I suppose we would get more shopping stories if the blog were allowed to float back to the front page now and again?
I think Edmunds is afraid that by doing that they would be scaring off new members. This is more of a social gathering hole now, than a forum for discussing car sales experiences. A steady decline in sales stories the past couple of years for sure.
OK - got a bit of a sales story for you. Around Thanksgiving, the dual climate control valve on our Jaguar S Type let go, blowing antifreeze on our driveway. The car was taken to the local dealer on a flatbed, and, repaired under warranty. Three days later, I discovered that the electronic climate controls were fried. I took the car back to the dealer, and, the dealer ran some tests and verified that a circuit board was burned out because of the control valve failure. The car was still sitting in the dealer's shop after Christmas - still waiting on replacement parts. Even though the car was still under warranty, wife and I realized, with the parts availability problem, we could no longer rely on it as our long trip car. We approached the salesman who's sold us several cars there, and, went shopping. Wife wanted a little SUV, and, I wanted performance and handling close to the S Type's. The salesman knew we were upset over the problems with the Jag. He suggested we look over the CPO Mercedes cars they had on the lot, and, see what they could do on something we liked. I discovered that Benz had incentives, and low APRs on the new cars. To make a long story short, wife and I both liked the little Benz SUV - a GLK350 4matic, and, I made them an offer on a 2011 they had on the lot. Our salesman had us meet with the Benz sales manager for some face to face negotiation, and, we finally got him to our price, and, traded cars. Wife's very happy with our new wheels - life is good.
Thanks for that wonderful story. I had nearly forgotten that this is a car site. Driver will be thrilled to hear that you purchased a GLK. He loves those cars, though he drives a BMW. I had a friend who owned two Jags over a period of about seven years. He had trouble with both. The closest dealer was 40 miles away. He finally got wise and bought another brand. Hope you enjoy your new wheels.
I see that you are a new member with your first post. Welcome! We're glad that you joined us. This is a great place with nice people. Hope you enjoy it here.
You are totally correct. The cruise line does make a difference. Our first cruise was with Carnival. We made two mistakes---inside cabin and going during spring vacation. The college kids were loud and drunk. The cabin was terrible. Still, we tried to have a good time. The food was great and they had nice entertainment.
Our second cruise was with Holland America---much better. We did the balcony cabin and the ship was newer. It was a couples' cruise and we met some really nice people. I think that you learn a lot from your first experience. You become a better planner.
Like you, I couldn't get over the Mid-Night Buffet. After a large dinner at 6 PM, these people were back for more. Not me. Dessert was about all that I could manage. Also, during the day, there is food at every turn. If you took many cruises, you would be the size of the ship.
Loved your story of the picture taking incident. It does get old after a while. We have this stupid picture of us with the Easter Bunny from our first cruise. I asked The Queen why she bought it. She claimed that she liked her new hair cut and the dinner dress that she had worn. :sick:
You live near the party capital of the USA and you want to go someplace else?
Tell you what, when you go on your cruise, I'll come down and house sit. It won't be easy leaving all the wonderful snow and salt and fender benders but for a buddy like you, no problem. :P
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Yesterday I got a call that came up on caller ID that just said "unavailable" which I assume meant it was intentionally blocked. They were looking for my father who has never lived at our house and who has been dead for 10 years. The woman spoke with a heavy east-european accent. She was very evasive about the actual name of her company.
I guess you can prevent any information coming through on caller ID. Either that or dad really worked for the KGB not GE for 40 years.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
wife and I both liked the little Benz SUV - a GLK350 4matic
Way to go oldbearcat! Great choice in cars. One neighbor had a Jaguar and he had so many problems...one was a $4000 trasmission job, so he bought a big Lexus the next time. Surprising that Jaguar can still sell cars with all the problems people seem to have. I see lots of Jags in Florida, and for some reason there are lots that are painted in two colors. I never see them like that up this way.
Jaguar quality is supposed to be getting better, but as W once said, burn me once and um er burn me again or er you can do it once but a umph well %$#&*
how many cars can the same small bunch of us buy though
I may have one in the next month or so.... no, not me the Genny will be riding out the lease unfortunately.
