ADM fatigue may have finally occurred.

[AndrewinMD]

Wow I has a 2013 Honda CRZ hybrid. Same engine as the Fit. Had 250K on it before I wrecked it. I has to replace the cat at 230K. Except for regular maintenance only repair the car ever needed. I hope my Mav will be as reliable as that

I know -- I bought Honda thinking it would be reliable. However, I found out after the problems started that the 2015 and early 2016 models of the Fit have ALL sorts of problems. My sister-in-law has a 2012 or '13 that has been rock solid, so I was quite dismayed. VW has treated me well though, since my wife has been driving a Tiguan for 6 years without any issues except for her trashing her tires on a couple occasions!

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[T McG]

Anyone know when shovels hit the ground for the new Ford battery and microchip plants here in America?

I live close to battery plant in KY. Drove by there this week. Huge sawdust piles from tree clearing. Earthmovers parked there and waiting to start.

 

[JASmith]

Actually, what they have "literally" set up is a trade association -- specifically the National Automobile Dealers Association -- which "represents all franchised new-car dealers — domestic and import — before Congress, federal agencies, the media and the general public."

So the people whose trade it is to run a dealership decided to work together as a group and each pay fees to collectivize their bargaining power for financial gain.... so basically what pretty much every union does, lol!

Its not really ironic, unions are about promoting self-interest at the cost of others, so the fact that they both do the same thing really isn't that surprising. Dealer unions try to stop outside competition just like the UAW tries to stop "scabs" from competing equally for those jobs.

 

[VICKY]

Think about how many new iPhones are purchased for this exact reason? I want to know why a cell phone needs to cost $1000+ dollars? If my iPhone 5 hadn't died, I'd still be using it. I loved that phone!

Clinging on to my iphone 6, the new advertising is they now make a "GREEN" iphone, what is the world coming to?

 

[VICKY]

So in this hypothetical, what happens when all the dealerships have shut down and you need to get your vehicle repaired? I doubt Ford is all that interested in building out the repair network required to service millions of vehicles. Sure Ford wants to sell direct to consumers (more $$ for them) but I doubt they will do it, just because they don't want to run a national repair/maintenance center.

I have only heard stories of how long it takes to get a Tesla repaired, but its not go


GREAT POINT ABOUT WHERE TO GET MY MAVERICK REPAIRED? FYI Real Estate companies going down the same road about attempts to get rid of us and buy online. I guess a new world?

 

[WildHorse]

Are you kidding? You just made the argument that there is potential collusion among automakers to artificially constrain supply to boost prices... and so your solution is to put even more pricing control in the hands of the auto manufacturers? Really? REALLY?

Dealers are selling vehicles at market price (which is over the imaginary MSRP number), resulting in added dealer markups. To not do so would literally be leaving money on the table.

Do you think the automakers are going to out of some sense of altruism or moral righteousness decide "well we don't want to make too much money and be greedy, lets sell our cars for less than the market commands". I don't see it happening. The manufacturers aren't any less money hungry than dealers. SInce many (all?) are publicly traded they're actually legally obligated to maximize profits.

Considering these are the same people you just suggested wouldn't be opposed to illegal price fixing I have no faith those are same people who will bring prices back down to normal.

I'd keep the discussion in the context of the discussion, not argue for the sake of argument. Yes, auto makers may do bad things you talked. But does adding an extra layer of dealership solve the issues you wee talking about?

Your points only wake if you think adding dealership is the most cost-effective way for anti-trust. I wouldn't think the majority will agree on that. I prefer market competition and technology progress.

 

[DryHeat]

So the people whose trade it is to run a dealership decided to work together as a group and each pay fees to collectivize their bargaining power for financial gain.... so basically what pretty much every union does, lol!

I realize that you are struggling mightily to make "union" mean what you want it to mean.

I applaud your tenacity. But anyone who is really interested can click on the definition links in my previous post to learn the differences between worker's trade unions and businesses' trade associations.

Still, if you want to use the word "union" to describe business organizations that lobby for right-to-work laws, increased EV subsidies, or lower corporate taxes, well... no one can stop you. They might wonder why you are doing it -- as do I -- but they can't stop you.

 

[JASmith]

Still, if you want to use the word "union" to describe business organizations that lobby for right-to-work laws, increased EV subsidies, or lower corporate taxes, well... no one can stop you. They might wonder why you are doing it -- as do I -- but they can't stop you.

Thank you for your permission to exercise free-speech. I know word-smithing is really important to some people, I just don't subscribe to all that. Dwarf vs little-person, addict vs substance-abuser, vagrant vs unestablished resident, association vs union are really the same thing in practice and everyone knows what you're talking about, but some get really worked up if you don't use the preferred terminology, lol!

 

[JennyJoannSuebeeMcNash]

Clinging on to my iphone 6, the new advertising is they now make a "GREEN" iphone, what is the world coming to?

Love the pic of your dog! What breed?

 

[DryHeat]

Thank you for your permission to exercise free-speech. I know word-smithing is really important to some people, I just don't subscribe to all that. Dwarf vs little-person, addict vs substance-abuser, vagrant vs unestablished resident, association vs union are really the same thing in practice and everyone knows what you're talking about, but some get really worked up if you don't use the preferred terminology, lol!

You're entirely welcome!

And by the way, I totally believe that you used the word "union" to describe the NADA only because you are strong individual who laughs in the face of precision. (Is this where I put the "LOL"?)

 

[CRICH]

It’s all up to the buyer. I have purchased 3 cars since the shortage and have not paid a adm. if they ask for one I say no thanks and move on. It’s been my experience that half of them call me after and say “we have a today only special msrp “

 

[CRICH]

Unrelated but funny note. Selling my house and had 1 offer at asking. I said great. I only needed one. Realtor said wait. Told them highest and best by Wednesday. The buyer upped his offer 40 k. It really made me see sometimes we mentally create a bigger demand than exists at this point.

 

[Vols44]

Not to sidetrack this never-ending argument, but this is a strange use of the word "union." And an even stranger use of the phrase "unions set up by comrades."

The people who own car dealerships are just that... owners. They are not workers, not members of any kind of union, and certainly not "comrades." They are business owners who have created trade associations to change laws to benefit themselves, not the workers and not the customers. You should call what they and their lobbyists are doing by its rightful name -- crony capitalism.

I know many people like to blame things on unions -- I see a lot of that on this forum. But calling a bunch of car dealership owners a "union set up by comrades" is an incredible stretch.

I totally agree with your perspective on unions. Since organized labor comprises less than 10% of the workforce 90% of the ignorance on the overall benefits the UAW, Uniform and their brothers and sisters directly and indirectly provide labor and communities is understandable.

Outsiders "always" know more than insiders. FWIW, there are no organized employees on the assembly lines at Hermosillo.

 

[Ridakov]

Pretty simple, just keep the car you have now. Always financially smarter to keep and fix than buy new anyway.

Here in the rust belt…. You can fix mechanicals all day long, but eventually, can’t fix the rotted shock tower supports, body mounts, and actual holes in floor pans.

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