Comments on: Whither Empty Car Dealerships?

By: Cuts spare local car dealers | Belle Plaine Now

Cuts spare local car dealers | Belle Plaine Now — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:23:26 +0000

[...] Whither Empty Car Dealerships? (outsidethebeltway.com) [...]

By: mpw280

mpw280 — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:16:15 +0000

A car is new until it is registered, so its new until it gets plates, that is why dealerships have dealer plates, they can sell cars with hundreds of miles on them as new because they haven't been registered. mpw

By: just me

just me — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:36:28 +0000

Most profits are made on parts and service anyway. The Name out front being gone will hurt, but the distance required to reach a dealership will help.

Only problem is that I imagine a huge part of that was the fact that they did approved warranty work, and with the dealership franchise gone, I am not sure they will be able to do the warranty work, although they can certainly continue to do other repairs and cars outside the warranty will still need work.

I do wonder though with so many of the dealerships being in rural areas, if people living in rural areas may have issues getting warranty work done.

By: JKB

JKB — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:23:03 +0000

I too was confused that none of the alternatives involved what the private owner might do to regain his lost revenue. Not to mention, there seems to be a lack of consideration that the local government is now, not going to be getting the tax revenue.

Used car lot is most likely, especially, given that once the franchise is revoked, the "new" cars still on the lot can't be sold as new.

A second use could be for a repair shop since people will be trying to keep their good cars working once the government mandated death traps become the only alternative.

By: Steve Plunk

Steve Plunk — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:20:50 +0000

Unicorn farms? If we're going to dream...

By: floyd

floyd — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:20:34 +0000

Many dealerships could remain open as used car centers and repair shops. Most profits are made on parts and service anyway. The Name out front being gone will hurt, but the distance required to reach a dealership will help.
Eliminating dealerships is eliminating an edge that American car companies have had over their competition. Every small town in America has had an American car dealership, while the buyer had a long commute to a city for sales and service of foreign makes. These dealers were not a net cost to the manufacturer and their loss ,by forced closings, will hurt rather than help overall sales.

By: mpw280

mpw280 — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:34:09 +0000

Why would private ownership of the dealership be worrying to the people who want to take them over and make them into something else. We all know that private ownership of assets is bad, "The One" tells us so. It is that or the fact that the dealership owners voted for the wrong party or choose not to vote for the rino. mpw

By: PD Shaw

PD Shaw — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:23:32 +0000

I have to add, looking at the G.M. dealerships being closed over at the Huffington Post, a lot of these are not particularly urban areas, which the poll respondent's assume. GM Closings

By: just me

just me — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:33:25 +0000

I suppose many closed car dealerships will be repurposed...into car dealerships for other companies. Strange that didn't make the list. I predict that most of them will end up as used car dealerships rather than urban gardens. We had a car dealership close down one of it's satellite dealerships and combine with the larger one the next town over (not Chrysler, but a business move of the owner probably trying to save money). I don't think the owner owned the land though-think he leased it from the property owner. The property would actually make a pretty decent sized farmer's market, but I suspect the building will end up torn down-other than a car repair shop, I don't really picture the property being useful for other businesses-it just screams "Car Dealership."

By: PD Shaw

PD Shaw — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:25:31 +0000

The closest Chrysler dealerships closed near me were all Ford/ Chrysler dealerships.

By: G.A.Phillips

G.A.Phillips — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:01:21 +0000

And I suspect that lots of local governments will have problems borrowing money in the current climate.

lol, yup that global warming is WREAKING EVERYTHING!!!!!!

By: G.A.Phillips

G.A.Phillips — Sun, 24 May 2009 12:59:30 +0000

Thanks for taking one for the unions guys, the U.S.S.A. is greatandmorefull for your sacrifice.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Sun, 24 May 2009 12:57:27 +0000

I suspect that quite a few dealers plan to try to make just the sort of arrangement that Herb suggests above, that it may take some time, and that they'd be reluctant to see in the current climate, anyway.

By: Herb

Herb — Sun, 24 May 2009 12:52:42 +0000

Urban gardens? On concrete? Umm-kay...

I suppose many closed car dealerships will be repurposed...into car dealerships for other companies. Strange that didn't make the list.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Sun, 24 May 2009 12:52:19 +0000

I'm confused. Aren't these dealerships on private property, many probably owned by the dealerships themselves? I suppose they could be eminent domained but they'ed still have to pay the owners for the land. I doubt that many states, counties, or municipalities have the ready money to make the purchases.

And I suspect that lots of local governments will have problems borrowing money in the current climate.