Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

I'm not sure if we spoke about this here too, but on chronic car buyers anonymous we had a discussion about this hand written note from the car dealers. Very clever marketing. The penmanship looks real and there's even a smudge on mine to make it look more realistic. Mine reads as follows:

"Bradd

I wanted to drop you a quick note purchasing your 2010 Acura TSX.

I need it now and frankly, I think you will be pleased with my aggressive offer.

It's easy and you don't have to purchase anything!

Talk to you soon,"

Signed by the GM of the dealership with her phone number, extension, & business card enclosed.

Maybe I should drop her a note and tell her that the list she bought is outdated and that I traded the car in three years ago;)

Doesn't really matter. From the multiple offers like that which we have received my wife's 2009 PT is in such great demand that no one would buy your Acura any way. Guess people just can't get enough of technologically obsolete "cute" cars that get bad milage.

driver100

Mike, my MB sales consultant assistant got back to me and my car was on the recall list......just a bracket that can be done when we get back home. Also needs a software update at the same time. Thanks for the heads up, I might have missed it once I go through the huge pile of mail that will be waiting for us when we get back home.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

nyccarguy said:

I'm not sure if we spoke about this here too, but on chronic car buyers anonymous we had a discussion about this hand written note from the car dealers. Very clever marketing. The penmanship looks real and there's even a smudge on mine to make it look more realistic. Mine reads as follows:

"Bradd

I wanted to drop you a quick note purchasing your 2010 Acura TSX.

I need it now and frankly, I think you will be pleased with my aggressive offer.

It's easy and you don't have to purchase anything!

Talk to you soon,"

Signed by the GM of the dealership with her phone number, extension, & business card enclosed.

Maybe I should drop her a note and tell her that the list she bought is outdated and that I traded the car in three years ago;)

Doesn't really matter. From the multiple offers like that which we have received my wife's 2009 PT is in such great demand that no one would buy your Acura any way. Guess people just can't get enough of technologically obsolete "cute" cars that get bad milage.

Many people would love your technologically obsolete car....mainly people who hate any new inventions. That's how your PT should be marketed, the car for Luddites. It would appeal to the same people who just want a cell phone with large numbers, and can only be used "AS A CELL PHONE".

abacomike

driver100 said:

Mike, my MB sales consultant assistant got back to me and my car was on the recall list......just a bracket that can be done when we get back home. Also needs a software update at the same time. Thanks for the heads up, I might have missed it once I go through the huge pile of mail that will be waiting for us when we get back home.

What kind of software update?

stickguy

technology really does continue to change fast. For some reason today, I was thinking about the 2005 3 series I almost bought before getting our Volvo 3 years ago. That car, as "fancy" and expensive as it was at the time, it would be considered an unsafe stirppo model by some people. No back up cam, any monitors, probably no Bluetooth, just basic stability control, ABS and airbags. Even had a CD player (barely out of the tape deck days).

driver100

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

Mike, my MB sales consultant assistant got back to me and my car was on the recall list......just a bracket that can be done when we get back home. Also needs a software update at the same time. Thanks for the heads up, I might have missed it once I go through the huge pile of mail that will be waiting for us when we get back home.

What kind of software update?

I don't know............I figure it is kind of minor so they can do it when I get back. My wife doesn't like the storage compartment on the front of the passenger seat. I think they are ingenius - there is one on each seat.
She says she can feel it on the back of her legs at times. I say, if you sit like a normal human being you would never know it is there.

My sales rep asked the service people and to remove it they have to take out the front seat. It would cost $300 to have the compartment taken out.

I haven't asked my wife recently if she is getting used to it......I am hoping she will either forget about it or find a different way to sit.

graphicguy

Wayyyyyyy off topic again.

For those of you keeping score, I took some time off to mull over a career change. I received some great advice from the folks here. Talking with trusted business colleagues, my wife, family members, nor necessarily in that order), as well as all of you, I decided to make the change.

In brief, it really came down to me asking "what could have happened?". I'm getting ready to find out.

My soon to be former employer didn't take too kindly to my announcement that I was leaving. The CEO said I "blindsided" him. I wanted to take the high road, but he kept pushing me on why I wanted to leave. Originally, I told him I was up for the challenge the new company offered. He responded with..."I'll give you a challenge" in a condescending way. He asked about the money. I tried to sidestep that issue, too. He insisted, so I told him what the new company was offering. He again huffed that he doubted they'd pay me the amount I quoted (again, about a 30 percent raise).

