Article, Ford loses its last cheap vehicle to tariffs

[Surly Old Bill]

Inflation due to unstable economic future is a cruel taskmaster. Especially when you have a government doing all it can to increase costs through various market regulations, restrictions, and added taxes (aka tariffs). I suspect the weekly random changes to restrictions and fees with no real evident plan will result in a global economic situation worse than the supply chain issues of early CV19, possibly going beyond global "recession" into global "depression". Hopefully I'm wrong.

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[Hunters Edge]

It's not automotive related but in a way it is. This article suggests once tested, American made because of cost increase didn't sell.

So ask yourself, would you pay 85% more for the exact same thing if the only difference was made in America vs another country?

https://www.businessinsider.com/afina-shower-head-founder-tests-paying-more-american-made-2025-5

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

It's not automotive related but in a way it is. This article suggests once tested, American made because of cost increase didn't sell.

So ask yourself, would you pay 85% more for the exact same thing if the only difference was made in America vs another country?

https://www.businessinsider.com/afina-shower-head-founder-tests-paying-more-american-made-2025-5

Which is a real shame. It just goes to show how few people consider their jobs/livelihoods as being tied to the manufacturing sector in this country.

HRG

 

[Silly Willy]

Last 2 F150's bought new and had over 200,000 on both before selling and purchasing a new replacement. High mileage used vehicles seem to be a norm now. Definitely more difficult to find a low mileage used vehicle unless they are turning in a lease.

It's true cars may get 200000 miles today but the computers only get 36001. Big bucks to replace.

 

[JetFixxxer]

https://www.thestreet.com/automotive/ford-loses-its-last-cheap-vehicle-to-tariffs

Lose cheap vehicle to greed and tariffs.

 

[Hunters Edge]

Which is a real shame. It just goes to show how few people consider their jobs/livelihoods as being tied to the manufacturing sector in this country.

HRG

That's not necessary true. It's unfortunate but items being imported are handled, shipped etc. It boils down that many more struggle to survive and does not have a silver spoon. When it comes to price many have to decide to buy food or pharmacy drugs, many lose their homes as well. So I can't justify one or the other but I can see why cost can be a deciding factor.

 

[Hunters Edge]

It's true cars may get 200000 miles today but the computers only get 36001. Big bucks to replace.

That is debatable. All things break and computers just like anything else are not unbreakable. Moisture is probably the biggest destruction to electronic components.

I talked to my cousin recently and he told me he had two vehicles that the factory radio quit working. These are older vehicles not under warranty. Still I've had a lot of vehicles in my lifetime and never had a factory radio stop working. So it may have something do to perspective. I'm sure he doesn't put much into a factory radio LOL.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Which is a real shame. It just goes to show how few people consider their jobs/livelihoods as being tied to the manufacturing sector in this country.

HRG

The USA mainly a post-industrial economy, which means it's more advanced than other parts of the world. The comparison would be an industrial economy compared to an agricultural economy about 100-200 years ago. The countries that are still in the industrial phase are better suited for manufacturing, which is why products made in those countries are so much less expensive than those made in a post-industrial country. CAD/CAM has made the difference in quality of mfg almost indistinguishable between a "poor" country and a "rich" country, it's mainly a competition about who can make the widget faster and cheaper, since the quality is all about the same (for the exact same product). A difference appears with the DESIGN and engineering of a product, which once established can be made anywhere in the world.

Sure, a post-industrial country can and does benefit from having some factories making goods, but it is much less of a percentage of the economy than countries still in the industrial phase, and the goods will be much more expensive due to the labor laws and regulations in place in the wealthier post-industrial country. No American wants to work in a factory for $5/hour with zero benefits, but that is GOOD MONEY in some countries. And almost every other civilized country has national healthcare and other benefits provided just for being a citizen, regardless of where you work; so pay doesn't need to be higher for the worker to purchase these things. There are more factors in play than just annual income.

Thus, Ford having the Maverick made in Mexico was a very good business plan, as is sourcing foreign-made parts for assembly within USA. Everyone wins. Until tariffs.

 

[Hunters Edge]

Lose cheap vehicle to greed and tariffs.

You are probably correct. Then again they are in business to make money not to go bankrupt. Seeing it's a public trading company they need to show profitablity to keep and increase shareholders. It's a fine line but look at the money lost in EV, then who do you think is paying for all those recalls? So yes I'm sure greed has something to do with it as well. Right now the biggest issue today is covering mandatory tariffs.

It may just be they have overpriced the Maverick and they may loose their share of the market. Only time will tell. Already before this increase sales are less than 24 but some of that can be attributed to economics (less buyers in general)

 

[Ozarkbeard]

Hope mine never gets totaled. They dol like to crunch.

It's better that it crunches than you.

 

[d7602002]

I remember that song from like 1982...

Tariff don't like it.... Rock the Casbah...

 

[Huchipapa]

yep - there are and will soon be opportunists who jack up prices and blame it all on tariffs. Some news report about how the price of flowers has 'skyrocketed' for Mother's day due to tariffs - lots of flowers get imported - when the interviewer asked the flower shop owner how much the flowers has increased she said oh about 50 percent - when the interviewer pressed her and said well the tariffs on the import of them is only 10 percent then why are you raising them 50 percent she searched for an answer like oh well you know the wrapping and the pots - it all adds up. Yeah it adds up to taking advantage of the situation and making up fake prices.

Correct. Similar to the pandemic related shortages in '20-'22. And the "to go" counter at my local deli is still asking for tips....

 

[huunvubu]

I can tell you that cars today outlast anything I’ve owned in the past. Not to long ago people would avoid cars with 100k plus miles on them. Let’s not pretend or rewrite history and believe that old cars lasted longer. It’s almost common now for vehicles to still be perfectly fine after 200k not 100k.

TRUE

My 1998 Ford Ranger XLT lasted 16 years and 2 months

My 1987 Mazda 626 lasted 11 years and 1 month

Wife's Honda 2009 CR-V Ex lasted 15 years and 9 months

My 2015 Honda Fit Ex lasted 7 years and 1 months and was only sold early when I purchased my 2022 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid

None of these vehicles ever had an extended warranty

 

[Cherokee]

High mileage to me will always be above a quarter million.
My dad got his 1970 Cadillac to 150,000 before it started burning too much oil.
We all were impressed.

 

[NextTruck]

As if this wasn’t gonna happen anyway. I’m old enough to remember when the maverick was going up in price well before any tariffs were announced.

wish people cared this much when it was massive spending causing inflation to cause prices to rise.

Exactly. People are acting like the Maverick starting price was still $20,000 three months ago until tariffs came around.

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