Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50

Michaell said:

I've never driven a luxury make, but the last several cars we've owned have had the "manu-matic" option on the automatic transmission. We use it frequently here in Colorado to use engine braking when going down hills, rather than use the brakes, if there is snow/ice/slush on the roads.

In my Hyundai, the transmission will downshift to hold the set speed on the cruise control if I'm going down a hill.

I don't think either of those scenarios will damage or prematurely wear a transmission.

Interesting discussion on transmissions. As far as manual vs. auto I may be the outlier because I prefer auto tranny. Maybe it's because I grew up driving auto or because the manuals I've driven were on buses and trucks but I don't feel the thrill you guys describe. I have to say that shifting my van is more fun than shifting the new Mustang I drove. No feeling of gear engagement.

My semi-sports car has the manual shift feature and I got bored with it after a few weeks and probably haven't used it in a year.

I can't recall ever using an auto tranny to slow down a car. I seem to remember reading somewhere that doing so creates some sort of back pressure that can wear the system.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

robr2 said:

driver100 said:

robr2 said:

driver100 said:

robr2 said:

That's right. As I often say - I can shovel snow and put on another layer. s.

Like I say, the ideal life is Florida or Arizona from Oct to May, and a condo in NH, Mass, Vermont, or rent a room from Old farmer for the summer.

I know you like Florida but having been there numerous time as well as AZ, I don't ever see myself living in either locale even for a few months out of the year.

Fair enough.....but, I wouldn't trade places for this:



Boston is a great city......to visit, not necessarily to live.

We don't think of Florida as a vacation spot or our home. It just gets us out of the cold and snow. You can be out almost every day all day long...most of the time with shorts and short sleeves. The sun is bright and the water is deep blue. It's like camp for adults!

But, not trying to sell anyone....it's getting crowded down here as it is. The Villages, NW of Orlando is the fastest growing city in the US.

Well this winter has been snowier than normal but it's not end of the world.

My in-laws lived about 15 miles south of The Villages. The Villages has been growing but it's at the expense of the counties it's located in. I read a book about the seedy side of the development.

As for growth, The Villages is the fastest growing metro area in the country but it only added 5,000 residents last year (5%). It's unincorporated and sits inside a number of towns and counties. The fasted growing city in the country is Houston which added 63,000 residents last year.

Rob, I think you are massaging the numbers a bit (and I am not a mathemtician). 5000 gain or almost 5% gain for Villages is much greater than 63000 increase out of 2.2 million, less than 3% for Houston (I think).

In New York the population grows by about 75k people a year (population almost 9 million) more than Houstons growth, but Houston has faster rate of growth. Everything is relative.

The Villages #1 growing metro area in the USA

New York city grows by about 75k a year (mostly by immigration legal and illegal) but that is balanced by upstate where thousands flee each year.

fezo

Hasn't been an issue in all these years. Not going to make it one now.

explorerx4

My Fusion downshifts coasting downhill to help hold your speed. You press the brake to set your speed and the transmission will downshift one gear or two. I believe the fuel is shut off, though.

abacomike

Where I live in far North Broward County, FL, our local population has been decreasing 5% per year.  I know that sounds unbelievable - it's because the populous is dying off!

Their children keep the condos for quick getaways to the Sunshine State.  The condos remain empty some 40 weeks a year.  The heirs are not selling them because they use them instead of a hotel.

robr2

driver100 said:

robr2 said:

driver100 said:

robr2 said:

driver100 said:

robr2 said:

That's right. As I often say - I can shovel snow and put on another layer. s.

Like I say, the ideal life is Florida or Arizona from Oct to May, and a condo in NH, Mass, Vermont, or rent a room from Old farmer for the summer.

I know you like Florida but having been there numerous time as well as AZ, I don't ever see myself living in either locale even for a few months out of the year.

Fair enough.....but, I wouldn't trade places for this:



Boston is a great city......to visit, not necessarily to live.

We don't think of Florida as a vacation spot or our home. It just gets us out of the cold and snow. You can be out almost every day all day long...most of the time with shorts and short sleeves. The sun is bright and the water is deep blue. It's like camp for adults!

But, not trying to sell anyone....it's getting crowded down here as it is. The Villages, NW of Orlando is the fastest growing city in the US.

Well this winter has been snowier than normal but it's not end of the world.

My in-laws lived about 15 miles south of The Villages. The Villages has been growing but it's at the expense of the counties it's located in. I read a book about the seedy side of the development.

As for growth, The Villages is the fastest growing metro area in the country but it only added 5,000 residents last year (5%). It's unincorporated and sits inside a number of towns and counties. The fasted growing city in the country is Houston which added 63,000 residents last year.

Rob, I think you are massaging the numbers a bit (and I am not a mathemtician). 5000 gain or almost 5% gain for Villages is much greater than 63000 increase out of 2.2 million, less than 3% for Houston (I think).

In New York the population grows by about 75k people a year (population almost 9 million) more than Houstons growth, but Houston has faster rate of growth. Everything is relative.

The Villages #1 growing metro area in the USA

I'm not massaging numbers. I stated the exact numbers. Yes, The Villages grew by 5,000 and yes Houston is bigger. But in shear numbers we are talking 5,000 vs. 63,000. Adding 3% to a city that big is more impressive. That's 3 times the residents of my town. It's like growing a business. It easier to grow a $100k business by 10%. It much harder to grow a million dollar business by 10%. That article (which was probably based on a press release) is not well written. It proves that it's so easy to present numbers to make it sound better than it is.

The Villages is a successful retirement community. But it's development has not been pretty. If you have the time, read a book called Leisureville. It gives a great history of the owner, the development, and the lack of control that the counties have over the community. It also gives a view of the seamy side of living in a retirement community.

driver100

Fastest growing is fastest growing.....percentage wise. In pure numbers Houston is growing faster, but, not percentage. The Orlando paper was hyping up the story to promote Florida....but the story is basically true.

The book looks interesting and I put it on my Wishlist on amazon....I'll order it when we come back to Florida in November. The book is #120k in the ratings which is a really big seller.

If you look at the reviews on the link you will see people who live at The Villages love it. The author has a bias, especially to living in a place without children, so he is against the city before he even explains the place. He doesn't seem to like the artificial feeling of living in a very senior fantasy world.

Personally, I don't want to live in a town without younger people, and in an extremely planned community....I mean all activities and where everything is set up for older people (although we live close to Sun City which has similarities - golf carts seem to be the number 1 mode of transportation). But, I think it is a tremendous statement that people like it, and are flocking to live there.

LEISUREVILLE

BTW It also gives a view of the seamy side of living in a retirement community

.

I think that is stretching it to say since there is one trasexual it is a seamy place to live.

abacomike

@driver100 said:
@robr2 said:

You guys are both correct.  By a percentage of population, driver is right!  By sheer numbers of people, rob is right.  It's a matter of semantics.

Just agree to agree, OK?

abacomike

I live in what was once considered a "retirement community" back in the 1980's-2000's.  But as the older people bagan to die off, younger families (heirs) have used their condos as vacation housing and the families buying the condos are in their 50's and 60's.

So now, there is a good mix of Canadians, recent retirees, older retirees, very old retirees, and younger families with children who use their condo for a quick vacation a few times a year.

I went to my very first condo meeting on Friday afternoon - and I can assure you it will be my last!  They run the meeting by the President taking verbal and visual clues from some woman in the rear of the room and fellow board members.  They are autocratic and totally insensitive to questions from those in attendance.

In spite of that, the grounds are beautifully manicured as are the trees and the lakes.  We have an 18 hole executive golf course in the center of the community, a country club, a restaurant, a pharmacy, an emergency clinic, 20 tennis courts and hundreds of acres of open space.

Our monthly condo fee is $457.00 which includes everything.  It is a high fee, but it includes office staff and all personnel.  We have a tremendous grounds crew as well as 20 security cars, guarded entry gates, and scores of activity directors and administration.  In reality, it is a gorgeous community of almost 10,000 full and part-time residents and 5500+ condo units.

But it is still a place that I would not buy in. I expect, when Dad passes, that I will move further north up the east or west coast of Florida to get away from the traffic and the masses of people.

I have heard much about life in The Villages and it sounds like that place will soon become more like my community.  At least ours is well kept and secure.

driver100

abacomike said:

. I will move further north up the east or west coast of Florida to get away from the traffic and the masses of people.

I have heard much about life in The Villages and it sounds like that place will soon become more like my community.  At least ours is well kept and secure.

Ill agree to agree, but I still say, if you use numbers for growth, New York would be faster growing than Houston, and that just isn't so. Just joking, glad to have saner heads prevail...it'sall in how you want to look at it.

We only have 72 units in our complex, and we have people of all ages, some are still working. Half are here all year round. Not many young people, but just enough so we don't feel like we are are all old people.

Our board is about the same. Since few people want to volunteer the one's who do it get an ego problem, and they try to maintain the status quo and do as little as possible. But, I am willing to put up with that in exchange for having the grounds looked after for us.

I don't know if you will be moving to a less populated area by going North. Tampa Bay area is booming. I would say traffic is 2 to 4X greater than it was last year. Highway 301 has gone from 2 lanes to 6 in this area, and they keep building more homes and stores.

Baby boomers want a retirement home or at least a rental unit for the winter. People who are retired and on a limited income find Florida a very economical place to live. Miami has probably reached saturation point. Not sure if there is a place that isn't booming around here.

abacomike

Driver, if and when I move, I will be going to an area that does not have a booming population.  My brother lives south of Jacksonville and north of St. Augustine.  It's called Pontre Vedra Beach.  Another nice area is on the northwest Gulf Coast on the southern part of the panhandle.  

There are so many places in Florida where there is limited population growth.  I don't have to live right on the gulf or the ocean.  It is much less expensive living in Florida as we have no estate taxes and no income taxes.  Food is less expensive because we grow just about everything here from sugar cane, tomatoes, oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, blueberries, and just about every vegetable.

Florida produces quite a bit of beef in its central part as well as a lot of dairy products.  The heaviest population centers are mostly along the coasts with the exception of Orlando.

It's a State I enjoy living in for climate and cost of living.  But the people in South Florida are just not my cup of tea or even my coffee or liquor/wine.

driver100

abacomike said:

Driver, if and when I move, I will be going to an area that does not have a booming population.  My brother lives south of Jacksonville and north of St. Augustine.  It's called Pontre Vedra Beach.  Another nice area is on the northwest Gulf Coast on the southern part of the panhandle.  

There are so many places in Florida where there is limited population growth.  I don't have to live right on the gulf or the ocean.  It is much less expensive living in Florida as we have no estate taxes and no income taxes.

Mike, I could understand moving to a less populated area. I have a tennis friend who lives in Destin and he likes the cooler weather there. He said it is quiet there in the winter.....not warm enough for snowbirds, but it is busy in the summer when northerners come to Florida for summer fun activities.

I would prefer to go north in the summer, but, if I had to be in Florida all year long I could make it work. Just visiting isn't the same as staying for a few months. If you are living on a pension or fixed income you would probably have a better standard of living in Florida. And, one thing you didn't mention....you save also because you don't need a whole set of winter clothes.

fezo

There's no question about the savings for clothes and such. in Florida and no getting around that in general it's a cheaper place to live. I like towns that don't seem so much stereo-typically Florida - like Tallahassee which is more Georgia in its nature, Little arty towns like Apalachicola, St, Augustine, Fernandina Beach, The Keys. Taropn Springs.

Too many towns that do spring break. Panama City if perfectly nice maybe 48 weeks of the year, like Daytona and Fort Lauderdale.

I'm not fussy on seasons. I could easily live on a Caribbean island with 85 year round and trade winds. Two seasons hurricane season and everything else.

stickguy

I want to move south. But likely no further than NC. I don't think we would ever do Florida. My wife whines enough about heat and humidity as it is.

dino001

My car insurance company was on a program to raise my rate by double digits every six months. Every time my agent swore "I think the rates will stabilize from now". I essentially switch my providers every 2-3 years, because their MO is always the same: lure you with additional "marketing" discount and then hit you with double digit raises. It usually doesn't pay off to switch every 6 months or year (it will eventually catch up), but two-three years and the new guys are ready to trip over themselves to get you a better deal - that is unless you have a claim - then it's better to weather it out with the same company for next three years, unless they decide to kick you out (sometimes happens). So it was time.

The system is ridiculous. Classic "new customer is better than existing" mindset, present basically in all subscription-based services. I mean, I don't mind when they give a new customer a moth worth of a big discount or free trial, that's fine, but when the companies consistently value new business more than existing one by ridiculous margins, why should I stay and pay 30-50% for the privilege of receiving essentially same service? To me Allstate, Progressive, Geico, Travelers, it's all the same - people with great stories and with horrible ones, as well. There may be small differences around the edges, but not worth 50%.

abacomike

dino001 said:

My car insurance company was on a program to raise my rate by double digits every six months. Every time my agent swore "I think the rates will stabilize from now". I essentially switch my providers every 2-3 years, because their MO is always the same: lure you with additional "marketing" discount and then hit you with double digit raises. It usually doesn't pay off to switch every 6 months or year (it will eventually catch up), but two-three years and the new guys are ready to trip over themselves to get you a better deal - that is unless you have a claim - then it's better to weather it out with the same company for next three years, unless they decide to kick you out (sometimes happens). So it was time. The system is ridiculous. Classic "new customer is better than existing" mindset, present basically in all subscription-based services. I mean, I don't mind when they give a new customer a moth worth of a big discount or free trial, that's fine, but when the companies consistently value new business more than existing one by ridiculous margins, why should I stay and pay 30-50% for the privilege of receiving essentially same service? To me Allstate, Progressive, Geico, Travelers, it's all the same - people with great stories and with horrible ones, as well. There may be small differences around the edges, but not worth 50%.

That's exactly what Liberty Mutual did to me.  They signed me up at $1,090 a year.  The following year, my rates jumped to $1500 a year.  I was told it was a company wide rate increase.  The third renewal came to $2100 a year.  That's a 100% increase in just 2 years.  I immediately went to Geico where I pay about $1200 a year for even better coverage!  And Geico did not raise my rates at all - in fact they dropped a little recently.

I am up for renewal May 30th.  If Geico's rates remain fairly stable, I will stay with them.  But if they raise my rates more than 5%, I'll start looking at other companies.

Remember, I have no accidents, no claims and no tickets for almost 15 years now.  But the insurance industry, in general, plays the same games as you mentioned Dino.

roadburner

If we ever do relocate, it will almost certainly be to Seabrook Island, SC.

driver100

dino001 said:

My car insurance company was on a program to raise my rate by double digits every six months. Every time my agent swore "I think the rates will stabilize from now". I essentially switch my providers every 2-3 years,

I agree on this one. I think insurance companies know most people won't be bothered checking around, they will just pay the increased amount. Most people probably don't even remember what they paid the year before.

Best to watch carefully especially around years 3 and 4. I think it is really wise to start looking into other companies before the renewal notice arrives.

For every good customer the insurance loses they keep about 9 who won't bother comparing.

dino001

abacomike said:

That's exactly what Liberty Mutual did to me.  They signed me up at $1,090 a year.  The following year, my rates jumped to $1500 a year.  I was told it was a company wide rate increase.  The third renewal came to $2100 a year.  That's a 100% increase in just 2 years.  I immediately went to Geico where I pay about $1200 a year for even better coverage!  And Geico did not raise my rates at all - in fact they dropped a little recently.

I am up for renewal May 30th.  If Geico's rates remain fairly stable, I will stay with them.  But if they raise my rates more than 5%, I'll start looking at other companies.

Remember, I have no accidents, no claims and no tickets for almost 15 years now.  But the insurance industry, in general, plays the same games as you mentioned Dino.

My pace was less, but explanations just the same. I also have no accidents or claims in last five years, which is all they care about. Looking at my coverage, I essentially understand that anything less than $1200/yr is too good to last, but what I do not agree with is bait and switch, when you start at X and it goes up by 50-100 percent in couple of years. We all would like to get raises like that, wouldn't we? Just like you, my threshold is about 5%. I may not switch after first one, or even second, but do it to me too many times and I'm gone. Perfect switch frequency is 3-5 years, but one may need to do it after two, like if they feel like raising your rate by 100%.

Before the switches I had been with Progressive for fair number of years, but they also decided I was paying too little. They went 15%+ once, 15%+ twice, over 30% in one year. I was gone. Unfortunately, everybody else did not keep their rate since. I'm convinced now that there is a steep signup discount, paid by marketing, which goes away after first or second renewal. Sometimes it's spread over more than one renewal. As long as they play this game, so will I.

driver100

I had some thoughts about that braking using brakes or the automatic transmission (AT).

I think the idea of using brakes more may be a carry over from the old days when most cars had just 3 forward gears. Trying to slow down from 60 mph to 30 by popping the car into 2nd may have been a little difficult for those trannies to handle. Today you can gradually downshift through 6 or 7 maybe even 8 gears, not that much wear and tear.

Even a manual transmission would be similar......more gears less stress.

I have no idea if this is all true, but, that was what I (mechanically challenged person) just thought of..

From the articles I read it is two different opinions on what is best. I know downshifting shouldn't be a problem, but, I still will use brakes.... less chance of a big repair bill.

abacomike

driver100 said:

I had some thoughts about that braking using brakes or the automatic transmission (AT).

I think the idea of using brakes more may be a carry over from the old days when most cars had just 3 forward gears. Trying to slow down from 60 mph to 30 by popping the car into 2nd may have been a little difficult for those trannies to handle. Today you can gradually downshift through 6 or 7 maybe even 8 gears, not that much wear and tear.

Even a manual transmission would be similar......more gears less stress.

I have no idea if this is all true, but, that was what I (mechanically challenged person) just thought of..

From the articles I read it is two different opinions on what is best. I know downshifting shouldn't be a problem, but, I still will use brakes.... less chance of a big repair bill.

Today, I carefully observed the tachometer as I downshifted from 65 mph to 40 mph as I exited the Turnpike this morning. As I was approaching the off ramp doing 65 mph, I used my paddle shifters to downshift to 6th gear. I went from 2000 rpm to 2800 rpm. I then downshifted to 5th gear and my rpm's went from 1800 to 2000. I then downshifted again to 4th gear and my rpm's went from 1000 to 1500. By that time, I applied the brakes and pushed the button to go to auto mode from manual mode.

I really don't see how I can be causing that much wear and tear on my transmission when I am downshifting which causes rpm's to increase 500 to 800 rpm's while at the same time, the car is slowing from 65 mph to 40 mph.

Now if I was downshifting quickly and causing very high increases in rpm's, I might understand how excess wear and tear would occur on my transmission.

roadburner

You have to remember that most modern automatics rev-match on downshifts as well.

jayrider

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

I had some thoughts about that braking using brakes or the automatic transmission (AT).

I think the idea of using brakes more may be a carry over from the old days when most cars had just 3 forward gears. Trying to slow down from 60 mph to 30 by popping the car into 2nd may have been a little difficult for those trannies to handle. Today you can gradually downshift through 6 or 7 maybe even 8 gears, not that much wear and tear.

Even a manual transmission would be similar......more gears less stress.

I have no idea if this is all true, but, that was what I (mechanically challenged person) just thought of..

From the articles I read it is two different opinions on what is best. I know downshifting shouldn't be a problem, but, I still will use brakes.... less chance of a big repair bill.

Today, I carefully observed the tachometer as I downshifted from 65 mph to 40 mph as I exited the Turnpike this morning. As I was approaching the off ramp doing 65 mph, I used my paddle shifters to downshift to 6th gear. I went from 2000 rpm to 2800 rpm. I then downshifted to 5th gear and my rpm's went from 1800 to 2000. I then downshifted again to 4th gear and my rpm's went from 1000 to 1500. By that time, I applied the brakes and pushed the button to go to auto mode from manual mode.

I really don't see how I can be causing that much wear and tear on my transmission when I am downshifting which causes rpm's to increase 500 to 800 rpm's while at the same time, the car is slowing from 65 mph to 40 mph.

Now if I was downshifting quickly and causing very high increases in rpm's, I might understand how excess wear and tear would occur on my transmission.

Who cares about wearing out the transmission. It's your hands and fingers that are at risk and you can't take those to AAMCO.

explorerx4

It's just a picture taken with my cell phone of another picture, or is it?
Got 4 pictures in the mail today in an envelope from the Dealer where I recently bought my Escape, and have bought many other cars.
There was a note attached written by the guy who took them, since retired for about a decade.
He sold me the 2002 Explorer I just traded in and he took the pictures the day I test drove it
His note said I was a loyal customer and he thought I would like to have the pictures.
He mailed the envelope with the pictures and the note to the dealer and asked them to forward it to me.
Can you believe that?
Wait until my wife gets home and sees the pictures, she's probably going to cry.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

It's just a picture taken with my cell phone of another picture, or is it?
Got 4 pictures in the mail today in an envelope from the Dealer where I recently bought my Escape, and have bought many other cars.
There was a note attached written by the guy who took them, since retired for about a decade.
He sold me the 2002 Explorer I just traded in and he took the pictures the day I test drove it
His note said I was a loyal customer and he thought I would like to have the pictures.
He mailed the envelope with the pictures and the note to the dealer and asked them to forward it to me.
Can you believe that?
Wait until my wife gets home and sees the pictures, she's probably going to cry.

I'm crying too! The guy has been retired for about 10 years and he still cares enough to send you the pictures. What a great and thoughtful person......restores my faith in human beings!

cdnpinhead

explorerx4 said:

It's just a picture taken with my cell phone of another picture, or is it?

Wait until my wife gets home and sees the pictures, she's probably going to cry.

I would walk across broken glass to buy vehicles (yeah, plural) from someone like that. Sadly, here in the "sunbelt" the use-by date for a car salesperson is measured in weeks, not years, let alone decades.

abacomike

cdnpinhead said:

It's just a picture taken with my cell phone of another picture, or is it? Wait until my wife gets home and sees the pictures, she's probably going to cry.

I would walk across broken glass to buy vehicles (yeah, plural) from someone like that. Sadly, here in the "sunbelt" the use-by date for a car salesperson is measured in weeks, not years, let alone decades.

It is very sad.  Most car salesmen are like the old European Gypsies of olden times.  They move from place to place, dealership to dealership.  I think I mentioned that 3 salesmen who used to work for me at my last dealership now work at the MERCEDES Dealership I buy my cars from.  

It's a combination of management style, lower commissions and the difficulty of establishing oneself in a dealership whereby you acquire a customer base who continue to buy cars from you.  Very difficult to become a successful car salesman in today's dealerships.

And when a dealership is lucky enough to acquire a salesman who has the charisma, personality, intelligence and selling skills and product knowledge necessary to become a star performer, they don't pamper that salesman enough to give him a reason to stay.

roadburner

My salesman has been at the same BMW dealership for over 20 years. Great guy.

driver100

roadburner said:

My salesman has been at the same BMW dealership for over 20 years. Great guy.

And I know of a car salesman who sells luxury cars and he has been to prison, has amassed huge gambling debts, who gets involved in dubious financial schemes, and they keep taking him back because he is a great salesman.

Not saying they shouldn't take him back, or that I wouldn't buy from him.....just makes you wonder.

thebean

The salesman I bought my Accord from was Taiwanese.  This dealership apparently has a lot of Chinese customers so I think he is there to make them more comfortable.  He was a bit hard to understand and talked a lot on the test drive (which I don't like) and initially I was thinking of asking for another salesman.  But, he followed up very promptly to questions and was very sincere.  I became impressed with him and bought the car from him.  He has called me several times since to be sure everything was good with the car.  He may be too nice to make it in the car business but I hope he does.  Much better to deal with him than a vast majority of salespeople I have dealt with.

Michaell

The gentleman who helped us with our Subaru is British. He's been in the car business for quite a number of years and worked at a BMW dealer before moving to Subaru. He didn't like the business practices at the BMW dealer, and told me he is making more money at Subaru.

graphicguy

I gravitate towards the sales people who have been in the biz, at the same dealership, for awhile.

My Acura guy has been at the dealership for 15 years (started in 2000). He came from the hospitality industry (manager at one of the big hotels in downtown Cincinnati). His story is typical. He got tired of the hospitality industry....low pay, long hours, ungrateful customers and corporate owners, etc.

He said he knew the Principal at the Acura dealership since he rented halls for family events at his hotel many times. The Principal had told him he always had a job if he wanted one.

One day, he quit the hotel and phoned the dealer Principal (his family owns several dealerships in additio to probably one of the largest vehicle leasing companies in the country). My salesman started the next day at the Acura store. It was supposed to be temporary...a place to park until he figured out where his next career move would take him.

15 years later, he's their top sales person. I'm sure he cracks well into the six figures every year.

My BMW sales person (who is also one of the Sales Managers) has been at the dealership for at least 25 years. I bought my first BMW (325i) from him in 1987. Same deal...he took the job after being a teacher for a few years and was looking to plan his next career move. He wanted to make more money. He's done well. Says he'll retire from the BMW dealership.

My Cadillac guy is the owner's Son. He graduated from my alma mater and isn't going anywhere else. He's worked at the dealership since he was old enough to work...started at the bottom...washing cars. He's their General Sales Manager, currently. He's probably in his early 30s. He's getting ready to get married and to spend a month in Australia for his honeymoon. I'm sure he's doing quite well.

The guys that do the hard sell, the guys who don't even take the time to find out what it is I'm looking for, the guys who try to sell me something I don't want, won't get my business. Unfortunately, there are way too many dealerships who foster that kind of selling, and too many sales people who think that's the only way to succeed in car sales.

laurasdada

robr2 said:

That's right. As I often say - I can shovel snow and put on another layer. You can't stop the earth from shaking, the mountains from catching on fire and then sliding into the ocean, you can't stop the sun from making it impossible to sit in your car unless the AC has run for 20 minutes.

I've said very similar, you can always add another layer. But, you can only get so naked! New England rules.

driver100

laurasdada said:

robr2 said:

That's right. As I often say - I can shovel snow and put on another layer. You can't stop the earth from shaking, the mountains from catching on fire and then sliding into the ocean, you can't stop the sun from making it impossible to sit in your car unless the AC has run for 20 minutes.

I've said very similar, you can always add another layer. But, you can only get so naked! New England rules.

You can keep adding layers but if it's too cold you will still get frost-bite! With sunshine you can always go into the shade.

driver100

Small problem with the Passat. The low tire pressure light came on. I went to the station and filled the tires to 30 lbs. btw...haven't used an air pump in a long time...it costs $1 and if you don't have change it takes a credit card. Put in the pounds you want and it rings.

I filled all the tires up but the low pressure light is still on. The manual doesn't mention a reset, but, do you think that is what it needs?

I called the service department at 11 and left a message, then I called the service manager at 1 (now 1:30) and left a message.

Any ideas on what this could be? We head home on Friday and won't be back before the 3 year warranty is up, so it would be best to get it fixed up.

robr2

driver100 said:

laurasdada said:

robr2 said:

That's right. As I often say - I can shovel snow and put on another layer. You can't stop the earth from shaking, the mountains from catching on fire and then sliding into the ocean, you can't stop the sun from making it impossible to sit in your car unless the AC has run for 20 minutes.

I've said very similar, you can always add another layer. But, you can only get so naked! New England rules.

You can keep adding layers but if it's too cold you will still get frost-bite! With sunshine you can always go into the shade.

You put on gloves to prevent frostbite. It's still hot and/or humid in the shade - as noted, you can only get so naked.

Michaell

driver100 said:

Small problem with the Passat. The low tire pressure light came on. I went to the station and filled the tires to 30 lbs. btw...haven't used an air pump in a long time...it costs $1 and if you don't have change it takes a credit card. Put in the pounds you want and it rings. I filled all the tires up but the low pressure light is still on. The manual doesn't mention a reset, but, do you think that is what it needs? I called the service department at 11 and left a message, then I called the service manager at 1 (now 1:30) and left a message. Any ideas on what this could be? We head home on Friday and won't be back before the 3 year warranty is up, so it would be best to get it fixed up.

Have you - gasp! - checked the owners manual to see if there is a reset procedure?

generally the warning light goes out when the tires meet or exceed the minimum pressure. Could be a bad sensor. 

Many tire stores will check your air pressure for free. 

driver100

Michaell said:

driver100 said:

Small problem with the Passat. The low tire pressure light came on. I went to the station and filled the tires to 30 lbs. btw...haven't used an air pump in a long time...it costs $1 and if you don't have change it takes a credit card. Put in the pounds you want and it rings.

I filled all the tires up but the low pressure light is still on. The manual doesn't mention a reset, but, do you think that is what it needs?

I called the service department at 11 and left a message, then I called the service manager at 1 (now 1:30) and left a message.

Any ideas on what this could be? We head home on Friday and won't be back before the 3 year warranty is up, so it would be best to get it fixed up.

Have you - gasp! - checked the owners manual to see if there is a reset procedure?

generally the warning light goes out when the tires meet or exceed the minimum pressure. Could be a bad sensor. 

Many tire stores will check your air pressure for free. 

Thanks for getting back...all good advice.

I just got a call from a very nice service person (the 11 o'clock message I left) and she said there is a reset button in the glove compartment. She held on to the line until I went out, started the car, held the reset button for a few seconds,.....warning light went off.

I wrote this in the manual as I tried to find it but couldn't locate that information. I think some cars got this method and others have some other location for the reset button. I say that because the service person mentioned I should look for the button in the glove compartment first - to see if that's where it was.

The dealer is about 50 minutes away so I didn't want to drive there. My next plan would be to go to a tire place as you suggested. It's about 20 minutes away. I might have sent my wife to do that....they seem to be more helpful if she goes in..........

driver100

robr2 said:

driver100 said:

laurasdada said:

robr2 said:

That's right. As I often say - I can shovel snow and put on another layer. You can't stop the earth from shaking, the mountains from catching on fire and then sliding into the ocean, you can't stop the sun from making it impossible to sit in your car unless the AC has run for 20 minutes.

I've said very similar, you can always add another layer. But, you can only get so naked! New England rules.

You can keep adding layers but if it's too cold you will still get frost-bite! With sunshine you can always go into the shade.

You put on gloves to prevent frostbite. It's still hot and/or humid in the shade - as noted, you can only get so naked.

Sometimes it is sooooooooooooo cold gloves won't prevent frostbite. We have friends who went to Antartica and they had to buy Canada Goose jackets and special gloves for -40 degree weather, otherwise you can't go too far wandering around. The jackets cost over $600 and you need special gloves. I have no idea why someone would want to go there....but, they like going to places that are unique. Not for me. Anyhow, the thing is.......you can't always layer for the cold, you can tell yourself that if it makes you feel better though................

Michaell

driver100 said:

Michaell said:

driver100 said:

Small problem with the Passat. The low tire pressure light came on. I went to the station and filled the tires to 30 lbs. btw...haven't used an air pump in a long time...it costs $1 and if you don't have change it takes a credit card. Put in the pounds you want and it rings.

I filled all the tires up but the low pressure light is still on. The manual doesn't mention a reset, but, do you think that is what it needs?

I called the service department at 11 and left a message, then I called the service manager at 1 (now 1:30) and left a message.

Any ideas on what this could be? We head home on Friday and won't be back before the 3 year warranty is up, so it would be best to get it fixed up.

Have you - gasp! - checked the owners manual to see if there is a reset procedure?

generally the warning light goes out when the tires meet or exceed the minimum pressure. Could be a bad sensor. 

Many tire stores will check your air pressure for free. 

Thanks for getting back...all good advice.

I just got a call from a very nice service person (the 11 o'clock message I left) and she said there is a reset button in the glove compartment. She held on to the line until I went out, started the car, held the reset button for a few seconds,.....warning light went off.

I wrote this in the manual as I tried to find it but couldn't locate that information. I think some cars got this method and others have some other location for the reset button. I say that because the service person mentioned I should look for the button in the glove compartment first - to see if that's where it was.

The dealer is about 50 minutes away so I didn't want to drive there. My next plan would be to go to a tire place as you suggested. It's about 20 minutes away. I might have sent my wife to do that....they seem to be more helpful if she goes in..........


,
Glad to hear it all worked out ... my daughter's MINI doesn't have a reset button, per se, but you have to start the car up and drive it for a few minutes before the TPMS warning light goes out.

I bought a portable air pressure pump that has a preset gauge on it ... I set it to the PSI I want, turn it on, and it shuts off automatically. Saves me the hassle of finding a pump at a gas station.

robr2

driver100 said:

robr2 said:

driver100 said:

laurasdada said:

robr2 said:

That's right. As I often say - I can shovel snow and put on another layer. You can't stop the earth from shaking, the mountains from catching on fire and then sliding into the ocean, you can't stop the sun from making it impossible to sit in your car unless the AC has run for 20 minutes.

I've said very similar, you can always add another layer. But, you can only get so naked! New England rules.

You can keep adding layers but if it's too cold you will still get frost-bite! With sunshine you can always go into the shade.

You put on gloves to prevent frostbite. It's still hot and/or humid in the shade - as noted, you can only get so naked.

Sometimes it is sooooooooooooo cold gloves won't prevent frostbite. We have friends who went to Antartica and they had to buy Canada Goose jackets and special gloves for -40 degree weather, otherwise you can't go too far wandering around. The jackets cost over $600 and you need special gloves. I have no idea why someone would want to go there....but, they like going to places that are unique. Not for me. Anyhow, the thing is.......you can't always layer for the cold, you can tell yourself that if it makes you feel better though................

Well Antarctica is a bit of an extreme example dontcha think?? I'll counter with having to live in a warm, sunny place like Al Aziziyah, Libya. It gets to 125 F there regularly.

If I find myself living in Antarctica, I will make sure to spend time inside.

Where people really live, it's quite possible to do things outside without dying from the cold.

stickguy

I love my home plug in inflator. Not super fast, but gets job done. For free!

stever

Connecticut requires their gas stations to provide free air. Free in California but only for paying customers For the rest of us, there's (naturally) a link.

roadburner

I had some time to kill this morning, so I decided to check out the availability of the Golf R. The VW dealer up the road from my BMW dealer has a salesman who used to work at the BMW dealer, so I stopped by to ask him about it.

Walked into the showroom and after a couple of minutes a young guy asked if he could help me. So I asked him if my salesman was in(he wasn't). So I went ahead and asked when the Golf R manual would become available. All of a sudden an older guy sitting at a desk next to me barks out, ""Golf R? They all are ordered; we have two coming in and took deposits for them. The manual won't be available until the 2016 cars come out." Then he went back to whatever he was doing.

That's certainly a great way to encourage a potential buyer; first off, I won't buy a car I haven't had the opportunity to test drive, and second, that arrogant attitude just pi$$es me off. The Golf R is a nice car but I'm not going to put up with jerks like that. I don't want a high-pressure sales pitch, but offering some literature or similar would have been preferable to Mr. [non-permissible content removed]'s inventory pronouncement from On High...

imidazol97

stickguy said:

I love my home plug in inflator. Not super fast, but gets job done. For free!

Bought a metal housing pump at Harbor Freight for about $20 after 20% off coupon after watching
for a sale on that item. Works great from the car's 12 v outlet.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12V-100-PSI-High-Volume-Air-Compressor-69284.html

[Deleted User]

Michaell said:

Glad to hear it all worked out ... my daughter's MINI doesn't have a reset button, per se, but you have to start the car up and drive it for a few minutes before the TPMS warning light goes out.

Same with Subaru; just drive it around a few minutes and the system detects the new air pressure and adjusts the warning accordingly. Pretty simple. Speaking of which, how's your 3.6 gem working out?

For vehicle tire air we use a compressor/tank combo I have in my garage for household use. Bikes are a different story. Those are filled up using a hand pump, and the road bike tires require topping off almost daily at 120 lbs.

[Deleted User]

roadburner said:

I had some time to kill this morning, so I decided to check out the availability of the Golf R.

The VW GTI has caught my attention. I've enjoyed the Golf platform in the past and I understand the new GTI is terrific update using an excellent Audi motor/transmission. Unfortunately VW seems intent on packaging vehicles in ways I don't want. If I did ever spring for one it would be with compromises, either living with "upgrades" I don't want or skipping on niceties I'd rather have.

stickguy

Feel bad for my neighbor. A couple months back he treated himself (combo 60 BD and retirement present) with a beautiful, loaded up 328. Keeps it covered, even in the garage.

But today, the safe lite guy was there putting in a new windshield. Harsh.

boomchek

roadburner said:

I had some time to kill this morning, so I decided to check out the availability of the Golf R. The VW dealer up the road from my BMW dealer has a salesman who used to work at the BMW dealer, so I stopped by to ask him about it.

Walked into the showroom and after a couple of minutes a young guy asked if he could help me. So I asked him if my salesman was in(he wasn't). So I went ahead and asked when the Golf R manual would become available. All of a sudden an older guy sitting at a desk next to me barks out, ""Golf R? They all are ordered; we have two coming in and took deposits for them. The manual won't be available until the 2016 cars come out." Then he went back to whatever he was doing.

That's certainly a great way to encourage a potential buyer; first off, I won't buy a car I haven't had the opportunity to test drive, and second, that arrogant attitude just pi$$es me off. The Golf R is a nice car but I'm not going to put up with jerks like that. I don't want a high-pressure sales pitch, but offering some literature or similar would have been preferable to Mr. [non-permissible content removed]'s inventory pronouncement from On High...

If it's a specialty vehicle with tight availability and deposits from potential buyers, you might have to wait a bit just to get a test drive. Most dealers will only get a handful of cars like that if they're lucky, and I'm sure the people who have deposits on them don't want anyone else driving them. Not to try and defend the arrogant sales person but with cars like that a dealer will have people coming in daily just wanting a joy drive with little or no intent to buy.

fezo

I thought the same thing about the GTI. Not the only car that catches my eye but wants me to add a bunch of stuff I don't want to get what I do want.