Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

ab348

driver100 said:

Cadillac will aggravate their customers though, by not giving them a decent trade in amount. This fellow will just keep the one he has......this is where they really need a loyalty bonus!

I got a loyalty bonus offer but it was only for a lease.

isellhondas

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

cdnpinhead said:

driver100 said:

. . . it will really make you wonder how honest your dealers service department is.

No, it won't. I already know. If I keep clean fluids in my cars and change a few filters from time to time, I'm golden. Much like medical care, keeping out of hospitals is the key to life. I was married to a nurse once.

The real mechanic said to always use the manual....these sleazy dealers will make up their own schedules, and try to scare you into using their schedule.

I seldom use dealer services but sometimes they're right. The early Chrysler 2.7L engine had a 7500 mile OCI but service techs would tell you to do it every 3k to avoid sludge. For once they were telling the truth.

I don't mind someone trying to upsell me IF the repairs are actually needed. It's the useless "flushes" and "injection cleaning" etc that get to me. In all of the cars I have owned I have never once EVER had a clogged injector. Maybe I've just been lucky?

And, I admit I'm the kind of a guy who would never let one of my cars go past 5000 on oil changes. I have my transmission fluid changed (never flushed) around the 30K mark.

Car manufactures try to keep their Total Cost of Ownership costs down so as a result, they just may stretch some services to the max. A few years ago, Toyota had a bit of a problem with oil sludging that got them a lot of negative press. Shifty, remember that forum? Yikes! One woman whose initials were C.B. took this on as a crusade! I would like to think that since I don't go past 5K that I wouldn't have had a problem. Apparantly those engines were built in such a fashion that they demanded clean oil?

qbrozen

driver100 said:

Once again the Canadian TV show Marketplace shows how SOME car dealerships rip off customers by scaring them into buying more products. The report says dealerships may make $1000 to $2500 on a car, but, these days they make much more on service. Many service managers are on commission for 50% or more of their total pay....so they have to sell to make a living. One lady takes her Honda in, and they try to upsell her on things like brake pads, but, they don't mention the Takata airbags that should be removed....not much money in doing that. It is 22 minutes long....but, it will really make you wonder how honest your dealers service department is. https://youtu.be/jBpMe36GoW0

They do kind of a poor job in that piece. The scare tactics and misinformation from the service advisors is the story there. The voiceover is very careful to use the words "needed" vs "recommended" yet they never explain the difference. I recommend you have $1M in the bank. Is it needed? No, of course not. There is nothing wrong with anybody recommending additional service.

The dealer uses "recommended" because that covers their tracks. The manufacturer says needed because that is when you NEED the service done, dealer uses recommended as weasel words for, "You don't NEED this work done, but we RECOMMEND it now because we can make more money on it doing it more often and even if you don't really need it done."

I think that is overly harsh. A reccomendation is just that. No need to cover tracks.

qbrozen

graphicguy said:

Pandora costs me $0.

Amazon Prime lets me stream all the music they have...anywhere...car...home....hotel room (via my bluetooth speaker), plus I get all the Amazon TV Programming at home, as well as 2-day shipping free. I'm happy with that.

That is actually what I use, too, but it aint free so thought Pandora made a better point.

isellhondas

Mr_Shiftright said:

qbrozen said:

Pandora costs me $0.

I pay them $5 a month. I couldn't stand the commercials anymore.

graphicguy said:

qbrozen said:

Pandora costs me $0.

Amazon Prime lets me stream all the music they have...anywhere...car...home....hotel room (via my bluetooth speaker), plus I get all the Amazon TV Programming at home, as well as 2-day shipping free. I'm happy with that.

Really? I didn't know that! Now, to figure out how to access this.....

andres3

qbrozen said:

driver100 said:

qbrozen said:

driver100 said:

Once again the Canadian TV show Marketplace shows how SOME car dealerships rip off customers by scaring them into buying more products. The report says dealerships may make $1000 to $2500 on a car, but, these days they make much more on service. Many service managers are on commission for 50% or more of their total pay....so they have to sell to make a living.

One lady takes her Honda in, and they try to upsell her on things like brake pads, but, they don't mention the Takata airbags that should be removed....not much money in doing that.

It is 22 minutes long....but, it will really make you wonder how honest your dealers service department is.
https://youtu.be/jBpMe36GoW0

They do kind of a poor job in that piece. The scare tactics and misinformation from the service advisors is the story there. The voiceover is very careful to use the words "needed" vs "recommended" yet they never explain the difference. I recommend you have $1M in the bank. Is it needed? No, of course not. There is nothing wrong with anybody recommending additional service.

