Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

graphicguy

boomchek said:

Just chiming in on the dealership turnover topic. It is very difficult to find and keep good salespeople, that do enjoy what they're doing and stay loyal. Especially ones that management doesn't need to babysit or deal with their personal issues.

There are 5 types of sales people that typically work in a dealership:

1-Loyal long term above average sellers that need very little supervision (typically 1-2 per dealership)

2-Loyal long term below average to average sellers that need a push from time to time to meet their targets but are easy to manage and although might complain from time to time cause no trouble hence they're kept around.

3-Average sellers that do ok but typically complain about everything including dealer operations, inventory, prices, co-workers, management, and create a bad atmosphere among the sales guys. They usually get canned for the negative attitude more than anything.

4-Poor sellers that sometimes try but don't do well, aren't motivated, and should leave, but don't want to on their own and instead wait until they're let go.

5-Super sellers, that come in with a bang, stay on top for several months, and leave on their own with a bang. From experience guys like this have a lot of personal issues, and all sorts of addictions (drugs, alcohol, gambling), which unfortunately makes them work hard and outsell everyone, but they're almost impossible to keep in check because as soon as pay day comes they disappear for days until they're broke. Management at some dealerships usually keeps them around because even though they have issues and bring tons of drama they do sell a lot, and eventually they disappear to another dealership/job/state/city when their problems catch up to them at their current work.

The last 2 types of sellers (4 and 5) turn over frequently, and would represent a 1/3 of the sales force. The 2nd and 3rd types stick around regardless of what the pay plan is because they are comfortable where they are.

The 1st types (loyal long term above average guys) tend to do well no matter where they go or what they sell. They'll stay loyal as long as the money and the environment fits their lifestyle. However they will leave if they think they're not treated or paid fairly. Or if another company offers them a more lucrative package.

When dealerships change the pay plans, they anticipate that a small part of the sales force will leave but will pitch it in a way that makes it seem like everyone will make more money. They hope it's the low sellers and not the loyal guys that end up leaving.

Boom....excellent synopsis.

My Acura sales person has been with the dealership for 15 years. My BMW sales person has been with the dealership for 22 years. My Caddy sales person is the ownerh's son, and has been with the dealership since he graduated from college 14 years ago.

So, I tend to deal with people I know, trust, and clearly do their job well given their tenure.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

Ohio, near Dayton:



World's largest installation of this brand of wind generators.

Those look like whimpy little turbines compared to the one's we have in Canada........

cdnpinhead

"My Acura sales person has been with the dealership for 15 years. My BMW sales person has been with the dealership for 22 years. My Caddy sales person is the ownerh's son, and has been with the dealership since he graduated from college 14 years ago."

You are describing something that is unheard of out here in the West where everyone is from somewhere else. The turnover is horrific and, in my experience, the service is even worse.

Count your blessings.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

Ohio, near Dayton:
Those look like whimpy little turbines compared to the one's we have in Canada........

These are owned by a farmer who put them up a long time ago at the beginning
of the self-sufficiency craze.

When I drove into Indiana to a car show last fall, there were 40 or so
corporate owned turbines along the route and more being built.

fezo

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/2015-mustang-gt-goes-flames-dealership-visit-130004488.html

"The Deep Impact Blue 5.0, which had only 6,000 miles on it, started pluming smoke shortly after the owner had left a dealership for attendance to “warranty issues.”"

I'm sure this will be "vehicle acting as designed." Ford: "We'll repair it but can't be expected to replace it.."

ab348

fezo said:

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/2015-mustang-gt-goes-flames-dealership-visit-130004488.html

"The Deep Impact Blue 5.0, which had only 6,000 miles on it, started pluming smoke shortly after the owner had left a dealership for attendance to “warranty issues.”"

I'm sure this will be "vehicle acting as designed." Ford: "We'll repair it but can't be expected to replace it.."

I have to think that's nothing but good news. If you liked the car, the insurance buys you a replacement, maybe with a few little differences you wished you had gotten originally. If you decided it wasn't the car for you after all, take the money and buy something else.

Still, it would be a helluva shock!

