TRANSPORTATION : Gear Down on Panic, Urges Car Dealer Who Sees Economic Hope

Some of Orange County’s 132 new-car dealerships are throwing in the towel and others are gearing up--or paring down--for tough times ahead. But megadealer Bob Tuttle said he believes that a well-run dealership has little to fear.

“There is concern out there, but no stampede yet,” said Tuttle, president of Tuttle-Click Automotive Group.

The Irvine-based company sells 11 makes of cars at six county dealerships and has four Tucson lots selling nine brands. (All Tuttle-Click dealerships combined sell 14 makes of cars.)

Tuttle said October foot traffic was down 10% in reaction to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, soaring gasoline prices and mounting predictions of a recession. But he said his managers are not reporting serious erosion in sales or in parts and service business.

“There are some reasons to be pessimistic,” he acknowledged, “but I’m not as pessimistic as some. It is good for the economy that Congress and the Administration have resolved the budget, and if we can resolve the Kuwait situation without a disastrous war, I think the 1991 model year can be at least as good as the 1990 year.”