It’s Probably Nothing

34 Replies to “It’s Probably Nothing”

1. You lose your car
   And
   You lose your car
   And
   You lose your car
   And
   You lose your car

2. One should never buy a car on credit.

   1. Very few have the cash to buy a car, so credit it is.

   2. I stumped a car salesman when he asked if I would be leasing or financing and I said neither.

      1. So satisfying to say “I want a cash discount” and watch the guy’s eyes widen, right? >:D

         1. Cash Discount ? ….They will just laugh at you as the car dealership makes more $$$ financing the purchase via their respective finance network.

            1. My one new vehicle was the same price cash, financed, or leased. My choice, only discount was the generous one off the window sticker price.

      2. Best to take the financing and pay it off right away. Dealers make money on selling loans and they’ll give you a better deal for financing.

   3. @ Alan…I would have to agree. I’d say people really should never buy anything on credit, but houses for the most part are truly out of reach of most people without a loan. But one should certainly never purchase a depreciating “asset” on credit.

      1. I dunno – we bought our current Mazda three years ago with financing for six years at 0.49%. Works for me. Our last Mazda lasted 10 years with no trouble.

3. Crazy prices for a product that rapidly depreciates in value. Buying a used car that is popular and been around long enough to be able to find ample salvage parts might be the smart strategy. Even better is to have people around who can do basic and moderate vehicle repair. With newer cars, advanced repair can really only be done by professional mechanics.

   Bringing back auto shop classes in schools? Back in the 80s, all kids in our junior high had to take shop classes (wood, metal, small engines). We just had to take apart, clean and reassemble a lawn mower engine but it helped demystify how engines work for many students.

4. That’s why my van is rusty.

5. Hmmm… no X-axis labels that I could see.

   Is the graph from 1929 to now? January 2023 to now? Yeah, payments have shot up, according to that graph. But how fast?

   1. You have to click and open twitter (X). It starts in 2015

      1. Thanks for the info, Greg61.

         So, 2015, eh? Looks like it took about 5 years for payments to rise $100 and 3 years to rise the next $150. That’s about an increase of $20 per year and then it accelerates to an increase of $50 per year. Owie, mommy!

         BTW, when I click on the tweet, it takes me to the same image as posted for the article, so still no X-axis. They have changed the rules and you must have a twitter account to see a full tweet and/or replies. Otherwise, what you see that someone on twitter has posted is all you get.

   2. The graph is misleading. By not having the origin of the Y-axis at zero, the graph makes it appear that car payments have doubled, when in fact, they have increased by nearly 50% (which is bad enough).

      No skin off my ass. I buy only used, and fix my own.

      1. You realize this means the prices of used cars are going to go up as well right? As a percentage they might even go up more because people who would have bought a new car in the past might opt to buy a second hand car next time around because they can’t afford a new one.

   3. If it doesn’t have labels and units on both axes, it’s just a cartoon. Physics 020.

      1. While I do see it on the link, you can go direct to the picture as well.
         https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F2D9T2AXYAIhibN?format=png&name=900×900
         It should also show the source of the data (Edmunds) and source of the chart (WSJ) below that.

6. My wife keeps telling me to quit putting money into repairing my older vehicles. (The newest is 2009). So far I have spent taxes on a new one.

   1. She just wants a new car with a fancy touchscreen …like all her friends have.

      1. But what’s wrong with a klaxon and that crank handle in front?

7. There is a steady rise since 2015, but the sharp uptick is starting in 2021 – right after Biden got elected

   1. That is not an accident. Public (ground) transport for you, and bugs. Or dead elites, stacked like cord wood. I’ll take door number 2.

8. If nobody buys a new vehicle, how do you buy a used one later?

   1. Funny. Around here farmers are pulling old cars and trucks out of their bone yards and putting them up for sale. We are half assed looking for a mid to late 70s Ford F150 as a project vehicle to keep my husband busy when he decides to retire. I was surprised how many vintage vehicles are available.

   2. Rental fleets.

      1. Yes. My current vehicle was a former rental car: excellent condition, low mileage and a good price.

9. I am actually happy that some losers can’t afford lease payments for fancy new cars.

   Personally, I pay cash for 2-4 year-old, low mileage cars and do not drive too far anymore. I do like leather seats, a decent stereo, ample trunk space, blue colour, no complicated, distracting screens, and low maintenance records on the vehicle type. I also keep my cars for years, and do not ever “multi-task” while driving.

   Other people have different needs.

10. Everyone keep in mind that now car manufacturers are pushing high-price vehicles on customers compared to a few years ago.

11. this is not a shitcoin – maybe it should be?
    this is not a meme stock – maybe it should be?

12. Anyone remember gas price in say 1973?
    Less than two cups of coffee?