Car prices have reached unprecedented heights, with the average transaction price for new vehicles surpassing $50,000 for the first time. As shoppers pull back from buying, manufacturers like Jeep are forced to rethink their pricing strategies, exemplified by a significant price drop for the Grand Wagoneer. The episode explores the implications of these trends on the automotive market, including rising monthly payments and the increasing average age of vehicles on the road, raising concerns about affordability and maintenance for consumers.
Today on CarEdge Live, Ray and Zach discuss how automakers are changing their approach as car shoppers refuse to purchase expensive new cars. Tune in to learn more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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"average transaction price hits record high in September, surges past $50,000
for the first time ever. You and I have been keeping track of average"
The average transaction price is what people actually pay for new cars, which can be different from the sticker price. It helps show how much buyers are spending on vehicles.
The average transaction price refers to the average amount paid by consumers for new vehicles, which can differ from the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). This metric is important for understanding market trends and consumer spending in the automotive industry.
"That's not average MSRP. That's average transaction price. I am so glad that I am so far below average."
MSRP is the price that car makers suggest you should pay for a new car. It's like a starting point for negotiations when buying a vehicle.
MSRP stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, which is the price that the manufacturer recommends for a vehicle. It serves as a guideline for dealerships and consumers when buying a car.
"... shoppers didn't refuse to buy, in this case, the Grand Wagoneer, there's no reason for Jeep to drop the price by..."
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a large SUV that is designed for both luxury and off-road driving. It has a lot of space for passengers and cargo, making it great for families or trips, and it’s known for being tough and stylish.
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a full-size luxury SUV that combines rugged off-road capability with high-end features and technology. Revived in recent years, it aims to compete with other luxury SUVs while maintaining Jeep's iconic brand identity. The Grand Wagoneer is often discussed for its spaciousness and luxurious appointments, appealing to families and adventure seekers alike.
"...Average vehicle transaction price, new car vehicle transaction price,..."
The vehicle transaction price is the final amount you pay when buying a car. It can be lower than the sticker price because of discounts or negotiations.
The vehicle transaction price refers to the actual price that a buyer pays for a vehicle, which may differ from the MSRP due to negotiations, dealer incentives, or market conditions. It reflects the final sale price after any discounts or fees.
"...they're not the only automaker who are going to have to reduce their MSRP's year over year,..."
An automaker is a company that makes cars. Examples include Ford, Toyota, and Honda.
An automaker is a company that manufactures and sells vehicles. This term encompasses a wide range of companies, from large corporations to smaller manufacturers.
"One of the first ones, if you've got a Grand Cherokee, Compass, Compass, no. I want to look, obviously, we're talking about the Grand Wagoneer."
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a type of SUV that is good for both driving on rough roads and for everyday use. It's known for being comfortable and having a lot of features.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a mid-size SUV known for its off-road capabilities and luxury features. It's popular among those looking for a versatile vehicle that can handle both rugged terrain and everyday driving.
"they were losing sales and market share for years."
Market share is how much of the total sales in a market belong to a specific company. For car makers, it shows how popular they are compared to others.
Market share refers to the percentage of an industry's sales that a particular company controls. In the automotive context, it indicates how much of the total vehicle sales in a market are attributed to a specific manufacturer.
"Well, this is one of those instances where the manufacturer, Stellantis, is looking at their dealers who have those 2024s and 2025s still in stock and say,"
Stellantis is a big car company that makes several different brands of cars, like Jeep and Dodge. They were created when two companies merged together.
Stellantis is a multinational automotive manufacturer formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group. It encompasses a variety of brands including Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, and Peugeot, among others.
"which was a sub-brand, didn't even list the name Jeep on it."
A sub-brand is like a smaller brand that is part of a bigger brand. It helps the company sell different types of products to different kinds of customers.
A sub-brand is a secondary brand under a larger parent brand, often created to target a specific market segment or to differentiate products. In this case, the Grand Wagoneer was marketed as a luxury vehicle separate from the standard Jeep lineup.
"that we're going to come out with a new Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L, which was a sub-brand, didn't even list the name Jeep on it."
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer L is a longer version of the Grand Wagoneer, giving you more room inside for passengers and cargo. It's still a luxury SUV with lots of nice features.
