Beads of sweat start to form.
Dollar signs. Bills. Lots of money flowing into that great abyss known as repair costs.
Does this car have a blown head gasket? Are the valves bent?
Did I really betray my enthusiast bent and ignore a little problem until it became big?
In much of the undeveloped world, wealth and poverty have a permanence for individuals. The governments own or subsidize the most lucrative businesses. Access to credit and capital is scant for the average citizen. Food resources are a priority, and higher education is often times solely for the wealthy and well-connected.
It’s hard to build a good life when corruption, bribery, and the ‘thug mentality’ are a big part of daily life. Arab Springs, Civil Wars, Fascisms of every stripe. The aftermath of allying with all these dictatorships and other criminal organizations is a culture that preys on weakness.
What does this have to do with cars? Everything and then some, sad to say. Let me introduce you to two groups that epitomize everything I see in this business as a car dealer here in the United States.
The engine just didn’t seem right… at least that’s what they said.
“Ma’am. I think you’re going to need a full tune-up. It’s going to be $487.38.”
“But this Volvo 240 just had the work done 10,000 miles ago?”
“It’s due ma’am. Sorry.”
(Sigh!)
My 1994 Toyota Camry managed to get 291,000 before it fell off the face of the Earth.
Did it become crusher fodder? Was it exported to a new and exciting life in the developing world? Or will Murilee someday find it among a junkyard menagerie of all too rare two door Camrys?
I wish I knew. I miss it. Neil Young’s, “Long May You Run” sometimes makes me yearn for that kinder, simpler machine.
The music starts. A pulsating display of automotive brilliance comes through the screen and draws you into the moment.
The car… is perfect.
The person driving the car… is Wow!
The music.. the action… the excitement… (Read More…)
The Interior Of A True Carver Cruiser. Only $240,000!
Atlanta traffic is an absolute bear.
Bumper to bumper… to endless bumpers. For much of my commuting and scooting through the ATL, I have to deal with an endless assortment of highway construction projects, rubberneckers and the esteemed species of driver that doesn’t use their turn signal.
It’s easy to get annoyed in this type of environment. Yet I still chug along in a small first generation Honda Insight.
Maybe I have become a glutton for punishment in my middle age. But I do like the handling and don’t get too bothered by the noise. When I do find a winding one lane road, it’s a surprisingly decent ‘carver’. A cruiser? Not so much.
So what about you? Do you prefer a car that can find its prime in the twisties… even if your road is usually straight? Or do you prefer the sound of silence and the ambience of luxurious detachment?
The slings and arrows of European parts and service can be a real eye opener.
Strong Euros (for now). Weak dealer service networks. A penchant for complexity and electronic doo-dads. European cars may be fashionable among those folks who are seeking a step up in prestige and driving excitement. But they often cost a heckuva lot more to maintain as well.
Enthusiast forums can often be the sole source of solace and salvation when a European car begins to deteriorate. As for longevity, these vehicles can require a strong DIY mentality once the brief honeymoon period of no repairs is breached.
Independent shops? They may not have the software updates or the unique fixes of the dealers. The ones that don’t specialize in the vagaries of that model may not know the ultimate answers to a complex problem. While the ones that do specialize can charge you dearly for the privileged information and convenience.
Dealerships? Pricey no matter what. Even those who are supposed to represent ‘The People’s Car’ can still charge upwards of $100+ an hour in labor. As for parts, often times the one needed may cost a multiple of other sources. Let’s not even mention the unexpected software update that can often add upwards of a four figured sum to the cost of ownership.
No car is perfect. But European cars have a reputation for a reason. Would you buy one used, at market prices, without the golden parachute of a warranty? Even for a year or two? If so, what would it be?
There are certain types of vehicles that we will likely never drive between now and forever.
As an American stuck in the bureaucratic mess that is federal safety regulations, I will likely never have a kei car or an Ariel Atom in my garage. Europeans, in turn, may never enjoy the wonders of the last generation Ford Taurus X, or the non-pedestrian friendly Lincoln Town Car with its bulbous instead of flattish bumper.
Then we have those motorized chariots that many believe should be wiped off the face of the Earth. Environmentalists are stereotypically considered to be hateful of SUV’s. Young folks can often times hate the full-sized boats of the modern day. Elderly folks are considered to have an aversion towards hard riding sports cars. And though plenty of convertibles are available in today’s market, precious few folks ever put one anywhere close to their shopping list.