The dealer uses "recommended" because that covers their tracks. The manufacturer says needed because that is when you NEED the service done, dealer uses recommended as weasel words for, "You don't NEED this work done, but we RECOMMEND it now because we can make more money on it doing it more often and even if you don't really need it done."

I think that is overly harsh. A reccomendation is just that. No need to cover tracks.

I wouldn't want my shops or service departments recommending anything that wouldn't benefit me or my car in some measurable way. Their profits aren't my concern.

abacomike

28firefighter said:

@tjc78 Big congrats!

Ditto - lots of luck in the new position.

driver100

tjc78 said:

Thanks everyone!! 

Belated congrats!

driver100

qbrozen said:

driver100 said:

qbrozen said:

driver100 said:

Once again the Canadian TV show Marketplace shows how SOME car dealerships rip off customers by scaring them into buying more products. The report says dealerships may make $1000 to $2500 on a car, but, these days they make much more on service. Many service managers are on commission for 50% or more of their total pay....so they have to sell to make a living.

One lady takes her Honda in, and they try to upsell her on things like brake pads, but, they don't mention the Takata airbags that should be removed....not much money in doing that.

It is 22 minutes long....but, it will really make you wonder how honest your dealers service department is.
https://youtu.be/jBpMe36GoW0

They do kind of a poor job in that piece. The scare tactics and misinformation from the service advisors is the story there. The voiceover is very careful to use the words "needed" vs "recommended" yet they never explain the difference. I recommend you have $1M in the bank. Is it needed? No, of course not. There is nothing wrong with anybody recommending additional service.

The dealer uses "recommended" because that covers their tracks. The manufacturer says needed because that is when you NEED the service done, dealer uses recommended as weasel words for, "You don't NEED this work done, but we RECOMMEND it now because we can make more money on it doing it more often and even if you don't really need it done."

I think that is overly harsh. A reccomendation is just that. No need to cover tracks.

If an oil change isn't needed until 5000 miles under normal conditions, and the dealer says they recommend it at 3000 miles because Ottawa has harsher than normal conditions........and the manual doesn't point out Ottawa or any other city has harsh conditions, then I consider that a fake recommendation. Even the ex-service manager admitted he would recommend stuff that did not have to be done until the time the manual specified.

Not being truthful is a lie even if you cover it up with a nice word like "recommend".

berri

Glad it all seems to have worked out 28!

oldfarmer50

Hey, anyone have a source for car residual values? I know there are some sites that dealers subscribe to but a quick google search didn't lead to anything helpful. Just articles about "the top ten high residuals" etc.

qbrozen

driver100 said:

Not being truthful is a lie even if you cover it up with a nice word like "recommend".

A synonym for recommend is suggest. A suggestion, by definition, can't be a lie.

Now, the service advisor who was making up stories about what would happen if they did not perform the recommended service? She was just chock full of lies.

Michaell

oldfarmer50 said:

Hey, anyone have a source for car residual values? I know there are some sites that dealers subscribe to but a quick google search didn't lead to anything helpful. Just articles about "the top ten high residuals" etc.

Gee, I think I can help you here. 

What'cha need?

berri

More Explorer cop car CO issues again on the news. People asking how it can be the police equipment when the same stuff is similarly installed on Chevy Tahoe's. Wonder where and when all of this story will end?

fintail

I think for something like a new XTS, unless you want to keep it for 8+ years, leasing might be the best option indeed. Depreciation will be brutal, even worse than the Euros which also seem to fall best under the same idea of lease, buy late model used, or buy and hold.

Maybe they lease poorly though. A friend of mine tried to lease a CT6 and had an infuriatingly difficult time at the local dealer, to the point where he ended up in a Lincoln. He actually bought that, and tells me he plans to keep it for maybe 5 years. I didn't say anything about that

dino001 said:

This is the case, when if you plan for short ownership, leasing might just make sense, as Cadillac would never admit that their 3-year residual is around 30 percent, even at elevated mileage. Unless they don't have any leasing offers through their captive financial, which I don't think was the case.

driver100

qbrozen said:

driver100 said:

Not being truthful is a lie even if you cover it up with a nice word like "recommend".

A synonym for recommend is suggest. A suggestion, by definition, can't be a lie.

