Not a good time to buy a car

[beowulf]

We buy used, but not often as we keep them at least ten years. Currently we have a 2008 Honda Pilot (about 180,000 miles) and a 2010 F150 (about 140,000) with no plans to buy newer models (especially now). Every year or so I ask my wife if she wants a newer car (with newer features) and she always says no - we should keep what we have as they are running fine. So I guess the cars and the wife are "keepers".

 

[Oaktree]

They use deicing chemicals other than salt where I live. Too bad they just use rock salt in your area.

I used salt as a generic term. Not really sure what the state uses.
Not sure any of the salt alternatives are any less corrosive.

 

[Jstpssng]

I used salt as a generic term. Not really sure what the state uses.
Not sure any of the salt alternatives are any less corrosive.

I suspect it's the intensity as much as what they use. I've heard that some places use beet juice, yet that would be rather pricey when spreading it 2,3, or more times per week for 5-7 months/year.

One thing our state does is put down "Brine" before a snowstorm; simply a mix of salt and water. That eats frames and brakelines like candy, yet allows people to drive like idiots again the day after a storm.

 

[jyoutz]

I used salt as a generic term. Not really sure what the state uses.
Not sure any of the salt alternatives are any less corrosive.

Our state spreads a mix of magnesium chloride and volcanic cinders or sand. It doesn’t seem to be as corrosive as rock salt. We don’t have issues with vehicles rusting.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Well, we bought something. I'm not sure why we picked it and I'm afraid it was a bad decision but it's done now. 2019 Ford Edge ST 17k miles. It's got every option except the performance brake package. The ST has Ford's 2.7L twin turbo that prefers 91+ octane and puts out 335hp/380ft.lbs. Again, I don't know why we bought it, I should have never even test driven it. I will say, it's a sweet ride though and I really like it, and it's paid for. My bank account didn't like it one bit...

 

[Bill Guenthner]

“I really like it, and it's paid for.”

2 for 2 then. I think you just defined succeeding in life.

 

[JDZ735M]

One thing that is borderline fair priced is actual cars. Not SUV’s, not cross overs, not trucks, but good old fashioned 4 door sedans.

Does any manufacturer make those any more. Used they are pretty high also for nice ones.

 

[dodge man]

Ford doesn’t make a “car” anymore except the Mustang. Dodge, Chrysler and GM do. So do Honda and Toyota. They are high but better than SUV’s and trucks.

 

[nybirdman]

Went to my local GM and Subaru dealers today;nothing new that isn't already sold!Salesman that I know told me their making "lots" of money,go figure.Fair numbers of used but the prices are like a new one.

 

[BleedingOrange]

If you have readily available cash to spend, or financing in order so a deal can get done quickly, I find buying privately allows fair deals to be had. Lots of stuff listed by both companies and privately is priced high, but it is much easier to negotiate with private individuals than companies, without having to go thru several layers of management .

 

[NoTrespassing]

Well, it's been almost 10 months since we bought the 2019 Ford Edge ST. It's a very nice vehicle and it's awesome in the snow, even with the low-profile summer tires. I was quite surprised how sure footed it was on slick roads and how well it went up our steep hill. It's much better than my old 93 full sized Bronco was on our hill, and I'd say it's got better traction than my wife's old awd Honda Crosstour had. We did overpay (cash) for it but a few thousand dollars gets less painful every year you own it. It's very nice looking, fast, and fun to drive. The stereo is premium and it's got every option I could dream up and some I didn't know existed. My wife really likes it and that's the most important thing I guess. Next fall we will put some winter rated tires on it and it will be a beast in the snow.

 

[fruitcakesa]

My mother has been leasing a 2019 Buick Encore and when the lease was up we decided to buy it and were pleasantly surprised to find the buyout price was below average "blue book". It has low miles [29k] and was dealer serviced for the lease period.
Should last her the rest of her life.

 

[Tomtint]

Local dealers here ( ford/chevy) have inventory on the lots. Their parking lots are filling up again. Not to the levels of pre covid..But there's definitely options.

 

[Oaktree]

Local dealers here ( ford/chevy) have inventory on the lots. Their parking lots are filling up again. Not to the levels of pre covid..But there's definitely options.

Dodge/Ram too. Mostly full size trucks, not much else.

