Skyrocketing US car prices force buyers to travel thousands of miles for deals
Key takeaways:
- Customers want to pay no more than the sticker price pass long distances to catch a car.
- Low stock levels, supply chain backups, and production uncertainties have challenged consumers aiming to buy a new vehicle.
After an auto dealer requested $10,000 above sticker price for a new hybrid car, car buyer Michael Rathjen of Kirkland, Washington, decided to pay no more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the car of his choice. He never desired his search would take him eight months and 3,000 miles from home.
“I’m calling across the entire nation.
I consider this is not going to be possible. I’m not heading to find a dealer selling at MSRP,” recalled Rathjen, a technical writer. “I kept calling further and further out till I struck Vermont.”
In early May, Rathjen flew to Burlington, Vermont, to choose his new Toyota RAV4 Prime, spent $51,000 for the fully furnished premium model, then instantly turned around and drove it cross-country to get it home. The drive took eight days, with some halts to see views and friends.