Mr_Shiftright

You're not supposed to drive your car while it's on fire---obviously owner negligence

roadburner

fezo said:

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/2015-mustang-gt-goes-flames-dealership-visit-130004488.html

"The Deep Impact Blue 5.0, which had only 6,000 miles on it, started pluming smoke shortly after the owner had left a dealership for attendance to “warranty issues.”"

I'm sure this will be "vehicle acting as designed." Ford: "We'll repair it but can't be expected to replace it.."

Ya think? Although I would not rule out the dealer returning the still smoking hulk with a service order stating: "No faults found. Unable to replicate.'

oldfarmer50

stever said:

graphicguy said:

Gas is made from oil with demand in a freefall, with supply being high. That's a fundamental economic principle for prices to fall. So, there is no reason for this run up in prices.

I had another company come out Wednesday to scope out the house for a solar quote. Neither company has an air of "desperation" but both I've contacted realize that the subsidy gravy train is about over for solar. But El Paso Electric is maxed out on their renewable requirements and they have too much capacity as it is. And people are still conserving. So the utility is going to raise rates at the end of the year "to pay for the grid" so like gas, even in a glut the manufacturing and delivery will prop up prices a bit. That will still drive people to solar.

We're going to size a system, if we get one, to cover most of our bill in the 9 months of the year when we won't be using the AC heavily. The other three months we'll likely have a $200 bill instead of a $300 one. Oversizing a system doesn't pay since the utility is only paying .02 cents a KwH for your usage and not much more for any excess you generate. The retail price right now is ~.12 cents a KwH.

Battery tech - if only, if only.... A breakthrough there would be extremely disruptive to the utilities, not to mention the auto suppliers who focus on fuel delivery and gas engines. I'd go off the grid in a flash, like our Taos friends who are way out in the sticks.

Your part of the country is one of the few parts of the country where solar makes sense. Just proceed carefully and read the fine print.

fezo

Mr_Shiftright said:

You're not supposed to drive your car while it's on fire---obviously owner negligence

There's a job waiting for you in Ford corporate.

rb - unable to duplicate indeed!

imidazol97

roadburner said:

Ya think? Although I would not rule out the dealer returning the still smoking hulk with a service order stating: "No faults found. Unable to replicate.'

And a piece of seal tape over the oil filler and the dipstick tube because the owner complained of blue smoke
so they are doing an oil consumption test?

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

Ohio, near Dayton:



World's largest installation of this brand of wind generators.

Those look like whimpy little turbines compared to the one's we have in Canada........

Those look like GE manufactured wind turbines. Every so often I almost get forced off the road by trucks hauling the blades somewhere. Huge.

oldfarmer50

fezo said:

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/2015-mustang-gt-goes-flames-dealership-visit-130004488.html

"The Deep Impact Blue 5.0, which had only 6,000 miles on it, started pluming smoke shortly after the owner had left a dealership for attendance to “warranty issues.”"

I'm sure this will be "vehicle acting as designed." Ford: "We'll repair it but can't be expected to replace it.."

I knew I didn't like that color blue. Must be bad luck.

explorerx4

Sounds like insurance will have to sort it out.
At least he wasn't driving this 200k Porsche:
http://www.dpccars.com/gallery/var/resizes/2014-Porsche-991-Turbo-S-catches-fire-in-Costco-parking-lot/2014 Porsche 991 Turbo S carches fire in Costco parking lot - 01.jpg

fezo

He needs Liberty Mutual insurance - the ones that say they'll replace your car with one a year newer and 15K fewer miles. That'll get him a 2016 with minus 9K on it.

driver100

roadburner said:

fezo said:

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/2015-mustang-gt-goes-flames-dealership-visit-130004488.html

"The Deep Impact Blue 5.0, which had only 6,000 miles on it, started pluming smoke shortly after the owner had left a dealership for attendance to “warranty issues.”"

I'm sure this will be "vehicle acting as designed." Ford: "We'll repair it but can't be expected to replace it.."

Ya think? Although I would not rule out the dealer returning the still smoking hulk with a service order stating: "No faults found. Unable to replicate.'

Poor guy, but all your jokes are hilarious.

Good thing it isn't an Audi, it would be a wear and tear item, obviously the driver's fault!

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

Ohio, near Dayton:



World's largest installation of this brand of wind generators.

Those look like whimpy little turbines compared to the one's we have in Canada........