No, this one will most likely be for my Grandfather. He is currently driving an 03 Grand Marquis Ultimate. Its a nice car, that runs perfect, but its close to 70K and for whatever reason the paint is peeling off the hood. He was just going to have it fixed, however, the other day he mentioned maybe its time for something new.
The problem is, I don't know what to recommend. He mentioned wanting something smaller. I was thinking maybe an 08/09 ES350 or a CPO Avalon. Heck, maybe a new Taurus? I had him drive an 08 Sable last year (at a killer price) and he was just OK with it and didn't pull the trigger. He has driven nothing but Lincolns or Grand Marquis since 1981. He may be a tough convert to anything else. The problem with getting another GM is that the newer ones available used are previous rentals lacking many of the features his has (heated seats, power pass seat, etc).
Once he decides he wants me to take him out, I'll report in.
If I see (412) 268-...., I don't pick up. I know it's my alma mater asking for money.
My wife's alma mater is always asking for money (via mail) and we ignore them. I guess some people want to give to there alma mater, but we have no desire to do that. Then they feature great trips too, but they cost about double if you did it some other way, so we don't do those.
This theatre would call every day around dinner or early evening. After about a month I finally picked the phone up because I thought it wouldn't stop unless I actually talked to them. They want to know if I will become a member for $50 which gets me better seats and a coffee room for the break. I don't even know what plays I will want to go to next year, I said we just take the plays one at a time depending on the play and our time, and mail me the information from now on.
(oh and fellas, I did invite a salesperson here - he was nabbed for inadvertent solicitation, apologized, and I thought he might like it here... maybe he's lurking.)
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
Maybe you could put up a notice on the Forums front page;
Salesmen needed. Must have some good stories to tell, willing to work for very little pay. Might be given a free T-shirt. Age, not a factor, though preference given to those 60 and over. Apply at Sales Frontlines.
sandman....driver gives excellent advice regarding cruises. I also agree to check out the travel thread here, and the web sites "driver" pointed to. Be a little cautious with cruisectritic.com. Those folks are fiercely loyal to one cruise line over another (the big one being Carnival vs Royal Caribbean). Still, lots of good info. For the most part, I find all the cruise lines have made ample considerations for people with disabilities or are less than mobile.
oldbearcat....congrats on the new car. Sounds like a nice one.
My older sister has that same Jag. She's had it for years and has had absolutely no issues with it, which is surprising given the amount of issues I've heard cropping up with Jags. She's now just starting to look around since she's got ~130K on her Jag. She wants AWD. She wants plush,
I steered her towards my fav Acura TL SH AWD, but she says it rides too sporty for her. Then went and recommended the Lexus IS AWD, which she thinks is too small. She won't touch a German brand for reason I won't go into hear. She's actually leaning towards that Lincoln AWD sedan (really can't decipher their brand nomenclature so I don't know which Lincoln it is).
That platform that Ford uses for the Taurus and Lincoln sedans is a good one.
If the Grand Marquis is black, Richard might be interested
Nope, white w/ black canvas roof.
he will probably love the Taurus
They should start popping up used soon, so going to start the process. He has had very good luck with all his Ford (lincoln/merc) products so I know he would be comfortable with them. Maybe an MKZ would be worth a look, however, that car has a tough time hiding its roots as a Fusion. Whatever, it is I know it has to ride pillow soft. That is what he is used to. I bet another screaming deal would be a one or two year old Buick Lucerne.
I don't know about the garage parking situation with you , but I am still pleasantly pleased with going from an Avalon (bigger than you may think) to the Escape.
It parks so easily (I back into the garage so it's ready to go) and there is actually room to open doors and walk around it.
This may or may not be a consideration, but it means a lot to me.
He lives with my parents now and parks outside so that isn't a problem. He is certainly not an SUV person. I know that Avalon is a big car (I had two.... miss them) but it still is considerable smaller than a Marquis or Town Car.
The Escape is a nice SUV, I like that its a smaller size, but still truck looking. Many of the smaller SUVs are too curvy and cute looking.