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer L is an extended version of the Grand Wagoneer, offering more space and features. It aims to provide additional comfort and luxury for families or those needing extra cargo capacity.
"...Today is a day where you have a record setting high, average new car transaction price."
The average new car transaction price is how much people usually pay when they buy a new car. It helps show how much cars cost these days.
The average new car transaction price refers to the typical amount paid for a new vehicle after negotiations and before taxes and fees. This figure can indicate market trends and consumer purchasing power.
"to buy a new light vehicle, light vehicle. We're not even factoring in the fact that a lot of people buy trucks and bigger vehicles."
A light vehicle is a type of car or small truck that isn't too heavy. It's usually what most people drive every day, like sedans or compact SUVs.
A light vehicle typically refers to passenger cars and smaller trucks that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less. This classification is important for understanding regulations and market trends in the automotive industry.
"they have to finance it. And in many cases, they're financing it for 72 or 84 or 96 months, which is just insanity."
Financing is when you borrow money to buy a car and pay it back a little bit each month. It's a way to afford a car without paying all the money upfront.
Financing a vehicle means taking out a loan to pay for it, which is common when the purchase price is high. Buyers typically repay the loan in monthly installments over a set period, which can range from a few years to several years.
"they're financing it for 72 or 84 or 96 months, which is just insanity."
Months are used to describe how long you have to pay back the money you borrowed for the car. The longer the time, the smaller the monthly payments, but you might pay more in interest overall.
In the context of vehicle financing, the term 'months' refers to the duration over which the loan is repaid. Common loan terms for car financing can range from 36 to 96 months, affecting the monthly payment amount and total interest paid.
"...even more for you. You can see here, it's a 2018 Mazda 3. Yes."
Mazda is a car brand from Japan that makes a variety of vehicles. The Mazda 3 is a smaller car that people like because it’s fun to drive and looks good, making it a popular choice for many drivers.
Mazda is a Japanese automaker known for producing a range of vehicles that emphasize driving enjoyment and innovative design. The Mazda 3, in particular, is a compact car that has received praise for its sporty handling and stylish appearance. Discussions about Mazda often highlight its commitment to quality and performance in a competitive market.
"I mean, the egregious part is 29.99% interest rate, but it's also a 75-month car note."
The interest rate is how much extra money you pay when you borrow money to buy a car. If it's high, you'll end up paying a lot more than the car's price.
The interest rate is the percentage charged on a loan for borrowing money. A higher interest rate means more money paid back over time, which can significantly increase the total cost of a car loan.
"So if you think about an aging inventory, an aging fleet in the United States, the concern there is when someone's financed in this type of way."
Aging inventory means cars that have been sitting unsold for a long time. This can make them less valuable and riskier to buy.
Aging inventory refers to vehicles that have been on a dealer's lot for an extended period, potentially leading to decreased value and increased financing risks for buyers.
The total cost of a car loan is how much money you end up paying for the car after including the extra fees and interest. It can be much more than the car's sticker price.
The total cost of a car loan includes the principal amount borrowed plus the interest paid over the life of the loan. It can significantly exceed the original price of the vehicle depending on the interest rate and loan duration.
"but then they added fees and the car. They had a mechanical breakdown protection."
Mechanical breakdown protection is like insurance for your car that helps pay for repairs if something goes wrong with the engine or other important parts.
Mechanical breakdown protection is a type of insurance or warranty that covers the cost of repairs for mechanical failures in a vehicle. It can provide peace of mind for owners, especially for older cars.
"...I want to go to cost of ownership and I want to click on maintenance."
Cost of ownership is how much money you spend to own a car, including buying it, fixing it, and keeping it running.
Cost of ownership refers to the total expenses associated with owning a vehicle, including purchase price, maintenance, repairs, insurance, and fuel costs over time.
"...I want to click on maintenance. Yes. And now I can see a Mazda Mazda 3 will cost about $5,964..."
Maintenance is the work you do to keep your car in good shape, like changing the oil or fixing brakes.
Maintenance involves routine services and repairs needed to keep a vehicle running smoothly, such as oil changes, tire rotations, and brake inspections.
"...what's the likelihood of a major repair. When we get out to year 11, it's one in four chance, 25% chance."
