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I laugh every time someone says that NOW the Accord is quieter than it used to be. When someone was told the Accord was noisy in the past, they would always defend it as the best thing since sliced bread. I thought it was noisy, among other faults, in 2003. Now they've decided to do things like insulate for sound and use thicker glass. Duh.
Have you looked over the Camry closely? Some from the past with painted dash pieces, IIRC. The ultimate in soft feel?
And I'm sure you can find examples of US Big 3 pieces that also exemplify cut corners. But The then favorites of the general buying public were being given a pass.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Did you have to pay extra to get the best one of the 5?
That's actually a good way to choose a car if buying from stock. The 335 and 328 we tested didn't shift properly - at least the clutch action wasn't smooth. That was one reason we didn't chose the Audi. They should test those cars a lot better if they want people to buy one.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Also, I missed that they made 4 wheel disc brakes standard for 2013 - that is a very good thing. I would consider it again!
Back in my prime, I had no equal when it came to senseless debating. All cowered in fear of me, or went running like little babies to Kristie for protection. These days I fight for truth and justice. So keep your crown of lies and half truths mister, because this ole king has seen the truth.... and the truth has set me free!
The other days I got some "Laws to Live By" This one seems relavant;
15.Law of Logical Argument-Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
A few others:
6.Variation Law -If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now.
4.Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.
2.Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
3. Law of Probability- The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
18.Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy -As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
18.Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy -As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
This is is especially true for me. There were several cars/models in the past that as soon I got close to being able to afford them, they'd stop making them. It nearly came true with my current 328 wagon with stick shift, as well. I was actually planning to buy one in couple of years, but had to move ahead with purchase, as I knew it was going away.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
While, she really liked the CL, she absolutely abhored the gold color. Can't say as I blamed her. It was pretty bad. The only other color they had in a CL was silver, which she didn't care for, either. Dealer told us at the time that he would make us a "helluva" deal on the gold one. Me, given that I wouldn't be driving it every day, and hearing "DEAL" was ready to sit at the desk. She, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with it, regardless of the DEAL!
BTW.....I'd like to point out that I can't respond to Kirstie's request for a Baby Boomer 60 or over. I simply do not qualify because of my age..... :P
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
In the US, we're more likely to have "trendy" buyers, who want the latest fashion color, or want to make a fashion statement with their vehicle color. How else could one explain the popularity of teal as a vehicle exterior color in the late 80's/early 90's?
In other countries, the age at which one can obtain their driver's license is also generally older, and a lot of their "youngsters" choose not to get their DL right away. Even if they do, they may not purchase a vehicle right away, for any one of a number of reasons - public transportation is cheaper & more efficient, nowhere to park in big cities, cost of gas. So, we seem to have a lot more youth driving and owning vehicles in the US. Young people seem more likely to be swayed by a fad-driven color, or a color that they feel reflects their personal coolness factor appropriately.
Just my thoughts on one reason for the bigger variety in color from US manufacturers. Plus, some of the Euro/Japanese marques wish to be seen as a more "serious" brand - the gravity of the white/gray/tan/black exterior shall not be tampered with.
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Note: Demand for black exceeds the current supply. Also, not any demand for red, green or tan.
Also, this may be of interest;
Twenty-two percent of global car buyers chose white cars in 2012, reports PPG Industries. White was followed by silver in second place (20 percent), black (19 percent) and gray (12 percent). In North America, the results were largely the same, with white taking 21 percent of all sales, followed by black (19 percent), silver (16 percent) and gray (16 percent).
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
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In addition, those had a lemon colored leather interior.
Now, we learned to never say the word "gold" when someone would call on a used car...instant turnoff. We would say " It's kind of a champagne" color or something like that.
We couldn't get away with doing this on a Trumpet Gold Legend.
Our buyer actually bought one of these gaudy Legends at an auction one day.
It was a very nice car with low miles but it sat and sat for several months.
But, as they say in the car business..." There's a butt for every seat" and one day we matched a "butt" to that seat and it went away.
I heard that those sold well in Florida and Palm Springs....draw your own conclusions on that one...not going there!
So, in 2001 Honda did it again! They had Inca Gold Civics! They were hideous and non sellers. A one year only color but they did paint some 2002 Civic Hatchbacks that color only renaming it to Euro Gold.
They didn't sell either!
With all due respect, you have absolutely no idea how the law of supply and demand works.
With all due respect (which really means - no respect, but you are dressing up your post by trying to be as polite as possible), the law of supply and demand is meaningless if you are ordering a new car and it doesn't matter what color of paint they use if the paint costs the same price. Are dealers going to start charging more for the more popular colors?
