• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Where do never-sold new cars go?

Harshaw said:
Most honest commercial ever made was the first half of the Fiat commercial where they're plunging en masse into the Mediterranean.
Click to expand...

If I remember the other end of that commercial, they came ashore on the US coast like D-Day.......
 
Fledermaus said:
Depends on the model... A FIAT 7000 miles is halfway to major repair. A Volkswagen 7000 miles isn't even the first oil change.

It probably was a finance job that didn't go through.
Click to expand...

Are we talking the Fiats of old or the brand new ones rolling off the line?
 
nota bene said:
My mother used to call my father's Fiat Spider his "bastard child." I learned to drive a stick on it, but it spent more time in the repair garage than it did at home and parts had to be found in Italian junkyards. One of my sisters inherited it and promptly gave it to the garage. ;)
Click to expand...

FIAT = Fix It Again Tony
 
nota bene said:
I'm beginning to think about replacing my beloved "Sir" at some point but don't want to pay 2018 prices. My car is a 2010, and I would be very happy with a brand-new 2016, but I can't find any new ones (despite Googling and being lured to various sites on the premise that they have a 2016).

So where do new cars that never sold go? Are they sold overseas or something? Is there some trick to searching online? I've been to Car Gurus and etc.

Thanks in advance to anybody who knows the answers to my (probably dumb) questions.
Click to expand...

For the most part they build to orders, there is very little surplus. It's determined by computer models, economics etc. and that feeds the JIT - just in time ordering. They know how many 15 amp interior light bulbs they will need weeks in advance and order them in small lots.

The JIT was an extension of computer software designed to schedule maintenance on buildings and machinery. It's huge mainframe technology and is reputed to save the Ford Motor Company (as an example) between 5 and 10 percent.

It is macro-economics personified, when you sell 10 million cars, saving 50 cents becomes very attractive.

When there is surplus, it is usually sold into rental fleets, municipal fleets etc. If you're paying attention, police cars in some towns arrive long after the new models are out
 
Rexedgar said:
If I remember the other end of that commercial, they came ashore on the US coast like D-Day.......
Click to expand...

Yeah. That's why only the first half.
 
nota bene said:
I'm beginning to think about replacing my beloved "Sir" at some point but don't want to pay 2018 prices. My car is a 2010, and I would be very happy with a brand-new 2016, but I can't find any new ones (despite Googling and being lured to various sites on the premise that they have a 2016).

So where do new cars that never sold go? Are they sold overseas or something? Is there some trick to searching online? I've been to Car Gurus and etc.

Thanks in advance to anybody who knows the answers to my (probably dumb) questions.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat, I love my car, but its got 160,000 miles on it. I'm looking at a used 2015-2016 Prius V. Try Carvanna, or craigslist.
 
nota bene said:
I'm beginning to think about replacing my beloved "Sir" at some point but don't want to pay 2018 prices. My car is a 2010, and I would be very happy with a brand-new 2016, but I can't find any new ones (despite Googling and being lured to various sites on the premise that they have a 2016).

So where do new cars that never sold go? Are they sold overseas or something? Is there some trick to searching online? I've been to Car Gurus and etc.

Thanks in advance to anybody who knows the answers to my (probably dumb) questions.
Click to expand...

I have been in the business for 33, almost 34 years now.

Dealers sell everything....leftover models at losses. The manufacturers depending on which one pay out final incentives at a certain point...usually as the next model year is in full production mode. Once a dealer is paid that last incentive, they know the losses will only get steeper. They will price them like low mile used cars....whatever they have to do to move them, and stop the floor plan interest from accruing.

In our 14stores, we have 1 2016 left in stock....everything else is 2017/8 as far as new inventory. I don’t think you will find a lot of leftover 16’s at this time of year....but best of luck on your search.
 
nota bene said:
Of course. :doh I don't know why I didn't think of Enterprise and etc.
Click to expand...

Enterprise, budget, Avis...all the rental companies buy their cars directly from the manufacturers

They don’t buy from dealers....

They may be shipped to dealers, and the dealer may get the PDI, but the deal is fleet and done straight through factory
 
beefheart said:
I'm in the same boat, I love my car, but its got 160,000 miles on it. I'm looking at a used 2015-2016 Prius V. Try Carvanna, or craigslist.
Click to expand...

Wow, 160K. I'm impressed. Mine's about to turn over 69K. I've taken very good care of him, including taking him out on road trips where he could have a lot of fun.

Well, okay, I had fun too, but he needs to be switched to manual and opened up from time to time.
 
Rexedgar said:
I opened my first business in 1980. Car repair. Could not have been a year later that Fiat pulled out of the American market. The cars were much too hi-maintenance and the parts network was not nearly able to keep up with demand!
Click to expand...

Any thoughts on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio? Those things look sharp.
 
Fledermaus said:
No comprende ;)

Both.

Derp.
Click to expand...