Now, the service advisor who was making up stories about what would happen if they did not perform the recommended service? She was just chock full of lies.

sug·ges·tion

noun
an idea or plan put forward for consideration.
synonyms: proposal, proposition, motion, submission, action point, recommendation; More
the action of suggesting something.
"at my suggestion, the museum held an exhibition of his work"
something that implies or indicates a certain fact or situation.
"there is no suggestion that he was involved in any wrongdoing"
synonyms: insinuation, hint, implication, intimation, innuendo, imputation
"there is no suggestion that he was party to a conspiracy"

You can honestly make a recommendation/suggestion based on accurate facts........it is not honest if it isn't based on any real facts. Recommending you need an oil change, steering fluid, a brake job etc., if you don't need it, is NOT an honest recommendation.

If you like living in a civilized country, you have to be as honest as possible. A service representative has a position of power.....kind of like a teacher.....he is the expert, his recommendation carries a lot of weight, especially when it is exaggerated with scare tactics.

My BMW dealer always suggested I needed something....wiper blades, filters, etc. I would just say no, but, I didn't like it. I don't get that kind of thing with my MB dealer, and it makes a big difference in how much I appreciate my current dealer.

qbrozen

fintail said:

I think for something like a new XTS, unless you want to keep it for 8+ years, leasing might be the best option indeed. Depreciation will be brutal, even worse than the Euros which also seem to fall best under the same idea of lease, buy late model used, or buy and hold. Maybe they lease poorly though. A friend of mine tried to lease a CT6 and had an infuriatingly difficult time at the local dealer, to the point where he ended up in a Lincoln. He actually bought that, and tells me he plans to keep it for maybe 5 years. I didn't say anything about that

This is the case, when if you plan for short ownership, leasing might just make sense, as Cadillac would never admit that their 3-year residual is around 30 percent, even at elevated mileage. Unless they don't have any leasing offers through their captive financial, which I don't think was the case.

I saw a CT6 lease commercial just the other day. I think it was something like $5k down and mid $500s payment. My kids saw it and said I should get one. Hahaha.

driver100

fintail said:

I think for something like a new XTS, unless you want to keep it for 8+ years, leasing might be the best option indeed. Depreciation will be brutal, even worse than the Euros which also seem to fall best under the same idea of lease, buy late model used, or buy and hold.

Maybe they lease poorly though. A friend of mine tried to lease a CT6 and had an infuriatingly difficult time at the local dealer, to the point where he ended up in a Lincoln. He actually bought that, and tells me he plans to keep it for maybe 5 years. I didn't say anything about that

dino001 said:

This is the case, when if you plan for short ownership, leasing might just make sense, as Cadillac would never admit that their 3-year residual is around 30 percent, even at elevated mileage. Unless they don't have any leasing offers through their captive financial, which I don't think was the case.

Leasing is better for dealer with luxury cars. They are involved in the financing that way, not necessarily if the car is bought. Dealer likes getting back a 3 year old car with just the right number of miles. Leasing means more chance the customer will return and buy another one.

Problem is the cost of leasing if the depreciation is great, that cost has to be made up somewhere. Just my guess but I think Cadillac eats some of that difference to stay in the game. Long term goal of growing the brand and hoping the depreciation rate won't be as great.

fintail

That sounds like the offer my friend inquired about. They ended giving him numbers that were 150+ more than the advertised rate, itself which can probably be negotiated a little. He walked. I went with him on a test drive, seems like a really nice car, but an unhappy dealer experience.

qbrozen said:

I saw a CT6 lease commercial just the other day. I think it was something like $5k down and mid $500s payment. My kids saw it and said I should get one. Hahaha.

fintail

I think the profit margins are so high on many lux models that they can afford to pump up the residuals and subsidize it. I am sure MB and BMW do this, and I am fine with it, as I have been pleased with my lease deals. Not sure if I will lease again or finally buy, but I've had no problems.

Some brands might not have the margins to eat the depreciation, nor the cachet to have CPO models with premium prices.

driver100 said:

Leasing is better for dealer with luxury cars. They are involved in the financing that way, not necessarily if the car is bought. Dealer likes getting back a 3 year old car with just the right number of miles. Leasing means more chance the customer will return and buy another one.

Problem is the cost of leasing if the depreciation is great, that cost has to be made up somewhere. Just my guess but I think Cadillac eats some of that difference to stay in the game. Long term goal of growing the brand and hoping the depreciation rate won't be as great.