He said he'd counter but wanted a "loyalty discount" (not sure what that means) that would be something less than what the new company offered. Don't know how much less because I already "clocked out" by the time we go to that part of the discussion.

Long and short of this, the current exec staff (which I'm a part of) really aren't people I want to work with, anymore.

So, new company finished their background check earlier in the week (how I passed that, I'll never know). And I signed the offer letter and sent it to my new company.

30 years with the same company, I made a lot of friends, both personal and professional. I'll miss those folks. Some, I won't think twice about, however.

I do feel fortunate that a company values me so highly to make what I consider a very generous offer, particularly to someone who is only planning on being with them 10 more years (but who knows? Not working is something I don't know that I'll like...maybe I'll work until they kick me out).

I'm working the next couple of weeks with my old company. I thought about giving more notice, but after my meeting with them, decided two weeks is enough. I also promised to help seek my replacement, which is kind of odd. How do you interview someone and tell them they're taking your position, which is being left because the CEO is a jerk?

Anyway, thanks for listening and reading. New horizons straight ahead.

isellhondas

I know you'll have nothing but great success in your new position!

Michaell

@graphicguy - congratulations on making the leap! Sounds like the right decision, given the attitude of the CEO.

stever

Congrats!

I wonder about two week notices anymore. I doubt that there's much in the way of repercussions if you don't give any. Some places will just escort you out immediately when you give your notice anyway.

(oh oh, forgot to ask you the most important question when you were first kicking this around. Does your new company firewall fun sites like Edmunds? That would be a deal killer. )

Mr_Shiftright

Hey, $30K extra....you could buy yourself a nice, low mileage used......oh, never mind!

houdini1

Congrats GG. Keep us posted.

stickguy

GG, you def made the right call based on that exchange. If you had stayed, he would have made you a marked man anyway.

bwia

GG, I missed your ealier posts leading up to the job change  but it seems like  the right decision. Good luck and welcome to a new level of stress 

abacomike

graphicguy said:

Wayyyyyyy off topic again.

For those of you keeping score, I took some time off to mull over a career change. I received some great advice from the folks here. Talking with trusted business colleagues, my wife, family members, nor necessarily in that order), as well as all of you, I decided to make the change.

In brief, it really came down to me asking "what could have happened?". I'm getting ready to find out.

My soon to be former employer didn't take too kindly to my announcement that I was leaving. The CEO said I "blindsided" him. I wanted to take the high road, but he kept pushing me on why I wanted to leave. Originally, I told him I was up for the challenge the new company offered. He responded with..."I'll give you a challenge" in a condescending way. He asked about the money. I tried to sidestep that issue, too. He insisted, so I told him what the new company was offering. He again huffed that he doubted they'd pay me the amount I quoted (again, about a 30$ raise).

He said he'd counter but wanted a "loyalty discount" (not sure what that means) that would be something less than what the new company offered. Don't know how much less because I already "clocked out" by the time we go to that part of the discussion.

Long and short of this, the current exec staff (which I'm a part of) really aren't people I want to work with, anymore.

So, new company finished their background check earlier in the week (how I passed that, I'll never know). And I signed the offer letter and sent it to my new company.

30 years with the same company, I made a lot of friends, both personal and professional. I'll miss those folks. Some, I won't think twice about, however.

I do feel fortunate that a company values me so highly to make what I consider a very generous offer, particularly to someone who is only planning on being with them 10 more years (but who knows? Not working is something I don't know that I'll like...maybe I'll work until they kick me out).

I'm working the next couple of weeks with my old company. I thought about giving more notice, but after my meeting with them, decided two weeks is enough. I also promised to help seek my replacement, which is kind of odd. How do you interview someone and tell them they're taking your position, which is being left because the CEO is a jerk?

Anyway, thanks for listening and reading. New horizons straight ahead.

Much luck, happiness and success in your new job. As I mentioned to you about a week ago, I knew it was wrong to go to your current boss and discuss anything about a job offer or "...I am thinking of accepting a new job..." with him. Bosses become angry, vindictive, insensitive and often malevolent with "traitors" to their company. Thinking of your old boss as a friend, confident, compatriot, mentor, etc., is always the wrong approach to take when you are thinking about leaving their company.

As you can see, even after your decided to take the new job, he was no "pussycat" regarding "your needs", he thought only about "his and his company's needs!" But that is to be expected under these circumstances.