 

[Gem99ultra]

My wife’s 2006 SUV blew its tranny in Dec so we went shopping for a 2022 Chevy Silverado in Jan. Most dealers were several thousand over MSRP. But our local dealer that we have bought all our cars from since 1991 was $2000 under MSRP. He said it was about building relationships, not making a quick buck. Glad I have been a loyal customer for all these years. Still waiting for the truck to arrive, was told it started being built last week.

Hurray to your dealer! He's that 1 in a mil. I'd make it a point to buy every car I ever needed from that guy. He's the kind of dealer (and good man too) that I've been looking for for a lot of years, with no luck.

 

[RustyA]

Well, it's been almost 10 months since we bought the 2019 Ford Edge ST. It's a very nice vehicle and it's awesome in the snow, even with the low-profile summer tires. I was quite surprised how sure footed it was on slick roads and how well it went up our steep hill. It's much better than my old 93 full sized Bronco was on our hill, and I'd say it's got better traction than my wife's old awd Honda Crosstour had. We did overpay (cash) for it but a few thousand dollars gets less painful every year you own it. It's very nice looking, fast, and fun to drive. The stereo is premium and it's got every option I could dream up and some I didn't know existed. My wife really likes it and that's the most important thing I guess. Next fall we will put some winter rated tires on it and it will be a beast in the snow.

When it's time for tires see if Goodyear offers their winteready tires in your size. They are a winter rated tire you can leave on all year. Not cheap but great in snow and no fall/spring tire swap.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I was thinking about these @ $400 per tire:

CROSSCLIMATE2 - SIZE: 265/40R21​

Grand Touring All-Season

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=CrossClimate2&partnum=64VR1CC2XL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Ford&autoYear=2019&autoModel=Edge%20ST%20AWD&autoModClar=Standard%20Brakes

 

[Tomtint]

My wife’s 2006 SUV blew its tranny in Dec so we went shopping for a 2022 Chevy Silverado in Jan. Most dealers were several thousand over MSRP. But our local dealer that we have bought all our cars from since 1991 was $2000 under MSRP. He said it was about building relationships, not making a quick buck. Glad I have been a loyal customer for all these years. Still waiting for the truck to arrive, was told it started being built last week.

That's nice to hear that you have a dealer who wasn't a ***** during the last few months of "irrational exuberance " in the frothy auto market.
For close to 20 years I have been a loyal customer to a Ford dealer.. probably bought 15+\~ vehicles from them in those years and inevitably gave them front line ready High quality trades in that time. The past 18-24 months we bought 3 vehicles.. went to them first to buy out a lease that was ending.. they tried to stick us for an extra 4K over the residual ..citing "market value" ..I politely them no and the process was done with a friend who is a used car dealer. Then we were buying a 90k+ sticker price F450.. I get it, they are somewhat hard to find, I was willing to pay him sticker for it..they said they needed 20k over... I then not so politely told them to F off. Last straw was another lease they tried to bend me over on when we were trying to buy it out. They wanted 4500 plus their 699.00 "doc" fee over the original residual that was on the lease contract. ..That was the final straw and they have lost a customer, My advice is to remember who these dealers were that were ****** during this time, it's going to change.. don't reward their bad behavior with your hard earned dollars.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

This year will be different. Dealers of all vehicles will be brought back to reality

 

[Oaktree]

Last straw was another lease they tried to bend me over on when we were trying to buy it out. They wanted 4500 plus their 699.00 "doc" fee over the original residual that was on the lease contract. ..That was the final straw and they have lost a customer, My advice is to remember who these dealers were that were ****** during this time, it's going to change.. don't reward their bad behavior with your hard earned dollars.

Those doc fees stick in my craw too. Didn't realize that those had gone sky high recently. Dunno about your state, but in mine the title application is done thru the DMV, total ripoff for them to charge that much money just to type up the application...might take them all of 5 minutes to do. Last 2 vehicles I bought were in a neighboring state where they didn't even have my state's forms, tried to charge me anyway. Told them it was a deal killer if they didn't drop those fees. This was pre-covid, and it was still a buyers market so they folded. I would have walked if they didn't.

This year will be different. Dealers of all vehicles will be brought back to reality

We can only hope. Dealers are slimy enough in the best of times, the last couple years have brought out the worst. Used car lots are even worse.
Unfortunately, the game is rigged, and if the manufacturers intentionally keep the supply low customers don't have a lot of choice.