I’m torn. We’re going to need a new car before the end of the year. The Mustang is approaching senior citizenship and is starting to cost more in repairs than a monthly payment on a new car.
So, we have to start looking. And there in lies the rub.
This area is so depressed because the car companies are doing so miserable. Michigan has a 12 percent unemployment rate, mostly from the autos or suppliers.
Born and bred in Michigan, I feel a tug to buy Big Three. But is it safe? Will the company that sells me a car be around in two years? Who will honor the warranty? What if there’s a horrible defect three years into ownership?
But beyond those questions is my experience this week with car shopping. I was really angry when I got the bill for yet another Mustang repair, so I got online just to get some pricing ideas. First I checked out the Toyota Prius. On Toyota’s site, I spec’ed out a car, got the MSRP and even got an estimated monthly payment based on my down payment, credit history and trade-in value. Easy as pie.
Then, I surf over to Ford’s site to check out the Hybrid Escape. I spec’ed out the car and clicked to get monthly payment estimates. After filling out a long, detailed form, I got a message that a dealership will be contacting me within 24 hours to discuss my “purchase.” Then, to draw things out even more, four phone calls to my office, three emails, two salespeople and a partridge in a pear tree later, I still don’t have a monthly payment estimate or even an MSRP. And this was after being told Ford isn’t making any more Escape hybrids for the rest of the year and all the models in production are spoken for.
And that’s why the car companies are doing so poorly. The laws of supply and demand don’t apply to them AND they make it difficult to buy a car.
So, what’s a Detroit girl to do? I want to keep the autoworkers busy, but I’m too frustrated at my American options even think about giving them my money.
Any ideas?
I know exactly what you are saying about the big 3. If I were in the market for a car, I would feel that pull too, especially since I come from a GM family. But, in today’s economy, it’s survival of the fittest.
Just remember, that Toyota saleperson lives in MI too.
And if you are really interested in being green, I’d recommend skipping the hybrid…ask Brian for the details on that…it’s complicated. But I’d recommend a Smart car…if you don’t need a backseat of cargo space…
Go to http://www.Ford.com and click “Build Your Own” you pick what you want, tell it your trade in value, and your down deposit and wha la! You have an estimated monthly payment. (It’s actually fun building your own wheels!)