I am so very happy for you and your family, graphicguy. Just remember this incident with your "X" boss the next time (if it ever happens again) you think of changing companies or jobs.

abacomike

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

Mike, my MB sales consultant assistant got back to me and my car was on the recall list......just a bracket that can be done when we get back home. Also needs a software update at the same time. Thanks for the heads up, I might have missed it once I go through the huge pile of mail that will be waiting for us when we get back home.

What kind of software update?

I don't know............I figure it is kind of minor so they can do it when I get back. My wife doesn't like the storage compartment on the front of the passenger seat. I think they are ingenius - there is one on each seat.
She says she can feel it on the back of her legs at times. I say, if you sit like a normal human being you would never know it is there.

My sales rep asked the service people and to remove it they have to take out the front seat. It would cost $300 to have the compartment taken out.

I haven't asked my wife recently if she is getting used to it......I am hoping she will either forget about it or find a different way to sit.



Driver, it is my guess that your wife has the front passenger seat way forward and in a "heightened" position. Thus, each time she gets into the car or leaves the car, her shoe/foot scrapes or hits the hidden compartment under and in front of her seat. It used to happen to my Dad in the other E's and the CLS I had.

Remember, there is a 3 position memory setting on her door. I suggest that you set the "1" memory button to her comfortable sitting position when driving with you in the car. I further suggest that you set the "2" memory button with the passenger seat very far back. This way, gets ready to leave the car, she presses the "2" button. The seat will move back and allow her easy exit. When she gets into the passenger seat an closes the door, all she has to do is press and hold the "1" memory button on her door until the seat assumes her comfortable driving position. It worked for my dad, and he doesn't complain any more about the hidden storage compartment. His problem is that he wears size 13 shoes and sneakers.

Let me know how that works for you.

As for the "software" update, my dealership's service department told me that all software updates are sent to my car via "Mbrace" (by satellite). It sends signals frequently to the car if any software needs to be updated or changed in any way. Perhaps your car is not set up that way.

robr2

gg - congratulations on the new job.

Any employer that is blindsided by a resignation doesn't pay attention to their employees.

IMHO, once you've accepted a new job you shouldn't even listen to counter offer. From that day on, your boss will often resent you and will always question your work.

abacomike

robr2 said:

gg - congratulations on the new job. Any employer that is blindsided by a resignation doesn't pay attention to their employees. IMHO, once you've accepted a new job you shouldn't even listen to counter offer. From that day on, your boss will often resent you and will always question your work.

DITTO!

driver100

graphicguy said:

He again huffed that he doubted they'd pay me the amount I quoted (again, about a 30$ raise).

He said he'd counter but wanted a "loyalty discount" (not sure what that means) that would be something less than what the new company offered. Don't know how much less because I already "clocked out" by the time we go to that part of the discussion.

Anyway, thanks for listening and reading. New horizons straight ahead.

Congratulations GG. Every move is a risk but you have more to gain than to lose by making this move. Rob said it perfectly, "Any employer that is blindsided by a resignation doesn't pay attention to their employees". If he didn't have a clue then he wasn't paying attention.

If he doubts they would pay you 30% more it means he didn't value you to that level.

Onward and upward....no regrets. The good thing about your old employer is all the experience you gained, and you learned something valuable about how to treat other employees.

My last 2 jobs were awful, but the knowledge I gained allowed me to go into business for myself and beat them at their own game......I learned what not to do.

driver100

Driver, it is my guess that your wife has the front passenger seat way forward and in a "heightened" position. Thus, each time she gets into the car or leaves the car, her shoe/foot scrapes or hits the hidden compartment under and in front of her seat. It used to happen to my Dad in the other E's and the CLS I had.

Remember, there is a 3 position memory setting on her door. I suggest that you set the "1" memory button to her comfortable sitting position when driving with you in the car. I further suggest that you set the "2" memory button with the passenger seat very far back. This way, gets ready to leave the car, she presses the "2" button. The seat will move back and allow her easy exit. When she gets into the passenger seat an closes the door, all she has to do is press and hold the "1" memory button on her door until the seat assumes her comfortable driving position. It worked for my dad, and he doesn't complain any more about the hidden storage compartment. His problem is that he wears size 13 shoes and sneakers.

Let me know how that works for you.

