Quote from: simpsonofpg on March 14, 2013, 01:19:20 PM
It is a fairly simple answer.  The average auto worker who is semi skilled make about $75/hr with wages and benefits.  They try to sell the car to someone who makes about $10/hr with no benefits.  The math just doesn't add up.

I guess you've never been told that if you make 10.00 an hour, you just DON'T GET a new / nice car.

Your liberal world where everyone gets a 35K car because they want it, is a farcical myth dreamed up by child minds.  Same with everyone getting their government-issued 200-300K house.  ooops....that's right, they actually tried that and it destroyed the US economy.

If you want a nice car or house, you get off your ass and figure out how you're going to get to 20.00 per hour.  And even then you have to budget for that, if you want it.  Maybe you don't get 500.00 worth of TV, phone, Chivas each month.

If you make 10.00 an hour, you're either a teen working a first job, a retiree working as a hobby, or somebody who has zero professional credibility.  And you shouldn't expect nice new baubles if you're the third guy.  Work hard and get promotions, go to school and training, work OT and/or a second job.  Then you get your nice stuff.

Liberals...always announcing that you should get everything for being a lazy, inert slob.

Well said, AJ.

Consider too that, IMHO, at least 50% of the cost of a new automobile is directly the result of federal government regulations and mandates. When I was scarfing Smarties out of a penny roll, seat belts were an option you could order if you wanted them, as was a heater, and in some cases a back seat. Cars today are so loaded with shit it's a wonder they can be bought even for their astronomical prices.

Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, et. al. would be rolling in their graves....

Ah you americans  You have reason to complain yes, but as the scene from American Tail where they are singing about which country has it most corrupt, you should see how it is in my country

The Taxes on imported cars are calculated on many different factors, but I used the price of $58000 US car and the value of the average power of normal personal cars and this is what that car would cost in my country. (keep on mind Norway has no car industry so all cars are imported cars)

Beregning   Merverdiavgift: 84 535,00
Engangsavgift:
Avgift for egenvekt: 194 469,50
Avgift for motoreffekt: 2 750,00
Avgift for CO2: 38 410,00
Avgift for NOx: 6 790,00
Engangsavgift for tilsvarende nytt kjøretøy: 242 419,50
Bruksfradrag (2%): -4 848,39
Totalt i engangsavgift: 237 571,00
Vrakpantavgift: 2 000,00
Totalt i avgifter: 324 106,00
Totalpris for dette kjøretøyet inkludert avgifter: 662 246,00 NOK to US dollar
662 246,00NOK= $113908.17

And the median income in norway is $35000 

It is not going to get bettetr until and if we can get rid of the unions or at least right to work laws.  We can't compete with the labor cost from over seas.  Wait until the Chinese start to export cars into the world market.  We are screwed when they do.  On a positive side the use car market will do very well as well and repair shops to keep the older cars running.

Quote from: simpsonofpg on April 02, 2013, 05:10:03 PM
It is not going to get bettetr until and if we can get rid of the unions or at least put in place right to work laws.  We can't compete with the labor cost from over seas.  Wait until the Chinese start to export cars into the world market.  We are screwed when they do.  On a positive side the use car market will do very well as well and repair shops to keep the older cars running.

FIFY.

What is the best time of year to buy a car?  When do they roll out the best deals -- is it around the holidays?

I'm planning to buy a new car later this year.

Quote from: doublejm1 on April 02, 2013, 08:17:05 PM
What is the best time of year to buy a car?  When do they roll out the best deals -- is it around the holidays?

I'm planning to buy a new car later this year.

I'd recommend last years models, the dealers need to unload them before 2014s arrive.

Quote from: doublejm1 on April 02, 2013, 08:17:05 PM
What is the best time of year to buy a car?  When do they roll out the best deals -- is it around the holidays?

I'm planning to buy a new car later this year.

The old days of haggling with car dealers are over.

I can't remember the specific sites, but if you know what kind of car you want, you can plug it into a search engine, and it will give you the best price within a specific radius of your location. From there, you may be able to get extra goodies over the phone. Then you just go pick up your car.

Quote from: kramarat on April 03, 2013, 04:34:01 AM
The old days of haggling with car dealers are over.

I can't remember the specific sites, but if you know what kind of car you want, you can plug it into a search engine, and it will give you the best price within a specific radius of your location. From there, you may be able to get extra goodies over the phone. Then you just go pick up your car.

That's how I did it, called all the dealers on a 2013 Subaru to see who was willing to deal the best and cheapest, then went in and demanded more in person.
Turned out, the place closest to where I live and the same place I bought the last Subaru had the best price, by several thousand dollars over all the dealers in Ca.

Took a total of a week of haggling over the phone.

what are the direct taxes in the US on cars?

In Norway with the exception of import tax it is

Registration Tax: $400-15000 depending on the age and size of engine
Annual Tax: $500

Quote from: Mountainshield on April 03, 2013, 10:02:38 AM
what are the direct taxes in the US on cars?

In Norway with the exception of import tax it is

Registration Tax: $400-15000 depending on the age and size of engine
Annual Tax: $500

Varies from state to state, here in Ca my 1 ton 4x4 diesel cost $2,500 in state license fees,7.5% tax on a $50 thousand dollar truck, with the claim that it would never require a smog check, then the state reneged on that deal and my brand new truck had to be smoged the 2nd year.

If I were in Montana, I could rip out the smog system and gain 10 MPG, Ca sucks.

Quote from: Solar on April 03, 2013, 10:09:33 AM
Varies from state to state, here in Ca my 1 ton 4x4 diesel cost $2,500 in state license fees,7.5% tax on a $50 thousand dollar truck, with the claim that it would never require a smog check, then the state reneged on that deal and my brand new truck had to be smoged the 2nd year.

If I were in Montana, I could rip out the smog system and gain 10 MPG, Ca sucks.

The state licence, is that annual?

Quote from: Mountainshield on April 03, 2013, 10:27:36 AM
The state licence, is that annual?

Yep, but it's based on the assumed worth of the vehicle, so it went down I think 70 bucks the first year, and 50 the next.
Problem is, it's a commercial vehicle because it's a PU truck, unless I put a camper shell on the back, then it can be registered as a car, but that defeats the purpose of owning a truck.
Ca Sucks!

Quote from: Solar on April 03, 2013, 10:34:33 AM
Yep, but it's based on the assumed worth of the vehicle, so it went down I think 70 bucks the first year, and 50 the next.
Problem is, it's a commercial vehicle because it's a PU truck, unless I put a camper shell on the back, then it can be registered as a car, but that defeats the purpose of owning a truck.
Ca Sucks!

You pay annual $2500 tax on your car?  Damn, I hope thats because its in CA and that it is generally much lower in other states.

Quote from: Mountainshield on April 03, 2013, 10:38:29 AM
You pay annual $2500 tax on your car?  Damn, I hope thats because its in CA and that it is generally much lower in other states.

Noooo 
The 7.5% was sales tax, a one time tax, the license fee is annual, should be down around $250. in a few years.