Michaell

fintail said:

I think the profit margins are so high on many lux models that they can afford to pump up the residuals and subsidize it. I am sure MB and BMW do this, and I am fine with it, as I have been pleased with my lease deals. Not sure if I will lease again or finally buy, but I've had no problems.

Some brands might not have the margins to eat the depreciation, nor the cachet to have CPO models with premium prices.

driver100 said:

Leasing is better for dealer with luxury cars. They are involved in the financing that way, not necessarily if the car is bought. Dealer likes getting back a 3 year old car with just the right number of miles. Leasing means more chance the customer will return and buy another one.

Problem is the cost of leasing if the depreciation is great, that cost has to be made up somewhere. Just my guess but I think Cadillac eats some of that difference to stay in the game. Long term goal of growing the brand and hoping the depreciation rate won't be as great.

MB and BMW tend to inflate the residuals to keep the lease payment low.

Audi doesn't, so their cars don't lease as well, by comparison.

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Hey, anyone have a source for car residual values? I know there are some sites that dealers subscribe to but a quick google search didn't lead to anything helpful. Just articles about "the top ten high residuals" etc.

Gee, I think I can help you here. 

What'cha need?

Nothing specific, just wanted to poke around and compare various cars. I know dealers use ALG but I believe that's a subscription service.

Edit: found this site which is interesting:

http://residuals.cula.com/vehicleresidualcalculator/consumer-lease.aspx

driver100

Going to a site like the one you mentioned OF makes me wonder a bit. I have that question that I wanted a mechanic to answer.....Could it be unsafe making an AWD BMW X3 into a 2WD car? I got some good answers here but I would like a mechanic to explain whether it can be done safely and the reasons.
There are a few sites that will try to get an answer, but, they want you to send them your email address etc so they can notify you if an answer comes in.
I am just wondering if that puts me on all kinds of scamming lists etc.
I did use AutoMD regarding the Audi clutch problem, got decent answers, and as far as I know no complications. Though I do get spam about extended warranties etc, which may have come from them....can't say for sure.

Michaell

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Hey, anyone have a source for car residual values? I know there are some sites that dealers subscribe to but a quick google search didn't lead to anything helpful. Just articles about "the top ten high residuals" etc.

Gee, I think I can help you here. 

What'cha need?

Nothing specific, just wanted to poke around and compare various cars. I know dealers use ALG but I believe that's a subscription service.

Edit: found this site which is interesting:

http://residuals.cula.com/vehicleresidualcalculator/consumer-lease.aspx


Well, I've got access to more reliable information, so if you've got a make and model you're curious about, let me know.

driver100

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Hey, anyone have a source for car residual values? I know there are some sites that dealers subscribe to but a quick google search didn't lead to anything helpful. Just articles about "the top ten high residuals" etc.

Gee, I think I can help you here. 

What'cha need?

Nothing specific, just wanted to poke around and compare various cars. I know dealers use ALG but I believe that's a subscription service.

Edit: found this site which is interesting:

http://residuals.cula.com/vehicleresidualcalculator/consumer-lease.aspx

Well, I've got access to more reliable information, so if you've got a make and model you're curious about, let me know.

2014 XTS....fully loaded!

driver100

This is also a feeling I got. When we traded in the 2013 Passat I checked the trade in value on KBB.
The salesman at MB and at BMW both had us look at his computer screen as they checked KBB to give us the BB value. It was lower than what I found....I think dealers may get a different subscription, which they may pay for.
The salesman said if I could show him my KBB findings, he would go by that - and he did!

imidazol97

driver100 said:

2014 XTS....fully loaded!

What kind of mileage is on that car?

I searched for various levels of equipment on the XTS within a large radius of Cincy here to see what the US dollars in the midwest are for that car. Various mileage and some may have dirty carfax and Carcheck records but the asking in US $ seems to run $25-30K, before the dealer tries to add on packs. Is it because the newer model replacing that one is much more desirable?

I expected to find the pricing much higher in urban areas around here because the Cadillac SUVs are very popular.

https://autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/2014/Cadillac/XTS/Cincinnati+OH-45245?zip=45245&startYear=2014&numRecords=25&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&firstRecord=25&endYear=2014&modelCodeList=XTS&makeCodeList=CAD&searchRadius=200&trimCodeList=XTS|Premium Luxury,XTS|Premium,XTS|Platinum,XTS|Luxury

roadburner

Michaell said:

fintail said:

I think the profit margins are so high on many lux models that they can afford to pump up the residuals and subsidize it. I am sure MB and BMW do this, and I am fine with it, as I have been pleased with my lease deals. Not sure if I will lease again or finally buy, but I've had no problems.