Sometimes it’s hate. Other times it’s a practical concern. Then there are those market segments that have been crossed off our list due to innumerable years of torturous experiences.
So let me ask you, what market segment could you live without?
Note: For those who have asked other writers and editors at TTAC, I can be reached directly at steve.lang@thetruthaboutcars.com .
Every auto journalist that is worth a damn in this business has a bit of brand bias.
Passion always leads to prejudice.
I consider it a good thing, that occasionally needs to be kept in check. There have been times where I’ve written a car review and had to re-evaluate my thoughts.
“Would I be criticizing this model’s weaknesses so sternly if another emblem was on the front of it?”
The car may have been boring, or exceptional, or simply be good without anything noteworthy to report about it. The hardest vehicle to write about is almost always the first one mentioned. The boring one. Which is why most veteran auto journalists despise having to write about full-sized SUV’s.
Those vehicles I could easily live without. But as for companies…
Long commutes. Traffic. Inane articulations on the radio. Most folks see driving as little more than a chore in between all the fun things in life.
Auto enthusiasts pretend to be the exact opposite of this. But I’m not so sure. When it comes to getting that feeling of pure exhiliration on the road vs. enjoying the penurious plenitude of a frugal ride, many car guys tend to opt towards the cost side of the equation.
The love cars. But money takes precedence.
So imagine if you could enjoy zero transportation costs. No gas. No insurance. No purchasing costs, depreciation expense, ad valorem taxes, matinenance, repairs… not a single penny of expense.
Sounds good right, Well, here is the flip side of the deal.
When over 60 dealers are looking at the same vehicle at the same time, your chances of a finding a good deal at an auction decline dramatically.
That 2009 Nissan Versa that you like? At least five large-scale buy-here pay-here dealers will be fighting for it along with two other wholesalers that have a warm relationship with a Nissan dealer.
The scuffed up low-end Impala with over 200k on it? A public auction on the south side of town will be all over that. As will many other used car dealers who finance older vehicles in the urban areas of Atlanta. Don’t even think about buying that car as a cash flipper these days; because financing is the new elixir of older, popular used cars.
But an 11 year old Buick? Midsized? Unpopular? Well cared for? That’s my niche!
Dad: Douglas?
Son: Can you call me Doug?
Dad: Maybe in the next life Douglas. Listen. I am very proud of you for the good grades in college. You’re really applying yourself. So I’m going to match your funds and help you buy a car.
Son: You’re kidding! You realize that my savings are well into the four figures these days and not the three.
Dad: Yes. And you realize that I am going to expect to have some authority over what you buy.
Son: You mean veto power.
Dad: And then some…
Manufacturers rarely realize where their best opportunities lie. Case in point, Think about the overload of SUV’s that were offered in North America by 2005. Everyone had one. Even sports car companies were getting in on the act. Likewise, the $50,000 mid-level convertible market now has more manufacturers competing in it than the minivan […]
By the time you read this, a collective sigh of relief from all of Harvard Square (and most of Boston) will have already deafened your ears.
Tom & Ray are ending their radio show, Cartalk, after 25 years of amusing and entertaining our fair nation.
Thank you Tom & Ray. For thousands of shows, hundreds of new insights, and two Ben & Jerry’s ice cream bars I never paid you for.
Looking back at our first meeting…
While vacationing in the land of neverending chotchkies and kitsch, I came across Jack Baruth’s recent article on Captivas.
This second-tier Chevrolet is getting a stiff price premium at the auctions these days for two simple reasons.
1) GM is willing to throw more financing at this vehicle than it’s actually worth… at least the first 50 coming through their auctions.
2) There will likely be at least 50 people willing to pay that premium, and then some. Just to have any late model vehicle.
The first reason is nothing more than an old trick used by manufacturers for decades on end at the auctions. Limit supply. Finance aggressively. Hope that the ever larger loads of off-lease and rental vehicles that follow can hit a similar price premium.
Other than a few early victories, the manufacturer has to bow down to the limits of their dealer network and financing arm. Then the independent dealers enter the fray and the price finds an equilibrum that may yield profits for everyone. From the bean counters, to the shareholders, to the consumers. Everyone wins!
Except, in GM’s unique case, the Captiva has been a fleet-only vehicle. Which brings on the question. Do fleet-only models make sense?
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