Best option for car shoppers: Postpone buying

[steve2470]

http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-buying-20110522,0,5320016.story?track=rss

Attention all car buyers: The era of cut-rate financing, generous cash-back offers and big discounts is coming to an end.

With the effects of the earthquake in Japan rippling through the industry and causing shortages, prices are rising for both new and used cars, and fewer models and options will be available come summer, especially for the hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles that Japan produces.

That's prompted many experts to voice something rarely said in the sales-happy auto industry: With consumers facing the toughest market in recent memory, if you can, put off purchases until things sort out, probably early next year.

"If you don't have an immediate need, you are probably better to wait and figure out where the market is headed," said Jesse Toprak, an analyst with auto information company TrueCar.com.

[Obamanaut]

1. Buyers might consider one of the fuel efficient models by US manufacturers,

made right here in the US of A.

The earthquake in Japan does not necessarily bring car buying here to a standstill.

[FLAprogressive]

3. +1

[Lasher]

4. The transmission in that American-built car might come from Japan.

Many consumers looking to buy an American-built vehicle are having a hard time finding one that's assembled here with 100-percent American-built components. That’s because it's actually impossible, at least if you’re talking about buying a car from the major carmakers.

http://autos.aol.com/article/is-your-car-really-american/

[FLAprogressive]

6. No American car company sources its transmissions from Japan but nice try.

GM may source transmissions from Korea...but no company that I know of sources transmissions from Japan.

No car is 100% "American".

[Lasher]

13. I linked a supporting article. I guess I have to read it for you too.

For example, while Jeep's Patriot may be built in Belvedere, Ill., its transmissions originate in Mexico, Japan and Germany.

For the Cadillac CTS assembled in Lansing, Mich., several engines originate in Canada and Mexico, and the transmissions for various models in the CTS range come from Japan, France, Mexico, and the U.S.

I shall eagerly await your groveling apology.

[FLAprogressive]

18. I'm not apologizing for your attempt to smear the American auto industry.

[Obamanaut]

7. According to the article that you provided, the transmissions come from

a multitude of places, with Japan only being mentioned once that I could find

"...For the Cadillac CTS assembled in Lansing, Mich., several engines originate in Canada and Mexico, and the transmissions for various models in the CTS range come from Japan, France, Mexico, and the U.S...."

So it looks like, to me, that the earthquake in Japan would not affect a car buyer who wants a new car, especially one from a US auto maker.

One can still buy a fuel efficient domestic auto. No worries. Thanks for the link that helped to prove my point.

[Lasher]

14. Japan is mentioned twice.

And the article is not a comprehensive list of all foreign parts used in US-assembled cars. It just mentions examples.

[Obamanaut]

15. Ooh, I missed a mention. However, you stated that the transmission

*might* have come from Japan. And then you provided this:

“…Mexico, Japan and Germany…”


“…Japan, France, Mexico, and the U.S….”


Notice, if you will, how many other places they *might* have come from as well. With that, why oh why should we think that our influx of transmissions *might* be affected? That influx might just as easily *not* be affected at all.

And there are the other places they are made to consider. We *might not* be bothered at all, so we can still purchase vehicles made in the US.

[Lasher]

19. Yes, that is correct.

I just wanted to point out a disadvantage of today's globalization. It's hard to know which or how many components of a US-made car are manufactured somewhere else.

[Motown_Johnny]

9. my boss just got a great deal on a 4 cyl. Ranger as an extra truck

just for the gas mileage (landscape business)


No frills at all, even a manual transmission, but great gas mileage compared to our full sized work vehicles.


I think he said ~$450.00 a month for 3 years to pay it off. I didn't get into details but I know he was very happy about the deal, and this guy buys a lot of trucks so I assume he knows a deal when he finds it.

[Shagbark Hickory]

11. But then you'll be in the market for a new car by next year anyway.

[Obamanaut]

16. Not necessarily. My 2005 Merc Sable is still going strong. nt

[bhikkhu]

2. Its definitely bicycle season anyway!

[joshcryer]

5. My next car will be a Tesla Motors car.

Almost all components are made in the USA except for the batteries and carbon fiber panels (which made be made in the USA soon if we can get off our butt and start making our own batteries).

[IDemo]

8. I've been postponing car buying since 1994

No problem.

[SpiralHawk]

10. "Hey, let's cut funding for public transportation!" - Republicons

"This is a great idea whose time has come. Make the little people -- American citizen proles - walk and crawl while we cruise in our limos. Smirk. Sneer."

- Republicons

[Shagbark Hickory]

12. I'm holding off until they actually do something to improve fuel economy.

Besides the way they make pickup trucks now in a one-size fits all, with no choice of options, they aren't giving me any reason to buy a new one.
That's the nice thing about toyotas. If you're not in the mood to buy a new one, you don't have to because the old one will keep on going.

[quiller4]

17. Your "no choice of options" comment puzzles me.

We are content to keep our old truck, a 1995 Ford F150, because it is dependable, meets our needs and was paid off in 1999. However, I was really surprised to see the number of configurations available for the F150 and Ranger lines when we were shopping to replace my 2000 Chrysler Voyager. It was far from a one-size-fits-all marketplace with choices of engine, transmission, drivelines and trim to suit everything from light duty family use to heavy duty commercial applications.

We wound up buying used and I am the happy owner of a 2006 Dodge Stratus with the 4 cyl. engine and under 35,000 miles. I was also happy to discover that BECU was offering such great financing on used as well as new vehicles.

[Shagbark Hickory]

20. Ford is the one exception. The others have made it difficult.

Unfortunately my last car was a ford and I had so much trouble with it. I loved the car (mustang), but what headaches.