Trump Tariffs new and used cars
Discussion
TLDR: It might be a good time to buy if you can move quick. Decent discount on new and high trade in shows dealers need to shift inventory. Also do not buy Audi unless you love seeing the dealer and being treated like a moron. Garbage cars with garbage support
My wife has been planning on replacing her Audi in April for some time. But, with the tariffs coming in (we will see) we felt the sensible thing was to bring up the purchase to before the tariffs hit. Here is my experience.
The Volvo dealer we visited is the second highest, by volume, Volvo dealer in the country. For those in the area, it is in Summit NJ and looks just like any other local dealership. Small and very few cars on site. However, I know they have hundreds of cars stored all over the place. I also know it is end of the month for them so deals are normally available.
We did not know what to expect. How would the tariffs hit the new car price and how would they hit the trade in?.... With the Audi, in 2022, we had to negotiate down to the list price as they were putting $4-$20k "Market Adjustments" on new cars. Cars that also came incomplete due to chip shortage.
The sales guy showed me the list price and took $2k off straight away. He offered me $23k for the Audi even though we did not have it because it was being repaired again (f
k Audi). I jokingly asked for $23,600 to cover his "doc fee". I expected $16k was going to be the offer and was prepared to take the car to carmax. That was last night.
I took the repaired, and freshly washed, Audi to him today and he increased the offer to $24k.
For those outside of the US, New Jersey has infinite tax on cars. Every time one is bought or sold you have to pay tax. Even if it is a private used car sale. But, the tax at a dealer is only on the difference in value. By increasing the trade in we got double bonus as it reduced the tax we have to pay.
Going to pick up the car in a few minutes and then head to the airport almost immediately to leave for 3 weeks.
My wife has been planning on replacing her Audi in April for some time. But, with the tariffs coming in (we will see) we felt the sensible thing was to bring up the purchase to before the tariffs hit. Here is my experience.
The Volvo dealer we visited is the second highest, by volume, Volvo dealer in the country. For those in the area, it is in Summit NJ and looks just like any other local dealership. Small and very few cars on site. However, I know they have hundreds of cars stored all over the place. I also know it is end of the month for them so deals are normally available.
We did not know what to expect. How would the tariffs hit the new car price and how would they hit the trade in?.... With the Audi, in 2022, we had to negotiate down to the list price as they were putting $4-$20k "Market Adjustments" on new cars. Cars that also came incomplete due to chip shortage.
The sales guy showed me the list price and took $2k off straight away. He offered me $23k for the Audi even though we did not have it because it was being repaired again (f
k Audi). I jokingly asked for $23,600 to cover his "doc fee". I expected $16k was going to be the offer and was prepared to take the car to carmax. That was last night. I took the repaired, and freshly washed, Audi to him today and he increased the offer to $24k.
For those outside of the US, New Jersey has infinite tax on cars. Every time one is bought or sold you have to pay tax. Even if it is a private used car sale. But, the tax at a dealer is only on the difference in value. By increasing the trade in we got double bonus as it reduced the tax we have to pay.
Going to pick up the car in a few minutes and then head to the airport almost immediately to leave for 3 weeks.
Edited by h0b0 on Friday 28th March 16:44
Spring break here.
What’s your issue?
I thought I would share my experience for those in the US.
BMW are rolling out a 5% increase across all cars. I expect Volvo to do the same. That would have cost me $2.5k. I think it would have been more as my dealer is doing discounts to shift cars.
If you are not in both the following categories this thread may not be for you
1) In the US. I think I made that clear
2) in the position to buy a car.
What’s your issue?
I thought I would share my experience for those in the US.
BMW are rolling out a 5% increase across all cars. I expect Volvo to do the same. That would have cost me $2.5k. I think it would have been more as my dealer is doing discounts to shift cars.
If you are not in both the following categories this thread may not be for you
1) In the US. I think I made that clear
2) in the position to buy a car.
It’s a bummer with the tariffs but such is life. Europe is pretty good at taxing cars so can’t say we have it much better. The manufacturers have supposedly been trying to bring as many cars across the US border as they can in the last while so probably more stock than normal.
Or maybe do as Trump wants and buy American?
Or maybe do as Trump wants and buy American?
DMZ said:
It’s a bummer with the tariffs but such is life. Europe is pretty good at taxing cars so can’t say we have it much better. The manufacturers have supposedly been trying to bring as many cars across the US border as they can in the last while so probably more stock than normal.
Or maybe do as Trump wants and buy American?
The problem is that is.Or maybe do as Trump wants and buy American?
1. Most 'Murkin cars are made in part or in whole in Canada or Mexico, even if fully assembled in the US they're still importing large bits from either nation or further afield. Not to mention the tariffs on metals (which amazingly, cars are still made from).