If a car is already sitting on the lot and a dealer has one that is a hideous color then of course they will lower the price. That's not only supply and demand that is common sense. If they have a popular color and short supply they can milk the market for what it is worth too - to me it is not nice but let them nickel and dime consumers to death if they choose.
If you go back a few posts you will see that black cars exceed demand in Europe. Do you really think they will charge you more if you ORDER a black car? But, they will no doubt charge you more if you can find one on the lot...that isn't startling news.
If we are talking on a dealer lot it would have to be a fairly extreme situation to pay more or less for a certain color. I still would want to know what the price is of the car in the unpopular color just so I know how much more they are charging me for my favorite color, the more facts I know the better the decision I can make. I think that is being very fair...the dealer has rights to play his game, I can play my game.
Ha..........sucked in again, you're a glutton for punishment!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You suggested the unethical/ dishonest practice of bait and switch to the original poster, who wanted a very rare color from a dealers lot. The "why should the dealership charge more for a different color" discussion is a red herring. Not relevant. Nice redirection the others have fallen for, but not this ole jip. So, perhaps you could be a littler clearer on why using the "bait and switch" on a salesman is not a dirty dishonest trick?
But in this most recent post of yours, you flip flop. Now, apparently after getting that business degree... you understand why a dealership would charge more for a rare color... that is market conditions. You are pulling out all the tricks now aren't you? You indeed are... the master... of... senseless debate! :P
Actually, white is my least favorite color. And I have owned a white car, but only one. I will go further to avoid white than I will to avoid black. I like the Ford shade of red (on pickups), but not so much the General Motors / Chevy version (Victory Red I think it's called). My new pickup is metallic silver, and I really like the color although I do wish there weren't so many of them!
Amen to that.
I'm done. We need Richard to shame driver into behaving like he usually does.
If I'm not mistaken the pie chart colors look identical to the BMW logo. Coincidence or good marketing?
I'll explain one more time the way I see it;
First a new car: There is no reason to charge more for a new car that you order depending on the color you order. They all cost the same.
A new or used car on the lot, that is in demand and short on supply. Personally, I would have a problem charging more based on color, although it is not nice it is not immoral. If I was the customer I would probably just find out the price of a regular color car and order one...expecting to pay the lowest price possible for that model.
If the dealer is going to play games by selling the car for more based on color I would like to know how much of a premium I am paying for that color. Yes, I would see how much the other color is first and then switch in the end. Do you think dealers are completely up front about everything? I have bought 3 cars in the last 2 years and dealt with 4 dealers, I would say one was honest...the others all played games. I would be a complete fool not to try to find out how much I was being overcharged because of the color of the car. I could then make a much better decision whether I should order from the factory or try another dealer or look for a dealer trying to move that particular color car.
Bait and switch may not be nice, but it isn't unethical. Lots of businesses do it. Lunch from $5....do you think you are going to come out paying $5?
I saw a Corvette and painted on the door was LEASE ME FOR $270 and in small print "bi-weekly". You go to Best Buy to buy their 50" TV for $450 and find the picture is so dull and fuzzy you end up buying the $600 model.
Everyone has to defend themselves, so yes, I would do what I have to in order to get the best price possible....the dealer isn't looking out for me.
Let's say I go to the dealer and I like the Harvest Gold color that no one is buying. Do you think he is going to say, "That car has been sitting there for 8 months everyone hates the color so you can have a $300 discount"?
I don't think I am being dishonest one bit....I am making an informed choice and I am doing my homework by finding out how much I am being gouged for choosing a particular color. If you just want to accept what a dealer or salesperson tells you then that is up to you...like I say, if I had done that I would be out $22000 over the last 2 years.
Hope that is clear.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
lol...I think you are on to something bwia;
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Amen to that.
I'm done. We need Richard to shame driver into behaving like he usually does.
Please see 2 posts above.
Most people lie on average 4 times a day....so all you perfect people should think about that.
I don't consider seeking out the price of the undesireable car to be dishonest or a lie. If there is a big enough difference in price I may choose that car. I am just getting all the facts, then we will sit down and negotiate.
I'll tell the salesman I want to pay the same price for the red car as the sick green car. He'll come down a bit, I may go up a bit. The whole negotiation process is a series of game playing lies. He has to talk to his manager, he can't possibly sell at that price, there are no incentives at this time (when there are), you need mop n glo and seat protection and tire insurance etc.
