Car dealers and Millennials in 2015

[kevm14]

http://blog.caranddriver.com/why-do-we- ... alerships/

Dealers are still relevant. For some reason.

[bill25]

I think they are relevant due to lack of other options.

[Adam]

Also, in order to properly buy a used car private-party you have to know something about cars, or know someone who does. That is probably a hurdle for the younger folk.

[kevm14]

But the dealer provides no REAL benefit for people with this lack of knowledge. Except maybe for some kind of warranty. But real warranties cost money and I'd expect anything I personally test drive to last the 30-90 days of the typical standard dealer used car warranty, meaning that the benefit is worthless. At least to me.

[Adam]

But the dealer provides no REAL benefit for people with this lack of knowledge. Except maybe for some kind of warranty. But real warranties cost money and I'd expect anything I personally test drive to last the 30-90 days of the typical standard dealer used car warranty, meaning that the benefit is worthless. At least to me.

They provide the illusion of expertise.

[Bob]

You are forgetting about financing, which is the main reason that many small dealers exist.

I view used car dealers and real estate agents in a similar light. Both are over compensated for the value they provide in facilitating a transaction that many people are afraid to undertake on their own.

[bill25]

I think it depends. If you buy a used car from some small time used lot that you aren't familiar with (the hustler I bought the Volvo from) they might be underhanded and try to cover some things up, but I think that from a safety perspective, a dealer with fix things that could be a safety concern rather than cover it up to keep their name clean. If you buy a car from a private party or a sleaze ball you need to know what you are doing. I don't think I would have a lot of confidence about buying a car in this scenario, based on being burned in the past.

[kevm14]

One variable in the equation is that the S80 is a POS.

[kevm14]

You are forgetting about financing, which is the main reason that many small dealers exist.

I view used car dealers and real estate agents in a similar light. Both are over compensated for the value they provide in facilitating a transaction that many people are afraid to undertake on their own.

Ah, yeah. I've never financed a car in my life, but I have bought two cars from dealers (the CTS-V and SRX and the CTS-V wasn't really supposed to be from a dealer). Also I've used real estate agents.

On that vein, I do somewhat fantasize about not using an agent when I finally flip my NK house (to my current tenants but I am getting way ahead of myself).

[Adam]

You are forgetting about financing, which is the main reason that many small dealers exist.

I view used car dealers and real estate agents in a similar light. Both are over compensated for the value they provide in facilitating a transaction that many people are afraid to undertake on their own.

Ah, yeah. I've never financed a car in my life, but I have bought two cars from dealers (the CTS-V and SRX and the CTS-V wasn't really supposed to be from a dealer).

I've worked in and around automotive shops/dealers since I was 16, so I suppose I have no way to relate to the experience of normal people.