Some brands might not have the margins to eat the depreciation, nor the cachet to have CPO models with premium prices.

driver100 said:

Leasing is better for dealer with luxury cars. They are involved in the financing that way, not necessarily if the car is bought. Dealer likes getting back a 3 year old car with just the right number of miles. Leasing means more chance the customer will return and buy another one.

Problem is the cost of leasing if the depreciation is great, that cost has to be made up somewhere. Just my guess but I think Cadillac eats some of that difference to stay in the game. Long term goal of growing the brand and hoping the depreciation rate won't be as great.

MB and BMW tend to inflate the residuals to keep the lease payment low.

Audi doesn't, so their cars don't lease as well, by comparison.

Exactly, the residual on my i3 is $39k. I'll be surprised if the actual value ends up being over $25k...

ab348

My cheapskate older brother got bad news last week. His 2007 Ford Ranger 4x4 pickup failed road inspection here and was diagnosed as needing $1500-$2000 of repairs, along with discovering lots of concealed rust. He finally decided to move on.

Nothing new appealed to him or his pocketbook. However, much to my surprise he did take a shine to the Jeep Patriot, and found several 2016 model ex-Avis rentals at a Jeep dealer locally. He ended up buying one with about 11,000 miles on it. He is taken aback by the equipment level, with such frills as a sunroof, leather seats and Uconnect. I think he paid too much ($21K CDN) but he seems satisfied. I am not so sure because when he brought it here and when to leave it seemed to crank an awfully long time before it started, and I heard a graunch when he put it in reverse. But so it goes. I was trying to convince him to buy/lease something new, but such is the way of someone who hates spending money even though he has plenty. I guess he's happy though.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

2014 XTS....fully loaded!

What kind of mileage is on that car?

I searched for various levels of equipment on the XTS within a large radius of Cincy here to see what the US dollars in the midwest are for that car. Various mileage and some may have dirty carfax and Carcheck records but the asking in US $ seems to run $25-30K, before the dealer tries to add on packs. Is it because the newer model replacing that one is much more desirable?

I expected to find the pricing much higher in urban areas around here because the Cadillac SUVs are very popular.

https://autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/2014/Cadillac/XTS/Cincinnati+OH-45245?zip=45245&startYear=2014&numRecords=25&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&firstRecord=25&endYear=2014&modelCodeList=XTS&makeCodeList=CAD&searchRadius=200&trimCodeList=XTS|Premium Luxury,XTS|Premium,XTS|Platinum,XTS|Luxury

The mileage on friends XTS is 48000 miles. Many of the models you linked had a similar price. This one was fully loaded and was listed at $22500 from a dealer! Trade-in price will be lower.

AUTO TRADER 2014 XTS

driver100

ab348 said:

My cheapskate older brother got bad news last week. His 2007 Ford Ranger 4x4 pickup failed road inspection here and was diagnosed as needing $1500-$2000 of repairs, along with discovering lots of concealed rust. He finally decided to move on.

Nothing new appealed to him or his pocketbook. However, much to my surprise he did take a shine to the Jeep Patriot, and found several 2016 model ex-Avis rentals at a Jeep dealer locally. He ended up buying one with about 11,000 miles on it. He is taken aback by the equipment level, with such frills as a sunroof, leather seats and Uconnect. I think he paid too much ($21K CDN) but he seems satisfied. I am not so sure because when he brought it here and when to leave it seemed to crank an awfully long time before it started, and I heard a graunch when he put it in reverse. But so it goes. I was trying to convince him to buy/lease something new, but such is the way of someone who hates spending money even though he has plenty. I guess he's happy though.

Those 2016 Patriots seem to sell in the mid to high $20ks in the US. In a way he seems to have got a pretty good deal. The Patriot gets very mixed reviews, from 1 1/2 stars to 4 stars on major sites. For someone who is let us say thrifty, it isn't the most dependable car on the market....though, the price is probably less than some of the better quality comparable models.

fintail

I wonder if Audi/VAG doesn't have similar margins, at least on that brand. Nicely priced BMW and MB leases have been around for quite some time, which makes me think they are able to make the numbers work somehow. I've noticed the same thing for Audi, too. Maybe less volume is also a part of it.