Those look like GE manufactured wind turbines. Every so often I almost get forced off the road by trucks hauling the blades somewhere. Huge.

Actual I think they are subliminal ads for Mercedes Benz.

My own prediction is they will discover a better way to generate power just as they build the one millionth turbine.

imidazol97

driver100 said:

Good thing it isn't an Audi, it would be a wear and tear item, obviously the driver's fault!

I think this is the winner for my morning laugh.

fezo

That'll buff right out.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

Good thing it isn't an Audi, it would be a wear and tear item, obviously the driver's fault!

I think this is the winner for my morning laugh.

Imid, you gave me a great idea so I just did it. Icopied the article about the flaming Mustang, picture and all, and I emailed it to Audi Canada and Audi World Headquarters, and I wrote,

Dear -----------,

It's a good thing this Mustang wasn't an Audi. Audi Canada would claim it was a wear and tear item, driver error!

I wonder if they will write back!

ab348

driver100 said:

Good thing it isn't an Audi, it would be a wear and tear item, obviously the driver's fault!

I'm glad you're not bitter!!

imidazol97

driver100 said:

Dear -----------, It's a good thing this Mustang wasn't an Audi. Audi Canada would claim it was a wear and tear item, driver error!

I wonder if they will write back!

Now that's a good one.

Does Audi have dedicated brand repair/maintenance/interest forums on the net?
Post that picture and comment there along with a brief explanation of the
clutch problem.

driver100

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Good thing it isn't an Audi, it would be a wear and tear item, obviously the driver's fault!

I'm glad you're not bitter!!

I am generally a pretty easy going person....but, when someone or a company screws around with me...I try to make them pay for it.

If they want to make my life miserable, I can try to make their life miserable too!

driver100

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

Dear -----------, It's a good thing this Mustang wasn't an Audi. Audi Canada would claim it was a wear and tear item, driver error!

I wonder if they will write back!

Now that's a good one.

Does Audi have dedicated brand repair/maintenance/interest forums on the net?
Post that picture and comment there along with a brief explanation of the
clutch problem.

Excellent question. The only site I can find is one about leasing questions for an A4.
EDMUNDS LEASING A4

They had a few people asking about lease rates for Audi A4s. I posted my clutch experience of Feb 21st and there hasn't been any questions since then.

If anyone knows of any other sites I would be glad to post my Audi experience!

driver100

I think I saw one of the stupidest things ever when I was driving the other day.

When I come off the I-75 I only have about 600 feet to move over 2 lanes into the 3rd lane, then I almost immediately move into the 4th lane which is a dedicated left turn lane. The light 600 feet ahead was red.

I come off the highway on the exit ramp, let everyone in lanes 1 and 2 go by while I am still moving, then I slide across on an angle to get into lane 3. I see a car way behind in lane 3, but I can move in easily and start to slow down for the red light.

Of course the kid in the extra low Honda Civic, with lots of gray bondo and paint all over speeds up, lays on the horn, curves into the second lane, then cuts in front of me to get into the left turn lane, jams on the brakes as he has to stop at the light. I was turning at the light and ended up right behind him.

When the left turn arrow goes green he gets off to a hesitated start....probably texting, and he turns into the far right lane, gets caught behind a slow moving car, and has to cut in front of me again to go around that car. He turned right at the next street, and I got a look at him....wearing a baseball cap backwords....I actually guessed that before I saw him!

henryn

When the carfax report says "Titled or registered as a commercial vehicle", what exactly does that mean? It doesn't seem to be the same as "rental".

boomchek

henryn said:

When the carfax report says "Titled or registered as a commercial vehicle", what exactly does that mean? It doesn't seem to be the same as "rental".

Could have been a delivery vehicle, company fleet vehicle, vehicle used by multiple drivers, etc...

What is the vehicle in question?

driver100

henryn said:

When the carfax report says "Titled or registered as a commercial vehicle", what exactly does that mean? It doesn't seem to be the same as "rental".

It means probably not a good car to buy.

All the things boomer said and probably used for a business in some way, could have multiple drivers, could just be used for sales. Could be fine, (may even of had all the servicing done on schedule), but not quite the same as a car used for personal use only (more risk it wasn't cared for as well).

boomchek

Sometimes a commercial use vehicle may have been better maintained than a personal one because companies are liable should accidents happen as a result of mechanical failures, and they want to minimize down time (which results in lost income) as a result of breakdowns, therefore they keep them running in top shape, On the other hand you can come across a personal one owner car which never had an oil change done because the owner was clueless about maintenance.

