The market for non-union American made autos (VW, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, etc.) will also soar
@Hoodat I have heard whispers this is already happening.
I was in a serious transportation "bind" when the engine went bad in my 03 Ranger went bad. Had/have a minimum of 3 out of state doctor appointments a week,and my only other ride is my 06 GMC 3/4 ton diesel pu with an 8 foot bed and extended cab. NOT something you want to drive in city traffic everyday unless you just don't know any better. Damn thing is almost wider AND longer than most parking spots these days,and I have trouble walking 50 feet.
Didn't want to,but was forced to buy a new car,so on my "day off from the doctors" I went compact car shopping. Stopped at the local Honda dealer first. Salesman tells me "We don't have any new ones on the lot,but we are supposed to have 22 coming in sometime this month,and if you want,I can put your name on a list in case a buyer backs out."
Uhhh,no.
Went to the Nissan dealer next. Most of what he had in stock were small SUV's that I couldn't get in and out of without banging my head on a door jamb. He had a couple of 2 or 3 year old used cars I could have bought,but I wasn't interested in buying a used car. Already had a couple of used trucks.
The Ford dealer was next,and I didn't even get out of my truck because the smallest thing he had on his lot was a F-350 commercial truck.
Yeah,I COULD have ordered "the perfect car" if I had of had the luxury of time to wait for it to be built and delivered,but I needed something NOW.
I was tired,so I went home and looked on the web for other dealers in the nearest town,and the Toyota dealer had my dream truck. White,extended cab,NOT super cab,2wd pu with a tan interior,ac,auto trans,4 cylinder engine,etc,etc,etc. It was the ONLY new truck he had in stock,and since it was after 9 PM by then,I told myself I was going to be there early the next morning and buy it. I was there when they opened at 9 AM,and the truck was gone. They had sold it the night before,just before closing time.
So I tried getting in and out of the tiny crap they had in stock,with no luck at all. Steep windshield curves made me keep bumping my head. I told the saleswoman I was going somewhere else to find something,and she remembered the sales manager was driving a new white Camry with everything I wanted,including a inline 4 cylinder engine (I freaking HATE V-6's).
I could get in and out of it without bumping my head,it rode and drove good,and the only thing I didn't like about it was the black upholstery,which wasn't too bad in this case because it was cloth,not leather or vinyl.
So I bought it. Had to pay full retail to get it,but they did give me a 500 dollar cash back veteran credit.
I do a LOT of semi-long distance local driving (75-150 mile round trips 3 to 4 times a week) for doctor appointments,so gas mileage was important to me. Which is one reason I wanted a 4 cylinder.
I was EXPECTING to MAYBE get 35 MPG on the open road,and the damn thing gets between 42 and 53 mpg,depending on traffic conditions. Yeah,up to 53 MPH so far,and that is NOT a typo!
I was getting 45 or so MPG max running on unleaded regular gas,but decided to try premium gas to see what happened. That was when my gas mileage jump up past 50 MPG for the first time,so now I just automatically fill it with premium. I figure the improved gas mileage to be solid proof that my engine is operating more efficiently on Premium gas,so it makes sense to me that it will last longer and run smoother on Premium,so that is all I buy,even though Toyota recommends regular gas.
And,with the 6 speed auto transmission,the damn thing will FLY on the rare occasions when I punch in passing gear.
BTW,for those of you wondering why I didn't buy a rebuilt engine for my Ranger,the cheapest I could find a new long block was 2300 bucks,and then I would have to pay to have the bad engine pulled,the accessories like the AC pulled off it it and put in the new engine,and then paid to have the new engine put in. Meanwhile,I would have been battling city traffic with my 4x4 long bed truck,and getting stressed.
I DO love 400 dollar trucks though,so it is still in my yard in case I hear of someone totaling their Ranger and the engine hasn't been damaged.
Have no idea what I would do with the Toyota,but I DEARLY love having old,beat-up "driver" pu's that you can park anywhere and leave the key in the switch,and nobody even wants to steal it. MY kinda truck!