It has only been slightly more than a week since President Donald Trump declared His extensive range of mutual trade taxes. High tariffs on commerce severely disrupted the stock market and led automobile manufacturers to begin increasing their vehicle prices, thus earlier this week, we posed the question Which imported vehicles would remain worthwhile purchases even with possible increases due to tariffs? The sentiments expressed were quite pessimistic, varying from nobody should consider purchasing a vehicle at this time to individuals not altering their purchase behaviors because of these tariffs. However, there were still replies mentioning foreign cars that buyers find appealing enough to overlook the tariff obstacles.
Read more: Consumer Reports' Top 10 Affordable Used Cars Under $20,000 Can Help You Avoid Republican Tariffs
Not Purchasing Anything Besides Perhaps a Lexus Coupe
I likely won’t purchase another vehicle for several years, but if the current tariffs persist, I’ll be willing to pay extra for a Lexus coupe made in Japan. In my opinion, the construction quality of their cars produced in Japan surpasses that of those assembled in America. This doesn’t mean all Lexus vehicles lack quality; rather, I believe the ones from Japan have a slight edge over others.
Submitted by: RC350F
Purchased a Miat RF Club for an Automotive Industry Apocalypse Scenario
I purchased my Miata RF Club primarily because of concerns about tariffs damaging the automotive industry, and it certainly didn’t help knowing that it’s manufactured in Japan with many components also sourced from there—this makes me question my choice. This vehicle seems destined to become a $50K ride, which is outrageous even when considering all the add-ons like the pricey $4K BBS/Recaro/Brembo package. However, short of having access to an American-built lightweight rear-wheel-drive sports car, your only option would be something like a Mustang EcoBoost with its automatic ten-speed transmission (there's no manual version available), and honestly, I’d prefer spending more money on a $50K Miata over settling for one of those cars; it simply offers such a superior experience. If the major automakers—the so-called "Big 3"—were to release a high-performance model weighing under 2,500 pounds whether front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, then maybe things could look different.
Submitted by: Xanos
The Mitsubishi Outlander Wouldn't Be So Unusual
The other day, I visited a Mitsubishi dealership for some maintenance work and took the chance to look around their lineup of vehicles. The Outlander caught my eye as you truly receive an impressive amount of features and space for under $34K; this includes premium touches like an upgraded 8-speaker audio setup, leather upholstery throughout, and 8-way power-adjustable seating. It’s well-suited for many drivers looking for something practical without compromising comfort. Don’t dismiss Mitsubishi quite yet—although my main concern lies with them opting for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) instead of a traditional automatic. However, considering my previous experience with a CVT-equipped Lancer, which performed adequately enough, perhaps it won’t be too much of a drawback after all.
Submitted by: Agon Targeryan
Everything Will Cost More
Notably, since tariffs will increase the cost of all vehicles, domestic brands will simply hike their prices to capitalize on this significant pricing gap with imported competitors. As is typical for profit-driven companies, these actions will likely lead to increased demand and higher costs in the secondary market, making car ownership even more challenging across various income levels than it currently is.
Submitted by: mak
A Very Canadian Dilemma
I’m from Canada, so the effects are comparable but vary in specifics. Last time, I purchased my vehicle during a period when prices were extremely high, which was a misstep on my part. Therefore, I plan to hold off for as long as possible so that instead of making car payments, I can allocate those funds towards other Canadian priorities. The current pricing is outrageous, and the available models are progressively less appealing to me. Perhaps by the time the world regains some sense, the Rivian R3x might finally hit the market here too.
Submitted by: Beef Supreme
Settle For A Lexus
The Lexus GX550. People who might have been eyeing a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen or an upscale Range Rover may opt instead for the Lexus, moving down slightly in price range yet still receiving excellent value without compromising on quality (in fact, they’d be upgrading, though my perspective might be skewed since I work at a dealership for the big L). This is what I would choose if I found myself in that income bracket and looking for a vehicle after recent tariff changes.
Submitted by: Papa Chris
It Could Be Overwhelmingly Late
In general, the only vehicles that make sense are the ones you already own. It becomes quite difficult to justify purchasing any car when its price jumps dramatically without any logical explanation.
Submitted by: Provide Me Tacos or Demand My Demise
That’s why I purchased one two weeks back. I had postponed buying it even before the pandemic started, and later decided against purchasing it when prices were inflated and dealers made adjustments. Waiting three or four more years with my nearly 20-year-old vehicle didn’t seem feasible, nor did I want to end up spending $40,000 on what used to cost around $25,000 not long ago. Since I had the funds, which would lose their worth over time anyway, I figured I might as well use them now.
Submitted by: spookiness
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