Also commercial use vehicles with multiple drivers may look a bit beat up on the outside but will tend to be mechanically sound.

isellhondas

I have to agree with boomchek's theory on dealership turnover.

In the store where I worked it seemed the people we hired either lasted a long time or they were gone within the first year. Once they had two or three years under their belts they generally stuck around.

I lasted almost 14 years and in my final years I rarely took a "fresh up". I did a lot of internet business and I had a pretty good supply of repeat and referral customers.

I could have sold more cars but toward the end I have to admit I wasn't under the gun money wise and I did get jaded. I didn't want to take an "up" at 8:45 knowing that if I did make a sale I would probably be there until midnight. One New Years Eve I left the place at 1:30 AM/

But I was never late, never once called in sick and I had good survey scores and never a complaint from a customer that I can remember. I just lost interest as I got older and I'm sure management knew that.

So, the timing was right and I left on good terms. I still consider the people I worked with (that remain) and the management as friends.

cdnpinhead

isellhondas said:

I just lost interest as I got older and I'm sure management knew that.

This is exactly where I am in my so-called career. I'm staying on for now, since I'd rather be putting into the 401(K) rather than taking out, but given my traditional pension, SS & that 401(K), I don't need to still be working.

As I tell those who care (they'd fit in a phone booth, remember those?), I'm just working for the entertainment value these days. I've found a niche in my giant international corporate mess, and it's working okay for the moment. Turns out I know more about certain things in my company than anyone else, and so far it still matters.

Next month/year, who knows?

henryn

driver100 said:

henryn said:

When the carfax report says "Titled or registered as a commercial vehicle", what exactly does that mean? It doesn't seem to be the same as "rental".

It means probably not a good car to buy.

All the things boomer said and probably used for a business in some way, could have multiple drivers, could just be used for sales. Could be fine, (may even of had all the servicing done on schedule), but not quite the same as a car used for personal use only (more risk it wasn't cared for as well).

This was on the Carfax report for a 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec. It was at a Hyundai dealer as a CPO, which turns out to be a bit of a joke. The car had a strong pull to the right, on all roads, under all conditions. 160 point inspection my ___.

I drove an Equus while I was there. Not bad, needs a little more leg room and head room. Very smooth ride, very powerful.

boomchek

isellhondas said:

I have to agree with boomchek's theory on dealership turnover.

In the store where I worked it seemed the people we hired either lasted a long time or they were gone within the first year. Once they had two or three years under their belts they generally stuck around.

I lasted almost 14 years and in my final years I rarely took a "fresh up". I did a lot of internet business and I had a pretty good supply of repeat and referral customers.

I could have sold more cars but toward the end I have to admit I wasn't under the gun money wise and I did get jaded. I didn't want to take an "up" at 8:45 knowing that if I did make a sale I would probably be there until midnight. One New Years Eve I left the place at 1:30 AM/

But I was never late, never once called in sick and I had good survey scores and never a complaint from a customer that I can remember. I just lost interest as I got older and I'm sure management knew that.

So, the timing was right and I left on good terms. I still consider the people I worked with (that remain) and the management as friends.

I hated taking ups right before closing. More times than other it ended up turning into nothing, or if a deal was made and car not rolled it would almost cancel the next day because it was originally done in haste.

New Year's eve deal until 1:30am has to take the cake. I hope you got a huge month and year end bonus because of it.

Customers coming in at an inconvenient time tend to be common in the car business: ups walking in when you're about to leave for the day, especially when you have an engagement to go to right after, your be-backs showing up the moment you dig into a hot meal on your lunch break (especially when you're starving), and several appointments showing up at the exact same time even though they were scheduled or said they'd be coming in hours apart.

driver100

henryn said:

driver100 said:

henryn said:

When the carfax report says "Titled or registered as a commercial vehicle", what exactly does that mean? It doesn't seem to be the same as "rental".

It means probably not a good car to buy.