Lets not start making moral judgements about what's right and wrong unless you lead the perfect life. Have you ever had to negotiate the price of a car? I guess when the BMW dealer told me my wifes 2008 335 was only worth $20000 because the used car manager said they can buy them at the auction for that price (and I knew the book value was $25000) that you would just accept his word. Yes, I actually looked up the value before taking the car in...that's about as dishonest as negotiating a price on the sick green car before switching to red.
I am just saying, yes, I get as many facts in place that I can...I want to be informed and I am playing against professionals, so I will use any legitimate tactic I can to protect myself.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Craig....I think the "Gold Acrua" predates 2001, as that's the year my former spouse and I split. I should know this, but did Acura make a Legend Coupe? I know the gold car we looked at was a coupe. Maybe I'm "misremembering" the actual model, however.
I'm one of the ones who really thinks car colors are boring. I'll do anything to find a color that's less than what the majority buy. I do not like silver. Of course, my last two cars were black over tan. And my current one, white over black. Pretty boring, but I had little choice.
Please bring back colors like "plum crazy".
Since I don't lie, you must be lying 8 times a day :P
Disclaimer: This was a joke
Seriously now, I heard on the radio a few weeks ago an interview with a sociologist regarding the whole process of lying and petty office theft. The results were more than interesting. In short, when given an opportunity, people succumb to lying or grabbing unearned money really quickly. Basically, when the gain is immediate and perceived risk of being caught very small, people have tendency to take advantage of that small crack.
However, very small changes in the process, call them weak gates (simple obvious signals that you are crossing the line significant enforcement), drop the percentage very significantly. For example, a picture with eyes looking at the people reduces incidents of office food theft in the kitchen by some amazing percentage. It's just like the old saying, doors and locks are not really there to keep crooks out, they are to help honest people stay honest.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Acura is very boring now. My wife loved the RDX, but hated the colors (and it was almost enough to squash the sale). Ended up with the dark gray, which does look good. But nothing else was vaguely interesting. She wanted blue. Nope. black, gray, silver (various varieties) and a metallic tan. Boring and bland. MDX came in blue.
she is still mad we got rid of her dark purple Voyager ("dark iris pearl"), a very dark plum type color. Very sharp. Nothing like it today though!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Interesting post, and there is a lot of information on the net about lying or bending the truth.
Funny, people get all hyper if you do a bit of a fake about what car you really want to buy, but nothing is wrong if a President lies about his exploits, and an ex-governor who emails questionable pictures of himself thinks he should be forgiven because he made a little mistake, and lets not get into the whole priest thing.............................
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You can learn all you ever wanted to know about Acura Legends at;
Acura Legend
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Good one. How about Tangerine in that new flat shiny finish.
Bad economy...dull colors. GG, we need to talk before you get yourself married again.
I used to think Dodge used over the top colors, but it got people motivated and eventually looked normal.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Dodge did exactly that:
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
No, he doesn't and I will try no longer to explain this simple concept to him.
Edited: I do enjoy that term "King of Senseless Debate" you came up with. Very funny. Mind if I use that in my next book? :P
GG--
As an artist I'm really enjoying this discussion. Most all of us have preferences and even though I try to be broad in my tastes my preferred colors are the greens and blues--at least for cars, especially the more grayed-out greens and blues. For those of you who know art, it's hard to beat those Maxfield Parrish teal blue skies--like before sunset on a cool clear day. My mom just got a Camry last year and it's a nice fairly vibrant, mid-saturation blue hue. She likes it because it's easy to find in the parking lot. At 82 with mild catarracts, that means something when you go to scan a sea of silver, gray, white and black minnows populating the automotive landscape.
Strange then, that the three cars we own are white, black and silver. The silver on the Scion is forgettable and BORING! The white on my Mazda was an up-charge (sparkly mica in the paint or some such nonsense) as it was on our previous Rav4 (bought used so no extra cost). I have to say that I would not buy a dark car (despite my black MR2) here in OK with 300 days of punishing sunshine per year unless I could keep my car garaged or under a UV resistant cover.
Seldom do I see a gray or silver that leaves an impression although the 91-93 MR2s came in a beautiful blueish gray. Some of the greens are quite garish (Isell: remember the 94 or so Civic Del sol green?) that do not improve with age. Same goes for some of the golds. I think the nicest blue I ever saw was on a Bentley convertible idling next to me in traffic. Those saturated purple cars should be an affront to anyone, even those suffering from mild color blindness. Orange?! Fogetta 'bout it. Yellow should be on school buses or at the track. The current Porsche Boxter has changed my view about gold as they have a rather subdued gold that oozes understated elegance. It's in marked contrast to the garish greenish-gold found on the special "Release" edition Scion xB a couple of years ago--no matter how easy it might be to find in a parking lot.