They're making a big announcement in KC today, then apparently something for the St. Louis plant as well. The gov is coming in, so obviously it's something good... hm...
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name. 2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h) Review your vehicle
I agree with you totally GG. I get emails from cruisecritic mainly because they do print letters that actually talk about the bad experiences some people have had. However, I have never seen an offer that I thought was that spectacular.
I have seen some excellent offers on cruisecon.com and the best offers on travelzoo.com . If you sign up for travelzoo.com (.ca in Canada) they send you 20 top travel and entertainment deals for the week. They never hassle you. If you aren't interested just don't reply. Some of their offers are fun just to look at, almost as good as going. If you are looking for particular trips go to their website www.travelzoo.com.
He does, and that is the line the call came in on. I think it is done by an automatic dialing machine.
I have guys calling me at work with hot tips...did I know the price of oil is ready to take off as early as next week?
I tell them I don't make financial decisions, it's like a lawyer representing himself as a client. Then I ask him if he knows all this great inside information why he is working from a cubicle in a boiler room?
If you were a member you would have gotten a notice with your latest monthly dues statement. As of 2011, car tales are no longer permitted here. Sorry, but I don’t know where to redirect you for this type of a post. :confuse:
Congrats anyway.
This is not a bad place to hang out and learn something about everything, even cars. You might want to stick around. You seem to be the right age.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
One thing this job did for me was cause me to lose my passion for cars.
I learned which cars cause constant trouble and I tried to steer my customers away from them. I came to look at cars as a means of getting from one place to another, kind of like an appliance.
A couple of years ago, my best friend since childhood mentioned to me that he had taken a liking to the Mercedes E-320's. He has always bought used Cadillacs and Lincolns and has driven them into the ground. Even in his early 20's he had a Lincoln. I used to kid him about driving an "old man's car".
He was about to take his Cadillac into the shop to have the famous "Northstar Leak" fixed to the tune of 4000.00 when a delivery truck broadsided him and totaled the Cadillac.
At the same time, a local doctor just happened to trade in a PRISTINE 50,000 mile 1998 E-20 that looked, drove and smelled like a one year old car.
I called my buddy and told him about it but I also told him that it wouild probably become a money pit like no other car he had ever owned. I suggested he research it to death, call local shops and make sure he knew EXACTLY what he was getting into.
We checked out the car and our fussy technicans couldn't find one thing wrong with it. the previous owner would take it to the dealer only and basically hand them their wallet.
My friend knew I didn't like European cars and, if anything, I tried to discourage him.
Then, it hit our website! Nine different photos of it and my buddy was hooked!
We struck a deal, he Fed Exed a check for the full amount and he bought a plane ticket.
He arrived and was delighted with the car. Didn't even want to drive it.
He followed me home where he spent the night before heading back to California.
He called me where he spent the night and just raved about how he LOVED his new ride.
He still loves it.
Headlight bulb - 319.00
Brake job and minor suspension work - 1400.00
Serpentine Belt that broke and did huge damage - 4700.00
Probably some other stuff he hasn't told me about.
He knew the risks, he still just loves the car and he isn't sorry at all that he bought it.
I had the same kind of experience with two friends. One of my friends had always wanted a Jag. We had been on a business trip to Asia and after paying $6.00 for a cup of coffee, $40.00 for bacon and eggs, etc., I turned to my friend and said to him, "paying this much for coffee, juice and everything else (steak dinner $180.00 PER PERSON), that Jag looks more affordable every day. We had not been back home more than two weeks and he had a brand new Jag, paid over $65,000 for it (this was in 1989). After 3 years and many, MANY expensive repairs (headlight $611.00, suspension $5000.00, etc) he traded it on a Buick Roadmaster and received $15,000 for it.
A few years later, another friend, who is always wheeling and dealing in cars and always seems to make money on them, had a line on a 1990 Jag. Lovely car, low miles, driven by a retired doctor, garaged all winter, etc. Great price. I advised him to take a pass. He did not listen and proceeded to make the deal. While driving it home the day he purchased it, the right front wheel bearing seized and it had to be towed to a garage. Repair bill was $1200.00. Over the next two years that he owned it, everything went wrong and it cost him thousands. He finally unloaded it and now he at least pretends to listen when I tell him that he may be making a mistake.