All the things boomer said and probably used for a business in some way, could have multiple drivers, could just be used for sales. Could be fine, (may even of had all the servicing done on schedule), but not quite the same as a car used for personal use only (more risk it wasn't cared for as well).

This was on the Carfax report for a 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec. It was at a Hyundai dealer as a CPO, which turns out to be a bit of a joke. The car had a strong pull to the right, on all roads, under all conditions. 160 point inspection my ___.

I drove an Equus while I was there. Not bad, needs a little more leg room and head room. Very smooth ride, very powerful.

Henryn, just remind me, what are you driving now? My friend bought a 2013 Genesis as a winter car (he has his Maserati for the summer) and at first he loved it, had every electronic invention on it known to man.

He got it cheap too. But, he got tired of it very quickly, just too boring. He wanted to trade it back in but the depreciation was huge because the 2014s came with so much more equipment and were a much nicer car for about the same price.

He traded it in on the Audi RS4.

My point is if you are considering a Genesis do it because you really like it. Don't think you are getting a BMW at a bargain price. He lost a lot by thinking the Genesis would be good enough.

driver100

boomchek said:

Sometimes a commercial use vehicle may have been better maintained than a personal one because companies are liable should accidents happen as a result of mechanical failures, and they want to minimize down time (which results in lost income) as a result of breakdowns, therefore they keep them running in top shape, On the other hand you can come across a personal one owner car which never had an oil change done because the owner was clueless about maintenance.

Also commercial use vehicles with multiple drivers may look a bit beat up on the outside but will tend to be mechanically sound.

I agree, sometimes commercial vehicles are looked after better than private cars. But, in my experience, most company cars just aren't that well taken care of. I have seen company cars used and abused. Sometimes the employee using it just doesn't care, sometimes the company that owns the vehicle just wants to be as cheap as possible....and tries to cut corners.

The problem is, you seldom really know....so unless you know for sure how well the car was looked after then I would avoid commercial vehicles. Henryns Genesis sounds like it was abused, probably by an irresponsible disgruntled employee. I heard stories about some of the cars that my employer had to go and pick up when they got rid of an employee....believe me, you wouldn't want to buy one of those cars. Getting rid of piles of KFC chicken bones and other garbage was just the first step to getting the car ready to resell.

oldfarmer50

cdnpinhead said:

isellhondas said:

I just lost interest as I got older and I'm sure management knew that.

This is exactly where I am in my so-called career. I'm staying on for now, since I'd rather be putting into the 401(K) rather than taking out, but given my traditional pension, SS & that 401(K), I don't need to still be working.

As I tell those who care (they'd fit in a phone booth, remember those?), I'm just working for the entertainment value these days. I've found a niche in my giant international corporate mess, and it's working okay for the moment. Turns out I know more about certain things in my company than anyone else, and so far it still matters.

Next month/year, who knows?

Put me on that list. I'm just working for the health insurance for the next few years. We just got a new director who seems determined to make everyone's life miserable. Hope I can last until the right time to go.

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

driver100 said:

henryn said:

When the carfax report says "Titled or registered as a commercial vehicle", what exactly does that mean? It doesn't seem to be the same as "rental".

It means probably not a good car to buy.

All the things boomer said and probably used for a business in some way, could have multiple drivers, could just be used for sales. Could be fine, (may even of had all the servicing done on schedule), but not quite the same as a car used for personal use only (more risk it wasn't cared for as well).

This was on the Carfax report for a 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec. It was at a Hyundai dealer as a CPO, which turns out to be a bit of a joke. The car had a strong pull to the right, on all roads, under all conditions. 160 point inspection my ___.

I drove an Equus while I was there. Not bad, needs a little more leg room and head room. Very smooth ride, very powerful.

Those cryptic comments on CarFax are frustrating. There use to be a glossary that explained them but I don't know it they still provide one.

A "commercial" vehicle could be a taxi. I'm pretty sure that a "fleet" vehicle is a rental.

ab348

henryn said:

This was on the Carfax report for a 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec. It was at a Hyundai dealer as a CPO, which turns out to be a bit of a joke. The car had a strong pull to the right, on all roads, under all conditions. 160 point inspection my ___.

I drove an Equus while I was there. Not bad, needs a little more leg room and head room. Very smooth ride, very powerful.

