Manufacturers don't care what car you want to buy...

[Irace86.2.0]

I was thinking about Ford giving up on producing sedans, and about the fall of manual transmissions in America, and I naturally asked myself: do manufactures care what features car buyers want in a car, specifically, do they care what car enthusiasts like me want? And I realized quickly the answer is no.

Ok, I'll admit it. That was a click-bait title and opening sentence. I can already see some of you prepping your rebuttals with topics on supply 'n' demand to manufactures wanting to be more efficient or want to maximize profits, but let me explain.

Manufactures don't care what I want in a car because I don't buy new cars--I buy used. I have never purchased a new car. I have never leased a car. I don't ever intend on buying a new car. My reasons for doing so aren't really the point, so hopefully that is not where this thread goes, if it goes anywhere.

I was just curious if there exists differences in the buying habits of used car purchasers versus new car purchasers besides just the cost. Do used car buyers want a manual transmission more often than new car buyers? Do they want more features or less, or different features? Do they work on their own cars more often? Do they modify them more often? Are they more likely to choose a higher mileage luxury car or one that is higher spec'ed than a less equipped car with lower mileage? What do used car buyers want?

Unfortunately, manufactures probably don't care. They aren't doing market research on the desires of used car buyers. They aren't trying to develop cars or release trims that used car buyers want. Because they aren't interested in you or me; they are interested solely in people buying new cars. In that sense, the used car market is at the whim of the new car market. Whatever was sold is what is going to be available, so if many used car buyers want manuals, but manuals are rare then buyers will need to settle for automatics. In that sense, it is hard to determine what is desired by simply surveying what used cars were bought, which makes me really wonder, is the used car buyer a different type of buyer, and if so, what are they looking for in a car that new car buyers aren't?

[HKz]

[Mr.ac]

Wut?

You barely just realize this?

Dude I know your smoking the good stuff, and kind of mad you are not sharing, but at lest wait a hour before posting.

[Leonardo]

Just look at the list of the top selling vehicles in the US. It is an enthusiasts "do not buy" list.

[NCtoBRZ]

I have bought a number of cars both new and used... just as many other people have, so there is no single motivation for buying used vs. new that applies to everybody. Manufacturers would not care (at least not to a large extent) what you or other enthusiasts want regardless of buying new or used because the truth is that driving enthusiasts make up an ever decreasing percentage of the car buying public. Manufacturers are not going to devote a large portion of their research, design and manufacturing resources to creating a slew of manual transmission performance cars because only a tiny percentage of the population wants or would buy them.
If used car buyers are honest, in most cases they buy used to save money. The twins are a good example of this... why would anybody buy a used twin when they are still in production as new cars other than to save money? The main exception to this rule is buying used because the specific car that you want is no longer in production, for example when I bought an S2000.

[Mr.ac]

Simple answer:
Buy a kit car.

[Irace86.2.0]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.for...for-value/amp/

This was more what I was referring to...the article is talking about how new car sales are falling and new CUV sales rising, yet used cars sales are increasing. Apparently there is a greater percentage of used vehicle buyers who want a car over a CUV than new vehicle buyers.

It is an interesting topic to an over-analyzer like myself, who likes to consider the implications of such things. I was reading too that the average new car has risen to over $30k. With wages being fairly stagnant, who will buy these more expensive cars? Will the used market grow? Will used vehicle buyers find the used vehicle market meets their needs if the new vehicle segments don’t match?

[Mr.ac]

Yeah... don't know what your smoking....or eating, but you do have to share.
Also.... depends on what car.

If you don't care about performance and just need a mode of transportation you can buy something brand spanking new for about $18k-$20k in manual to boot.

Heck, you can get a 2019 base model Subaru Impreza 2.0i AWD 5 speed for a little over $20k.

Or if you fancy something sporty you could go with a 2018 Camaro, it's a little 4 banger but RWD and a 6-speed. All for about $20k+.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

.. It is an interesting topic to an over-analyzer like myself, who likes to consider the implications of such things.

Well, Irace86.2.0, I don't really have much to contribute because, ever since my first car, I have always bought new cars. Plus, ever since retirement, I just don't think about things like that all that hard.




humfrz

[strat61caster]

Speak for yourself, I put my money where my mouth is and bought this car new. I might even buy another new one in a few years.

[m.box.design]

In response to the original post; car manufacturers are still a business driven by profit. They'll focus on selling units that appeal to the most people for the most return. Sports cars only exist because someone at the company wants to serve the niche, such as Akio Toyoda at Toyota.

The looming recession of the last decade has also forced people to become more frugal and smarter with their money. Buying a used car with less than 50,000 miles at a major discount over new is almost a no-brainer if you're trying to save money.

[Tcoat]

Where do you think the used cars come from? If the new car buyers want certain features then that is what will be available for used. You are right. The companies don't give a shit what people want on used cars. They make new ones.
Always chuckle when people seem to think they are superior or smarter because they only buy used. Even funnier when they say nobody should buy new. It is us new car only buyers that keep the industry alive and determin what will get made.

[daiheadjai]

If we don't buy new, we have no one to blame but ourselves for a lack of sporty options out there (and eventually, this will trickle to our beloved used car market).

EDIT: Tcoat beat me to it - should've refreshed the page before I posted.

I leased a 2013 BRZ new, and assuming the Toyobaru survives to have a next generation, will put my money on a new car.
Maybe those of us who are afraid of first-year model blues (one of the reasons I didn't buy outright) or who foresee lifestyle changes (I got my BRZ just months before getting married, and expected to have kids within 5 years), leasing should be a consideration.
It shows the manufacturer there's a market for these cars, and sustains a second-hand market for those who couldn't get into it right away.

Works for BMW...

[rice_classic]

Economics have forced the hand of most buyers.

50 years of stagnant wages combined with skyrocketing housing/transportation/education/healthcare costs means that even people who want something fun, can't have it. Plus, fun things are more expensive than ever.

The 86 variants have only crept up in price. Most decent fun things are now in the 30k+ range and that's simply out-of-range for most folks. With tariffs and other factors contributing to increased production costs, this trend will only worsen.

It's no wonder why the used car market has outsold the new car market by a huge margin. New cars under 15k are awful, new cars under 20k are somewhat better but there's nothing "fun".

"Fun" has kind of priced itself out of the market right now.