I'm hoping for something with a bit more "classy sizzle" (if that's not an oxymoron) in our next car color. I saw a nice dark metallic blue WRX wagon in a lot in MI. Alas, that would be a far better car in the cloudy skies of MI than in the brilliant sun of OK.
Gogiboy
The salesperson will love you for buying like this. They will tell everyone what a great guy you are, one of his best customers, etc. and greet you warmly every time you walk into the dealership in the future.
If you object to giving your money away in this fashion, you become known as a "flake" or a "grinder". These names are meant to be derogatory, but in my mind they are terms of respect.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
KSD
Works for me.
There are a couple of princes as well.
also, just because a certain color is in short supply, does not mean it is worth more. heck, it might be super hard to sell (like Isell's aztec gold), so they don't get ordered. I honestly don't think there are that many people so fixated on a certain color that they walk instead of getting a different choice. Certainly not enough of them for a dealer to let a done deal walk out the door over it.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
It's yours....my manager will be around with a contract, I'd watch the small print (if yuou use the quote in any publication it will cost $2000)
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That says it all in two simple sentences. It's just negotiating and you got to be as sharp as possible.....you are up against pros who are doing this every day.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You had zero credibility left with me, but that took you into negative territory.
I am wading into this discussion with trepidation, but here goes.
Price discrimination or price differentiation exists when sales of identical goods or services are transacted at different prices from the same provider. (Wikipedia)
Price discrimination allows a company to earn higher profits than standard pricing because it allows firms to capture every last dollar of revenue available from each of its customers. While perfect price discrimination is illegal, when the optimal price is set for every customer, imperfect price discrimination exists. For example, movie theaters usually charge three different prices for a show. The prices target various age groups, including youth, adults and seniors. The prices fluctuate with the expected income of each age bracket, with the highest charge going to the adult population. (Investopedia)
So this brings an interesting question, if the cars are different colors it can be argued that they are different enough to charge a different price---and that is okay. If on the other hand the cars are considered to be identical, then it is illegal to price discriminate under the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Clayton Act, and by the Robinson-Patman Act. Not sure which one applies here but, if I remember correctly from my old Economics class, I believe it is the Robinson-Patman Act.
I guess you are saying I haven't lost much then anyway. :P
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Wow, loved the analysis of the situation. You can't charge more for a color if the two cars cost the same to make. You can charge more if they appeal to different income levels. So seniors could pay less for black, white and silver, and they tend to like tan. Students pay less for red and British Racing Green and Yellow, and adults earning the most pay extra for gray, maroon and blue....that solves the problem.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Well, maybe. When you initial or agree to a price, and the salesman comes back and says,"deal" , that's a verbal contract. And then you say , hold on, I want a different color, well that could be a problem. True, the vast majority of the time it shouldn't be a problem. But, not a "negotiating technique" I would use.
We called them Kermit Green.
but, in this case, different colors are absolutely different products. The example that started this clearly stated that, since they would only take one color.
dealers negotiate, but that is not price discrimination. Every deal is different, inventories, day of the month, etc. change the dynamics too.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The new version, which began arriving in showrooms in April, scored 95 out of 100 points in the magazine's testing to get an "Excellent" rating. Only two cars have earned higher scores, the electric Tesla Model S, which starts at $62,400, and the BMW 135i coupe with a base price of $39,300.
Read more: CTV Impala Tops CR
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Not surprised! Hey *Driver does it come in aubergine, my favorite color?
From the very first time I saw the Impala in January at the auto show I was impressed and commented that the Impala should be branded as a Cadillac or Buick. However, someone responded that the XTS and LaCrosse are different versions of the same car. That may be so but the new Impala looks and feels elegant and substantial. I just wished the same could be said of the Malibu.
mako.....As if you're the only person who's told me that..... :P
Where were you when I needed you? :P
Taking me a breather. My sisters are trying to "fix me up". My friends are trying to fix me up. My business colleagues are trying to fix me up. It really irritates them all that I'm "out there" alone (but not lonely).
With my son grown and out on his own, and no one I'm responsible to/for, I go where I want, anytime I want, with whomever I want, or not at all. Kind of liking that right now.
RB....THAT'S the color I'm talking about....plum crazy. I want more of those.
driver...that's the car, although I thought the "gold" color was brighter....or, perhaps it's my memory that's faded and not the car.