Many Genesis and Equus models are used in the livery car business. Maybe it was one of those.

stever

A little help please.

Need new comfortable sedan

Thanks!

bwia

fezo said:

Knock tons of snow out my wheel wells and finally blow a tire on the road back but it's insured and by tomorrow all will be well. Good thing we took the Mazda instead of the new Prius.

I too suffered a blown tire while entering my HMO parking lot. Two questions for you Fezo, who is paying for the damage and was the new tire mounted on the front or rear axle?

My perished front-left tire was replaced by the dealership but they put the new tire on the same front axle. Everything I've read said any new tire should be placed on the rear axle (regardless of -front, -rear or -all-wheel drive) because it lessens the effect of hydroplaning and understeer, and thus, makes for safer driving.

Before I return to the dealership to switch the tire from front to rear would anyone care to posit on the merits or demerits of placing a replacement tire on the rear versus the front axle?
Thanks

bwia

henryn said:

stever said:

Battery tech - if only, if only.... A breakthrough there would be extremely disruptive to the utilities, not to mention the auto suppliers who focus on fuel delivery and gas engines. I'd go off the grid in a flash, like our Taos friends who are way out in the sticks.

What was it Robert Heinlein called it, a "shipstone"? You put energy in, it stores it indefinitely with no loss, and on demand releases every bit of the energy that you put in. If such a thing existed, and were reasonably priced, all cars would be electric, period, end of story. Every home would have solar panels. The world would be an entirely different place.

Don't laugh but that battery is here and it is called the *Liquid Metal Battery* made from dirt; and developed by MIT's Donald Sadoway. Read more and watch these short videos.
http://climatecrocks.com/2014/10/23/mit-donald-sadoway-batteries-from-dirt-steel-with-no-pollution/

henryn

Rental vehicles (Hertz, etc), specifically say "rental vehicle" on the Carfax report. I had not previously encountered "commercial vehicle", but whatever, it pulled to the right, and it smelled of the ozone machine used to get out cigarette smoke, so definitely strike that one. I was just a little peeved? amused? that they would advertise a CPO 160 point inspection, and never test drive the vehicle to check the alignment, brakes, etc.

The 2012 Equus was a different matter, I liked that one. I liked it enough to extend the test drive, which effectively eliminated it. My right knee is made of titanium steel and space age plastic, and I have to be able to extend / work that knee back and forth occasionally while I'm driving. The Equus had enough leg room to be comfortable for a short trip, but it would never work on a longer trip. It actually seemed to have less leg room than the Genesis. The sales person told me that was because the Equus is intended for limo service, and most of the space is in the rear seat area.

imidazol97

henryn said:

The sales person told me that was because the Equus is intended for limo service, and most of the space is in the rear seat area.

Did it look like this?



I searched for equus Hyundai limo service and found this. Maybe it's intended for limo service in N Korea and has short front legroom, but here it's advertised as a premium motorcar.

isellhondas

boomchek said:

isellhondas said:

I have to agree with boomchek's theory on dealership turnover.

In the store where I worked it seemed the people we hired either lasted a long time or they were gone within the first year. Once they had two or three years under their belts they generally stuck around.

I lasted almost 14 years and in my final years I rarely took a "fresh up". I did a lot of internet business and I had a pretty good supply of repeat and referral customers.

I could have sold more cars but toward the end I have to admit I wasn't under the gun money wise and I did get jaded. I didn't want to take an "up" at 8:45 knowing that if I did make a sale I would probably be there until midnight. One New Years Eve I left the place at 1:30 AM/

But I was never late, never once called in sick and I had good survey scores and never a complaint from a customer that I can remember. I just lost interest as I got older and I'm sure management knew that.

So, the timing was right and I left on good terms. I still consider the people I worked with (that remain) and the management as friends.

I hated taking ups right before closing. More times than other it ended up turning into nothing, or if a deal was made and car not rolled it would almost cancel the next day because it was originally done in haste.

New Year's eve deal until 1:30am has to take the cake. I hope you got a huge month and year end bonus because of it.

Customers coming in at an inconvenient time tend to be common in the car business: ups walking in when you're about to leave for the day, especially when you have an engagement to go to right after, your be-backs showing up the moment you dig into a hot meal on your lunch break (especially when you're starving), and several appointments showing up at the exact same time even though they were scheduled or said they'd be coming in hours apart.