My neighbours have two Jags and they report no problems, but the maintenance is a killer.
Most savvy people that drive European cars prefer to lease them and will only keep them while under warranty. I wouldn't even do that because of the down time and because I don't have to !
Alluded to my friend, who should be a charter member of "Chronic Car Buying", who is toying with the idea of selling his 2010, totally loaded, Taurus SHO. I think he's got a little less than 10K miles on it. It really is a very, very nice car.....air conditioned/heated/massaging seats, Synch, Sony sound system, leather, AWD, Twin turbo motor, chrome wheels, etc.
MSRP on it was in that $45K range, give or take.
Understand, I'm really enjoying my TL. And, having my stable of cars thinned out really is a blessing. But, this is such a nice car, I'm actually interested in it.
I was talking to my Acura GM about the car and asked him what it may be worth.
To say I was shocked would be an understatement. The car is less than a year old. Dealer said he'd try to buy it to put on his lot for a little UNDER $30K. Holy-moly.....talk about a depreciation hit. He said if it was as nice as I described it (it is) he may give $31K for it.
Let's say I'm willing to go a bit above that since I'm not a lot. Let's say $32K, maybe.
That's a $13K hit in less than a year. I don't even want to tell him what I'd offer.
They are much better now, plus have one of the best CPO warranties going..
I can attest to that. I work with a woman who bought an ’08 new (can’t remember what model) and she was worried when she asked me what I thought of it AFTER she bought it. When I said, “at one time they were pretty low on the reliability list but, so I’ve heard, they are not at the low end now”. She gasped and now every time she sees me she says, “so far, so good”.
I’m glad she doesn’t have any problems but I’ll never understand why people ask questions AFTER the purchase.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Why were you shocked? Buying a new car & then getting rid of it a year or 2 later has always been akin to opening a vein. Financially speaking, it's just not a smart thing to do.
If you like your TL, keep it. There will always be something out there that tempts you.
If you think your Acura has depreciated, it doesn't hold a candle to your friend's Taurus!
I agree they are VERY nice cars and I also feel that Ford has come a LONG way. But...it's a Ford and, as nice as it it, it's an oddball car that few people have any desire to buy.
I made them an offer on a 2011 they had on the lot. Our salesman had us meet with the Benz sales manager for some face to face negotiation, and, we finally got him to our price,
You left out the good part. How'd you get him to your price. :confuse:
that pretty much limits him to every car on the market
Well... I know that he would go nothing smaller than Camry. This is someone who has had one land yacht after another since I've been alive.
There are plenty of choices, that is for sure. I would think the 2010 Taurus and Avalon would be at the top of the list. He has always bought one or two year old low mileage cars so the Taurus may be in short supply.
I think a Max will be too firm for him. He thinks my Genesis rides hard (which it does) so I think that a Max would be out. I have to say the Maxima is a really nice ride, however, the price premium over a loaded up V6 Altima is tough to swallow (even though the Max has a nicer interior).
A Lucerne wouldn't be out of the question, they ride great and are very roomy.
That Max interior is seriously nice. Back when my daughter drowned her Camry I was in an enterprise rental Hyundai for a week. When I returned it the Enterprise kid rode me back to my house in a new Maxima. I seriously loved that car.....
Actually probably my favorite car I've owned was a Maxima wagon.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Didn't your friend buy his car using a 'plan' purchase? He probably paid less than you think. I just checked the x plan pricing on an '11, about 5k off MSRP on a 45k SHO. 'A' plan is even a better deal.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
The salesman knows I don't fool around playing games with them. I travel a lot for business, and, have shopped/bought cars out of state before. Back in 03 I tried to buy a new Jaguar from this dealer. They didn't want to get close to my price, and, undervalued my trade. I contacted a dealer in Lexington, KY, and, got the deal I wanted. Then, I made the local boys do all the free service on it. Did the same thing on a Honda CRV - local dealer wouldn't get close to my numbers. I hit a dealer in NC on a trip just to see what he'd do. He got close enough to my numbers that I bought a CRV there. In a nutshell, these folks know that when I walk in, I'm serious, I've done my homework, and, an offer I make has little wiggle room. After losing the sale on the first Jag, they got a lot easier to deal with, and, we bought our second and third Jags off them, and, now, the Mercedes. Negotiations with them now are friendly, candid and fairly brief. I know they have to make a reasonable profit, and, I don't throw unreasonable "grinder" numbers at them.
