Looking to buy a car? Local realities drag on for new and used car sales
With gas prices continuing to climb, you may be thinking about trying to buy another car.The road to a new ride may be significantly different than before thanks to a continuation of new cars being in short supply and a changing business model. The shortage of new cars is also being caused by an ongoing global chip shortage.If you drive by most any car dealership, you many notice fewer cars on the lot than usual. For example, Walt Sweeney Ford on Glenway Avenue told WLWT before the pandemic, it kept about 150 new cars, trucks and SUVs on its West Side lot. Six months ago, that number dropped to 40 new vehicles. On Friday, 17 new vehicles could be found on its lot.Business stays busy though thanks to a new business model of customers buying cars online instead of in-person. Walt Sweeney showed WLWT 100 online orders set to be fulfilled. Ford offers certain rebates and discounts if customers buy online. The downside is people have to wait potentially several months, at least, for their new vehicle to arrive. If you choose to buy a vehicle on site at Walt Sweeney Ford or another lot, you may face a premium charge. Meaning, the dealership could charge you more, potentially thousand of dollars more, for you to buy one of its limited number of cars.If you choose to explore the possibility of buying a new car in-person, Walt Sweeney Ford says the limited number of new vehicles and ability to research prices may affect your ability to negotiation a price.”They’ll take care of you but the old days of haggling over price aren’t anything like they used to be because it’s so easy to shop on the Internet,” General Manager Tim Sweeney said of his dealership’s shifting experiences. “That makes the customer’s experience so much more transparent and better which is easier for the us and easier for customer.”Those looking to buy a used car may have more luck in finding more supply of used cars at dealerships but with used cars in high demand, Sweeney says people shouldn’t delay because cars may go faster than previously. He said vehicles that are more fuel friendly or economic are potentially harder to find at the moment due to rising fuel costs. Also, he recommended people shop around on the price and conditions of each car so to make sure you aren’t overpaying either in a person-to-person or dealership transaction. “We’re pretty much a market dealer,” Tim Sweeney said. “You can go online you can shop online. It makes it very easy now today but getting the cheaper economy cars right now this time of the year because of the the gas prices because the tax money is a little bit difficult. But you just go online and you shop for what you want. Hopefully you find what you want to get a fair price.”Tim Sweeney told WLWT more people are asking and looking for electric cars but he says there isn’t yet a high demand.
With gas prices continuing to climb, you may be thinking about trying to buy another car.
The road to a new ride may be significantly different than before thanks to a continuation of new cars being in short supply and a changing business model. The shortage of new cars is also being caused by an ongoing global chip shortage.
If you drive by most any car dealership, you many notice fewer cars on the lot than usual. For example, Walt Sweeney Ford on Glenway Avenue told WLWT before the pandemic, it kept about 150 new cars, trucks and SUVs on its West Side lot. Six months ago, that number dropped to 40 new vehicles. On Friday, 17 new vehicles could be found on its lot.
Business stays busy though thanks to a new business model of customers buying cars online instead of in-person. Walt Sweeney showed WLWT 100 online orders set to be fulfilled. Ford offers certain rebates and discounts if customers buy online. The downside is people have to wait potentially several months, at least, for their new vehicle to arrive.
If you choose to buy a vehicle on site at Walt Sweeney Ford or another lot, you may face a premium charge. Meaning, the dealership could charge you more, potentially thousand of dollars more, for you to buy one of its limited number of cars.
If you choose to explore the possibility of buying a new car in-person, Walt Sweeney Ford says the limited number of new vehicles and ability to research prices may affect your ability to negotiation a price.
“They’ll take care of you but the old days of haggling over price aren’t anything like they used to be because it’s so easy to shop on the Internet,” General Manager Tim Sweeney said of his dealership’s shifting experiences. “That makes the customer’s experience so much more transparent and better which is easier for the us and easier for customer.”
Those looking to buy a used car may have more luck in finding more supply of used cars at dealerships but with used cars in high demand, Sweeney says people shouldn’t delay because cars may go faster than previously. He said vehicles that are more fuel friendly or economic are potentially harder to find at the moment due to rising fuel costs. Also, he recommended people shop around on the price and conditions of each car so to make sure you aren’t overpaying either in a person-to-person or dealership transaction.
“We’re pretty much a market dealer,” Tim Sweeney said. “You can go online you can shop online. It makes it very easy now today but getting the cheaper economy cars right now this time of the year because of the the gas prices because the tax money is a little bit difficult. But you just go online and you shop for what you want. Hopefully you find what you want to get a fair price.”
Tim Sweeney told WLWT more people are asking and looking for electric cars but he says there isn’t yet a high demand.
