I drive a black E60, and I signal and am nice to people... :/

Compared to this thing, those are both luxury vehicles. This car needs to die

4th Gear: Carmax is the gold standard for showing dealerships that people will pay a little extra to not deal with dealership bullshit.

“Either they can continue to support the franchised dealers’ discount of up to $700 ... or, the choice for the policy makers is they can offer the consumer a vertically integrated model that prices vehicles at retail.”

NADA Chairman Jeff Carlson ... says competition between dealers leads to lower prices. The competition leads to a price reduction of up to $700, according to a study NADA commissioned from the Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal and Economic Public Policy Studies.

There is a good argument to be made that the free market works well, but that our current system of franchised dealers interferes with the free market by limiting buyers’ choices as a result of limiting the way that automakers are allowed to sell cars.

“4th Gear: Dealers Warn Of Higher Prices With Direct Sales”

That $700 he’s throwing out in dealer to dealer price breaks. Carlson has no idea what a direct to customer price would be.

Direct sales won’t raise prices above what customers are willing to pay.

No auto dealer would benefit from a price war, so in that regard, they operate more like cartels. They all have their own territories and they often share inventories.

4th Gear: Dealers Warn Of Higher Prices With Direct Sales

Which is a good thing, as proven by the commercial aviation industry.

Competition leads to lower prices? Ah, the mysterious “free market” that solves all of our problems. Interesting that when new sales models and companies pop up (like Tesla), competitors run to politicians to get laws passed that block that “free market competition”. Also, A dealership has how many people to pay? How…

I would GLADLY pay $700 more if buying a car didn’t involve a dealership. It’s such a miserable experience from buying the car to getting it serviced, direct sales HAS to be better.

LOL okay dude.

4th Gear: Dealers Warn Of Higher Prices With Direct Sales

I think we’ve been misreading this whole situation. Uber isn’t struggling. Uber has developed AI so advanced that it actually drives like an Uber X driver.

Today I learned that there are a surprising number of Jalops in and around the Pittsburgh area (myself included). Anyone know when the next Cars and Coffee is planned?

Fixed it for you.

No, but I do, and always have. It’s my job.