A major repair is a big fix that costs a lot of money, like fixing the engine or transmission in your car.
A major repair refers to significant repairs that can be costly and may involve critical components of the vehicle, such as the engine or transmission.
"...the bank will just keep approving you for that next auto loan. Got to keep the lights on, man."
An auto loan is money you borrow to buy a car. You pay it back over time, usually with extra money added for interest.
An auto loan is a type of financing specifically used to purchase a vehicle. It allows buyers to borrow money from a lender to pay for the car, which is then paid back over time with interest.
An SUV is a big car that can carry more people and stuff. It's often used for family trips and can drive on rough roads.
An SUV, or Sport Utility Vehicle, is a larger vehicle designed for both passenger and cargo space, often with off-road capabilities. They are popular for their versatility and higher seating position.
"..., a nice truck was half as nice as a new Porsche Boxster. Now, almost the same."
The Porsche Boxster is a sporty car made by the luxury brand Porsche. It's designed to be fun to drive and is often talked about because it combines good looks with great performance, making it a popular choice for car enthusiasts.
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engine sports car that has been a staple in Porsche's lineup since its introduction in the late 1990s. Known for its agile handling and performance, it represents a more accessible entry point into the Porsche brand compared to its more expensive siblings. Discussions about the Boxster often highlight its balance of luxury and sportiness.
"...Appreciate this. No more Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair after 2026. I didn't read that."
The Lincoln Corsair is a fancy SUV made by Lincoln, which is a luxury brand. It’s designed to be comfortable and stylish, and it has lots of high-tech features that make it appealing to people looking for a nice vehicle.
The Lincoln Corsair is a luxury compact SUV that was introduced in 2020 as a replacement for the Lincoln MKC. It offers a blend of comfort, technology, and upscale features, making it a competitive option in the luxury SUV market. Discussions about the Corsair often revolve around its design and the brand's shift towards more modern offerings.
"... $34,000 out-the-door price on a 2026 nightshade Prius. Invoice price is $32,871."
The Toyota Prius is a type of car that uses both gas and electricity to help save on fuel costs and reduce pollution. It's known for being very efficient and is often chosen by people who want to be more environmentally friendly.
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid vehicle that has become synonymous with fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness since its debut in the late 1990s. It features a unique design and advanced technology that allows it to use both gasoline and electric power, making it a popular choice for environmentally conscious drivers. The Prius is often discussed in the context of its affordability and practicality in the hybrid market.
Invoice price is what the car dealer pays to get the car from the manufacturer. It’s usually less than the price you see in the store, and it can help you negotiate a better deal.
Invoice price is the amount that a dealer pays the manufacturer for a vehicle. It can be lower than the MSRP and is often used as a negotiation point when buying a car.
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It's noon here in Ventner City, New Jersey and this is, well, Car Edge on the
Couch with Zach and Ray right here in my living room. How are you today, handsome?
Doing so well. Happy Thursday to everyone. Got a great run in this morning. We
launched a brand new CarEdge.com homepage yesterday, so I'm feeling pretty
ecstatic right about now. Today's show is brought to you by us, CarEdge.com.
Coming up on six years, building this thing at me and my dad, and he's gotten
more stylish as each year has gone on. Look at him. Stylish and fat, ladies and
gentlemen, because I don't know if you are aware of this, but fat is where it's at.
Fat is where it's at. All right, so here's the deal, Dad. Today on the show, what
we're going to be talking about, car prices have hit record highs and shoppers
are finally refusing to buy, which is leading to some really drastic changes
for how these manufacturers are operating. But let's start here, Dad. I'm going to
pull it up on the screen for everyone at home. KBB report. Yes. New vehicle
average transaction price hits record high in September, surges past $50,000
for the first time ever. You and I have been keeping track of average
transaction prices, MSRP's and everything in between when it comes to the car market.
We are up over 50 big ones, folks, to get into a new car. That's not average MSRP.
That's average transaction price. I am so glad that I am so far below average.
I remember once I was told during a job interview that I was trainable.
Yeah. And that reminded me of some bad things in grade school. But it is,
I purchased the car and the selling price was $33,000.
Well, I leased the car. The selling price however was $33,000.
I am so far below average and I feel good.
So, Dad, the chart here shows you new vehicle average transaction prices.
