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SUVs Crossover SUV Comparison
7127 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 8:31 PM
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Replying to: bobw3 (Feb 21, 2008 9:44 am) Actually, you can get into most of the vehicles at an auto show. They restrict some access to certain vehicles (ie. a half million dollar car that they don't want damaged). And some concepts don't even have a finished interior to look at anyway. I probably sat in about a dozen different vehicles, although you might be sharing the experience with many people you don't know.
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Replying to: hoser0eh (Feb 21, 2008 10:57 am) He's never been to an autoshow? He doesn't know wha the's missing! That's the best place to go if you want to look at all your possible next vehicle choices in one place. I probably sat in about a dozen different vehicles, although you might be sharing the experience with many people you don't know. You don't enjoy people constantly saying "you like it?" or "have enough room back there?" or jumping in front of you in line to get in a Porche? On second thought...
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Replying to: jimmy2x (Feb 21, 2008 11:41 am) I am sure that I will never understand how Canadian prices work, but I WAS comparing between the MDX and a "high-end" Lambda, in other words vehicles that are similarly equipped. Auto prices in Canada have been impacted in a big way by the rising currency. About 5 years ago, a Canadian dollar was worth about 62 cents US (it's all-time low). Back then, vehicle prices in Canada were about 10%-20% less than in the US after accounting for the currency exchange. However, over the last five years the Canadian dollar has gone from 62 cents US to around $1 even (that's more than a 60% increase; 38/62). As a result, the relative retail prices have also changed. We have gone from about 20% cheaper to about 20% more expensive. I'll give an example to help illustrate: 5 years ago a vehicle priced at $32000 US might have cost $40000 Canadian. However, since the Canadian dollar was only worth 62 cents US back then, the $40000 Canadian price was equal to $24800 US. That was a great deal for Canadians. Today, with the two dollars being pretty much equal, the same vehicle priced at $40000 Canadian is now equal to $40000 US. But if the vehicle price in the US is still at $32000, then it's much cheaper for Americans to buy. The market prices will slowly change to equalize the prices, but they rarely change as quickly as the currency does. It takes time for the adjustments to work through the system. Our dollar has been roughly equal to the US dollar for about a year now, and the car companies are just starting to make price adjustments here (ie Lexus RX350 msrp has just gone from 53000 to 44500). Eventually Canadian and American prices should be somewhat similar, though they will rarely be exactly the same.
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Replying to: hoser0eh (Feb 21, 2008 8:15 pm)
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I read that Ford will no longer produce the Taurus x after 2010. I am about to buy this car and I was so excited about it because I did so much research on it and come to find out they are not happy with it. Why are they getting rid of the Taurus X it just came out? 
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Replying to: raezmom3 (Feb 22, 2008 4:49 am) Luke warm customer response. Slow sales. They will have the Flex and the new unibody, car based Explorer on the lots. All three would be similar in size (within a few inches of each other probably) and would never survive together, therefore one has to go. I like it too raezmom and wouldn't hesitate to buy one now if my wife liked it too. But we're in the minority and Ford sees it fit to move on. |
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Replying to: volkov (Feb 21, 2008 9:20 pm) I believe I've seen some minor improvements in finance/lease terms but the adjustments have been primarily applied to cash purchases. The car co.'s know exactly what they are doing. The currency certainly plays the major role in all of this but there are some economy of scale factors as well.
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Replying to: raezmom3 (Feb 22, 2008 4:49 am) Like someone else said, the Taurus X is a slow seller, even after Ford spent so much money on upgrades over the Freestyle for it's midlife cycle freshening. SO if you want a similar vehicle that is up to date, I'd suggest the Ford Flex (it's similar sized and comes to the market soon). Or you could just buy the Taurus X. They'll still make parts for it after 2010.
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Replying to: albook (Feb 21, 2008 7:26 pm) I'll 2nd that suggestion. It's the single best place to check out competitors back-to-back, without any sales pressure to boot. Hit an autoshow first, to establish a short list. Then test drive just those. The auto show will really help you narrow it down though, in terms of what is comfortable for you, fits all your stuff, etc. PM just did that article with a beach cooler - but so what if your cooler is a different size? For me it was a stroller, anyway, not a cooler. I wanted enough floor space to fit the stroller and still have floor space without piling things on top.
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Replying to: cjsb (Feb 22, 2008 5:58 am) But you are missing some of the points that bother me most. Although many brands claim to have adjusted prices, many simply offered cash discounts but only for cash purchases. Financed or leased vehicles did not see any price changes. c.f. GM for example. The reason they did this was that only Canadians with cash in hand could buy in the US. This ploy removed any advantage for those individuals, but the majority of car buyers finance in one way or another, and they see no benefit. In most cases, the new pricing is really a pittance offering a couple of thousand dollars for a $10k difference. cisb Correct. I believe I've seen some minor improvements in finance/lease terms but the adjustments have been primarily applied to cash purchases. The car co.'s know exactly what they are doing. The currency certainly plays the major role in all of this but there are some economy of scale factors as well. You're right. All I did was scratch the surface of car pricing. I was simply showing how at one point Canadians were getting bargain car pricing, due to an undervalued currency. Now that the currency has appreciated so dramatically, we are overpaying for cars, in spite of lowered prices or big discounts. Canadian car salespeople would love to be able to sell their vehicles at even lower prices (which generate more sales), but the Canadian dealers are stuck paying the parent manufacturer a higher price than American dealers pay. I subscribe to a web service that gives me Canadian dealer costs. A base Buick Enclave msrp is 40895, and the dealer cost is 36949. American msrp is 33505! Why does the Canadian dealer have to pay so much? The Canadian dealers have responded with an advertising blitz saying how they are making "adjustments" to prices, offering cash back, and lower finance rates, to imply that they have corrected the situation. While this is true for a small number of vehicles, it is mostly just "smoke and mirrors" to give the impression that something has been done, when really Canadians are stil overpaying for the vast majority of vehicles. The dealers are simply trying to put the best light on a bad situation, until the manufacturer begins to adjust their cost prices down to more reasonable levels.
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