When will crazy new car prices drop?

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

When will crazy new car prices drop?

1965CS · Guru

People don't seem to think it's a big deal to make that $800+ / month for 7 or 8 years. I for one don't get it.

CdnGMfan · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

In spite of the high prices I still see lots of people driving around in high-end cars. Leasing puts people in cars that they can't afford.

A lot of people must be carrying a lot of debt. I don't know how they sleep at night.

The cost of wages, taxes, shipping, utilities, insurance, raw materials, plus the costs of developing new platforms powered by batteries, the cost of crash / fuel economy / emissions testing adds to the bottom line. COVID really screwed up the supply chain and we have never really gone back to pre-COVID ways.

We found the bill of sale for mom's brand new 1971 VW. $1800 special out the door. Of course minimum wage was 25¢.

Prefectca · Poncho Master!

There have been a couple of videos on YouTube of people walking around dealer lots and there are still unsold 2023 vehicles. One lot still had a new 2022! The sticker prices are obscene, many over $100,000 for a pickup or suv. It will be worse in Canada as our dollar is still dropping in relation to the U.S. dollar. I dont know what dealers are going to do. Very few people can afford to buy. I can see dealers of new cars disappearing due to the economy.

Greaser · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

"We found the bill of sale for mom's brand new 1971 VW. $1800 special out the door. Of course minimum wage was 25¢."

In 1971 I worked on the production line at the Chrysler plant in Windsor which was building Dodge Darts, Plymouth Valiants and Satellites. My pay was $5.80 an hour......with Saturday overtime the whole 2 years I worked there.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

According to the Bank of Canada Inflation Calculator that $1800 VW in 1971 would be $13737 in 2024. Is there a new VW you can buy for $13737 today?

CdnGMfan · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

See what a great value the air-cooled Beetle was? It didn't use coolant or an oil filter and was that era's Model T that could practically be fixed by bailing wire. It was the first car for many folks.

You can't build a car like that and sell it here today because of the reams of continually updated standards that must be met. Even the Bug's flat windshield is outlawed.

Gillis · Addicted!

I am able to write my vehicle off due to work. If I was not able to do that I would be driving an old 4x4 square body. The prices are out to lunch and I would never in a million years be buying a new vehicle if I could not write it off.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

The days of buying a new vehicle went away with retirement. I'll admit, when working, the question we asked ourselves was how much a month can we swing.

It was all about the payment.

Dave Rose · Addicted!

I always drove an older vehicle -and got the wifes hand me downs sometimes -she always had the new vehicle-but drove them over 10 years-our last vehicle we bought was a 2020 Equinox-and my 2006 G6 with over 300k still ran great but the body was rusty so last year at this time I started looking for a new vehicle for myself I could not beleive the prices-I ended up getting a new 2024 Trax LT for 28K-I can put the back seat down to fit any parts in-great on gas 3 cylinder-oh well-I would love a pick up but it would of been double the price for just a base model-my buddy has a original paint -44,00km 86 square body he wants 26K for-but I wouldn't want to drive it in the salty roads we have here in winter-walk along a dealers lot on a Sunday so you won't be bothered and count all the vehicles over 100k-mind boggling!
Keep on Cruising!
Dave

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

CdnGMfan wrote:
See what a great value the air-cooled Beetle was? It didn't use coolant or an oil filter and was that era's Model T that could practically be fixed by bailing wire. It was the first car for many folks.

You can't build a car like that and sell it here today because of the reams of continually updated standards that must be met. Even the Bug's flat windshield is outlawed.

In my opinion that's the crux of the matter. We've been regulated to death in the name of safety, efficiency, and low emissions. While I do believe in and like the low emissions aspect, I can't help but think that we've gone a little overboard on everything else, not to mention all the electronic crap that every vehicle is loaded with nowadays. Nanny systems, touch screens, and "features" that do stuff that I don't need or want them to do... all resulting in things like "chip" shortages crippling production worldwide, as we have recently experienced.

Maybe I'm going to sound over-nostalgic now, but I grew up in the days where safety equipment was collapsible steering columns, seat belts, and padded dashes. Luxury items were air conditioning and power windows. I don't recall feeling any less safe, nor do I remember people being less happy then. In fact, I will go out on a limb and say that generally people were happier then, and life just seemed to be a little less intense then. Probably just nostalgia, though.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

I agree with Mark. I often see much simpler vehicles produced and sold by companies in other countries and think "Man, that would sell like hotcakes here".

unruhjonny · Guru

I have read that many people these days are living above their means - which to me is the only explanation for how many people are driving new vehicles.

I have also read that the average "american" is carrying $60k(?) in credit card debt... for those of you who might be like "hey, we're Canadian, not American!", I didn't capitalize the word, because I have come to understand that no matter which side of the 49th parallel you live on, we have more in common than what separates us.

In my opinion government has been way too involved in the automotive business;
Cars are bloated with extra electronics, all which add expense, and WILL fizzle out...

Cars are being built now with:

Way too much electronics
almost nothing is mechanical
engineered to expire/fall apart

Look for comparison at the cars we all love the most:

NO electronics
ALL mechanical
built to last

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Add to that:

Unique proprietary electronic parts that are only made for a fixed period and require programming from the dealership. After those parts are gone, youre out of luck.