That New Years eve deal was a five pounder so that made it better.

The week between Christmas and New Years was always the busiest week of the year.

A local dealer made the 5:00 news this week for comments made by managers about certain ethnic groups including one of their salespeople who is a member of one of those groups.

Not good....

jayrider

henryn said:

Rental vehicles (Hertz, etc), specifically say "rental vehicle" on the Carfax report. I had not previously encountered "commercial vehicle", but whatever, it pulled to the right, and it smelled of the ozone machine used to get out cigarette smoke, so definitely strike that one. I was just a little peeved? amused? that they would advertise a CPO 160 point inspection, and never test drive the vehicle to check the alignment, brakes, etc.

The 2012 Equus was a different matter, I liked that one. I liked it enough to extend the test drive, which effectively eliminated it. My right knee is made of titanium steel and space age plastic, and I have to be able to extend / work that knee back and forth occasionally while I'm driving. The Equus had enough leg room to be comfortable for a short trip, but it would never work on a longer trip. It actually seemed to have less leg room than the Genesis. The sales person told me that was because the Equus is intended for limo service, and most of the space is in the rear seat area.

henryn, if you want legroom, the LaCrosse with the seat back is awesome. That said, the dead pedal area on the floor is disappointing.

abacomike

@bwia‌

I listened and watched carefully to the two video clips you alluded to in your post about the "...Liquid Metal Battery* made from dirt; and developed by MIT's Donald Sadoway..."
I heard a lot of "what ifs" in the presentations and some great theoretical mumbo-jumbo but I did not hear him say the solution is not only "X", but it currently exists and it is ready for implementation. What I did hear is that there is much more time needed for research, development and implementation of this "invention" of his or did I hear him say it's been around for 2000 years or so? I became very confused by both presentations - maybe because I am not a scientist - however I am good a linguistics and it sure didn't sound like a solution for the near future, but rather for about 50 years from now. That's great for out great grandchildren, but what about now?

As a side note, yet another explosion on the nations rails (crude oil tank cars). That's the third such explosion in the last three months. Isn't a pipeline safer when compared to oil tank cars? There are many, many pipelines in existence (both oil, gasoline and natural gas) and the incidence of explosions is much less if I am not mistaken.

robr2

A commercial vehicle is any vehicle registered by a business.

It could be a salesman car. It could be a livery vehicle. It could be a car the wife of the company owner used to drive from home to the spa and back.

According to a tire industry group, when replacing just one tire it should go on the rear axle along with the remaining tire with the most tread left.

oldfarmer50

bwia said:

henryn said:

stever said:

Battery tech - if only, if only.... A breakthrough there would be extremely disruptive to the utilities, not to mention the auto suppliers who focus on fuel delivery and gas engines. I'd go off the grid in a flash, like our Taos friends who are way out in the sticks.

What was it Robert Heinlein called it, a "shipstone"? You put energy in, it stores it indefinitely with no loss, and on demand releases every bit of the energy that you put in. If such a thing existed, and were reasonably priced, all cars would be electric, period, end of story. Every home would have solar panels. The world would be an entirely different place.

Don't laugh but that battery is here and it is called the *Liquid Metal Battery* made from dirt; and developed by MIT's Donald Sadoway. Read more and watch these short videos.
http://climatecrocks.com/2014/10/23/mit-donald-sadoway-batteries-from-dirt-steel-with-no-pollution/

Wow, that could be a game changer. Not only for cars but for wind and solar.

fezo

My blowout was on the left back wheel. Costco is covering it no charge.

The local Toyota dealer confirmed that the Camry flunked the oil test. This is good. It mean it will get fixed on Toyota's dime. Tight now the service department reports they don't even have what the fix is let alone the parts to do it. I'll have to call Toyota. Meanwhile we can run it - just check oil weekly.

Meanwhile today I got pulled over doing 62 in a 40 zone - with the Prius.! No ticket, just a "slow down," which I did until I knew he was gone...

stever

Got lots of dirt in my yard. Unfortunately I gave away all my mason jars for the last move so my HHO project is dead in the water. This Shipstone smacks a bit of that.

@fezo, shades of the son of Al Gore. Try for 100 next time.