Financially speaking, getting rid of a new car in 1 year just not a smart thing to do.
Isell made me aware of a "buy bid" from a dealer. No trade, just a sell back. It worked for me after the Toyota runaway thing. I took a 1 year old 2010 Avalon back to where I bought it with title in hand and asked for a "buy bid".
Paid $34,000. 1 year and 7k miles later dealer offered $27,500. I said done! Maybe Toyota was generous because of UA on the news.
explorer....I think at the time, "X-plan" on the Taurus SHO was somewhere in the neighborhood of $42K. But, that's when they first came out. I know that first year is a [non-permissible content removed] when it comes to depreciation. I just thought that was steep.
Isell....as you say, it's a Taurus, regardless of how nice, it's still a Taurus. Plus, it's an unusual one, at that.
I wasn't thinking of getting rid of my TL. I like it way too much. For no particular reason, I was thinking about going back to having multiple vehicles, again. Now that I think about that, it's a silly thought.
As it stands, I use my son's former daily driver (8 year old Elantra-120K miles) to drive to the airport when I need to. It's getting a bit ragged, though. It's going to need a clutch soon. A new battery and tires aren't far behind.
Maybe I'll just look around for another beater vs a car like that SHO.
In a nutshell, these folks know that when I walk in, I'm serious, I've done my homework, and, an offer I make has little wiggle room.
It’s nice when you’re dealing with a place that has the same people when you go back to buy again. Maybe that’s because you’re dealing with a high end car. My experience with the throw-aways that I buy is that the same people aren’t there when I go back or the guy didn’t learn his lesson from the previous time I was there, like in ’06 vs.’05.
My Dad bought from the same salesman, not necessarily the same brand, about 6 cars, IIRC. Even recommended this guy to a few friends and family member too. From what I’ve noticed lately there aren’t too many guys that stay in the biz these days but then again, the car biz is a lot tougher today because the playing field has been flattened. In a way, that works against someone that would like to deal with the same place and the same person.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Comments
I think Edmunds is afraid that by doing that they would be scaring off new members. This is more of a social gathering hole now, than a forum for discussing car sales experiences. A steady decline in sales stories the past couple of years for sure.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Regards:
OldBearcat
I see that you are a new member with your first post. Welcome! We're glad that you joined us. This is a great place with nice people. Hope you enjoy it here.
Richard
Amen! I've done three cars in three years. It's time for me to take a rest.
Richard
Our second cruise was with Holland America---much better. We did the balcony cabin and the ship was newer. It was a couples' cruise and we met some really nice people. I think that you learn a lot from your first experience. You become a better planner.
Richard
Loved your story of the picture taking incident. It does get old after a while. We have this stupid picture of us with the Easter Bunny from our first cruise. I asked The Queen why she bought it. She claimed that she liked her new hair cut and the dinner dress that she had worn. :sick:
Richard
You live near the party capital of the USA and you want to go someplace else?
Tell you what, when you go on your cruise, I'll come down and house sit. It won't be easy leaving all the wonderful snow and salt and fender benders but for a buddy like you, no problem. :P
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Yesterday I got a call that came up on caller ID that just said "unavailable" which I assume meant it was intentionally blocked. They were looking for my father who has never lived at our house and who has been dead for 10 years. The woman spoke with a heavy east-european accent. She was very evasive about the actual name of her company.
