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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,719
    i guess Crosby can just mail in for the Prime Minister position.
    he can take care of that job on non game days.
    one of my daughters wants to marry him, but the competition just got a lot tougher, although it was already off the chart. :D
    he will probably buy his home town a new fire engine or some ambulances.
    that's the kind of guy he seems to be.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    edited March 2010
    I guess you and verdugo don't think real men need Raptors?

    Actually real men want this truck: :shades:

    image

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    My problem, I had a college girlfriend who had a VW 'Bug'. It caught fire while we were in it.

    I used to date this French lady that owned an older bug. When we drove it during the winter I was wishing for it to catch fire.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    whatever we might pick, we are not calling it 'Henry Hudson'.

    How about Vasco Da Gama?
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    May of our athletes are very generous. They're not rich, yet a couple of them donated their $25k gold medal bonuses to sporting organizations and charities.

    It seemed like during the past 2 weeks we slowed down in sales because everyone was focused on the games. Hopefully march will pick up!! I'm curious to see if the 1000 or so GM vehicles they used to transport athletes and officials will be sold at auction or preferemce given to local GM dealers. Most were white colored Chevies like trucks, Traverses, and Malibus.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,719
    you guys aren't going to have a gold medal celebration sale?
    we aren't going to make you go into overtime to score a great new vehicle. :)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,617
    edited March 2010
    Most were white colored Chevies like trucks, Traverses, and Malibus.

    What's a Traverse? Is it only available in Canada?

    I remember Fargo trucks from when I lived up north -- they were Dodges south of the border. You may not be old enough to remember that.

    Either way, it's interesting to note the differences between what's marketed in Canada vs. the U.S.

    OTOH, the U.S. may have had the Traverse available for, lo, these many years; I don't pay a lot of attention to GM, other than renting Malibus & Impalas from National.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    . Most were white colored Chevies like trucks, Traverses, and Malibus.

    Those talking car commercials GM was running were pretty lame. Actually embarassing. I don't see how any one watching those would get the urge to buy one.
    Guess their advertising budget really got hit.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    What is a Traverse?

    Kind of a big SUV that Chevy makes. It must be similar to a Buick Enclave, looks about the same size. I am pretty sure it is available in the U.S.

    image

    Once we had a 1960 Meteor which was available in Canada, but not in the U.S. Ford just slapped on a different grill, tailights and side trim. People in the U.S. all gathered around and thought we had a customized car.

    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    The Canadian cars could be very strange. I always wondered why they had to make them different.

    Some Pontiacs had Chevy engines and suspension which made finding the right parts difficult when these cars ended up in the U.S.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,671
    > I'm curious to see if the 1000 or so GM vehicles they used to transport athletes and officials will be sold at auction or preferemce given to local GM dealers. Most were white colored Chevies like trucks, Traverses, and Malibus.

    I hadn't heard that fact that GM vehicles were used.

    In this area when special events were held GM provided courtesy vehicles. Some ended up at some local dealers.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • oldcemoldcem Member Posts: 309
    That's what I did back in 2003 - and - then I bought my first Jag. She was a little X-Type 2.5. Now I'm on my third one.

    Regards:
    OldCEM
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Verdugo, does the current Passat have a Homelink system in it? From what I can tell by the VW site, it does not, but wondered if they had something similar called by a different name. Just wondered if that was one of the things that Passat no longer has (if it ever did).

    They used to. My 07 has it. The Passats no longer have it, but the CC and the Touareg do. I think those are the only two models that do.
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    And didn't they make Mercury trucks in Canada instead of Ford? It seems to me that I remember seeing that name on tailgates when I was visiting as a kid.... maybe in the late 60's.

    I remember it was odd looking because they used huge letters to spell out Ford on the tailgates. Seeing Mercury was just strange.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    Some Pontiacs had Chevy engines and suspension which made finding the right parts difficult

    You are very observant isell. For many years the early wide track Pontiacs weren't wide tracks in Canada. They were Pontiac bodies put on Chev chasis and the wheels didn't come out to the edges....looked a little weird.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    And didn't they make Mercury trucks in Canada instead of Ford?

    You have a good memory tallman;

    Right after World War II, when Ford of Canada setup the Ford/Monarch and Mercury/Lincoln dealership networks, a new truck line was established. All Mercury dealers had Mercury trucks to sell.

    After the wartime shortage of chrome, and the painted grilles on the Ford trucks, the new Mercury trucks were spectacular. Their grilles had six broad horizontal chrome bars, a large chrome cap at the tops of the grille, a broad chrome enhancement along the middle of the hood, and chrome headlight and parking light rims.

    Mercury Trucks

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    Another interesting Ford that was available in Canada was the Monarch. If interested see;
    Monarch

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    Where will it all end? Is no car safe to drive?

    Proof that there are other automakers also under the scrutiny of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration: The Chevrolet Cobalt is under federal investigation for steering-related safety issues. To date, the NHTSA has reported 1,132 consumer complaints about a sudden loss of power steering in 2005-09 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2008-09 Chevrolet Cobalt SS models. While a loss of steering assist should not immediately lead to a crash, consumers have reported "difficulty controlling the vehicle, such as departing from the desired travel lane."

    The NHTSA has recorded 11 crashes and one injury attributed to the power steering failure, with potentially 905,000 vehicles affected by the investigation. There have been no deaths reported. "We are cooperating with the agency in the investigation," said GM. The automaker will replace the Cobalt with the Chevrolet Cruze for the 2011 model year.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    driver....not sure when Chevy changed the name from the Cavalier to the Cobalt, but I don't see much of a difference (aside from the name change). Have rented a couple of them (reluctantly).

    Not General Motor's best effort, to say the least. I know GM probably wrote off all the tooling a long time ago, and probably got to the point they made some money on those cars by doing so. But, that's a design that should have been retired years ago.

    They can't roll out the Cruze soon enough. BTW, I read somewhere that the Volt will not make it's debut late this year afterall. It's going to be delayed until 2011.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • dougb10dougb10 Member Posts: 185
    Steve....my car at Western in the late 50's was a '54 Monarch Sun Valley. It was so cool....with duals and a great sound. If you couldn't get lucky in that car....well....

    Only good things happen to those who live in Burlington!

    Doug
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    edited March 2010
    my car at Western in the late 50's was a '54 Monarch Sun Valley.

    Doug, That was a very nive car to be driving in the late 50s. Glad you got lucky in your car. I bought a 59 Sprite, drove it over to my girlfriends, parked it and didn't tell her it was mine. When we walked out I said, look at that Sprite, that's exactly the car I am looking for. She said, well, this one looks pretty banged up and rusty :sick:

    One thing more about your Monarch:

    Monarch was so popular with Canadians that in 1953 it outsold Mercury. It also lead Mercury in 1951 and 1954 through 1956.

    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    edited March 2010
    BTW, I read somewhere that the Volt will not make it's debut late this year afterall. It's going to be delayed until 2011.

    That surprises me. Not.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    not sure when Chevy changed the name from the Cavalier to the Cobalt, but I don't see much of a difference

    Maybe this says it all....a review of the Cobalt from Edmunds;

    Aside from the hot-to-trot SS model, the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt is far behind the class leaders in terms of handling, seat comfort, build quality and overall refinement. Even General Motors itself offers a better choice.
    Pros
    Respectable acceleration, smooth ride, excellent performance in SS trim.

    Cons
    Bargain-bin interior materials, cramped backseat, deficient interior storage, dull handling (except for the SS), mediocre fit and finish.

    And, from Wikapedia;
    The Chevrolet Cobalt is a compact car introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. The Cobalt replaced both the Cavalier and the Prizm as Chevrolet's compact car.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    Joel said that he will be back online shortly. The story is that the dealership is restricting internet activity because of a few associates who have chosen to entertain themselves online during work hours. People goofing off at work online? Who would have thought that was possible. Especially in a car dealership. :P
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    edited March 2010
    You have a good memory tallman;

    Well, my memory doesn't extend to the 40s... I'm not THAT old. Here is a link with some pics. The late 60s version is what I remember seeing. There were so many Fords on the roads in the US, it was strange to see them rebranded.

    Mercury Trucks Pics

    Edit: Here's a better link with pics of the tailgate (toward the bottom) that made an impression on me.

    More Merc Pics
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Tallman,

    If yo go to the Triple X in Issaquah on summer nights during the summer you may see an oddball Canadian Mercury convertable that a guy I know owns.

    It's a 1953 Ford/Mercury from Canada. It has a 1954 Mercury dashboard but it's a flathead V-8. Very unique but it doesn't do anything for me. I'll take the U.S. version!
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    In the movie, "An Incomplete Life", Robert Redford drove a Merc pickup. It's a good movie, worth seeing, with Morgan Freeman and J-Lo.
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    I've heard that the Triple X is the place to check out old cars in the summer. Never made it up there though.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Every Saturday night in the summer, the place is filled with old cars and the sme applies on Sunday mornings. Should be starting up soon!

    Since we live in Issaquah, it works for me!
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    In the movie, "An Incomplete Life", Robert Redford drove a Merc pickup.

    You might be interested in this bit of information:
    Redford, currently directing and starring in The Horse Whisperer, was filming on location in Livingston, Mont., when he spotted — and fell in love with — a beat-up blue '77 Ford pickup. A crew member was dispatched to make the truck's owners what was apparently a decent proposal: Locals Debbie and Scott Nelson relinquished the vehicle, even though it was a wedding present they had bought themselves 20 years ago. ''It's got quite a history,'' says Debbie, who won't reveal the sale price, except to say that it was slightly less than the $7,000 the couple paid for it. ''It was tough to sell.'' Redford, insisting on using the truck in the film, gave the vehicle a $5,000-plus Hollywood makeover, including new tires and a coat of cherry red paint that was promptly treated to give it a weathered look. Not unlike the director himself.

    It sounds like a good movie, I am putting it on my "to watch" list.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • tifightertifighter Member Posts: 3,783
    I've checked out a few triple x meets over there in Issaquah. The saturday meets are crazy, but sometimes you'll see an informal meet on a weeknight with cool stuff too...

    25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    Vehicles sales soared more than 50 per cent last month for Ford Motor Co. of Canada Ltd., from year-earlier levels, vaulting the auto maker into first place in February and for the year to date in Canada.

    That performance puts Ford ahead of perennial market leader General Motors of Canada Ltd., which has been knocked out of first place during some individual months in the past two years, but has always led the annual rankings.

    Ford said it sold 17,920 vehicles in February, a 51 per cent surge from 11,869 a year earlier. GM Canada sold 13,898 vehicles last month, up 21 per cent from 11,529 in February, 2009.

    Toyota Canada Inc. sold 12,693 vehicles, up from 10,136 in February, 2009, a 25 per cent jump.

    Ford Motor Co. (F-N12.440.030.26%) surpassed GM in the U.S. market also and jumped into first place for the first time in more than a decade, when sales from the Volvo brand it is selling are included in Ford's U.S. totals.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    We have banners with gold medals on them. ;)

    Every business here was taking advantage of olympic themed sales, but of course not all ended up being succesful.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Congrats Joel!
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    Congrats Joel!

    Yes, unfortunately he isn't around to enjoy it!

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    We have banners with gold medals on them.

    McDonalds has free coffee for 2 weeks any time of the day to celebrate the Olympics.

    Come on boom, at least you guys can offer hot dogs and beer or something :P

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Yeah! How about a free Chrysler?
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,320
    Well, it seems that our German Shepherd won't be with us too much longer. We thought she had a benign tumor but it turns out that she has cancer- "from one end to the other" according to the specialist. Her prognosis one to two months. I hope she dies peacefully in her sleep. I'll do it if I have to, but I dread taking her to be put down.

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

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Sorry to hear that, rb.

    I'm dealing with the same issue with our black lab mutt. He's just old and arthritic.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,320
    This dog is my fifth GSD and she's only 8. They usually make it to 10-12. Tough either way. Sorry to hear about your Lab; my co-worker has one that she brings to the office every day- they are sweet dogs.

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

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    8! That is tough. A friend of mine lost her Jack Russel Terrier at that age to the same thing as your GSD.

    Our lab (who has just enough chow in him to make him a mutt) is 14. He's been a great dog. The single best kids dog I've ever seen.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Sorry to hear that. My sympathies to you.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Haha, yeah free Chrysler. Wouldn't that be something?

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    OK, how about a $15,000 rebate? :D
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,719
    i think i need a land based explorer, like mine. :)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,586
    RB and Fezo I am sorry to hear about your dogs health problems. They are really members of the family and we feel the way we would if a family member was sick or dies.

    We waited about 6 months when our last dog past away 6 1/2 years ago. My wife said you will like the new dog just as much, but for different reasons.

    She was right!. We still miss Coco, we were very attached to her and her little habits and ways and we'll always remember her, but, we love Gigi just as much, for different reasons.

    I understand where you are coming from, and I am so sorry......

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • cdn_tchcdn_tch Member Posts: 194
    Sorry to hear about your dog. One thing to remember is that if you do have to put her down, there are vets that do housecalls. Check with a big animal vet clinic. When we had to put down our Bouvier, my wife called her horse vet and he came to the house... :cry:
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    i think i need a land based explorer, like mine.

    Meriwether Lewis?

    Just trying to be helpful. ;)
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,617
    Sad -- remember the good times.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • fushigifushigi Member Posts: 1,459
    The Volt is not delayed. What you probably read about was that there was a push by some GM execs to release it early and that the design/engineering team has quashed that desire because they want as much testing time as possible. The CEO even said "would a billion dollars get the car out this summer" and the design team said no, it wasn't about money.

    GM needs the Volt to be a home run. Right now it's going through cold weather testing and will probably need the summer for final hot weather testing. It's done the Pike's Peak challenge and an integration vehicle did some time in Death Valley last year.

    GM is being exceptionally thorough, which I can only applaud them for.

    Another thing you might have heard is that the Cadillac concept car, Converj, which used a Voltec powertrain, has been canceled.

    The Euro-Volt, in reality the Opel Ampera, is doing cross-country drives.

    http://gm-volt.com/ is a Volt fan site. The person who runs the site has, though his efforts to promote the vehicle, gotten lots of exclusive access and has even test-driven one. Lots of good info if you have the time.

    My wife didn't care for the Volt's styling but really liked the Cruze so maybe I'll be a new GM owner in a year or two. That'd be the first domestic brand for me since the 80s.
    2017 Infiniti QX60 (me), 2012 Hyundai Elantra (wife)
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