As for the "software" update, my dealership's service department told me that all software updates are sent to my car via "Mbrace" (by satellite). It sends signals frequently to the car if any software needs to be updated or changed in any way. Perhaps your car is not set up that way.

Mike, it sounds like a good plan but my wife says she has learned to get in and out carefully so it won't happen. It happens when she wants to change seating position and move her legs in. I say if you were driving you wouldn't have your legs in so just learn to keep them out....ha ha. She does have the seat forward and high. I think she has a point in that the drawer should have been designed to slide out if you didn't want it.

I am not sure if MBrace is available in Canada....it's an extra that I would get no use from, so I guess I just have to go in and get the software update....but, isn't it incredible that they can do software updates directly to the car with no down time.

The guy I know with the Tesla has to park it outside one night a month so it can get the latest updates and monitoring.

ab348

graphicguy said:

Long and short of this, the current exec staff (which I'm a part of) really aren't people I want to work with, anymore.

So, new company finished their background check earlier in the week (how I passed that, I'll never know). And I signed the offer letter and sent it to my new company.

30 years with the same company, I made a lot of friends, both personal and professional. I'll miss those folks. Some, I won't think twice about, however.

Congrats on the new position. I know whenever I changed jobs, I had a period of 3-6 months where I wondered WTH I had done to myself. Then it started to feel better and I ended up liking them all.

I have been retired from my last job almost 10 months now. This week I had lunch with one of my former fellow executives to get caught up on things. It just made me even more glad I am no longer there. Stuff they had been dithering on resolving for years, that I spent an untold amount of time going around in circles with them on, still remains unresolved and they are still dithering. Meanwhile, another exec who has the CEOs ear has expanded his business unit greatly, given a lot of people new titles and raises, and made himself heir-apparent. Yet this guy and his unit are very poorly regarded, many of them (and him) arrogant and uncooperative, seem to not accomplish much, spend inordinate sums on lots of dumb stuff that doesn't amount to anything in the end, and yet the CEO lets him get away with it all. Meanwhile everyone else is under the gun and being told to cut budgets and not hire people.

I totally understand not thinking twice about leaving certain people behind.

28firefighter

Congratulations, GG!

I'm considerably more junior in my career, but appreciate the insight into your thought process as well as the feedback from others.

graphicguy

Thanks all....for the advice and encouragement.

kyfdx.....the wife was asking me about the raise last night. At first blush, I said..."let's bank it and retire early". But, I can't see a time where I'd want to retire.....at least not right now.

So, we'll sock some of it away. She drove one of the Caddy ATS loaners I had for a little while and really liked it. She's not like me, though. She'll drive her Accord until the wheels fall off. So, I'll have to surprise her with maybe a CTS at some point. Barring that, and given my travel schedule, we'll probably use some of it to take long weekends in some of the more desirable locales (main office in Austin, satellite offices in the San Francisco area, New York, Montreal, Toronto and around Vancouver. Probably have to do a couple of trips/year to France for work, too. So, that will be a nice trip to take her with me, too.

My office has been, and will continue to be, in my home. So, whenever I have some down time during the day, I'll check in here. Given my staff, and how spread out they are, I'll be traveling quite a bit anyway. No need for an outside office.

Again, thanks.

jayrider

Mr_Shiftright said:

Hey, $30K extra....you could buy yourself a nice, low mileage used......oh, never mind!

Reality check. The 30K is before taxes, Soc Sec and 401K. How about a 5 year old Prius with 42k miles ?

roadburner

Michaell said:

@graphicguy - congratulations on making the leap! Sounds like the right decision, given the attitude of the CEO.

Agreed.

stickguy

Fezo selling his car already? Dang!

abacomike

I just got one of those letters from a Lexus Dealer where I bought my 2013 GS350 stating, "...I have a customer who wants to buy your car.  He is looking for a 2013 Lexus GS350 with low miles!"

Sounds like most of the dealerships are trying this approach.  Of course. It's pure BS.  Even signed at the bottom - but not an original signature.

explorerx4

Don't forget about tomorrow!

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/13/8205807/pi-day

abacomike

After reading that garbage about Pi Day, etc., my Orwellian alter-ego began to stir within me!  Big Brother ordains Pi Day in order for us to celebrate something together.  But how does one celebrate Pi Day, Pi Year, or Pi "anything!"  We must look to Big Brother to teach us and show us the way!!!

abacomike

A few days ago I mentioned that my remote for my Toshiba HDTV was not working very well and that I found one on E-Bay for $29.99 including shipping.

