Big decisions to make

[iceman47]

With the upcoming tariffs going into effect April 2 auto experts are predicting a $5k to $10k increase in the price of a new vehicle. Anyone planning to purchase a new vehicle in the next year or two will have a decision to make on whether to buy now or maybe not at all. I’m in that boat now. Just when it seemed that prices were coming down a little.

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[Greg_L]

Must resist the low hanging fruit....

I'll just say I'm glad we're done making major purchases for now.

 

[yoda13]

I bought a used TJ as a an emergency vehicle/toy several weeks ago. I am not planning on any major purchases in the next few years until I see how everything shakes out and what things look like when they do. Obviously, life could force otherwise, but I won’t if it doesn’t. I don’t mean this as a political statement of any kind. I just think it prudent to be smart right now.

 

[PDXsarge]

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

That's a tough spot to be in.

If you haven't learned how to rebuild/fix things (vs just replacing parts) might be a good time to start learning.

 

[Chaos Theory]

For the next 2 years, I'm not spending a penny on luxuries, travel, new media subscriptions, etc-- and I can technically afford to do so. My reasons are uncertainty and principle. Companies in nearly all industries have been whorishly greedy over the last several years, and I'm tired of it. I'm only one wallet, so I fully understand no one will notice. But more and more people are feeling the same way, and that adds up.

Tariffs will, eventually, bring jobs back to the US. But paying Mexicans (for example) is far cheaper than paying a UAW worker, so prices will continue to be high. Instead, vehicles will need to be made far cheaper than they are now. You think cars have a lot of plastic and 'built to fail' parts in 2025? You ain't seen nothin', yet.

My Jeep is only 2 years old, fully paid off, and I refuse to buy another unless a decent company picks it up after Stellantis fails (or is 'acquired') this year. Jeep dealerships are a trainwreck and have oozed slime & incompetence even before their price gouging occurred.

 

[AustyPosty]

 

[Okie Gladiator]

I always thought that buying a year or two before I need is just spending the $5,000 to $10,000 anyways by effectively moving up my schedule. Like instead of buying 10 vehicles in my lifetime I maybe end up buying 15.

 

[Splenda]

I was looking at my window sticker. It looks like the country of origin for parts is broken down into three categories:

1. US and Canada - 68%
2. Mexico - 21%
3. Other - 11%

They have said that eventually the 25% tariff would apply to parts made in other countries, but until they develop a plan to assess these tariffs, they will only be assessed on whole cars coming into the country. I'm assuming that at some point, they will start separating the US and Canadian content instead of lumping them together. Once they do that, how low do you think that 68% will drop?

 

[Reddog]

With the upcoming tariffs going into effect April 2 auto experts are predicting a $5k to $10k increase in the price of a new vehicle. Anyone planning to purchase a new vehicle in the next year or two will have a decision to make on whether to buy now or maybe not at all. I’m in that boat now. Just when it seemed that prices were coming down a little.

Depends on who you believe about tariff's. Im in the “no significant change” camp. Don’t over think this issue. If you want a new Jeep, buy it. If not, dont.

 

[Zachanadandy]

For the next 2 years, I'm not spending a penny on luxuries, travel, new media subscriptions, etc-- and I can technically afford to do so. My reasons are uncertainty and principle. Companies in nearly all industries have been whorishly greedy over the last several years, and I'm tired of it. I'm only one wallet, so I fully understand no one will notice. But more and more people are feeling the same way, and that adds up.

Tariffs will, eventually, bring jobs back to the US. But paying Mexicans (for example) is far cheaper than paying a UAW worker, so prices will continue to be high. Instead, vehicles will need to be made far cheaper than they are now. You think cars have a lot of plastic and 'built to fail' parts in 2025? You ain't seen nothin', yet.

My Jeep is only 2 years old, fully paid off, and I refuse to buy another unless a decent company picks it up after Stellantis fails (or is 'acquired') this year. Jeep dealerships are a trainwreck and have oozed slime & incompetence even before their price gouging occurred.

Did the wasted time forced on us by covid teach you nothing? For 2 years I'm not doing anything fun because I'm going to "stick it to the man". No travel was forced on everyone worldwide... and these corporations saw record profits. I am with you on not wasting money on luxury items, but I'm not about to stop traveling and enjoying my life. Time is our most valuable resource and I thought covid did a good job of exposing that to everyone, but I guess not.

 

[Reddog]

For the next 2 years, I'm not spending a penny on luxuries, travel, new media subscriptions, etc-- and I can technically afford to do so. My reasons are uncertainty and principle. Companies in nearly all industries have been whorishly greedy over the last several years, and I'm tired of it. I'm only one wallet, so I fully understand no one will notice. But more and more people are feeling the same way, and that adds up.

Tariffs will, eventually, bring jobs back to the US. But paying Mexicans (for example) is far cheaper than paying a UAW worker, so prices will continue to be high. Instead, vehicles will need to be made far cheaper than they are now. You think cars have a lot of plastic and 'built to fail' parts in 2025? You ain't seen nothin', yet.

My Jeep is only 2 years old, fully paid off, and I refuse to buy another unless a decent company picks it up after Stellantis fails (or is 'acquired') this year. Jeep dealerships are a trainwreck and have oozed slime & incompetence even before their price gouging occurred.

The auto manufactures are in trouble because they keep trying to meet standards imposed by regulations that exceed existing technology. Instead of standing up as a collective force and pushing back they went along with the chaos. Remember who owns part of Mopar here. A foreign company with its own agenda. The free market has not been driving the auto business. As for Jeep dealers, yeah, most of the ones I have dealt with suck. I bought my 23 JTR new and paid it off because the dealer practiced bait and switch financing. Service at most is poor as well. Time for a new owner for Jeep brand. A US owner.

 

[Chaos Theory]

Did the wasted time forced on us by covid teach you nothing? For 2 years I'm not doing anything fun because I'm going to "stick it to the man". No travel was forced on everyone worldwide... and these corporations saw record profits. I am with you on not wasting money on luxury items, but I'm not about to stop traveling and enjoying my life. Time is our most valuable resource and I thought covid did a good job of exposing that to everyone, but I guess not.

I think comparing covid to what's occurred since isn't entirely accurate, but I understand where you're going with that. Things were still affordable 5 years ago. Since then we've seen ..what, 20-30% increase in cost of living? It's not as much about 'sticking it to the man' as it is re-prioritizing what's important and ensuring you have enough to get through black swan events, which are occuring with startling frequency as of late.

 

[Blade1668]

I'm not planning on buying another vehicle, I've got my project list started for this year.
I've been working on my travel trailer for last few weeks, a few more jobs on it.
A few things for my Wrangler Unlimited. Then a bunch of things for my Comanche and Cherokee(s) ??? then Pontoon boat, 4-wheeling and to go camping, do some scuba diving and fishing. Along with Oh damn my passport expired I need to renew it, that one has had a jump in renew fee, Travelling too.
Time is a fleeting thing, many of my years were not getting to do or be the places I wanted.

 

[Scott0700]

I have an F350 on order. Scheduled to be built next week. Dealer can’t get an answer on whether or not the price will change based on the tariffs. Just my luck.
If the price changes, I’m not taking it based on principle alone.

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