Michaell said:

MB and BMW tend to inflate the residuals to keep the lease payment low.

Audi doesn't, so their cars don't lease as well, by comparison.

driver100

This Marketplace program could be of interest especially for our friend OLDFARMER. It shows how many vendors at Farmer's Markets say they grow their own produce, but, they actually buy it from a food wholesaler. In some cases, the vendor says he grows it....and it has a label grown in Mexico or something!
https://youtu.be/YYwB63YslbA

graphicguy

isellhondas said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

qbrozen said:

Pandora costs me $0.

I pay them $5 a month. I couldn't stand the commercials anymore.

graphicguy said:

qbrozen said:

Pandora costs me $0.

Amazon Prime lets me stream all the music they have...anywhere...car...home....hotel room (via my bluetooth speaker), plus I get all the Amazon TV Programming at home, as well as 2-day shipping free. I'm happy with that.

Really? I didn't know that! Now, to figure out how to access this.....

Craig....I have Amazon Music (total access free with Prime) on my iPhone downloaded via the App Store (free). I connect it via blue tooth to my car’s AcuraLink (HondaLink). It shows the artist, the track name, and album name on my lower screen. Sounds better than Sat Radio, too.

At home (like now, as I’m sipping coffee), I have a blue tooth speaker (Marshal) that I stream Amazon Music to.

In addition, I get all the original programming Amazon has on TV. Pretty good deal, I think.

berri

I think some of those consumer trade in value things are average trade in value, which would be distorted on the upside because it includes new vehicle discount in it. I think dealers are looking at the current estimated wholesale value at auction, as well as the mark-up potential if it is readily saleable on their lot.

Michaell

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Hey, anyone have a source for car residual values? I know there are some sites that dealers subscribe to but a quick google search didn't lead to anything helpful. Just articles about "the top ten high residuals" etc.

Gee, I think I can help you here. 

What'cha need?

Nothing specific, just wanted to poke around and compare various cars. I know dealers use ALG but I believe that's a subscription service.

Edit: found this site which is interesting:

http://residuals.cula.com/vehicleresidualcalculator/consumer-lease.aspx

Well, I've got access to more reliable information, so if you've got a make and model you're curious about, let me know.

2014 XTS....fully loaded!

Oh, wait.

I've got new car residuals. Nothing on used vehicle values.

Apologies.

isellhondas

graphicguy said:

isellhondas said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

qbrozen said:

Pandora costs me $0.

I pay them $5 a month. I couldn't stand the commercials anymore.

graphicguy said:

qbrozen said:

Pandora costs me $0.

Amazon Prime lets me stream all the music they have...anywhere...car...home....hotel room (via my bluetooth speaker), plus I get all the Amazon TV Programming at home, as well as 2-day shipping free. I'm happy with that.

Really? I didn't know that! Now, to figure out how to access this.....

Craig....I have Amazon Music (total access free with Prime) on my iPhone downloaded via the App Store (free). I connect it via blue tooth to my car’s AcuraLink (HondaLink). It shows the artist, the track name, and album name on my lower screen. Sounds better than Sat Radio, too.

At home (like now, as I’m sipping coffee), I have a blue tooth speaker (Marshal) that I stream Amazon Music to.

In addition, I get all the original programming Amazon has on TV. Pretty good deal, I think.

Thanks! I'm an Amazon Prime guy so I'll poke around and see if I can get it loaded. I wish you lived next door !

ab348

graphicguy said:

Craig....I have Amazon Music (total access free with Prime) on my iPhone downloaded via the App Store (free). I connect it via blue tooth to my car’s AcuraLink (HondaLink). It shows the artist, the track name, and album name on my lower screen. Sounds better than Sat Radio, too.

At home (like now, as I’m sipping coffee), I have a blue tooth speaker (Marshal) that I stream Amazon Music to.

In addition, I get all the original programming Amazon has on TV. Pretty good deal, I think.

Unfortunately for us poor second-class saps up in Canada, Amazon Prime here does not include any music.

For $79 a year, we get 2-day shipping and Amazon Video, which may or may not be the same video you see in the USA.

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Hey, anyone have a source for car residual values? I know there are some sites that dealers subscribe to but a quick google search didn't lead to anything helpful. Just articles about "the top ten high residuals" etc.

Gee, I think I can help you here. 

What'cha need?