Well, I got it today and it works perfectly!

qbrozen

Hey, congrats, GG! After his reaction, I can't blame you one bit.

stickguy

My wife makes a killer chocolate pi. With homemade whipped cream on top. That is a great pi.

imidazol97

abacomike said:

A few days ago I mentioned that my remote for my Toshiba HDTV was not working very well and that I found one on E-Bay for $29.99 including shipping.

Well, I got it today and it works perfectly!

Good!

abacomike

Since my son is flying in from California this July, I've been looking at some of the resorts they have in Naples, FL.  He loves to play golf and there are several resorts there that have their own golf courses.  He has to fly from Palm Springs to DFW and then make the connection to a Ft. Lauderdale flight or Palm Beach flight (I live kind of in between).

The resorts and hotels there have some great rates if booked relatively soon.  So I asked my son to look over the hotels and resorts and pick 3 destinations.  Then, I'll book a room for 7/13 - 7/18.  It's about a 100 mile trip from where I live over to Naples via Alligator Alley.

It seems like a logical move since Naples is so close.  The Keys are nice, but no golf.

Any thoughts from anyone about alternatives?

fezo

They are few and far between but there are golf courses in the keys... http://www.fgolf.com/keys.htm

fezo

gg - nice deal. I think you should have them upgrade your office.... Must be something nice and new you coukd use...

You can have the Prius straight up for the CTS. No problem...

nelsonf

" just got one of those letters from a Lexus Dealer where I bought my 2013 GS350 stating, "...I have a customer who wants to buy your car. He is looking for a 2013 Lexus GS350 with low miles!"

Tell them to give you the "customer's" info, and let them know you'll give the dealer a bird dog fee for the referral!

graphicguy

fezo said:

gg - nice deal. I think you should have them upgrade your office.... Must be something nice and new you coukd use...

You can have the Prius straight up for the CTS. No problem...

Thanks Fezo.

Wife rode in a neighbor's Volt yesterday. She really liked it. Surprised they haven't sold like the Prius has.

I think they're pretty reasonable now, too....especially


cts has been great. Quick, handles well, comfortable, good MPG, all the tech I can handle, looks great. Can't ask for much more than that.

abacomike

graphicguy said:

gg - nice deal. I think you should have them upgrade your office.... Must be something nice and new you coukd use... You can have the Prius straight up for the CTS. No problem...

Thanks Fezo. Wife rode in a neighbor's Volt yesterday. She really liked it. Surprised they haven't sold like the Prius has. I think they're pretty reasonable now, too....especially cts has been great. Quick, handles well, comfortable, good MPG, all the tech I can handle, looks great. Can't ask for much more than that.

GM just announced a huge recall on the Volt.

driver100

abacomike said:

Since my son is flying in from California this July, I've been looking at some of the resorts they have in Naples, FL.  He loves to play golf and there are several resorts there that have their own golf courses.  He has to fly from Palm Springs to DFW and then make the connection to a Ft. Lauderdale flight or Palm Beach flight (I live kind of in between).

The resorts and hotels there have some great rates if booked relatively soon.  So I asked my son to look over the hotels and resorts and pick 3 destinations.  Then, I'll book a room for 7/13 - 7/18.  It's about a 100 mile trip from where I live over to Naples via Alligator Alley.

It seems like a logical move since Naples is so close.  The Keys are nice, but no golf.

Any thoughts from anyone about alternatives?

I am of little help when it comes to golf, but I was surprised to read in todays Tampa Bay Times about how Golf is really fading in popularity. More courses are closing than openning.

Hope you can find a course your son will enjoy,

GOLF INDUSTRY IN A SLUMP

driver100

graphicguy said:

fezo said:

gg - nice deal. I think you should have them upgrade your office.... Must be something nice and new you coukd use...

You can have the Prius straight up for the CTS. No problem...

Thanks Fezo.

Wife rode in a neighbor's Volt yesterday. She really liked it. Surprised they haven't sold like the Prius has.

I think they're pretty reasonable now, too....especially


cts has been great. Quick, handles well, comfortable, good MPG, all the tech I can handle, looks great. Can't ask for much more than that.

GG, too bad you couldn't negotiate a new CTS in your contract with the new company. Then you could give yours to your wife

bwia

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

fezo said:

gg - nice deal. I think you should have them upgrade your office.... Must be something nice and new you coukd use...

You can have the Prius straight up for the CTS. No problem...

