Auto dealership owner says tariffs will make some cars 'unsellable'

[IronLionZion]

Things will get interesting for existing cars that need repairs. Then people might get sticker shock for the price of imported parts.

Good luck

[Grins]

1. Not just the cost of the parts that will affect the few..

… but also the jump in auto insurance premiums FOR EVERYONE to cover the costs of those parts.

[SheltieLover]

3. Absolutely!

[Tootbsb]

2. Labor already makes the cost of repairs out of reach.

Had a 800.00 dollar part that cost 1,200 of labor to install. On an 7 year old car. That’s a no.

[IronLionZion]

6. Mass deportations can increase labor costs

especially if there is a shortage of qualified mechanics.

[IowaUnionman]

4. Auto tariffs

Presently we have on some USA made cars up to 60% of parts made in foreign countries.
For decades they have outsourced parts that are only assembled here .
Other countries subsidize and dump at an uncompetitive rate for us .
Maybe John Deere and CASE will not outsource and those jobs will remain here in the USA .

[Bluetus]

5. We are now having to plan our lives to try to steer clear of Trump's land mines

Last edited Wed Mar 5, 2025, 11:03 PM - Edit history (1)

I am so glad I stretched and bought a new EV last year (a Korean one). I wanted to wait until the production would be in Georgia, giving an extra $7500 benefit. But this was when Biden was starting to look very obviously impaired and I was afraid Trump would foul everything up, so I took the plunge. The manufacturer offered a discount that made up for part of the tax credit. I expect this vehicle to have a useful life of at least 8 years. I am planning to be alive then and I expect Trump to be dead before then.

Now on to my next problem. It is time for me to apply for Social Security, but they seem to be firing half of the workers. Even if they don't slash benefits, the approvals could get delayed by months. You can start your application 4 months before the benefits are supposed to begin. I started my application yesterday, but had to put it on hold until my 4-month window comes around in a few weeks. But you can bet I'll finish the app the first day I can get it into the system.

It is such a pisser that Trump is weaponizing our government against us.

[Bengus81]

7. I remember when I applied in 2018, I was already 65 by a couple of months

I doubt that I listened to elevator music for more than five minutes. I then applied with a really nice woman and was done in no time. I can't remember if I got a deposit the next month (second Wed) of if I was too close to that date. If not it was the next month in late 2018.

DO NOT TOUCH SS TRUMP or PRESIDENT MUSK

[3Hotdogs]

8. Last sentence, 1st paragraph ----- from your keyboard,

to God's eyeballs.