Unfortunately I find myself back here as my Benz is about to implode and I need a replacement SUV. So I ended up visiting 4 dealers this weekend to test drive the SUVs on my short list. Of course this was probably the worst time of the month (year?) to visit as everybody and there mother was at the dealer trying to negotiate a deal before the tariffs hit (not to mention end of Q quotas, etc.)
I almost got caught in the frenzy myself but then I paused and said, why rush? The tariffs are not going to hit every vehicle the same (depends on manufacturing location and other factors like parts origin) so better to take some time to find the right solution and work a deal.
Anybody else decide to pass on the weekend rush to beat the tariffs?
I mean, if you really NEEDED a car, I don’t see how waiting would have helped, but I am NOT suggesting that people that don’t need cars go rush to buy them now. I don’t think that’s necessary, but if you needed one, this was probably as good a time as any.
I mean I wanted to hack an i4 and transfer out of my i7 but I just couldn’t find any worthwhile deals (I didn’t look too hard though). I am just going to stay put and see how all of this plays out. There will always be another deal. This is the LH way.
I have 4 months before I turn in my car and can probably extend it for another 6 (maybe more).
I contemplated jumping in this week, but I don’t yet have a target car for my next lease and a cheaper lease in the wrong car would be a worse outcome for me than a more expensive lease in the right car.
Worse comes to worse, I’ll lease nothing and start walking everywhere.
I think the next 3-4 months will be bad, but as metal starts to pile up, a skilled hacker will still be able to score after this dead period. If you needed a car, prob could’ve moved, but if you’re going to expire, I’d just look to keep extending 1 month at a time.
Honestly, think good brokers succeed and most dealers get crushed the next few months.
I jumped back on the BMW train. I discovered half of the remaining amount due for my Audi is rent charge since it was during the wild times, which they won’t be able to charge me for. I’m just going to have it grounded early, and eat a few months and dispo. Tires were already down to 6/32 at 11k miles, so I’ll avoid paying for a new set too. All in all, decent risk mitigation of the future, and I get a new car since I hated the Audi anyway.
I was signing papers 30 minutes before it hit the press that these were coming. Didn’t need another car, wanted one and now it’s in my driveway.
Anecdotally this past weekend was one of the best ever according to a friend who works at a Mazda dealer. They did 85 cars on Friday and Saturday. They would normally do maybe 10 in a weekend.