I guess you can prevent any information coming through on caller ID. Either that or dad really worked for the KGB not GE for 40 years.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Way to go oldbearcat! Great choice in cars. One neighbor had a Jaguar and he had so many problems...one was a $4000 trasmission job, so he bought a big Lexus the next time. Surprising that Jaguar can still sell cars with all the problems people seem to have. I see lots of Jags in Florida, and for some reason there are lots that are painted in two colors. I never see them like that up this way.
Jaguar quality is supposed to be getting better, but as W once said, burn me once and um er burn me again or er you can do it once but a umph well %$#&*
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I may have one in the next month or so.... no, not me the Genny will be riding out the lease unfortunately.
No, this one will most likely be for my Grandfather. He is currently driving an 03 Grand Marquis Ultimate. Its a nice car, that runs perfect, but its close to 70K and for whatever reason the paint is peeling off the hood. He was just going to have it fixed, however, the other day he mentioned maybe its time for something new.
The problem is, I don't know what to recommend. He mentioned wanting something smaller. I was thinking maybe an 08/09 ES350 or a CPO Avalon. Heck, maybe a new Taurus? I had him drive an 08 Sable last year (at a killer price) and he was just OK with it and didn't pull the trigger. He has driven nothing but Lincolns or Grand Marquis since 1981. He may be a tough convert to anything else. The problem with getting another GM is that the newer ones available used are previous rentals lacking many of the features his has (heated seats, power pass seat, etc).
Once he decides he wants me to take him out, I'll report in.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
My wife's alma mater is always asking for money (via mail) and we ignore them. I guess some people want to give to there alma mater, but we have no desire to do that. Then they feature great trips too, but they cost about double if you did it some other way, so we don't do those.
This theatre would call every day around dinner or early evening. After about a month I finally picked the phone up because I thought it wouldn't stop unless I actually talked to them. They want to know if I will become a member for $50 which gets me better seats and a coffee room for the break. I don't even know what plays I will want to go to next year, I said we just take the plays one at a time depending on the play and our time, and mail me the information from now on.
At least, no more phone calls!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
(oh and fellas, I did invite a salesperson here - he was nabbed for inadvertent solicitation, apologized, and I thought he might like it here... maybe he's lurking.)
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
If he likes his Mercury he will probably love the Taurus. It is everything the Merc is but 10X as much.
If the Grand Marquis is black, Richard might be interested.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Maybe you could put up a notice on the Forums front page;
Salesmen needed. Must have some good stories to tell, willing to work for very little pay. Might be given a free T-shirt. Age, not a factor, though preference given to those 60 and over. Apply at Sales Frontlines.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
oldbearcat....congrats on the new car. Sounds like a nice one.
My older sister has that same Jag. She's had it for years and has had absolutely no issues with it, which is surprising given the amount of issues I've heard cropping up with Jags. She's now just starting to look around since she's got ~130K on her Jag. She wants AWD. She wants plush,
I steered her towards my fav Acura TL SH AWD, but she says it rides too sporty for her. Then went and recommended the Lexus IS AWD, which she thinks is too small. She won't touch a German brand for reason I won't go into hear. She's actually leaning towards that Lincoln AWD sedan (really can't decipher their brand nomenclature so I don't know which Lincoln it is).
That platform that Ford uses for the Taurus and Lincoln sedans is a good one.
On the Holland American cruise we took, we were pleased to be among the youngest people on the boat.
Norwegian was O.K. but we liked RC the best.
Your experience may differ.
Nope, white w/ black canvas roof.
he will probably love the Taurus
They should start popping up used soon, so going to start the process. He has had very good luck with all his Ford (lincoln/merc) products so I know he would be comfortable with them. Maybe an MKZ would be worth a look, however, that car has a tough time hiding its roots as a Fusion. Whatever, it is I know it has to ride pillow soft. That is what he is used to. I bet another screaming deal would be a one or two year old Buick Lucerne.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
I don't know about the garage parking situation with you , but
I am still pleasantly pleased with going from an Avalon
(bigger than you may think) to the Escape.
It parks so easily (I back into the garage so it's ready to go) and
there is actually room to open doors and walk around it.
This may or may not be a consideration, but it means a lot to me.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Gee That explains it.