2. American marques will raise their prices too because they can. It's called capitalism, price to what the market can (and will) bear. They only need to keep them cheaper than the Euro options.
3. Americans will have less money to spend.
I know the OP lives in the states so I wish him luck.
chrisch77 said:
Maybe a more helpful thread title would have been a good idea, given that this thread is not in a US specific forum and the core of Pistonheads is in the UK?
More helpful than Trump Tariffs? Are you thinking “Avocado on Toast” would be better because I can’t think of a title that is more to the point about Trump Tariffs than Trump tariffs. Also, this is an international forum. Not a UK forum.
h0b0 said:
More helpful than Trump Tariffs? Are you thinking “Avocado on Toast” would be better because I can’t think of a title that is more to the point about Trump Tariffs than Trump tariffs.
Also, this is an international forum. Not a UK forum.
You have more things to worry about with Trump as your president than tariffs on cars, as does the rest of the world; J D Vance and Musk what a combination! Also, this is an international forum. Not a UK forum.
h0b0 said:
TLDR: It might be a good time to buy if you can move quick. Decent discount on new and high trade in shows dealers need to shift inventory. Also do not buy Audi unless you love seeing the dealer and being treated like a moron. Garbage cars with garbage support
My wife has been planning on replacing her Audi in April for some time. But, with the tariffs coming in (we will see) we felt the sensible thing was to bring up the purchase to before the tariffs hit. Here is my experience.
The Volvo dealer we visited is the second highest, by volume, Volvo dealer in the country. For those in the area, it is in Summit NJ and looks just like any other local dealership. Small and very few cars on site. However, I know they have hundreds of cars stored all over the place. I also know it is end of the month for them so deals are normally available.
We did not know what to expect. How would the tariffs hit the new car price and how would they hit the trade in?.... With the Audi, in 2022, we had to negotiate down to the list price as they were putting $4-$20k "Market Adjustments" on new cars. Cars that also came incomplete due to chip shortage.
The sales guy showed me the list price and took $2k off straight away. He offered me $23k for the Audi even though we did not have it because it was being repaired again (fk Audi). I jokingly asked for $23,600 to cover his "doc fee". I expected $16k was going to be the offer and was prepared to take the car to carmax. That was last night.
I took the repaired, and freshly washed, Audi to him today and he increased the offer to $24k.
For those outside of the US, New Jersey has infinite tax on cars. Every time one is bought or sold you have to pay tax. Even if it is a private used car sale. But, the tax at a dealer is only on the difference in value. By increasing the trade in we got double bonus as it reduced the tax we have to pay.
Going to pick up the car in a few minutes and then head to the airport almost immediately to leave for 3 weeks.
Yes, it's a huge mess over here. Unless you can or have to buy quickly I don't see why anyone would be changing car at the moment. The problem is, is that he can change his mind and remove the tariffs almost instantly and as that money goes to the government you could pay +25% on Monday and 0% extra tax on Tuesday. These tariffs also include car parts so it's a real kick in the teeth for foreign brands.My wife has been planning on replacing her Audi in April for some time. But, with the tariffs coming in (we will see) we felt the sensible thing was to bring up the purchase to before the tariffs hit. Here is my experience.
The Volvo dealer we visited is the second highest, by volume, Volvo dealer in the country. For those in the area, it is in Summit NJ and looks just like any other local dealership. Small and very few cars on site. However, I know they have hundreds of cars stored all over the place. I also know it is end of the month for them so deals are normally available.
We did not know what to expect. How would the tariffs hit the new car price and how would they hit the trade in?.... With the Audi, in 2022, we had to negotiate down to the list price as they were putting $4-$20k "Market Adjustments" on new cars. Cars that also came incomplete due to chip shortage.
The sales guy showed me the list price and took $2k off straight away. He offered me $23k for the Audi even though we did not have it because it was being repaired again (f
k Audi). I jokingly asked for $23,600 to cover his "doc fee". I expected $16k was going to be the offer and was prepared to take the car to carmax. That was last night. I took the repaired, and freshly washed, Audi to him today and he increased the offer to $24k.
For those outside of the US, New Jersey has infinite tax on cars. Every time one is bought or sold you have to pay tax. Even if it is a private used car sale. But, the tax at a dealer is only on the difference in value. By increasing the trade in we got double bonus as it reduced the tax we have to pay.
Going to pick up the car in a few minutes and then head to the airport almost immediately to leave for 3 weeks.
Edited by h0b0 on Friday 28th March 16:44
But hey, at least we will have easy access to more ski resorts once we invade Greenland.
I'm also not sure why you're getting stick about this thread...
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