Thanks Fezo.

Wife rode in a neighbor's Volt yesterday. She really liked it. Surprised they haven't sold like the Prius has.

I think they're pretty reasonable now, too....especially


cts has been great. Quick, handles well, comfortable, good MPG, all the tech I can handle, looks great. Can't ask for much more than that.

GG, too bad you couldn't negotiate a new CTS in your contract with the new company. Then you could give yours to your wife

Speaking of CTS, a Boston area dealership is offering $20,000 off brand new 2014 leftovers. That's got to hurt trade-in values for those suckers who bought at inflated prices. Ouch!

Perhaps I am missing something, but you cannot expect to be a luxury brand by heavily discounting your product. And the sales numbers for the CTS proves that point, to wit:
Dec. 2014....... 2,652
Jan. 2015........ 1,698
Feb. 2015....... 1,438

graphicguy

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

fezo said:

gg - nice deal. I think you should have them upgrade your office.... Must be something nice and new you coukd use...

You can have the Prius straight up for the CTS. No problem...

Thanks Fezo.

Wife rode in a neighbor's Volt yesterday. She really liked it. Surprised they haven't sold like the Prius has.

I think they're pretty reasonable now, too....especially


cts has been great. Quick, handles well, comfortable, good MPG, all the tech I can handle, looks great. Can't ask for much more than that.

GG, too bad you couldn't negotiate a new CTS in your contract with the new company. Then you could give yours to your wife

Driver....had a choice between a company car (an Impala, Taurus, or something of that ilk), or $500/mo car allowance (which only really is used for me to go back and forth to the airport since none of my satellite offices are within driving distance). I took the car allowance.

abacomike....Did they say what the recall was for on the Volt?

graphicguy

bwia said:

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

fezo said:

gg - nice deal. I think you should have them upgrade your office.... Must be something nice and new you coukd use...

You can have the Prius straight up for the CTS. No problem...

Thanks Fezo.

Wife rode in a neighbor's Volt yesterday. She really liked it. Surprised they haven't sold like the Prius has.

I think they're pretty reasonable now, too....especially


cts has been great. Quick, handles well, comfortable, good MPG, all the tech I can handle, looks great. Can't ask for much more than that.

GG, too bad you couldn't negotiate a new CTS in your contract with the new company. Then you could give yours to your wife

Speaking of CTS, a Boston area dealership is offering $20,000 off brand new 2014 leftovers. That's got to hurt trade-in values for those suckers who bought at inflated prices. Ouch!

Perhaps I am missing something, but you cannot expect to be a luxury brand by heavily discounting your product. And the sales numbers for the CTS proves that point, to wit:
Dec. 2014....... 2,652
Jan. 2015........ 1,698
Feb. 2015....... 1,438

'14s WERE heavily discounted. From what I understand, the '15s are selling for closer to normal. I know the east got hit hard by the winter storms. So, I expect the dealers there were hurt the worse.

Fact is, if you buy the car right upfront, you just take the "deal" on the front end instead of the back end on resale. It all comes out in the wash. Resale is based on list prices, not actual purchase price.

I know the only '14s left at my dealership are service loaners and "stripped" models. And, I don't think they even have many of those left.

driver100

bwia said:

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

fezo said:

gg - nice deal. I think you should have them upgrade your office.... Must be something nice and new you coukd use...

You can have the Prius straight up for the CTS. No problem...

Thanks Fezo.

Wife rode in a neighbor's Volt yesterday. She really liked it. Surprised they haven't sold like the Prius has.

I think they're pretty reasonable now, too....especially


cts has been great. Quick, handles well, comfortable, good MPG, all the tech I can handle, looks great. Can't ask for much more than that.

GG, too bad you couldn't negotiate a new CTS in your contract with the new company. Then you could give yours to your wife

Speaking of CTS, a Boston area dealership is offering $20,000 off brand new 2014 leftovers. That's got to hurt trade-in values for those suckers who bought at inflated prices. Ouch!

Perhaps I am missing something, but you cannot expect to be a luxury brand by heavily discounting your product. And the sales numbers for the CTS proves that point, to wit:
Dec. 2014....... 2,652
Jan. 2015........ 1,698
Feb. 2015....... 1,438

Worldwide sales are up, especially in China where they love Cadillacs and Buicks. That is really surprising Caddies aren't selling in North America, all the reviews and reports praise the new models. I thought maybe they should hire Matthew McConnahey to do Cadillac commercials too. The SUV models McConaughey advertises have really picked up, but the MKZ signs follow a similar pattern to Cadillac

Matthew McConaughey (Jim Carrey) ponders the important questions in life in a new set of commercials.



