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Used car market gets even more bizarre

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Re: Used car market gets even more bizarre

#201

Post by Sophistifunk »

lastofthemojito wrote: post #21
clavalle wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was in the same boat. I usually avoid buying new but used cars are nearly the same price as new (if you can find a dealer that hasn't done ridiculous 'market adjustments'). So we bought new. We had to buy a car that was just off the delivery truck before the dealership had it inspected. The one we'd looked at two days before was long gone and they expected the one we bought to be sold the next day. My neighbor trad…

The narrative earlier in the pandemic was that the reduction in driving was brutal for mechanics as it meant a reduction in need for auto maintenance and repair. Fewer of us are staying at home these days, but it looks like we're still not quite back to pre-pandemic levels of driving[0]. I'd imagine it's probably a bit of a mixed bag for mechanics, depending on what sort of vehicles they specialize in, where they're…

I think GP meant that it's going to be a boon because repairing your car instead of replacing it is becoming a better deal every day.

Re: Used car market gets even more bizarre

#202

Post by mark-r »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #178
arh68 wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope! Many are 2WD (RWD), perhaps even most depending on the area. Some are full-time 4WD, but many have the manual 4WD selector 2H-4H-4L.

Interesting. I assumed they all had the 4WD selector.

It depends on the configuration. My 2007 V8 only came one way with 4H and 4L on the selector.

Re: Used car market gets even more bizarre

#203

Post by ranger_danger »

noduerme wrote: post #129
NDizzle wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Will the insanity pass, though? There's talk of putting cameras in all cars starting in 2026 to prevent... drunk driving[1]?! What's next? I can't be alone in never buying a car that has this feature. [1] https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-11-09/congre...

I still won't even buy a car with GPS. Seems I'm in a vanishing minority. It won't pass, because people born after 1990 have spent their adult lives in a world with surveillance machines in their pockets at all times. Their cars are just big phones. By 2040 you probably won't even be allowed to drive your own vehicle.

Just unplug the GPS/cell antennas if you're that paranoid? Newer cars will not be made without them anyway because they are actually safety features.

Re: Used car market gets even more bizarre

#204

Post by ranger_danger »

emaginniss wrote: post #147
OnlineGladiator wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GPS is a one-way communication. It's really no different from radio in that regard (a signal sent from far away and you have an antenna to read the signal). Unless there's also a cellular modem in your car (which pretty much every modern car has today so I'm not pretending this is unusual) it's impossible for others to monitor your location. You can simply disable the cellular modem and enjoy using GPS without anyone…

Right, but they can access your car later and see all the places you've been.

You could unplug the antenna or replace the head unit.

Re: Used car market gets even more bizarre

#206

Post by UncleOxidant »

Loughla wrote: post #102
hedgehog wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought a RAV4 over the summer. There was no inventory (hint: dealer web sites will lie to you about what's actually available to purchase), I ended up reserving one that hadn't been shipped to the dealer yet and waiting for around a month for it to arrive. Autotrader shows zero of the same trim for sale used within 500 miles so not even sure what it would sell for.

Bought a new Subaru Impreza this spring. We had been saving for a couple years for my (close enough) dream car (wanted the WRX STI, but that maintenance is a real bitch). We have now had 4 calls from the dealership where we bought it offering to buy it back for thousands of dollars more than we paid this spring . So far their best offer was $6500 more than what we paid. It's outrageous.

> So far their best offer was $6500 more than what we paid.

Wow. That would be tempting. I'd probably take an offer like that and just use Uber for trips for a couple of years until all of this blows over.

Re: Used car market gets even more bizarre

#207

Post by dawnerd »

dlmiller wrote: post #2

My car died, needing a new engine, so I was forced to get one in October. I usually only buy used, but prices are so inflated it didn't seem worth the premium. Used 2017-2020 Toyota Rav4's with 30-60k miles were the same price as a new 2021 model, if you could get one. I knew it was bad, but I was shocked of how bad it was. I went to multiple mega dealerships with 500-1000 cars that were all spoken for. Most had 0 ne…

And when you find a car that’s available they all are stacking an extra 10k “market adjustment” on top. It’s a huge scam.

Re: Used car market gets even more bizarre

#208

Post by apcragg »

dawnerd wrote: post #207
dlmiller wrote: post #2

My car died, needing a new engine, so I was forced to get one in October. I usually only buy used, but prices are so inflated it didn't seem worth the premium. Used 2017-2020 Toyota Rav4's with 30-60k miles were the same price as a new 2021 model, if you could get one. I knew it was bad, but I was shocked of how bad it was. I went to multiple mega dealerships with 500-1000 cars that were all spoken for. Most had 0 ne…

And when you find a car that’s available they all are stacking an extra 10k “market adjustment” on top. It’s a huge scam.

That doesn't sound like a scam? Frustrating if you're shopping, but not a scam.

Re: Used car market gets even more bizarre

#209

Post by WalterBright »

csteubs wrote: post #171
sokoloff wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Jumping from only light maintenance to changing a rear main seal is quite the leap!

No better feeling though! Especially when running the numbers post-fix (insert CS joke here) and comparing to shop quotes. I keep spreadsheets for two cars and an older jet ski and I've saved ~$12k this year alone by wrenching solo assuming $100/hr = standard labor rate. I've learned a TON of cross-functional skills, have full control over the parts and repair, and it's just a feel-good way to step away from my desk…

You're quite right about how good it feels to do such work yourself.

Re: Used car market gets even more bizarre

#210

Post by Skunkleton »

RC_ITR wrote: post #176

The real problem will be when supply normalizes, used cars return to their sub-20k wholesale price, and a bunch of people are underwater on bad loans for (once again) depreciating assets. Have fun with that everyone!

I wonder what gap insurance is like these days. I can't imagine that it hasn't gone up in price significantly.
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