Welcome to the automotive podcast that does not pay the average price for their cars…

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…  

• Everyone wants record high returns… But how about record high car prices?
• How about record amounts of upside-down cars?
• Canada’s loss is our gain. More jobs at Stellantis in Illinois

All of that and more on this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches. 

 Thanks for listening.  To join in on the fun of the show, just email us at info@throwinwrenches.com or post a review on itunes to be heard worldwide!

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Sponsors

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Projects

Eric: 

SCC Roundup – Jake’s show coming up. Jake got a scratch.

Celica redo… leaking since service.  Distrubugtor

Daryl:

Tundra brakes

Cadillac compression test

Garage cleaning and paring down. Aanco stuff added.

NEWS:

EDMUNDS:

Underwater and Sinking Deeper: The Average Amount Owed on Upside-Down Auto Loans Climbed to an All-Time High of $6,905, According to Edmunds

Analysts say a record nearly 1 in 4 vehicle trade-ins toward new-car purchases with negative equity carried more than $10,000 in debt

SANTA MONICA, CA — October 15, 2025 — More Americans are finding themselves upside down on their car loans, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds. Q3 2025 data from Edmunds1 shows that a growing share of owners are trading in vehicles worth less than what they owe — and the debt they are rolling forward is only growing:

• More than one in four new vehicle trade-ins are underwater, a four-year high. 28.1% of trade-ins toward new-car purchases had negative equity, up from 26.6% in Q2 2025 and 24.2% in Q1 2025. This is the highest share Edmunds has on record since Q1 2021, when 31.9% of new-car trade-ins were upside down.
• Americans with upside-down car loans owe more than ever. The average amount owed on upside-down loans hit a record $6,905 in Q3, edging past the previous high of $6,880 set in Q1 2025.
• Nearly one in three underwater car owners owe between $5,000 and $10,000 in debt — a new record high. 32.9% of negative-equity trade-ins fell into this range in Q3, up from 32.6% in Q2 and continuing a steady climb since last year.
• A record share of underwater car loans are carrying five-figure debt. Nearly one in four (24.7%) trade-ins with negative equity carried more than $10,000 in debt in Q3, surpassing the previous high of 24.6% set in Q4 2024. Another 8.3% of trade-ins with negative equity carried more than $15,000 in debt, up from 7.7% in Q2 2025.

New Research Confirms: Major North American Auto Shows Drive Consumer Behavior and New Vehicle Sales

New York International Auto Show, Los Angeles Auto Show, Canadian International AutoShow

NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In an era dominated by digital and social media marketing, new research released today by Clarify Group shows that the in-person, immersive experience of attending an Auto Show in the United States and Canada continues to play a critical role in the new-vehicle purchase journey for consumers — and has a measurable impact on consumer buying decisions.

Clarify Group Inc., a leading automotive research and insights firm, conducts research on behalf of the three largest Auto Shows in North America: the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Canadian International AutoShow (Toronto) and the New York International Auto Show. As the new Auto Show season approaches — with Los Angeles opening Nov. 21, Toronto on Feb. 13, 2026, and New York on April 3, 2026 — Clarify is releasing highlights from the most recent studies conducted across the three shows, representing the voices of nearly 9,000 visitors.

These findings offer important insights for vehicle manufacturers, marketers and retailers about consumer intent and behavior.  The research underscores the importance of Auto Show participation for OEMs and the risks created for any brands that choose not to participate.

Key Findings (across all three shows unless otherwise stated)

• 40% of Auto Show visitors intend to buy or lease a new vehicle within the next 12 months

• Auto Show visitors are 2.9 times more likely than the average consumer to purchase or lease a new vehicle within the next year

• 68% of Auto Show visitors are in the market to buy within 24 months
• Gen Z visitors are the most enthusiastic promoters among all age groups—they are 1.5 times more likely than average to recommend the Auto Show to friends and family, challenging the perception that Gen Z consumers prefer only digital engagement with brands

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TSkMc84EDB8LyRevvyt5D_OaN6o0ErOmwhNG4cTotAw/present?slide=id.g27081fa77aa_0_14

Average Price For A New Car Hits $50,000 For First Time Ever

BY RYAN ERIK KING jalopnik

If you have been wandering the lots of your local car dealerships and thought that prices were rising, you would be correct. Kelley Blue Book reported on Monday that the average price paid for a new car surpassed $50,000 for the first time ever in the U.S., reaching $50,080. The record highlights how lower-income buyers are being pushed out of the new car market. In a broader view, economists are concerned about the increasing delinquency rate for subprime auto loans.

Data shows that the new car market is being propped up by luxury vehicles and high-end EV sales. According to Kelley Blue Book, over 60 models with a selling price over $75,000 and 94,000 units sold accounted for 7.4% of total sales across the industry. It’s a significant increase from 6% reported in September last year. Erin Keating, a Cox Automotive executive analyst, said:

“It is important to remember that the new-vehicle market is inflationary. Prices go up over time, and today’s market is certainly reminding us of that. While there are many affordable options out there, many price-conscious buyers are choosing to stay on the sidelines or cruising in the used-vehicle market.”