So, we are at an all-time high over $50,000. And you can look at the slope of that line,
even from all the way over there to the computer right there.
You can look at the slope of that line is aggressively up.
Now, what's interesting here is we just have some news from Jeep, for example.
Jeep is one of the brands that was probably the biggest culprit when it came to jacking up
the prices of their vehicles going up market.
We are going to dive in in a second.
The news however with Jeep, listen to this.
The Grand Wagoneer is going back to its roots.
Pricing for the 2026 model year now starts at $62,145 at a four by two
and $65,145 for the four by four.
That's down from roughly the starting MSRP of $85,000 for the 2025 model year.
So, that's why we have the title of today's show.
Car prices at record highs, they do indeed.
And shoppers refused to buy.
If shoppers didn't refuse to buy, in this case, the Grand Wagoneer,
there's no reason for Jeep to drop the price by $23,000 year over year.
That is an MSRP decrease of $20,000 plus year over year.
That's 25%, isn't it?
Some might say it's still not enough to move the needle.
I would be in that group that would say that it's still not enough.
And in a front wheel drive, a rear wheel drive, the two-wheel drive,
that's still $12,000 above average, the average transaction price.
So, to admit that you were so far off base when it came to pricing your vehicles
for the last four or five years, that you can reduce them by $23,000.
And still, that's $12,000 above today's average transaction price.
You are asking your customers who typically fall into the lower price range as opposed
to the higher price range, you're still missing the mark for the vast majority of your customers.
So, think about that.
Average vehicle transaction price, new car vehicle transaction price,
$50,000 Jeep admitting defeat, and they're not the only automaker who are going to have to reduce
their MSRP's year over year, admitting defeat into decreasing the price MSRP by 20% plus percent.
Yes, year over year, which is absolutely asinine.
But let's go to the car ad.
Well, here's the real clash.
Okay.
They're going to reimburse the folks that bought any of those POS's at the $85,000 price point.
I know.
I don't think that's how that works.
So, you're basically saying to your customers who bought them at that price,
hey, we scourge it.
We scourge it good.
We can prove it because we've reduced the price 23 grand.
Let's look actually at the car edge machine, Deb.
I'll read out to you because I know you're a little bit far away.
I'm looking for new Jeeps for sale in Marlton, New Jersey.
One of the first ones, if you've got a Grand Cherokee, Compass, Compass, no.
I want to look, obviously, we're talking about the Grand Wagoneer.
Let's look at Grand Wagoneers.
And the reason I want to look at the Grand Wagoneer is because this is the vehicle
who saw its price MSR to go down by $20,000 plus.
Look at the ones on the first page.
So, the first three results here, when you search, and we're doing a nationwide search.
Yeah.
This is sorted by nearest.
Yes.
You've got a 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer that's got a $109,945 MSRP that's been sitting there
for 172 days and has 6,200 miles on it because they're using it as some sort of service loaner.
Next to it, you have a 2024.
We're not talking about 2025 as we head into 2026.
A 2024 with a $106,000 MSRP.
And then another 2025 that's been sitting there for 132 days with a $101,000 MSRP.
So, no wonder, Dad Jeep, and the news story here is Jeep reducing the MSRP by over $20,000
on this particular vehicle.
But no wonder they're having to do that.
They priced themselves out of their customers range, like excessively out of their customers.
They've been doing it for years and they were losing sales and market share for years.
What happens to these 370 Grand Wagoneers out there right now?
Obviously, they're not actually worth this price because the MSRP just dropped by 20 plus percent.
They're not worth anywhere near that price.
Even the cheaper ones at $86,000, $87,000, they're not worth this much.
Well, I think what it means if you're the dealer that's sitting on these vehicles...
$116,000.
Yeah, if you're then...
And it's a 2024, 405 days on the market, Dad.
Well, you know how there have been times where I have mentioned that you can go into dealerships
and they have the bend over package.
Well, this is one of those instances where the manufacturer, Stalantis,
is looking at their dealers who have those 2024s and 2025s still in stock and say,
you are going to have to be the one that bends over when you try to sell.
I mean, if a 2026 similarly equipped will be, let's say they reduced it $25,000,
so it would be somewhere around $75,000, maybe $85,000 for a brand new one.
