buy a Sienna also, but I dislike the US brand minivans.

It's assembled here. the parts are from overseas. The average new car price is reportedly going up $3k - $12k.

[Anonymous]

I work in an industry that used to service the small manufacturers that supply the big 3. They’ve basically all gone out of business now because none of those parts are made in the U.S. anymore. They can’t build cars here without the parts made there. Those suppliers mostly don’t even exist anymore — the equipment to make the parts has been long since trashed and there are empty industrial properties filling places in Ohio, western Pa, Michigan etc.

[Anonymous]

We really should buy a new car now. Ours is 19 years old - still going strong, but at that age, I guess a major breakdown is possible at any point, right?

I just don't know what to buy. I don't want a fancy car full of tetchy electronics that will break down instantly and be expensive to fix. I want a good old fashioned, low-maintenance car.

What to pick?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We really should buy a new car now. Ours is 19 years old - still going strong, but at that age, I guess a major breakdown is possible at any point, right?

I just don't know what to buy. I don't want a fancy car full of tetchy electronics that will break down instantly and be expensive to fix. I want a good old fashioned, low-maintenance car.

What to pick?

Buy a 5-8 year old Lexus with good maintenance records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in an industry that used to service the small manufacturers that supply the big 3. They’ve basically all gone out of business now because none of those parts are made in the U.S. anymore. They can’t build cars here without the parts made there. Those suppliers mostly don’t even exist anymore — the equipment to make the parts has been long since trashed and there are empty industrial properties filling places in Ohio, western Pa, Michigan etc.[/quote

Are you talking about the molders? There has been consolidation in the US market, but they are still here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We really should buy a new car now. Ours is 19 years old - still going strong, but at that age, I guess a major breakdown is possible at any point, right?

I just don't know what to buy. I don't want a fancy car full of tetchy electronics that will break down instantly and be expensive to fix. I want a good old fashioned, low-maintenance car.

What to pick?

The new cars I've looked at all have very good warranty packages - 5 years/60,000 miles or 5 years, 80,000 miles and that covers everything except powertrain. The powertrain warranties seem to all be 10 years/100k miles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We really should buy a new car now. Ours is 19 years old - still going strong, but at that age, I guess a major breakdown is possible at any point, right?

I just don't know what to buy. I don't want a fancy car full of tetchy electronics that will break down instantly and be expensive to fix. I want a good old fashioned, low-maintenance car.

What to pick?

The new cars I've looked at all have very good warranty packages - 5 years/60,000 miles or 5 years, 80,000 miles and that covers everything except powertrain. The powertrain warranties seem to all be 10 years/100k miles.

Right, but how often in the shop? This is PP. Our Toyota Corolla has practically never been in the shop. It's been so nice. My friends with other cars always seem to have issues with their cars... and then sometimes they ask to borrow mine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has audited cars they hedge everything in a model year, cost of metals, rubbers, Platinum, even cost of filling up gas tanks.

Car companies at parent level lock in MSRP for a year. And really big companies like GM lock in inventory and make a lot of parts themselves. They are also have ability to add shifts, or even add entire 2nd and 3rd shifts. I only did my audit at GM but it is locked. They have futures contracts and everything.

I did the audit of the Chevy Impala they weigh around 4,000 pounds and they sold around 300,000 a year. That 1,200,000,000 pounds of material. Before first car is built on next model year they come up with MSRP and they have hedged or locked in prices on all 1,2000,000,000 pounds of material needed.

Using Chevy as an example as I did an audit there. They most like have locked in 2026 MSRP already. At recent DC auto show they had 2026 models coming out concept cars with suggested MSRP.

Since talking GM where are Cadillacs made. Five American plants and one location in China. So Cadillacs can be sold in China and the US mostly tarriff free.

Lansing Grand River Assembly, Michigan, U.S.
Arlington Assembly, Texas, U.S.
Fairfax Assembly, Kansas, U.S.
Spring Hill Manufacturing, Tennessee, U.S.
Shanghai GM, China

m
You can’t “lock in” prices and somehow avoid tariffs. The tariff will be added on top of any price. The tariff is paid every time an import crosses our border.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We really should buy a new car now. Ours is 19 years old - still going strong, but at that age, I guess a major breakdown is possible at any point, right?

I just don't know what to buy. I don't want a fancy car full of tetchy electronics that will break down instantly and be expensive to fix. I want a good old fashioned, low-maintenance car.

What to pick?

Corolla, Camry, or Forester (if you need something bigger)

[Anonymous]

I’m picking up 2 one yr old teslas for half price while selling my 1 yr old Toyotas for more than I paid. People will get over the Elon shit and Tesla will be the #1 maker here. Also heard you can pay for new Tesla’s with bitcoin and avoid cap gains tax. Double boom.

[Anonymous]

We have a 2015 Ram 1500 truck. We were talking today and realized in 10 years we haven't had 1 engine repair.

We also have a 2019 Honda CRV and in 5 years, no engine repairs on that one either.

We do all recommended maintenance on schedule.

If I were buying today, I would consider a Honda Accord, CRV or Pilot. Also around the mountains where I live, Subarus are very popular and reliable.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't get a Tesla right now due to many reports of people damaging them to express their anger at Musk. Or if you do, put an old Harris bumper sticker on the back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m picking up 2 one yr old teslas for half price while selling my 1 yr old Toyotas for more than I paid. People will get over the Elon shit and Tesla will be the #1 maker here. Also heard you can pay for new Tesla’s with bitcoin and avoid cap gains tax. Double boom.

This is horseshit and doesn’t make any sense.

1) If there is a tax liability, you can avoid it by using bitcoin.

2) What CCAR is going to realize a capital gain? They are depreciating assets; you just lied about getting two of them for “half price.”

See, this claim you just made is the tell about how you are a lying lair who lies.