Read More: https://www.jalopnik.com/1996924/average-new-car-price-hits-50000-dollars-first-time-ever/

Stellantis to Invest $13 Billion to Grow in the United States

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan – Stellantis announced today plans to invest $13 billion over the next four years to grow its business in the critical United States market and to increase its domestic manufacturing footprint. The investment is the largest in the Company’s 100-year U.S. history and will support the introduction of five new vehicles across the brand portfolio in key segments; production of the all-new four-cylinder engine; and the addition of more than 5,000 jobs at plants in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

The new investment will further expand Stellantis’ already significant U.S. footprint, increasing annual finished vehicle production by 50% over current levels. The new product launches will be in addition to a regular cadence of 19 refreshed products across all U.S. assembly plants and updated powertrains planned through 2029.

“This investment in the U.S. – the single largest in the Company’s history – will drive our growth, strengthen our manufacturing footprint and bring more American jobs to the states we call home,” said Antonio Filosa, Stellantis CEO and North America COO. “As we begin our next 100 years, we are putting the customer at the center of our strategy, expanding our vehicle offerings and giving them the freedom to choose the products they want and love.”

“Accelerating growth in the U.S. has been a top priority since my first day. Success in America is not just good for Stellantis in the U.S. — it makes us stronger everywhere,” Filosa said.

Plant Investment Details(1)

The $13 billion investment plan includes research and development and supplier costs to execute the Company’s full product strategy over the next four years as well as investments in its manufacturing operations. The details of the plant-specific investments follow: 

Illinois

Stellantis intends to invest more than $600 million to reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant to expand production of the Jeep® Cherokee and Jeep Compass for the U.S. market. With an initial production launch expected in 2027, these actions are anticipated to create around 3,300 new jobs.

Tesla Is Sued by Families Who Say Faulty Doors Led to Two Deaths

Two Californians were trapped in a burning Cybertruck because electronic doors made it difficult for them to get out or be rescued, lawsuits claim.

Tesla pioneered the use of car doors that open or shut with the push of a button.

Credit…

Karsten Moran for The New York Times

By Jack Ewing

Reporting from Piedmont, Calif.

Oct. 2, 2025

The parents of two college students killed in a car crash last year in California claimed in lawsuits filed Thursday that the design of the doors in the company’s Cybertruck pickup made it nearly impossible for their children to escape the burning vehicle.

The suits, filed in a California court by the families of Krysta Tsukahara, 19, and Jack Nelson, 20, underline longstanding questions about how the doors in many Teslas work, which is the focus of an investigation begun in September by federal auto safety regulators. The lawsuits are another setback for the Cybertruck, which has sold poorly and been recalled eight times since last year.

Tesla pioneered car doors that open or shut with the push of a button. Several other automakers have imitated that design, usually on electric models. Electronic doors give cars a high-tech aura and may modestly reduce wind resistance because their exterior handles typically do not protrude from the door.

The automaker’s door latches rely on a 12-volt battery that is separate from the high-voltage battery that drives the vehicle’s electric motor. If the power is cut off by a crash, the electronic door mechanism may not work.

Super Car News Search

Cars of the Weak  

Eric:  Its been a while…  BAT, Premium listing

1957 Lancia Aurelia B24S Convertible

This 1957 Lancia Aurelia B24S is one of 521 convertibles built during three years of production and is said to have remained with its original owner until 1985. 

After undergoing a refurbishment, chassis 1478 is said to have been used for participation in various tours in Europe before being purchased by its current owner in 2015 and imported to the US. The car subsequently underwent a restoration by Vantage Motors of Stamford, Connecticut, between 2019 and 2022 that included stripping and repainting the body in red, a re-trim of the interior in black leather, and overhauls of the running gear. 

Power is provided by a 2,451cc V6 that breathes through a single Weber carburetor and is paired with a replacement four-speed manual transaxle. Additional equipment includes sliding-pillar front suspension, a De Dion rear axle, an electric cooling fan, an electric fuel pump, and a black convertible top. 

This B24S is now offered on dealer consignment in San Diego, California, with ASI and ACI certification, over $332k in invoices from the 2019-2022 project, an owner’s manual, a service manual, a jack, and Connecticut registration.

OVER 300K in receipts… Current bid 200k with 3 hours left.  Reserve not met at 216,000.  Yowza!

Oh, and this…  17K for a tacoma regular cab… With an automatic trans?!?!?!  WTH?  https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2001-toyota-tacoma-93/

Daryl: 1967 Chevy Camaro RS Coupe

Time Remaining: 22 hours58 minutes
Start Time:8/20/2025 7:00:00 PM
End Time:10/17/2025 6:00:00 PM
Bid Count:81
Current High Bidder:5207
Starting Bid:$1.00
Bid Increment:$100.00
Current Bid:$6,100.00

VIN: 124377N180521. Odometer shows 37,449 miles. Engine is a 327 and it’s free, transmission condition unknown. Vehicle has not ran for some time. Tire size 205/75R14, two tires are cracked and two need replaced. Interior is in rough shape. Body is fairly straight but there are several rust spots and pain chips. Rust is the worst by the rear tires.