If you’re in the market for a new car, but especially if you’re looking at a fuel-efficient Japanese model, experts say you’re better off buying now because prices will only get higher in coming weeks as the effects of the earthquake in Japan and the unrest in Libya and the Middle East start to be felt.
Up to now, Japan’s earthquake has had little effect on prices of Japanese cars here. For the most part, dealers already had cars on their lots with more coming on ships and trucks.
Besides, most “Japanese” cars sold in the U.S. are made in North America.
But in the coming weeks, factory shut-downs and other disruptions in Japan could make it difficult to find some Japanese-built cars. The problems could even affect inventories of American cars, since some components may be produced in Japan.
General Motors already had to shut down a Louisiana factory producing mid-size pick-up trucks due to a shortage of unspecified Japanese parts.
Peter Valdes-Dapena, cnn
