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Dude, where did all the dealerships go?

654 messages,  Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 7:56 PM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying, Automotive News, Legislation


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#47 of 654
A bit off topic by boaz47
Nov 24, 2008 (3:27 pm)
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But it reminds me a bit of when our city shopping stores started folding. Big malls opened and all the big stores moved there and the city centers died. We used to have dealers in different parts of town but now almost all of the new car dealers are in big auto parks and yes they are all owned by some big family of corporation. Where we used ot live the same people own Chrysler/Jeep, Toyota, Kia/Hyundai, and Suzuki. Chevrolet,Ford and Nissan are stand alone but are part of the Auto park. Only Mazda and Subaru are not in the car park.
 
Still they are producing more cars than we are buying and I don't believe we can see the end of the tunnel yet. Right now there is just about no deal they could offer me to get me into the showroom and I know I am not alone. Zero interest sounds good but loans can be a bear to get.
#48 of 654
Re: A bit off topic [boaz47] by fezo
Nov 24, 2008 (3:39 pm)
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Replying to: boaz47 (Nov 24, 2008 3:27 pm)

I hear you but they certainly are trying. Ford is practically giving Fusions away.
#49 of 654
Re: A bit off topic [fezo] by boaz47
Nov 24, 2008 (3:57 pm)
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Replying to: fezo (Nov 24, 2008 3:39 pm)

Nissan is doing the same for their mini van but what would I commit myself to a loan commitment at a time when we have no clue where the economy is going? I can buy a lot of food for whatever they want for a Fusion or even a Fit for the next three years. I know I am not alone in my feelings because just about everyone I talk to says the same thing. If your vehicle is paid for why take out a loan on a new one when your 401K and house is losing money and your job may or may not be there in a year? And even if you have a job what chance do you think we have of getting a raise that will cover part of what a car payment would cost you? No thanks, I keep my money for living today and worry about recovery when recovery starts to show its face.
 
That being said if they started selling some of these sub compacts for under 9 or 10k and I could drop cash on the hood maybe I would think about it. But in truth most of the Small cars simply aren't worth more than 9k considering what they offer and at $2.00 a gallon they aren't as interesting.
#50 of 654
That didn't take long... by andre1969
Nov 29, 2008 (4:08 pm)
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Yesterday I was out in the area where Saturn of Bowie used to be. Their lot is now full of Toyotas, and across the front of the showroom building is a banner that reads "The NEW Toyota of Bowie"!
 
Damn. I wonder if they ended up getting the Chevy dealer, too?
#51 of 654
Saturn of Fairfield by nippononly
Nov 29, 2008 (8:37 pm)
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is right by the freeway, so it's easy to see how busy they are as you drive by. And the answer is, they aren't. They are deserted. But they can't take up a Toyota franchise, there's already one in Fairfield!
 
Saturn dealers might have a brighter future if GM manages the sale of the brand as the new turnaround plan envisions. Apparently there are about 500 of them across the country, not a whole lot when you think about it.....
#52 of 654
Re: Saturn of Fairfield [nippononly] by gagrice
Nov 30, 2008 (5:37 am)
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Replying to: nippononly (Nov 29, 2008 8:37 pm)

Look at the bright side. With dealers going out of business there will be turn key facilities for companies like Tata and Chery to set up dealerships. Or any one of the EV dealerships that will be starting up in the next couple years.
#53 of 654
NPR had an interview by nippononly
Dec 01, 2008 (8:30 am)
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this morning with the San Francisco GM dealer that recently went out of business after more than 60 years of operation.
 
I was intrigued to note the owner report that 86% of the San Francisco regional market belongs to the imports, with only 14% market share for all three domestics combined. No wonder he was having a tough time making a go of it.
 
I expect there will be a few more failures of domestic dealers in my area before it is all over.
 
gagrice: I wouldn't be surprised to see something some have already speculated might happen: SAIC begin to sell its own vehicles through former (and/or current) GM dealers in the U.S. I would think that would be less than five years out.
#54 of 654
Re: NPR had an interview [nippononly] by gagrice
Dec 01, 2008 (8:37 am)
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Replying to: nippononly (Dec 01, 2008 8:30 am)

If GM were to pull the plug on US operations, it would be less than 5 years. On a side note. My friend that had many years at a big Ford agency, lost his mechanic job. He thought he had another shop lined up and they closed this weekend. I got it from his wife. Not sure which dealership it was.
#55 of 654
Re: NPR had an interview [gagrice] by nippononly
Dec 01, 2008 (9:18 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Dec 01, 2008 8:37 am)

I was kinda wondering if there wouldn't be a way in which GM could somehow distribute SAIC cars through its network and profit from the arrangement....
#56 of 654
Re: A bit off topic [boaz47] by lemko
Dec 01, 2008 (9:25 am)
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Replying to: boaz47 (Nov 24, 2008 3:57 pm)

Good idea on an individual basis. However, if people kept hoarding their money and keeping their old hoopties, the recovery will never happen.

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