Buyer’s Remorse

Car buyers are spending more than they wanted to and got less than they paid for. They were enticed by the shiny new paint, fake leather and big screens. They felt like jet pilots with unimaginable technology. They signed loans for payments and terms that used to be mortgages. Reality came hard and swift when the small turbocharged engines failed. They were over-pressured and overheated trying to move heavy vehicles. The larger simpler engines offered before did so without complaint and lasted decades.

Massive recalls and class-action lawsuits made it obvious that cars were designed to sneak past CAFE mileage targets. Reliability was sacrificed. Warranties became useless as cars sat in dusty dealer lots waiting for parts or because software updates caused new problems.

Buyers are searching for simplicity and reliability and can’t find either. Who to trust? What to buy?

Market Complexity

There have been over 60 makes and 1,000 models sold in the USA since 2000. Each with multiple generations that are in fact completely different cars. Countless trim and drivetrain options. All told close to 100,000 different combinations. Drivers want to escape high payments and buy used but how can they know which cars are good bets?

Let’s say you are considering a Honda Civic. The name may be the same but there have been 5 distinct generations. Engines, transmissions, suspensions, electronics, software and entire platforms have been changed. Even within the same generation one model year may have been great while the next is a complete disaster. Relying on the brand or model name can cost you big money in repairs and resale value.