Instead of $110,000 like it is today, so think about that.
So that customer is going to say, I don't know, I think I need at least 30%, 40% off.
Well, who's going to eat that?
The dealership.
Okay.
Yeah, the dealer is going to be using that money.
It's insane though to think that.
The only reason why we're seeing these automakers start to make these decisions
is because customers have refused to buy them.
The Grand Wagoneer is probably like the penultimate example of that,
a vehicle that they jacked up the prices so much.
And the G-friend overall is, I think, the penultimate example of that.
Well, it was an example of hubris on the part of Stalantis to say that we want to go so upscale
that we're going to come out with a new Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L,
which was a sub-brand, didn't even list the name Jeep on it.
Okay.
It was a sub-brand to be sold out of a Jeep dealership.
They missed the, you know, shotguns shoot pellets.
That Grand Wagoneer L, by the way, 2024.
Only 11 days on the market.
Why?
Because they've moved this thing around from dealership to dealership.
It's 6,100 miles.
It's a pretty own car.
$124,000 of SRP.
But shotguns shoot pellets.
So my point was going to be that even using a shotgun that just spreads the pellets over,
they still missed the target dramatically.
So it is, I guess it's no wonder that there have been so many management upheavals
at Stalantis and at their North American brands where they're trying to at least
make an attempt to get back in touch with Rialo.
But I think, I don't think it's just the Stalantis story.
This is a broader auto industry story.
But Jeep is.
Oh my gosh, you have a Jeep, obviously.
Today is a day where you have a record setting high,
average new car transaction price.
At the same exact time, you have Jeep, who's one of the most egregious,
coming out and saying, we're going to reduce MSRPs year over year by over 20%.
Yes.
Those two things are correlated, tightly correlated.
I think speak volumes to generally what's going on in the auto industry.
Now, what's interesting here.
But even with that massive discount.
Yeah, it's still so dramatically overpriced.
Well, it speaks to some of the data that we have here, Dad.
One piece of information, which is the number of vehicles for sale with average
transaction prices over $75,000.
We talked about this just the other day.
Nearly 10%, 7.5% of all new vehicles sold last month had average transaction prices
over $75,000.
And you don't have to look that far.
One of the things that we provide back on the CarEdge CarSearch,
if you have Research Pro, excuse me, CarEdge Pro,
is you get the dealer invoice price.
So no wonder the manufacturer and the dealers and things like that
enjoy selling these vehicles.
Typically, there's a lot of margin from invoice to MSRPs.
On the more expensive vehicles than on like Akia,
with maybe a couple hundred bucks of profit built into it.
So no wonder they all went up market, but obviously too far.
Now, what's interesting to me, Dad, we're anticipating
that as more 2026 model year vehicles come on the dealer,
lots average transaction prices will go up even more.
Well, because the average MSRPs are going up.
But then you do look at this example from Jeep.
And maybe that is a little bit of a bright light here,
which is there are some vehicles that are so,
have been so drastically overpriced for so many years
that they will have to dramatically reduce MSRPs.
Yeah, but even with that dramatic reduction in MSRPs,
will we see an increase in sales of those vehicles
because of that lower price point?
I think to some degree, will it be a dramatic increase?
I think they're going to be shocked to find out that it won't be.
Okay, that they can look at it and go, oh my God,
we reduced the price $23,000 and it still isn't appealing enough,
isn't a compelling enough price point for our customers to come back
and buy those vehicles.
I think that's the part that is going to shock them more than anything.
So even if you've taken your vehicles that were egregiously overpriced
and now just make them overpriced,
I think you're still going to have a tough time selling.
I think you're right.
Now, we have a new monthly payment data from Cox Automotive as well.
So I'll pull that up on the screen for you here.
Drum roll, please.
Yes.
The typical payment for a new vehicle has increased 1.9%.
We're up to $766.
That's the highest monthly payment we've seen in the past 15 months
and it's up 1.2% year over year.
The only time we've seen monthly payments higher than this
was in December of 2022 when monthly payments averaged $795 for vehicles sold in December.
We also have the Vehicle Affordability Index,
which is telling you how many weeks of income
are needed to purchase the average new light vehicle.
And we're taking back up to add to 37.4 weeks worth of income
to buy a new light vehicle, light vehicle.
We're not even factoring in the fact that a lot of people buy trucks and bigger vehicles.
This is a light vehicle.
So it's taking almost someone's full year's worth of income to buy a damn car.
Yeah, and the good news is that they can't use a year's worth of income to buy it.
They have to finance it.
And in many cases, they're financing it for 72 or 84 or 96 months,
which is just insanity.
All right, everyone.
Let's talk about drinking and driving.
A decision that will change your whole world.
Things will never be the same once you get a DUI because legal fees,
time and court are just the beginning.
Getting into a crash is another way your world could be irreversibly changed
after drinking and driving.
Your vehicle may not be the only thing that gets damaged in that crash.
You could face a life-altering injury or even death,
but you're not the only one who could face those consequences.
Your decision to drink and drive could permanently change someone else's world,
whether you injure them or leave their loved ones grieving.
The next time you're out drinking, call a rideshare, a taxi,
a sober friend or a designated sober driver.
Always plan for a safe ride home.
The only decision that will change your world for the better
is the decision to call for a sober ride.
It's never worth it to drive drunk.
Don't risk it.
Drive sober or get pulled over, paid for by NHTSA.
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Instead of asking, have you saved up enough?
Shouldn't they be asking, what is it that you love to do?
And how can we help you keep doing it?
The truth is, you have no intention of slowing down.
That's why your retirement plan should be more of an action plan.
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Absolute and sassy.
Got another story I want to turn our attention to, but before we do…
Yeah, so I grabbed you get a sip, yeah.
You grab that coffee and let's remind everyone,
today's show is brought to you by us.
Me, my dad and our incredible team behind the scenes.
Car sites show you fake prices.
Yes.
We'll get you the real one.
I like that.
Carage is a car buying service that takes care of the research,
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We learn what matters to you.
Contact dealers, compare real offers,
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Folks, if you have not checked out brandnewcaredge.com you need to,
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Encourage everyone to come meet our team here as well.
You can schedule your free consultation with our team too.
They've already made you and I.
Yeah, they've met you and I, but we've got an incredible group
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You can, again, schedule your free consultation
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pull in all of our insights and data with our AI negotiator
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Folks, brandnewcaredge.com just went out last night, about 9 p.m.
It was a long work day for many people on our team,
and very helpful for all their efforts.
Now, the other thing I wanted to talk about today, dad,
while we have this really interesting moment of car prices going up,
customers finally pulling back and not purchasing
and ultimately manufacturers having to
start to decrease the price points of some of their vehicles,
we have the average age of vehicles on the road
hitting an all-time high.
The latest data from Polk, dad, we're up to 14 and a half years old
is the average age of U.S. cars on the road here in the United States.
Just if you go back 20 years to 1995.
30 years. I'm 30 years old, not 20 years old.
You go back 30 years. It was 8.4 years.
Look at this chart, dad.
Yes, yes.
So what's happening here?
Okay, here's what's happening.
They don't show it at the top of the chart,
but as the chart keeps moving, okay,
there will be a headline that says Cuba.
Welcome to Havana.
Okay, so you'll be able to get good cigars.
Okay.
Okay, and you'll be able to drive 30, 40, 50-year-old cars
because nobody will be able to afford a new one.
So your commentary here is where I'm turning to Cuba.
My commentary here is they left it off,
but I'm telling you a little further up and to the right,
it just says Cuba.
Are you concerned by this?
Concerned?
What, are you kidding me?
Yes, I mean.
Especially as we see, I know we've harped on it
ever since the news came up,
but Wells Fargo now approving up to 150%
for 72 months on auto loans.
Imagine you're getting approved on, I don't know,
a 14-and-a-half-year-old used car with bad credit.
We got the thing the other day where a woman bought,
what was it, a 2018 Mazda.
Yeah, 2018, yeah.
Yeah, and they financed her for 75 months.
Yeah, I posted it on X, let me pull it off.
Okay, so yeah, am I concerned?
Absolutely.
You know, not everybody is my brother, your Uncle Ken.
And what do I mean by that?
Okay, Uncle Ken has a 23-year-old, 24-year-old Ford.
It's got like 33, 34,000 miles on it.
Not everybody is Uncle Ken.
You know, most cars that are 14-and-a-half-years-old
have a lot of miles on them.
Your damn right they do.
I mean, we know that the average miles today
on used cars at the auction is like 74, 75,000.
That's the retail average mileage.
Okay.
The price point is like $28,000 or $29,000,
and you've got over 70,000 miles on it.
Yeah, which is, so if that's not concerning,
I don't know what is.
Here's that deal that you were talking about
just to pull it up on the screen,
and this is why I get concerned about these things.
I'll zoom in even more for you.
You can see here, it's a 2018 Mazda 3.
Yes.
It's got 63,265 miles on it, and the loan here,
I mean, the egregious part is 29.99% interest rate,
but it's also a 75-month car note.
So if you think about an aging inventory,
an aging fleet in the United States,
the concern there is when someone's financed
in this type of way.
Where in this case, they're financing $18,767,
but they're paying back $23,000.
Yes.
So they're paying back $5,000 more than
what they were paying for the car,
and the car originally started at $13,000 in change.
And then, yeah, yeah, yeah, not like MSRP,
but like the asking price from the dealer,
but then they added fees and the car.
They had a mechanical breakdown protection.
She's not bringing up in the context of an aging fleet.
It's because what happens to this poor woman,
if and when her car has a mechanical failure,
which for those of you that are unfamiliar,
this is something we're incredibly passionate about here
at Car Edge.
You go to research, you type in any vehicle over here.
So let's do the Mazda, Doug.
It was a Mazda 3.
It was a Mazda 3.
So give me a second.
We got the Mazda 3 and it was a sedan.
And what I want to look at here when I land on this page
is I want to go to cost of ownership
and I want to click on maintenance.
Yes.
And now I can see a Mazda Mazda 3 will cost about $5,964
for maintenance and repairs during its first 10 years of service.
What I want to look at is what's the likelihood
of a major repair.
When we get out to year 11, it's one in four chance, 25% chance.
Well, and she bought it as a seven-year-old car.
So again, think about that.
Like, aging fleet is very concerning.
Yes.
Take Cuba out of it for a second.
It's just a lot of people getting approved for auto loans
on overpriced used cars that are inevitably
going to have mechanical issues when they're already
so deeply upside down.
Yes.
It's only going to make it worse.
So when I see that the average age of the fleets on the road today
are 14 and a half years, I, from having spent
43 years in retail automotive, understand that the vast majority
of those vehicles are not going to be well maintained,
that there's going to be issues and that when they do break down,
it will be a major repair that's going to be needed
that most people will be unable to afford.
So that's scary.
To me, that's very scary.
But the good news is we should be getting really good cigars
in the future.
Now, the good news is the bank will just keep approving you
for that next auto loan.
Got to keep the lights on, man.
Got to get the merry-go-round spinning.
Yeah.
Welcome to Havana.
Always welcome to Havana.
That earlier in the show from Matthew, appreciate it, Matthew.
Regarding prices, and check the comments,
$85,000 American truck and SUVs are absurd.
For a long time, a nice truck was half as nice
as a new Porsche Boxster.
Now, almost the same.
I think he means half the price.
Yeah.
Now, almost the same different cars, but metal equivalency
doesn't compute buyers, mental equivalency.
Excuse me.
Buyers ain't fooled.
Yeah.
I mean, we are seeing that video, by the way,
that I posted about Ford has gone decently viral death.
The one where I demonstrated and showed
how Ford is struggling to sell these overpriced vehicles
over on Instagram, a couple hundred thousand views now.
And the comments, again,
if you were to read the comments on this video,
pick up trucks for $90,000 after taxes, et cetera.
Can't imagine why they aren't selling.
Car manufacturers need to wake up.
That has 1,637 likes.
Well, but only because it's true.
There's a large percentage of the population today
that looks at it and just goes, this is fantasy land.
I know fantasy sports are big.
Oh, the sports are huge.
Oh, yeah.
But I didn't know that extended to the automobile industry.
That we are just living in a fantasy land
that we can sell the requisite number of vehicles
that need to be sold for manufacturers
and dealers to be profitable
to an ever shrinking customer base.
