At this point, a good portion of the world’s population is attempting to stay at/work from home. (And if you aren’t, you probably should). But what does this mean for the average automotive enthusiast? Cancelled auto shows and racing series, and slow new car sales. But is it all bad news? No.
I’m not one of those people with a bubbly always-positive personality, but I’m going to try to look at the positives here.
Any time saved on a commute, means more time for other things. Let’s say that you previously had a 30 minute commute each way. That means you now potentially have an extra hour each day. What better way to spend that time, than in the garage, or working on a vehicle? If you don’t want to spend time getting greasy, how about spending time making things clean? Maybe now you’ll finally get around to fixing that sagging headliner, or giving your car a post-winter bath.
With new vehicle sales tanking quite badly, that means there will be a lot of sales people desperate to make a sale. In the next month or two, there should be plenty of good deals on new vehicles. I’m not saying you should run out and buy a new car, but if you’ve got the financial resources, and were already in the market for a new ride, things will likely work in your favour.
Along with this, comes the potential for more direct sales. If trends continue, you may be able to test drive and buy a car with minimal human interaction. This bodes well for the flocks of introverts who hate having to haggle over pricing.
With local car shows being canceled, there should be less Mustangs doing burnouts, and less spectators being subsequently run over. Also, if you aren’t driving as much, you’re probably less likely to get a traffic ticket.
One of the best parts social distancing for the automotive enthusiast communities is the ability to still interact with each other online. There’s some great communities out there filled with great people, and great content. So take a little time to get to know each other. Spread that infectious enthusiasm, instead of a virus.