I don’t get either calls or mailings anymore and haven’t since I can’t remember when.
Sometimes it’s a good thing when they think “hell, he must be dead by now. Let’s not waste a stamp”. :surprise:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
The Escape is a nice SUV, I like that its a smaller size, but still truck looking. Many of the smaller SUVs are too curvy and cute looking.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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I agree with you totally GG. I get emails from cruisecritic mainly because they do print letters that actually talk about the bad experiences some people have had. However, I have never seen an offer that I thought was that spectacular.
I have seen some excellent offers on cruisecon.com and the best offers on travelzoo.com . If you sign up for travelzoo.com (.ca in Canada) they send you 20 top travel and entertainment deals for the week. They never hassle you. If you aren't interested just don't reply. Some of their offers are fun just to look at, almost as good as going. If you are looking for particular trips go to their website www.travelzoo.com.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
He does, and that is the line the call came in on. I think it is done by an automatic dialing machine.
I have guys calling me at work with hot tips...did I know the price of oil is ready to take off as early as next week?
I tell them I don't make financial decisions, it's like a lawyer representing himself as a client. Then I ask him if he knows all this great inside information why he is working from a cubicle in a boiler room?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If you were a member you would have gotten a notice with your latest monthly dues statement. As of 2011, car tales are no longer permitted here. Sorry, but I don’t know where to redirect you for this type of a post. :confuse:
Congrats anyway.
This is not a bad place to hang out and learn something about everything, even cars. You might want to stick around. You seem to be the right age.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I learned which cars cause constant trouble and I tried to steer my customers away from them. I came to look at cars as a means of getting from one place to another, kind of like an appliance.
A couple of years ago, my best friend since childhood mentioned to me that he had taken a liking to the Mercedes E-320's. He has always bought used Cadillacs and Lincolns and has driven them into the ground. Even in his early 20's he had a Lincoln. I used to kid him about driving an "old man's car".
He was about to take his Cadillac into the shop to have the famous "Northstar Leak" fixed to the tune of 4000.00 when a delivery truck broadsided him and totaled the Cadillac.
At the same time, a local doctor just happened to trade in a PRISTINE 50,000 mile 1998 E-20 that looked, drove and smelled like a one year old car.
I called my buddy and told him about it but I also told him that it wouild probably become a money pit like no other car he had ever owned. I suggested he research it to death, call local shops and make sure he knew EXACTLY what he was getting into.
We checked out the car and our fussy technicans couldn't find one thing wrong with it. the previous owner would take it to the dealer only and basically hand them their wallet.
My friend knew I didn't like European cars and, if anything, I tried to discourage him.
Then, it hit our website! Nine different photos of it and my buddy was hooked!
We struck a deal, he Fed Exed a check for the full amount and he bought a plane ticket.
He arrived and was delighted with the car. Didn't even want to drive it.
He followed me home where he spent the night before heading back to California.
He called me where he spent the night and just raved about how he LOVED his new ride.
He still loves it.
Headlight bulb - 319.00
Brake job and minor suspension work - 1400.00
Serpentine Belt that broke and did huge damage - 4700.00
Probably some other stuff he hasn't told me about.
He knew the risks, he still just loves the car and he isn't sorry at all that he bought it.
It's just a very typical European car!
And people wonder why I don't like them!
A few years later, another friend, who is always wheeling and dealing in cars and always seems to make money on them, had a line on a 1990 Jag. Lovely car, low miles, driven by a retired doctor, garaged all winter, etc. Great price. I advised him to take a pass. He did not listen and proceeded to make the deal. While driving it home the day he purchased it, the right front wheel bearing seized and it had to be towed to a garage. Repair bill was $1200.00. Over the next two years that he owned it, everything went wrong and it cost him thousands. He finally unloaded it and now he at least pretends to listen when I tell him that he may be making a mistake.
My neighbours have two Jags and they report no problems, but the maintenance is a killer.
And European cars are very unforgiving. If a person skimps on maintenance it almost like the cars will punish the owners who do this.
Audi and Volvos are maybe the worst.
