Sequestration didn’t cause a major downturn in military spending to GDP ratio. The ratio changed because the economy was growing out of the recession.

Americans need to understand historical military spending so they can quit alleging conspiracy to mislead the public.

It answers the question without ambiguity. Neither the manufacturer nor the dealer has any incentive to tell you the lowest price they are willing to accept; therefore, customers have an incentive to negotiate. It’s painfully simple to understand.

You’re asking the wrong question. You should be asking why the dealerships would voluntarily signal the absolute lowest-price they are willing to accept. You should also be asking why the dealerships would hold the line on a national/regional pricing scheme, if it doesn’t suit customer preferences in their local…

Haggling benefits the dealer because they can adjust pricing to suit the local market. Dealers don’t need to rip-off suckers to make up for the good hagglers. Profit can also be recaptured by selling more volume, which most manufacturers try to do 24/7.

Yes, good point. However, the dealerships won’t operate as big box retailers for long. Sure, some will differentiate with service, but the larger dealerships will apply pressure on the manufacturer to give them exclusive trim packages and first dibs on limited edition models or new models with low stock.

Cars also have high transactions costs and demand shows a high degree of local variance. Cars are more similar to real estate than you imagine, and we should be haggling on most car purchases.

Please. I’m sure you spend your day fretting about my employment security. You’re so far up your own backside.

Neutral: Do You Actually Like Haggling?

4th Gear: And Volkswagen Is Still Trying To Understand Americans

It’s fun to take 4wd vehicles and turn them into offroads. Offroad Subarus are particularly fun b/c every offroad excursion is a real journey. It’s hard work in a Subaru.

When you wake up, wake up!

Honda Accord Hybrid = Ford Fusion Hybrid

It’s rated at 42mpg when only the gasoline engine is running. In other words, it’s rated at 42mpg highway because that’s the only time the car will be powered exclusively by the gasoline engine. In city driving, the electric motor will assist as power is recaptured during braking. The hwy mileage is lower than other…

It’s like a RHD Jeep. It makes me want to go postal.

This is why paddle shifters should be illegal, along with most control-numbing electronic assist. Everyone thinks they’re a hero. In reality, they couldn’t handle 200hp without electronic assist on all controls and federally-mandated ESP.

In a battle between the Russian and US navies, the first fleet to fire its missles loses the battle. That’s an interesting new wrinkle in naval war tactics.

Awww yissss. Some madman is going to pay for his crimes.

I was on a flight into Denver one time when our plane got slammed by a crosswind. The descent was turbulent by bearable. We were about 50 feet off the deck, and I’m looking out the window at the tarmac, and all of a sudden, I see nothing but grass below the plane. Huge rudder correct, panicked cries from inside the…