Nothing specific, just wanted to poke around and compare various cars. I know dealers use ALG but I believe that's a subscription service.

Edit: found this site which is interesting:

http://residuals.cula.com/vehicleresidualcalculator/consumer-lease.aspx

Well, I've got access to more reliable information, so if you've got a make and model you're curious about, let me know.

I ran a new Mustang and new CTS6 through that site and got a 39% residual on the Ford and 25% on the Caddy after 60 months. Relatively speaking that would make the Caddy a used car bargin (unless it is a bad car from the start).

Are your sources proprietary or can we mere mortals acess them? I wish I had thought to ask you when my in-laws wanted to lease a Dodge Dart. Could have steered them to something different.

oldfarmer50

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

2014 XTS....fully loaded!

What kind of mileage is on that car?

I searched for various levels of equipment on the XTS within a large radius of Cincy here to see what the US dollars in the midwest are for that car. Various mileage and some may have dirty carfax and Carcheck records but the asking in US $ seems to run $25-30K, before the dealer tries to add on packs. Is it because the newer model replacing that one is much more desirable?

I expected to find the pricing much higher in urban areas around here because the Cadillac SUVs are very popular.

https://autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/2014/Cadillac/XTS/Cincinnati+OH-45245?zip=45245&startYear=2014&numRecords=25&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&firstRecord=25&endYear=2014&modelCodeList=XTS&makeCodeList=CAD&searchRadius=200&trimCodeList=XTS|Premium Luxury,XTS|Premium,XTS|Platinum,XTS|Luxury

Seems driver100's friend got a good offer.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

This Marketplace program could be of interest especially for our friend OLDFARMER. It shows how many vendors at Farmer's Markets say they grow their own produce, but, they actually buy it from a food wholesaler. In some cases, the vendor says he grows it....and it has a label grown in Mexico or something!
https://youtu.be/YYwB63YslbA

Don't get me started on what we call "hucksters" defrauding the public's good will regarding farmers. It's a never ending vexation. Claiming to grow it yourself is the worst kind of fraud when you buy it elsewhere. It's also unfair competition with real growers who face potential crop failures due to multiple factors. There's a saying that there's never a crop failure on the loading dock.

Most legit farmers markets do inspections to enforce 100% homegrown rules. Ours bans for life if you get caught.

I remember one guy once who would weave a tale of his grandmother picking tomatoes with a flashlight at midnight to ensure they were extra fresh while forgetting to take the "product of California" stickers off them. He got bounced.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

My cheapskate older brother got bad news last week. His 2007 Ford Ranger 4x4 pickup failed road inspection here and was diagnosed as needing $1500-$2000 of repairs, along with discovering lots of concealed rust. He finally decided to move on.

Nothing new appealed to him or his pocketbook. However, much to my surprise he did take a shine to the Jeep Patriot, and found several 2016 model ex-Avis rentals at a Jeep dealer locally. He ended up buying one with about 11,000 miles on it. He is taken aback by the equipment level, with such frills as a sunroof, leather seats and Uconnect. I think he paid too much ($21K CDN) but he seems satisfied. I am not so sure because when he brought it here and when to leave it seemed to crank an awfully long time before it started, and I heard a graunch when he put it in reverse. But so it goes. I was trying to convince him to buy/lease something new, but such is the way of someone who hates spending money even though he has plenty. I guess he's happy though.

Those 2016 Patriots seem to sell in the mid to high $20ks in the US. In a way he seems to have got a pretty good deal. The Patriot gets very mixed reviews, from 1 1/2 stars to 4 stars on major sites. For someone who is let us say thrifty, it isn't the most dependable car on the market....though, the price is probably less than some of the better quality comparable models.

I wonder if it's the 2.0L or the the 2.4L? I've heard good things about the joint Chrysler-Mitsubishi-Hyundai 2.4L the least of which is the improved gas milage over my PT's 1990s era gas hog.

ab348

oldfarmer50 said:

I wonder if it's the 2.0L or the the 2.4L? I've heard good things about the joint Chrysler-Mitsubishi-Hyundai 2.4L the least of which is the improved gas milage over my PT's 1990s era gas hog.

He did some research and wanted AWD, the 2.4 and the 6-speed automatic, which is what he got. He said he was surprised how peppy it is. But his Ranger with the old 4.0 V6 never impressed me in that respect at all.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

 I have that question that I wanted a mechanic to answer.....Could it be unsafe making an AWD BMW X3 into a 2WD car? I got some good answers here but I would like a mechanic to explain whether it can be done safely and the reasons. 