Now, if a person knows this going in and isn't afraid to spend the money, then, great!
But if someone is struggling to make a car payment, one "event" can spell disaster.
They are much better now, plus have one of the best CPO warranties going.. (for a good reason...lol).
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2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
MSRP on it was in that $45K range, give or take.
Understand, I'm really enjoying my TL. And, having my stable of cars thinned out really is a blessing. But, this is such a nice car, I'm actually interested in it.
I was talking to my Acura GM about the car and asked him what it may be worth.
To say I was shocked would be an understatement. The car is less than a year old. Dealer said he'd try to buy it to put on his lot for a little UNDER $30K. Holy-moly.....talk about a depreciation hit. He said if it was as nice as I described it (it is) he may give $31K for it.
Let's say I'm willing to go a bit above that since I'm not a lot. Let's say $32K, maybe.
That's a $13K hit in less than a year. I don't even want to tell him what I'd offer.
I can attest to that. I work with a woman who bought an ’08 new (can’t remember what model) and she was worried when she asked me what I thought of it AFTER she bought it. When I said, “at one time they were pretty low on the reliability list but, so I’ve heard, they are not at the low end now”. She gasped and now every time she sees me she says, “so far, so good”.
I’m glad she doesn’t have any problems but I’ll never understand why people ask questions AFTER the purchase.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Craig - you actually had a guy fly in to buy a car! Now I do feel like a cheapskate.... Not that there is anything wrong with being a cheapskate.
Why were you shocked? Buying a new car & then getting rid of it a year or 2 later has always been akin to opening a vein. Financially speaking, it's just not a smart thing to do.
If you like your TL, keep it. There will always be something out there that tempts you.
I agree they are VERY nice cars and I also feel that Ford has come a LONG way. But...it's a Ford and, as nice as it it, it's an oddball car that few people have any desire to buy.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
You left out the good part. How'd you get him to your price. :confuse:
Well... I know that he would go nothing smaller than Camry. This is someone who has had one land yacht after another since I've been alive.
There are plenty of choices, that is for sure. I would think the 2010 Taurus and Avalon would be at the top of the list. He has always bought one or two year old low mileage cars so the Taurus may be in short supply.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
How about a Maxima?
A Lucerne wouldn't be out of the question, they ride great and are very roomy.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Actually probably my favorite car I've owned was a Maxima wagon.
I just checked the x plan pricing on an '11, about 5k off MSRP on a 45k SHO.
'A' plan is even a better deal.
Civic has timing belt which needs periodic replacement.
Regards:
OldBearcat
Isell made me aware of a "buy bid" from a dealer. No trade, just a sell back. It worked for me after the Toyota runaway thing. I took a 1 year old 2010 Avalon back to where I bought it with title in hand and asked for a "buy bid".
Paid $34,000. 1 year and 7k miles later dealer offered $27,500. I said done! Maybe Toyota was generous because of UA on the news.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Isell....as you say, it's a Taurus, regardless of how nice, it's still a Taurus. Plus, it's an unusual one, at that.
I wasn't thinking of getting rid of my TL. I like it way too much. For no particular reason, I was thinking about going back to having multiple vehicles, again. Now that I think about that, it's a silly thought.
As it stands, I use my son's former daily driver (8 year old Elantra-120K miles) to drive to the airport when I need to. It's getting a bit ragged, though. It's going to need a clutch soon. A new battery and tires aren't far behind.
Maybe I'll just look around for another beater vs a car like that SHO.
It’s nice when you’re dealing with a place that has the same people when you go back to buy again. Maybe that’s because you’re dealing with a high end car. My experience with the throw-aways that I buy is that the same people aren’t there when I go back or the guy didn’t learn his lesson from the previous time I was there, like in ’06 vs.’05.
My Dad bought from the same salesman, not necessarily the same brand, about 6 cars, IIRC. Even recommended this guy to a few friends and family member too. From what I’ve noticed lately there aren’t too many guys that stay in the biz these days but then again, the car biz is a lot tougher today because the playing field has been flattened. In a way, that works against someone that would like to deal with the same place and the same person.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl