Feb 24
Cars now most affordable since 1991
Brainswashing 101! The Globe throws a carrot at the Canadian Car consumer. Now will he buy! This report is usless, they talk about last years prices, please try and stay a little more current! Comments appreciated please.
February 24th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I wonder how much lower I am paying for all those nice items now built in China. Of course everything should be cheaper, but the real comparison is what are the similiar numbers for our cousins down south, are they at 1968 levels?
February 24th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
This is just like the Nissan commercial I keep hearing on Vancouver radio stations where Nissan says that their “$2000 worth of extra content on the Altima has Americans coming to Canada to buy Nissans”.
This sort of advertisement makes my blood boil because it assumes Canadians are idiots to believe this hogwash and attempt to brainwash.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
DesRosiers Automotive Speculators:
DesRosiers doesn’t give any detail in their report such as the present comparison of prices between the USA and Canada.
Come up with facts or bow out.
I wonder what could be their reason for putting trash in the paper?
Consumers would do better to do their own research on the net.
I would believe DesRosier as much as I would believe the Canadian Automobile Manufacturers.
We are no longer that easy to fool.
My advice to DesRosiers is, can it and ship it to Ottawa.
February 25th, 2008 at 1:43 am
These kinds of statistics and comparisons published in the article are not particularly useful, they’re ignoring the fact that there is still a serious difference in pricing with the US. The dollar increased in value by more than 20% and they reduced their prices by “more than 2%”, ridiculous.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Reminds me of the story of the 6 foot tall fellow who couldn’t swim and wanted to cross the river. The guys told him not to worry because the river has only 3 feet deep on average. They never saw the guy again. Figures can lie and liars can figure.
February 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
If you check out the DesRosiers on google, it looks like he is in the pocket of GM. Check out his web site at http://www.desrosiers.ca/index.html The information on the site is not up to date, and looks terrible. This guy is some old guy someone has “dusted off” and hired to lie to the canadian Public. Not a very credible resource. Why doesn’t the globe and mail just Talk to us, we know Canadians are getting screwed!
February 25th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Oh, allow me to comment on those Nissan commercials Helder mentions. They drive me nuts! I’m all for Canadian dealers selling U.S. cars at reasonable prices. I’m all for dealers selling Canadian cars at reasonable prices. However, to think we are gullible enough to envision U.S. citizens flocking across the border to purchase a Canadian Nissan, give me a break! Who is their marketing company anyway? I’m getting a headache now, so I have to stop thinking about it. Ouch!
February 25th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I still wonder why the Car is compared to the Housing prices. Why not compare to computers that are now 20-50 times faster and cheaper than in 1991 or that flat screen TV that is now 5 times less than 5 years ago, or what about the fact that cars today are much smaller on average and certainly need less steel, rubber, and vinyl. Maybe the CAR should be compared to the tax rate I was paying in 1991? And the value of the dollar in 1991 - who knows - it is just a very annoying article that tells us that we should be very happy with car prices. Incredible - I am now reading the Globe and Mail news with a lot of doubt in my mind. Do they actually do this with all the news. Stock markets - banks info, information technology reporting? I wonder!
February 25th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
You can read about Dennis DesRosiers in this relatively recent article:
http://www.financialpost.com/magazine/family_finance/story.html?id=215934
I have seen commentary by him with which CWB would agree, and other where CWB might
disagree (– don’t remember where); I don’t remember enough about economics to see
anything particularly objectionable in the Globe and Mail article.
Our career paths crossed many years ago when he was starting up his tiny consulting
business so I admire Dennis for his perseverance and success. It does not bother me
one bit that he may have clients among the auto makers. Bravo. I would look forward
to seeing views he may have that would clearly present the opposite side of the ongoing
debate.
For me, being happy about car prices is not the point. What I can’t digest is restrictions
on trade, be it for cars, ski-doos, audio equipment, or anything else. At least that is
something I retain from those economics courses.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
sergelbergeron, are you sure that cars have been getting lighter? I’ve always had it in my mind that all the mandatory “safety” equipment and electronics over the past two decades has made cars heavier, which is a safety and a fuel consumption issue. I realize that cars have become more efficient and might appear to be smaller, but this isn’t necessarily a result of lesser curb weights.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:22 am
When I was in the advertising business my boss always told me, ” Numbers are meant to be manipulated”.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
This comment was probaby posted in the G and M due to the massive advertising dollars that the auto companies pay to this paper to keep it running. This is the same reason most media will not touch this issue, they will lose their primary advertising revenue. We all know that the auto companies have our government in their pockets, how else would we be paying a minimum of 5 billion more dollars per year on our cars. This article is offensive. Where do they get off thinking that I am so stupid that I don’t know we are being gouged massively at the dealerships. How can we arrange a boycott of purchasing cars at Canadian dealerships? Can we all go 1 year without purchasing/leasing a new car? That is all it would take.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Christian writes - Sergelbergeron are you sure cars are getting smaller? Sorry No I’m not sure - it is just appears that way as I see many small cars. On pricing, my guess is that many tangible goods that are moveable - (not like homes) are being made cheaper and cheaper in many places around the world. I am trying to think of household products that are actually way more expensive and I have a hard time finding some. What is way more expensive are taxes, food, gaz/oil, housing, health products and education.