I am not a mechanic but I will say that it can be done safely if you have a mechanic that has the skills to do it and you don't skimp on the funds. The next question is why do it and is it worth it?

driver100

Michaell said:

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Hey, anyone have a source for car residual values? I know there are some sites that dealers subscribe to but a quick google search didn't lead to anything helpful. Just articles about "the top ten high residuals" etc.

Gee, I think I can help you here. 

What'cha need?

Nothing specific, just wanted to poke around and compare various cars. I know dealers use ALG but I believe that's a subscription service.

Edit: found this site which is interesting:

http://residuals.cula.com/vehicleresidualcalculator/consumer-lease.aspx

Well, I've got access to more reliable information, so if you've got a make and model you're curious about, let me know.

2014 XTS....fully loaded!

Oh, wait.

I've got new car residuals. Nothing on used vehicle values.

Apologies.

I thought you knew everything!

driver100

oldfarmer said There's a saying that there's never a crop failure on the loading dock

lol. It looks like you guys are way ahead of us on this one. There is no way wholesale food should be allowed to be sold....at a farmers market! Kick the bums out!

driver100

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

 I have that question that I wanted a mechanic to answer.....Could it be unsafe making an AWD BMW X3 into a 2WD car? I got some good answers here but I would like a mechanic to explain whether it can be done safely and the reasons. 

I am not a mechanic but I will say that it can be done safely if you have a mechanic that has the skills to do it and you don't skimp on the funds. The next question is why do it and is it worth it?

He did it because the dealer wanted $8000 to fix the car. He got a dodgy mechanic to fix the car for a few $100s, by changing it to 2WD. It just sounds like it is asking for trouble, but, I can't get a definitive answer as to how. I hadn't thought of it but maybe I can write to BMW....I will see if that is possible.

It is possible....I sent BMW the question....see when and IF they get back!

Michaell

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Hey, anyone have a source for car residual values? I know there are some sites that dealers subscribe to but a quick google search didn't lead to anything helpful. Just articles about "the top ten high residuals" etc.

Gee, I think I can help you here. 

What'cha need?

Nothing specific, just wanted to poke around and compare various cars. I know dealers use ALG but I believe that's a subscription service.

Edit: found this site which is interesting:

http://residuals.cula.com/vehicleresidualcalculator/consumer-lease.aspx

Well, I've got access to more reliable information, so if you've got a make and model you're curious about, let me know.

I ran a new Mustang and new CTS6 through that site and got a 39% residual on the Ford and 25% on the Caddy after 60 months. Relatively speaking that would make the Caddy a used car bargin (unless it is a bad car from the start).

Are your sources proprietary or can we mere mortals acess them? I wish I had thought to ask you when my in-laws wanted to lease a Dodge Dart. Could have steered them to something different.


Yeah, the Dart has probably the lowest 36 month residuals of any compact car.

The sources are confidential. You should see how many lease questions we get a day. I've been answering questions for about 90 minutes now and I've still got some in the queue.

Michaell

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Michaell said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Hey, anyone have a source for car residual values? I know there are some sites that dealers subscribe to but a quick google search didn't lead to anything helpful. Just articles about "the top ten high residuals" etc.

Gee, I think I can help you here. 

What'cha need?

Nothing specific, just wanted to poke around and compare various cars. I know dealers use ALG but I believe that's a subscription service.

Edit: found this site which is interesting:

http://residuals.cula.com/vehicleresidualcalculator/consumer-lease.aspx

Well, I've got access to more reliable information, so if you've got a make and model you're curious about, let me know.

2014 XTS....fully loaded!

Oh, wait.

I've got new car residuals. Nothing on used vehicle values.

Apologies.

I thought you knew everything!

Shhh .... don't tell my wife.

abacomike

The new season of “Wheeler Dealers” premiers this coming Wednesday at 9;00 PM on the Velocity Channel.  “Ant”, Edd China’s replacement, does his magic on a 1995 Ford Escort RS Cogsworth.  

I think I’m Going to miss Edd China, but I’ll reserve my final evaluation of the new season until I’ve watched 3-4 episodes.  This new guy “Ant” (short for Anthony or Anton, I imagine) seems more “hyper” in his personality than Edd was, but the proof will be in his skills as a mechanic!  

I used to really enjoy that show - I pray they haven’t messed it up!