I know the old Fiats were notorious, hence the Fix It Again Tony jokes but I heard that consumers were saying that they had improved with the new batch hitting our shores.
My older brother had a 1968 Fiat 124 Sport, and he didn't have very many issues, and a neighbor had an old 600 that seemed okay, although I think it way too underpowered.
His other Italian car was an Alpha Romeo which was the bitch from Hell.
 
Lovebug said:
Any thoughts on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio? Those things look sharp.
Click to expand...

Alfa is brand new returning to the US market. That being said I have been out of the auto business for a while now, my recommendations lean towards the proven reliable vehicles. The look of the vehicle should not be the first concern. Kinda like physical attraction, what are you going to talk about the morning after. Hondas, Toyotas are my go to vehicles. Something that your neighborhood shop can do the basics on. I never understood why Fiat and Renault and Peugeot had a hard time here as they are everywhere in Europe. I have rented a few and been impressed. Good luck on your choice and don't let the first impression decide the deal for you.
 
beefheart said:
I'm in the same boat, I love my car, but its got 160,000 miles on it. I'm looking at a used 2015-2016 Prius V. Try Carvanna, or craigslist.
Click to expand...

I'm a Prius owner, 2007 model.
Reliability is legendary, but a word of warning:
Do not expect performance, because these are dull commuter appliances and nothing more.
If you're looking for a small car with plenty of storage space and/or passenger accomodation, and 38 mpg city/45-50 mpg hwy and nothing else, get one and you'll be happy.

Ignore the talk about 10000 mile oil changes however, and let the engine run for its full cycle before taking off first thing in the morning (about two minutes usually) because some owners report excessive oil use due to not letting the engine reach operating temp before starting off.
3000-5000 mile oil change intervals recommended.

Also ignore the scare talk about battery life and replacement costs because chances are pretty good that you will never need to replace it even with as much as 200000 miles on it.
I hear that the 2015-16 Prius gets even better mileage.

I'm very satisfied with my Prius but I'm most likely going to move to a Volt.
Two family members have Volts and I've driven them both, and I really like them a lot more.
Both of them have been very satisfied with the Volt, they deliver everything promised.
One of them is a real estate appraiser and routinely does 200-300 miles a day, the other is a commuter who seldom needs to go beyond the electric range of her Volt, so she's surprised at the rare times when the engine kicks on while driving.
 
nota bene said:
Wow, 160K. I'm impressed. Mine's about to turn over 69K. I've taken very good care of him, including taking him out on road trips where he could have a lot of fun.

Well, okay, I had fun too, but he needs to be switched to manual and opened up from time to time.
Click to expand...

160 thousand miles isn't very much for a car these days.
With proper routine maintenance you can expect at least 160-200 thousand miles of a decent car.
And that's if you don't beat the Hell out of it like we did with our 2004 Caravan.
That old girl just turned over 200 thousand miles and the only major repair it has ever had was a water pump at 125 thousand miles. Aside from that, only oil changes, radiator flushes, a set of spark plugs at 100 thousand miles and belt replacement.

She can still climb the mountain grades without sweating and she still gets 22 mpg on the freeway. And we beat the holy Hell out of it because she helped us raise two kids and she was my wife's handicap accessible freedom machine.

I suspect old Bessie will still give another handicapped person another hundred thousand miles, because the engine and trans still run perfectly.

What kind of car is "Sir"?
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
160 thousand miles isn't very much for a car these days.
With proper routine maintenance you can expect at least 160-200 thousand miles of a decent car.
And that's if you don't beat the Hell out of it like we did with our 2004 Caravan.
That old girl just turned over 200 thousand miles and the only major repair it has ever had was a water pump at 125 thousand miles. Aside from that, only oil changes, radiator flushes, a set of spark plugs at 100 thousand miles and belt replacement.

She can still climb the mountain grades without sweating and she still gets 22 mpg on the freeway. And we beat the holy Hell out of it because she helped us raise two kids and she was my wife's handicap accessible freedom machine.

I suspect old Bessie will still give another handicapped person another hundred thousand miles, because the engine and trans still run perfectly.

What kind of car is "Sir"?
Click to expand...

A Sentra SE-R. I regret not going all the way with the Spec V, but I'd broken my right foot and decided all-clutch was probably not smart. Now I'm sorry--not that I plan to trade "Sir" in.
 
nota bene said:
My mother used to call my father's Fiat Spider his "bastard child." I learned to drive a stick on it, but it spent more time in the repair garage than it did at home and parts had to be found in Italian junkyards. One of my sisters inherited it and promptly gave it to the garage. ;)
Click to expand...

Fix It Again Tony...

Edit: see someone beat me to it, lol

Fine... F**king Italian Attempt (at) Transportation
 
Last edited:
nota bene said:
Wow, 160K. I'm impressed. Mine's about to turn over 69K. I've taken very good care of him, including taking him out on road trips where he could have a lot of fun.

Well, okay, I had fun too, but he needs to be switched to manual and opened up from time to time.
Click to expand...

69K... that's practically brand new. My son is pushing 200k on his 2004 camry.
 
nota bene said:
I'm beginning to think about replacing my beloved "Sir" at some point but don't want to pay 2018 prices. My car is a 2010, and I would be very happy with a brand-new 2016, but I can't find any new ones (despite Googling and being lured to various sites on the premise that they have a 2016).

So where do new cars that never sold go? Are they sold overseas or something? Is there some trick to searching online? I've been to Car Gurus and etc.

Thanks in advance to anybody who knows the answers to my (probably dumb) questions.
Click to expand...

They are parked in lots to rott.


Here is what I googled.
https://www.google.com/search?ie=UT...ndroid-browser&q=lots+full+of+unsold+new+cars

They don't sell them. They can't charge full price because it's an old model and they don't want to sell it at a discount because nobody would by new ones.

So many manufactures park them in abandoned parking lots to rott others smash them into pancakes you recycle them.
 
nota bene said:
A Sentra SE-R. I regret not going all the way with the Spec V, but I'd broken my right foot and decided all-clutch was probably not smart. Now I'm sorry--not that I plan to trade "Sir" in.
Click to expand...

A Nissan with 69 thousand miles on it?
Unless the body is all beat to Hell it's just broken-in.
You can get 300 thousand miles out of a typical Nissan.
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
I'm a Prius owner, 2007 model.
Reliability is legendary, but a word of warning:
Do not expect performance, because these are dull commuter appliances and nothing more.
If you're looking for a small car with plenty of storage space and/or passenger accomodation, and 38 mpg city/45-50 mpg hwy and nothing else, get one and you'll be happy.

Ignore the talk about 10000 mile oil changes however, and let the engine run for its full cycle before taking off first thing in the morning (about two minutes usually) because some owners report excessive oil use due to not letting the engine reach operating temp before starting off.
3000-5000 mile oil change intervals recommended.

Also ignore the scare talk about battery life and replacement costs because chances are pretty good that you will never need to replace it even with as much as 200000 miles on it.
I hear that the 2015-16 Prius gets even better mileage.

I'm very satisfied with my Prius but I'm most likely going to move to a Volt.
Two family members have Volts and I've driven them both, and I really like them a lot more.
Both of them have been very satisfied with the Volt, they deliver everything promised.
One of them is a real estate appraiser and routinely does 200-300 miles a day, the other is a commuter who seldom needs to go beyond the electric range of her Volt, so she's surprised at the rare times when the engine kicks on while driving.
Click to expand...

I have a 2006 Scion XB, I'm not into speed or performance....LOL
 
nota bene said:
My mother used to call my father's Fiat Spider his "bastard child." I learned to drive a stick on it, but it spent more time in the repair garage than it did at home and parts had to be found in Italian junkyards. One of my sisters inherited it and promptly gave it to the garage. ;)
Click to expand...

I still have my 1969 Fiat Spyder, aka the 124. I paid $2950 for it new in 1970 while home on leave. Black, with a red leather interior, black canvas manual top, original Blaupunkt radio. 124k owner miles on it, mint shape. I've cannibalized a half dozen or so other 124's, both the roadster and the coupe for parts. It wasn't made by Fiat, marketed by Fiat. The car was designed and made by Pininfarina. Last time I showed it, about 4 years ago, I was offered $45k. It is a fun car to drive, it's a beautiful sports car, unreliable as were most sports cars of the day, like the MGs, Triumphs, the Jag XKEs, the Corvettes, the Volvo P1800, the Saab Sonnet and most others. Even the Austin Healy's and their replicas never finished a Road Rally. Same with the AC Cobras. These days it is driven at most 500 miles per year, and it keeps increasing in value. I recently saw one in red from 1971 sell for $85k at auction. Very good condition, 170k miles. Pininfarina is now offering newly made parts to enthusiasts who are rebuilding them. It's worm and roller steering was incredibly more precise than rack and pinion, still is, making it a fun car to drive on winding roads. You had to pray you'd reach your destination, the downside. (I used to carry an extra clutch and linkage in the trunk with tools that came with the car.) It is one of the classic sports cars of the era, just coming into its own for collectors. It was one of the first cars sold in America with Perelli tires. BTW the British Morgan of the day, an all wood car, can be had for upwards of $200k. I had one in college for a summer, bought at a junkyard for $75, until it was hit by lightening and went up in smoke. Another fun car to drive, heading down hill with a steep decline, and a good tail wind the care could hit 40 mph with its two stroke engine. Felt like you were moving at 90. Some were 3 wheelers, one wheel in the back. New Morgans today start at $250k, and they are still hand built, with a 5 year back order. They still offer a 3 wheeler. They're mostly made from aluminum these days. They can be ordered with either new Corvette engines, or a custom Rolls Royce engine for an extra $50k.

There were also the 124 sedan and station wagon. For investors, it's looking like the few sedans available are becoming collector's items, selling for as low as $5k a few years ago, they're now selling for close to $40k restored, and the very few station wagons, if they hit the market are selling upwards of $70k.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom