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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

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  • 28firefighter28firefighter Member Posts: 9,846
    For sure - I don't think the target audience for that car would have picked a manual. If they did, I do not think it would have been as optioned up.
    2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xE
  • breldbreld Member Posts: 6,934
    rayainsw said:

    --- PUNCH ---
    New [ 2016 'leftover ' ] BMW 340i.
    Medium [ Mediterranean ] blue over saddle leather.
    Details soon.
    - Ray
    Anyone here want to buy a 2015 Charger R/T ?
    [ just kidding ]

    Congrats! Look forward to more details and impressions.

    2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 266,810

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  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,323
    I really like that 645. I wonder how much the manual trans hurts resale on one of those?

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,357
    rayainsw said:

    --- PUNCH ---
    New [ 2016 'leftover ' ] BMW 340i.
    Medium [ Mediterranean ] blue over saddle leather.
    Details soon.
    - Ray
    Anyone here want to buy a 2015 Charger R/T ?
    [ just kidding ]

    Congrats!!!

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,937

    I don't think I could sell a car line I didn't like, myself, but I know that's not how sales works.

    That's what the Sales Manager "RA RA RA" sales meetings are for, to raise the morale of the sales troop into really believing they are selling God's gifts to mankind and doing a "SERVICE" for the buyer.

    I'm in the I don't need to be sold camp, but apparently a majority of the population isn't like me.
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,130
    Ray....that's a really nice car. I like it, a lot. Any details on the deal? Give me some hope in my shopping. Congrats!
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,937
    Michaell said:

    I have two problems with CarMax...

    (1) Their cars are priced at the high end or above dealer retail

    (2) I've seen some real horror stories about the mechanical condition of their cars

    I actually like the Tesla model quite a bit; of course I do not want a Tesla nor could I afford one, but I think they have the right approach on experience.

    I'll agree with you on both those points.

    My sister is still fighting with CarMax in San Diego about her oldest son's GTI. Needed several thousand in repairs. All she wants to do is trade it in for something more reliable (hey, sort of like @graphicguy!)
    That's what has always made me fearful of used cars. You just can never know exactly what you are buying into! Until they make black-box recorders that have infinite memory to show you everything since the beginning of the car's inception, it is just very hard for me to trust a used car. I know a lot of people don't deliberately abuse their cars, but most of the population does not consist of chronic car buyers either, so there could be a more sinister reason that used car is available in the first place.
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,937
    kyfdx said:
    I really like that blue color, and should be a great car! How does it compare with the HEMI?
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • tifightertifighter Member Posts: 3,792
    ab348 said:

    I really like that 645. I wonder how much the manual trans hurts resale on one of those?

    It is the classic dealer bit: "it's not worth anything for trade in with a manual, then it's worth extra at sale because the manual is so rare."

    I'm meh on the black, but I do like the red interior.

    25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0

  • rayainswrayainsw Member Posts: 3,192
    A slightly better pic - all I have time for right now...
    [ Work intrudes. ]

    http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rayainsw/media/2016 BMW 340i/2016 340i at the park_zps6wkpuwk0.jpg.html
    2022 X3 M40i
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    tifighter said:

    You have to think this car was a special order, right?

    you gotta love sales pitches---the ad says that the dealer has deduced from the CARFAX: "from service records it appears that this was a summer only fair weather car."

    Which makes one wonder why there are service visits in March and November in Illinois?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,465
    I could see it cruising around Bellevue...darting in and out of traffic, nary a turn signal to be seen B)
    tifighter said:

    You have to think this car was a special order, right?

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,458
    man, that 340 is a sharp looking car.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,323
    fintail said:

    I could see it cruising around Bellevue...darting in and out of traffic, nary a turn signal to be seen B)

    One hand steers, the other one stirs the gears. No turn signals on manuals!! ;)

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • rayainswrayainsw Member Posts: 3,192
    edited February 2017
    The car - 2016 BMW 340i - new
    Mediterranean blue [ almost identical to the LeMans blue on my 2011 335iS ]
    Options:
    Saddle leather
    Driver assist [ rear view camera and park distance control ]
    Lighting package
    Heated front seats
    Side and top view cameras
    Navigation system [ includes Instrument Cluster w/Extended Contents ]
    Floor liners – black
    Destination
    TOTAL MSRP: $53,995
    Also included \ standard items that matter – to me:
    8-speed ZF automatic \ Steptronic,
    18” wheels & tires – not 19s
    Glass Moonroof,
    XM Satellite radio,
    Harmon-Kardon sound system,
    Sport seats with 4-way lumbar adjust,
    Comfort Access,
    Hands-free Bluetooth,
    Real Time Traffic Information display
    = = =
    Initial impressions [ trying to restrain myself - a bit ] are that
    this is noticeably quicker than the Charger - and the lighter weight
    is quite obvious in both acceleration & handling.
    I am quite impressed - and pleased.
    - Ray
    Not easily impressed, these days . . .
    2022 X3 M40i
  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 11,323
    Nice! Congrats. How many miles on it?
  • rayainswrayainsw Member Posts: 3,192
    Less than 100 miles.
    And I put over 20 on it in test drives...
    2022 X3 M40i
  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 11,323
    Ah, didn't catch that it was new, thought it might have been a demo.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,465
    Seems like blue on brown is suddenly a popular combination.
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    I no guys not an good looking van what they said in the show yesterday not me lol lol. hope you all like todays show.
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    I no guys not an good looking van what they said in the show yesterday not me lol lol. hope you all like todays show.
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @28firefighter would love to have my one lot to or sell cars have bin trying to get in the feald now for years if they could find an way around not having an lisance will be all set no would be able to sell cars very whell. demoing the new teck no no will not be able to do that.
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @rayainsw congrads on the new car cant wate to hear all about it.
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @28firefighter glad you wher able to find sumone to take over the remanying lees on the ascape
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @Michaell Man whow your sister is still fighting with them. THaught was over and done with munths ago.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,749
    ab348 said:

    I really like that 645. I wonder how much the manual trans hurts resale on one of those?

    I'm of no help here. The only manual trans one I see had 105k miles, and no automatics had similar miles to that. I will say the price is pretty nuts. Nicest one with highest price had 77k miles, an auto trans, and sold for $10k on the nose. For the low miles, MAYBE that one hits $12k, if that, if all planets align, and if it had an auto trans. Soooo... maybe $11k? I wouldn't pay more than $13.5k retail even if I really really really wanted it and didn't mind being buried in it.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @rayainsw glad you love the car grate first inpreshians. going to convince mom to look at an b m w or outy maby benze to she does say mersadies are for old peapol don't no y she does say that lol lol.
  • tbirdmarcotbirdmarco Member Posts: 3,838
    @graphicguy on other news how is the mustang doing. do you get to drive it a lot?
  • carnaughtcarnaught Member Posts: 3,582
    rayainsw said:

    A slightly better pic - all I have time for right now...
    [ Work intrudes. ]

    http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rayainsw/media/2016 BMW 340i/2016 340i at the park_zps6wkpuwk0.jpg.html

    Wow, beautiful! You should really enjoy it!
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    edited February 2017
    Which brands and models have the largest inventory at dealerships
    (time to get a good deal?)

    Buick Lacrosse 330 (days)
    Buick Cascada 298
    Chevrolet Corvette 267
    Volkswagen CC 259
    Chevrolet Camaro 236
    Buick Verano 234
    Mitsubishi Mirage 231
    Acura ILX 227
    Chrysler 200 225
    Buick Regal 222

  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,323
    Buick is really a mystery to me. The Lacrosse is a nice enough car but is massive, overpriced, and is saddled with auto stop/start and a goofy electronic shifter that I'm pretty sure traditional Buick buyers wouldn't like. The Regal is a nice car but also overpriced and gets zero marketing. Verano is already discontinued but also gets zero marketing. I looked at an Envision and liked it but it's also overpriced. I really don't know what GM is going to do in N.A. With the brand.

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • MichaellMichaell Moderator Posts: 263,134

    @Michaell Man whow your sister is still fighting with them. THaught was over and done with munths ago.

    Sadly, no. He's had the car over a year now and it's still not running right. There are $1000's in work to be done - some necessary, some not. @andres3 recommended a VW/Audi indy shop and my sister got the car in for a look see. They found a lot of the same things the VW dealer did.

    She's disappointed with CarMax, but is willing to work with them to trade out the car for something else.

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    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,749
    Which brands and models have the largest inventory at dealerships (time to get a good deal?) Buick Lacrosse 330 (days) Buick Cascada 298 Chevrolet Corvette 267 Volkswagen CC 259 Chevrolet Camaro 236 Buick Verano 234 Mitsubishi Mirage 231 Acura ILX 227 Chrysler 200 225 Buick Regal 222
    Has the Cascada even been out that long??

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 11,323
    edited February 2017
    Michaell said:

    @Michaell Man whow your sister is still fighting with them. THaught was over and done with munths ago.

    Sadly, no. He's had the car over a year now and it's still not running right. There are $1000's in work to be done - some necessary, some not. @andres3 recommended a VW/Audi indy shop and my sister got the car in for a look see. They found a lot of the same things the VW dealer did.

    She's disappointed with CarMax, but is willing to work with them to trade out the car for something else.
    Are they playing ball, or just offering the same trade-in value they would offer anyone else? I've heard their inspections aren't as thorough as they imply. The rear brake pads on my Murano looked a little thin when I bought it (not worn out, but probably wouldn't pass a CPO inspection), but it did have new tires and the oil had recently been changed. I'm sure they miss a lot of brand-specific issues, and VW has a lot of those.
    qbrozen said:


    Has the Cascada even been out that long??

    First model was a 2016. But it's in an odd market position (kind of like the old Sebring convertible), plus it's a convertible in the dead of winter.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,749
    edited February 2017
    Apparently it went on sale about Jan-Feb 2016 (great time to intro a vert).

    looking back at your post, though, Shifty, I'm confused. Is that total number of cars or average days sitting on lot? You wrote "largest inventory" but then put "(days)"

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,618
    edited February 2017
    rayainsw said:

    Initial impressions [ trying to restrain myself - a bit ] are that
    this is noticeably quicker than the Charger - and the lighter weight is quite obvious in both acceleration & handling.
    I am quite impressed - and pleased.
    - Ray
    Not easily impressed, these days . . .

    Very nice, Ray. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

    Who knew you and I would get new vehicles within a two week window. This must be about your eighth since we both had our LSs. My wife and I have gone through half that many in those 17 years, but I'm guessing you've had more fun. Well done!

    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,937
    Michaell said:

    @Michaell Man whow your sister is still fighting with them. THaught was over and done with munths ago.

    Sadly, no. He's had the car over a year now and it's still not running right. There are $1000's in work to be done - some necessary, some not. @andres3 recommended a VW/Audi indy shop and my sister got the car in for a look see. They found a lot of the same things the VW dealer did.

    She's disappointed with CarMax, but is willing to work with them to trade out the car for something else.
    Wow, well, at least you know with the INDY shop she'd get the right work done completely and correctly, but I guess it was too big of a bullet for her to bite.

    I'd be annoyed too if I was sold a car with thousands in problems immediately after being sold.
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,937
    edited February 2017

    Which brands and models have the largest inventory at dealerships
    (time to get a good deal?)

    Buick Lacrosse 330 (days)
    Buick Cascada 298
    Chevrolet Corvette 267
    Volkswagen CC 259
    Chevrolet Camaro 236
    Buick Verano 234
    Mitsubishi Mirage 231
    Acura ILX 227
    Chrysler 200 225
    Buick Regal 222

    Pretty sad Buick has 4 cars on this top 10 list.

    Has their customer base died off from old age?
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • MichaellMichaell Moderator Posts: 263,134
    andres3 said:

    Michaell said:

    @Michaell Man whow your sister is still fighting with them. THaught was over and done with munths ago.

    Sadly, no. He's had the car over a year now and it's still not running right. There are $1000's in work to be done - some necessary, some not. @andres3 recommended a VW/Audi indy shop and my sister got the car in for a look see. They found a lot of the same things the VW dealer did.

    She's disappointed with CarMax, but is willing to work with them to trade out the car for something else.
    Wow, well, at least you know with the INDY shop she'd get the right work done completely and correctly, but I guess it was too big of a bullet for her to bite.

    I'd be annoyed too if I was sold a car with thousands in problems immediately after being sold.
    Yeah. She liked the shop well enough, but there is something like $2600 of immediate needs, and about the same or more in "nice to have" maintenance and repairs.

    The indy shop did say that there was one repair that could only be done at the dealer.

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    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    edited February 2017
    qbrozen said:

    Apparently it went on sale about Jan-Feb 2016 (great time to intro a vert).

    looking back at your post, though, Shifty, I'm confused. Is that total number of cars or average days sitting on lot? You wrote "largest inventory" but then put "(days)"

    Oh sorry, yeah, that was confusing. As far as I know, it means the top 10 cars with the biggest dealer stockpiles, measured by the number of days the inventory could meet demand at the current sales rate.

    So that is a number to take with a few grains of salt. You wouldn't expect, for instance, a Corvette's sales to project very well right now "at the current sales rate". Also to have a 225 day surplus on a Chrysler 200 might only take 2 or 3 cars---LOL!

    But I can understand why some of these cars are epoxied to the showroom floor.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,749
    Ah, days worth of inventory. Ok, that makes sense. Having nearly a year's worth of cars is brutal.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,522
    @rayainsw - congrats!  You never dissapoint!  That Mediterranean Blue is GORGEOUS!  Enjoy!

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • suydamsuydam Member Posts: 5,076
    andres3 said:

    Which brands and models have the largest inventory at dealerships
    (time to get a good deal?)

    Buick Lacrosse 330 (days)
    Buick Cascada 298
    Chevrolet Corvette 267
    Volkswagen CC 259
    Chevrolet Camaro 236
    Buick Verano 234
    Mitsubishi Mirage 231
    Acura ILX 227
    Chrysler 200 225
    Buick Regal 222

    Pretty sad Buick has 4 cars on this top 10 list.

    Has their customer base died off from old age?
    I think that already happened. Buick's customer base is now slightly older than average, which makes sense as they are pricier than their Chevy cousins. That said, I don't know why they mark them up so high as to discourage people from looking, and then drop the price by thousands once people are actually in the showroom.
    '24 Kia Sportage PHEV
    '24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,905
    Maybe because I am a GM buyer, but I've never paid sticker price for a single car I've purchased in 36 years. It's funny to me that people would think the sticker is the price you'll pay.

    The LaCrosse being just out makes one wonder (1) if they "built out" the old model and (2) potential buyers have been waiting for the new car.

    All that said, I could see Buick going away sometime. Mostly could be covered between Chevy and Cadillac.

    Whenever I see a Buick-GMC dealer, I think, "I wouldn't want to be them". Lincoln-only is probably the only worse dealer situation to be in IMHO.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,749
    I paid sticker on one new car: Honda Fit. It was the new model and they were selling before even arriving at dealerships. Plus, markup on those is so miniscule anyway.

    I have paid asking price on a couple of used cars when the asking price is already a really great bargain. Let's see... The LR2, 350Z, and EX35 ...just off the top of my head.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 266,810
    I paid $650 under the asking price on the A3 TDI, last summer. They had just cut the asking price on-line. I would have paid the asking price, but they didn't know that. They only knew that they had that dog on the lot for four months, and I was the only one looking at it.

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  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    edited February 2017

    I think I'd have the same problem as you @fintail. I'd want to price everything super aggressively, and if they want to buy great and if not - see ya later. I don't think I have it in me to "beg" someone to buy.

    Come to think of it, this is probably why I don't do sales in my current role but somehow have developed and closed my own business anyway out of existing client referrals.

    If you guys think "begging" is a successful sales technique, you are correct in that you would make very poor salespeople. ;)

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,749
    Oh yeah, the Jetta TDI was asking price, too.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

This discussion has been closed.