Vs mechanical parts that were in most cases common across many lines and many model years, were easily rebuildable and/or easily manufactured by the aftermarket as replacement parts that most backyard mechanics could install on their own using a common set of tools. Or, your local neighbourhood repair shop could fix it in their two-bay garage for a reasonable price.

Times have changed.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Our local independant shop ("Dougie") can't do some brake jobs anymore as the factory scan tool is required to open up the electric parking brake in order to remove the pads.

Late model Dodge Rams are one of them. He can "subscribe" to the special software from Stellantis. He applied for it months ago and is still waiting for it.

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Canadian Poncho wrote:
Our local independant shop ("Dougie") can't do some brake jobs anymore as the factory scan tool is required to open up the electric parking brake in order to remove the pads.
Late model Dodge Rams are one of them. He can "subscribe" to the special software from Stellantis. He applied for it months ago and is still waiting for it.

Todd, when I was working in the automotive world, we purchased a scan tool by Autel that would do all of these type of dealer proprietary functions for many brands. Not sure if it would do that specific operation for that specific vehicle, but I was surprised by how much it could do and how well it could do it, and IIRC we did have to pay a subscription fee to keep the software up to date, but it could be something that Dougie might want to look into if hes finding that hes losing business because of stuff like this.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Thanks. I'll let him know about that scan tool. I enjoy visiting Dougie as he always has a good story about late model rigs that come into his shop with expensive problems. Lots of engine failures!

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

CBC showed an Autel tool widely used to steal push button start vehicles. It was intended for Locksmiths, but found its way to thieves.

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

DonSSDD wrote:
CBC showed an Autel tool widely used to steal push button start vehicles. It was intended for Locksmiths, but found its way to thieves.

They must get the job done, if the thieves prefer them.

I think we need to up the jail time without parole for stealing cars... and add an extra year in jail for each additional car you steal. Then the thieves might go somewhere else where they can get away with it more easily.

The car companies need to do something differently when it comes to how easy it has become for these guys to gain access. Surely with all the tech available now, there has to be something that can be done to fix this. Maybe rewrite the software such that the car can detect a device being used for this... not sure, it's above my pay grade, but this is crazy... especially going back to the thread topic of how much cars cost and how much electronic nonsense is in them now.

66 Beau · Poncho Master!

A third pedal would probably stump 95% of auto thieves.

I could not agree more with your comments. I dont think you can buy a car/truck today without AC, PW, PDL, PS, ABS, Traction control, lane assist, adaptive cruise, 9 speaker stereo, 8 air bags, touch screen, heated (cooled) power seats etc. Many of the vehicles you can buy have most of the hardware pre-installed for these options. Pay your money and they simply activate it in the software. Dump all the wiring and sensors and stepper motors and related pieces and vehicles should be lighter and cheaper. $100,000 plus for a work pickup is nuts. No wonder a house costs $1,000,000 to build.

The engine control systems are pretty incredible though. 400+ horsepower, normally aspirated, 30+ mpg and very often 300,000+ Kms. But realistically, 200 HP would work for almost all my daily driving (including my pickup), especially if I could get it in a car weighing less than 2500 lbs. And the 50 to 60 mpg I would have big impacts. Whod need EVs?

68sd396rag · Poncho Master!

I just commented on the above to my wife last night-when was the last time you saw a new car without power windows-some people would honestly be stumped as to what to do to roll the window down if it had crank handle.laugh all you want-try asking a teenager these days how to use a dial phone or better yet to drive a standard transmission car.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Ive heard kids ask parents whats that while pointing at the window crank.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

My winter beater 09 Accent has crank windows (and manual locks and no AC).

CdnGMfan · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Anybody remember the Hyundai Pony? It had a points ignition in 1984/85, plus a manual choke. Now there's a throwback. I can't remember if the boss's new 1986 Hyundai Stellar had a manual choke, as I was going back & forth between Hyundais, but it sure was gutless with an automatic.

The original Austin Mini was the lowest dollar buy out there over a long period. They were dropped from the U.S. after the 67s but in Canada they sold them through the 1980 model year. And beyond, as I remember a batch of brand new 1980 MGBs, possibly 1981 TR7s, and 1980 Minis, sitting all pretty on a paved lot in Burlington at the Jaguar-Rover-Triumph headquarters in 1982.

Dad used to go for what mom described as, "Four wheels and a roof." It was almost embarrassing. The morning we watched out our big picture window to see in daylight what dad came home with brand new last night, only to see our neighbours directly across from us doing the very same thing. The neighbours stared at our car, we stared at theirs. Dad had a bottom of the line Biscayne that essentially had nothing. Bob Dawson across the street had a brand new Buick Wildcat 4-door hardtop. I'll never forget it. 250 c.i.d. vs. 455. We'd win on economy, but the Buick wins on everything else.

full 70 Buick Wildcat Hardtop Sedan.jpg

The funny thing is many Wildcats had manual windows. A/C really didn't start getting popular until the mid-70s, and even then it didn't reach 90% installation rate until the late 80s or so.

timbuk · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

friend bought a 2020 tuscon new loaded in 2019 40k plus 4700 warranty just blew con rod bearings at 120k alot of junk out there expensive junk