Any theories why these sales would be down?

$20K discount sounds like a bargain for a fine luxury car.

abacomike

graphicguy said:

gg - nice deal. I think you should have them upgrade your office.... Must be something nice and new you coukd use... You can have the Prius straight up for the CTS. No problem...

Thanks Fezo. Wife rode in a neighbor's Volt yesterday. She really liked it. Surprised they haven't sold like the Prius has. I think they're pretty reasonable now, too....especially cts has been great. Quick, handles well, comfortable, good MPG, all the tech I can handle, looks great. Can't ask for much more than that.

GG, too bad you couldn't negotiate a new CTS in your contract with the new company. Then you could give yours to your wife

Driver....had a choice between a company car (an Impala, Taurus, or something of that ilk), or $500/mo car allowance (which only really is used for me to go back and forth to the airport since none of my satellite offices are within driving distance). I took the car allowance. abacomike....Did they say what the recall was for on the Volt?

I do not remember, GG.  I'll do some research and get back to you.

abacomike

GG, I found this on Fox News:

"General Motors Co. is recalling some Chevrolet Volt gas-electric hybrid cars to fix a problem that can cause carbon monoxide to build up in an enclosed space.

The recall covers just over 64,000 Volts from the 2011 through 2013 model years in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere."

"The Detroit company says if a driver exits the car and leaves it on, the battery could eventually drain and the gas generator would start running. If that happens in a garage or other enclosed space, the dangerous gas could build up.

GM said Thursday it's aware of two unspecified injuries but no deaths from the problem.

Dealers will update software that limits how long a Volt can be left idling."

driver100

graphicguy said:

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

fezo said:

gg - nice deal. I think you should have them upgrade your office.... Must be something nice and new you coukd use...

You can have the Prius straight up for the CTS. No problem...

Thanks Fezo.

Wife rode in a neighbor's Volt yesterday. She really liked it. Surprised they haven't sold like the Prius has.

I think they're pretty reasonable now, too....especially


cts has been great. Quick, handles well, comfortable, good MPG, all the tech I can handle, looks great. Can't ask for much more than that.

GG, too bad you couldn't negotiate a new CTS in your contract with the new company. Then you could give yours to your wife

Driver....had a choice between a company car (an Impala, Taurus, or something of that ilk), or $500/mo car allowance (which only really is used for me to go back and forth to the airport since none of my satellite offices are within driving distance). I took the car allowance.

GG, much better having the allowance and driving what you like...........if possible.

Maybe they saw you pull up in a new Caddie and it really impressed them. Looks like an executive car, especially compared to a Taurus or Impala.

jayrider

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

Since my son is flying in from California this July, I've been looking at some of the resorts they have in Naples, FL.  He loves to play golf and there are several resorts there that have their own golf courses.  He has to fly from Palm Springs to DFW and then make the connection to a Ft. Lauderdale flight or Palm Beach flight (I live kind of in between).

The resorts and hotels there have some great rates if booked relatively soon.  So I asked my son to look over the hotels and resorts and pick 3 destinations.  Then, I'll book a room for 7/13 - 7/18.  It's about a 100 mile trip from where I live over to Naples via Alligator Alley.

It seems like a logical move since Naples is so close.  The Keys are nice, but no golf.

Any thoughts from anyone about alternatives?

I am of little help when it comes to golf, but I was surprised to read in todays Tampa Bay Times about how Golf is really fading in popularity. More courses are closing than openning.

Hope you can find a course your son will enjoy,

GOLF INDUSTRY IN A SLUMP

Golf is a difficult game and the courses are designed to be long and difficult. People play from tees that are too long for their skill levels which slows play as well. On most days, the courses are populated by plus 65 year old men playing for money. Everyone takes the game too seriously -- especially the designers.

tommister2

Question for the experts here. I have noticed over the past two months that my local Honda and Ford dealers have less inventory than usual. I'm just basing this on casual drives through their lots. Is inventory down in general right now? These dealerships are owned by different companies so I wouldn't expect that they were both having financial trouble. We did have more snow than usual this year, maybe that has something to do with it. Would they have ordered fewer vehicles due to the harsher than normal winter?