Because that chasm that we have spoken about
over the years of the haves and the have nots,
that chasm has never been bigger when,
and we mentioned it yesterday,
when people are using GoFundMe to raise enough money for groceries,
if that is not a scary enough signal to understand
that we are in an economic dilemma
that there are very few people
that will be able to afford the things
that they would like to have.
And then the rest of us,
okay, it won't be Festivus for the rest of us.
It'll be Depression for the rest of us.
Think about it.
I mean, you're like a hamster on a wheel.
No, I think-
Catch up and you can't get ahead.
What's going to happen
is the banks will just be more lenient on their lending status.
That'll just, that'll, that's why-
I feel we're 65, 25.
I'm betting leniency on financing just gets more dangerous.
What you're saying,
but there's more and more people on that hamster wheel going,
we're getting nowhere.
We're getting exhausted and we're getting nowhere.
We're spending, we're spinning our wheels,
spending our energy and getting nowhere.
That's a recipe for economic disaster.
Yeah, let's come back to the chat and-
Yes, on the call.
In my opinion, by the way.
Also, Matthew, thank you, appreciate this.
Also, Zach, lay off of the compression
unless working out chemicals and polyesters
in those ain't good for raised future grandkids.
We do.
You're authoring Anna Cotton.
Thank you, Matthew.
Yeah.
Had a great workout this morning.
Yeah.
From Ford Guy.
Appreciate you looking out for me.
Thank you, Ford Guy's videos.
Appreciate this.
No more Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair after 2026.
I didn't read that.
Did you?
Well, no, I wasn't aware.
Wow.
Honestly though, I think we're going to see
more and more consolidation of models
as a result of some of the financial hardship
that OEMs are going to feel
because their very expensive vehicles aren't selling.
That's really interesting.
Thanks for sharing that, Ford Guy.
We've got here from Charles.
Thank you so much, Charles.
AI Negotiator has gotten dealers to a $34,000
out-the-door price on a 2026 nightshade Prius.
Invoice price is $32,871.
MSRP of $35,312.
Opinions includes the $899 doffy.
That sounds like a great deal.
Yeah, a lot of Prius.
Bam.
The AI Negotiator is part of CarEdge Pro.
That's pretty nifty, man.
Yes, yes.
Congratulations, Charles.
Take that deal, man.
It's like having me in your pocket.
Your what?
Your pocket.
Pocket pop.
There we go.
Go for it, Charles.
Yeah, that's awesome.
Yeah.
That's really, really awesome.
I fully endorse you going for that.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's really awesome to see.
It is.
What's awesome is the fact that these damn products sell and work.
Our products do.
Yeah, our products work.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, that's what's pretty awesome.
Yeah, it's incredible.
That's really incredible.
Okay, that's what I had for today.
That's it?
That's it.
We didn't fill a half hour.
Yeah, that's all I had.
Okay, well, then I don't have anything to rant about.
I'm giving up on the rant on today.
What do you think you have my socks?
No one needs to see your ankles, Dad.
Have my socks match everything that I'm wearing.
I guess I have to get blue-soled desert boots in the future.
Show people how pale your legs are.
Sorry, I need to go adjust the hammer.
That's a shade of white.
Yeah, but if you really wanted to see a shade of white.
Yeah, you're going to see my brother.
Yeah, Uncle Kenny, because his legs haven't seen sunshine in,
I don't know, he'll be 83 next year.
No one sees his ankles, but your legs are okay.
Zach, what in the world?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, well.
Slits.
Yeah, but you actually have muscles on your legs.
All right, folks, that's a show for today.
Again, we've got brand new caredge.com.
Please check it out.
Really proud of the efforts of our team.
So if we can assist you with anything,
please go spend some time there.
Congratulations again to everyone involved to make this happen.
And we'll be back tomorrow with Car Edge Live,
as opposed to on the county of Car Edge.
I'm back to Washington, D.C. this afternoon.
Have a really fun interview tomorrow with WTOP,
which is a big radio station in Washington, D.C.
So super excited about that.
Thanks to everyone who supports us to make moments like that happen.
We'll be back tomorrow.
I'm going to go film more content with my dad.
Thank you, everybody.
See you back here, maybe not this much in my living room,
but in my living room tomorrow.
The questions around retirement have gotten tiring.
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Shouldn't they be asking, what is it that you love to do?
And how can we help you keep doing it?
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