Will we ever again see a Mustang on a dealer lot FS?

[Biggus Dickus]

I would think this would be a great way to avoid ADMs on hot cars.

 

[Biggus Dickus]

it's a shame Biden doesn't whip out the "interstate commerce" clause and cram CA's rules back down it's throat (if only temporarily). The Whitehouse/Congress reach for that clause at the drop of a hat when it suits them other times... IC was designed and intended for examples just like this.

When you own the second largest port system in the world (LA/LB) - not to mention the unparalleled logistical network connected to it (highways, airports, railroads, warehouses, etc.) you wield immense power and influence over the regulatory scheme. And while people bitch and moan, there are still a lot of people who make a lot of money wheelin and dealin in the So Cal transportation world.

As for the Feds puttin' the smack down on California, you have to understand that the State of CA has armies of lawyers and Administrative agencies that love to litigate this shit so it is put to the harshest of tests to see if these laws/regs/etc. can run the legal gauntlet.

Finally, any major cases will end up before the CA Supreme Court or the 9th Circuit - who usually side with the state. And this is where the final battle usually takes place as the USSC only takes up ~ 1.5% of civil cases on request for certiorari.

Maybe you can run a railroad from the western coast of Mexico to Texas - as long as you can accept 25% of your cargo disappearing before it gets to the US

 

[95CobraR]

So, do you really think the government is going to solve this problem?

 

[1958cyclist]

Well, it'll be interesting to see what transpires in the next couple to few years. Ford and many other companies seem to be moving toward an order only model to help control their costs. So, you may see larger showrooms with one or two of each model to look at, touch, sit in and maybe test drive, but the days of selling year or two old models at a discount are probably numbered.

 

[gone_n_60]

Just putting aside all the "supply chain" stuff that will sort out (good or bad) in a year or three, anyone ever work at a dealership, selling cars? I had a son that sold Chevy then BMW in Texas, a gf who sold Honda and a buddy who works at Nissan dealer now (mechanic) and various relatives who did too. There are a bunch of folks further down the economic scale of Mustang buyers (ahem...) that won't shop cars online or still have to drive it before buying it. Some higher up the scale, BMW buyers per the son who sold them, often visit 3 to 6 times, take months to finally buy but then spend big. Yep there are the other $$$$'s that just order one too. But Dealers are in business to move cars and make money on service, service, service. Ordering may become more prevalent but I have to believe the tons of folks that go from dealer to dealer looking for a deal will still be foot traffic into a showroom. I guess we'll all see what happens.

 

[dmcg940]

the actuality is, a car dealership is a real-estate play. They sell cars just to have something to do.

A good friend of my Dad's owned several dealerships over 50 years in Central California. He always said he was in it for the service business; that's where they made their money. If they broke even on car sales, that was good. And believe me, he made plenty of money over the years.

 

[Biggus Dickus]

So, do you really think the government is going to solve this problem?

Problem? What problem? Everyone in the supply chain is making way more money in this environment from the biggest trucking companies to the drivers. Freight charges out of So Cal are up 250-300% compared to a year ago. The stakeholders are loving it. Yeah sure, the "Cali" cartel gets its cut, consumers pay more, but no one is moving this mountain anytime soon.

 

[shogun32]

Freight charges out of So Cal are up 250-300% compared to a year ago. The stakeholders are loving it.

there was a video interview with a guy who went on a 3hr tour of the harbor last week and he noted that the cranes were moving jack all. Apparently the city doesn't want their precious sightlines disturbed so they won't let them stack containers more than 2x high. Granted just going to 5x high doesn't solve the problem, indeed it makes new problems, but this is the sort of absolute mind-boggling STUPIDITY that rules california. It's a port, if you live next to a port you chose poorly. That you can't see the setting sun because of containers stacked 5x high is just too F'n bad.

We have massive labor shortages everywhere and that includes the other end where containers need to get unloaded so they can be recycled and on their way back across the ocean. So while LA/LB have an intake problem and an inability to clear their holding lots, the entire supply chain is massively snarled. Even if Buttigeg could wave his "magic wand" and instantly solve the offloading problem, he can't reverse 40 years of evermore ruinous decisions by gov't and private enterprise overnight. You can have a thousand truck cabs lined up but if they don't have the chassis it does nobody any good. You can move the pile to the rail yard but if the crane operators don't want to work, or have no rail cars to put the containers on, you still can't solve the problem.

Houston, Charleston, Virginia Beech don't have these issues (yet?). So the question becomes, what is uniquely wrong about how CA is running their show?

 

[Mastermind46]

I never need to buy something on the spot due to having several vehicles, plus my parents live somewhat nearby and have a spare vehicle as well. Ordering a vehicle is not a problem for me due to this. Especially something that will be a seasonal toy. But I cannot make a decision without weighing through all of the options. For cars, this means driving everything that I am even remotely considering.

Dealers really need to have a couple of cars on the lot for test driving or I wouldn't consider the car. I know this kills sales people but I am not about to spend that kind of money without being sure.

 

[shogun32]

I never need to buy something on the spot due to having several vehicles,

isn't what these shady-as-hell used car places are for in the first place? catering to "desperate" people? If you're talking to a dealer you're not in 'immediate need' of a car, by definition.

 

[Mastermind46]

isn't what these shady-as-hell used car places are for in the first place? catering to "desperate" people? If you're talking to a dealer you're not in 'immediate need' of a car, by definition.

Ugh, I stopped even recognizing those places after my last vehicle purchase. I worked out a price and then told them I was paying in cash and they told me to leave. Insane that they can operate like that.

 

[Marty1000]

I agree with 94GT that approach"Their only real hope to keep a JIT model is if every other manufacturer does this also,..."

It might work, otherwise they will loose market share big time if other car makers decide to keep inventory on dealer lots. I am sure the Korean and other manufacturers from asia will have a blast!

 

[gone_n_60]

there was a video interview with a guy who went on a 3hr tour of the harbor last week and he noted that the cranes were moving jack all. Apparently the city doesn't want their precious sightlines disturbed so they won't let them stack containers more than 2x high. Granted just going to 5x high doesn't solve the problem, indeed it makes new problems, but this is the sort of absolute mind-boggling STUPIDITY that rules california. It's a port, if you live next to a port you chose poorly. That you can't see the setting sun because of containers stacked 5x high is just too F'n bad.

We have massive labor shortages everywhere and that includes the other end where containers need to get unloaded so they can be recycled and on their way back across the ocean. So while LA/LB have an intake problem and an inability to clear their holding lots, the entire supply chain is massively snarled. Even if Buttigeg could wave his "magic wand" and instantly solve the offloading problem, he can't reverse 40 years of evermore ruinous decisions by gov't and private enterprise overnight. You can have a thousand truck cabs lined up but if they don't have the chassis it does nobody any good. You can move the pile to the rail yard but if the crane operators don't want to work, or have no rail cars to put the containers on, you still can't solve the problem.

Houston, Charleston, Virginia Beech don't have these issues (yet?). So the question becomes, what is uniquely wrong about how CA is running their show?

but just read a indepth article interviewing the Director of the Port of Savannah one of the top 3 largest ports in US. TLDR the issues are global not US. They are doing a 60 million buck upgrade to port. all places need more berths, more rail, more access for semi's to keep up, won't be solved soon.
fwiw folks.

 

[Joe B.]

Decades long culmination of what happens when everything we buy over here is made over there.

 

[Rock&Roll]

So, do you really think the government is going to solve this problem?

Not a chance