Stories from the Sales Frontlines

explorerx4

That's my point. Why spend the extra money on an MDX considering it's unfortunate future.
I have sprayed gallons of Febreze in my Explorer trying to expunge aroma of the many spilled hot chocolates over the years.

driver100

He mentioned a Pilot. The Pilot and MDX are pretty darn similar, except the price.

From what I have read, they aren't really that similar. The MDX is pretty exciting and offers a 300hp model for one thing. But, there seems to be totally different driving dynamics and different interior design. Pilots are very utilitarian......good solid, reliable car, but not fun to drive. You will get the "feel of the road" with the MDX, especially with the 300 hp unit.

Sometimes, better quality interiors, like leather, are actually easier to care for than less expensive cloth interiors.

If the car needs Fabreeze, it doesn't matter how expensive the car is...it will need Fabreeze any way.

tjc78

I have sprayed gallons of Febreze in my Explorer trying to expunge aroma of the many spilled hot chocolates over the years.

My friend's wife allowed a spilt baby bottle to remain in the back seat of his Grand Prix for two days in the summer. Nothing, I mean nothing ever got the smell fully out.

He traded it in, in the winter so it wasn't as obvious

tjc78

Sometimes, better quality interiors, like leather, are actually easier to care for than less expensive cloth interiors.


NYC mentioned a Pilot with NAV, I am sure it will include leather which as I have found too is easier to keep clean.

The MDX definately is a nicer, more powerful vehicle, however, for reasons Explorer mentioned I would also think for 10K less the Pilot would serve his family just fine.

Another SUV he may want to check out is the GM Lambda triplets. They are all really nice. My favorite is the Acadia, although the Enclave has a little nicer interior.

driver100

The MDX definately is a nicer, more powerful vehicle, however, for reasons Explorer mentioned I would also think for 10K less the Pilot would serve his family just fine.

Maybe, but if he keeps it for say 6 years it will cost less than $1500 a year to be driving a car which will help him get over his Prelude.

Sometimes it costs less to go with the higher priced car....less chance they will get tired of it soonerand higher trade in value for a more sought after used car.

Then there is the enjoyment factor....about $100 a month more to drive something you will really get enjoyment from.

If he is practical the Pilot will do the job admirably...if he realizes you only go through life once and you want to make the most of it.....then the MDX is a good choice.

driver100

I have a question about 3 in 1s. Before we had an HP model which worked fine, but it did break down. I saw them advertised for about $50 but when I needed one I couldn't find one. I bought a wirelss Kodak model for about $110.

I don't like the Kodak model too much mainly because you have to change the font to the smallest possible font before you can scan. This is because the button to scan is below the screen unless you make the print smaller. This means whenever you want to scan you have to go into font, change the size, then restart the computer...the same when you are finished.

Also, the editing is not as straight forward as well. The one thing that is nice is that it is wireless.

I have always liked HP products so should have waited. I am thinking of just buying an HP when I see them go on sale, but it is a shame to throw out a perfectly good 3 in 1 just because of the goofy set up.

Any thoughts?

By the way, this is a case of where you can actually spend more money in the long run by trying to save money. And, it is also a case of you don't know about these problems until you set it up and start using it, and by then you can't take it back. :mad:

imidazol97

>And, it is also a case of you don't know about these problems until you set it up and start using it, and by then you can't take it back.

I usually do some reading in reviews on sites such as Amazon, NewEgg, Tigerdirect, and others such as Newtag and Target where reader comments are allowed.

Based on those I didn't buy a Brother laserprinter 3-1 or 4-1. They tended to go to sleep and not wake up when something is sent to them by wireless mode. The one I looked into used a lot of power on startup as well, dimming lights on the same circuit. My printers are wireless.

Instead I bought a third printer which has separate color tanks instead of cartridges with all three colors in one. My second printer is a 3-1 or 4-1 which my son has at OSU. It is wireless capable. His roommate used it by wireless for his Apple notebook.

>I am thinking of just buying an HP when I see them go on sale,

I look at printers and pick a model I'm interested in. I watch hp's shopping website for pricing specials. I watch Office Depot ads for specials. I usually find a bargain.

tjc78

Maybe, but if he keeps it for say 6 years it will cost less than $1500 a year to be driving a car which will help him get over his Prelude.

How in this world can a 4000LB SUV even compare to the driving dynamics of a Prelude? Its the equivalent of going from a BMW 3 series to an F150. If someone has the coin to buy an MDX as a family vehicle go for it, however IMHO, if it is going to have 3 kids in child seats a less expensive vehicle makes more sense. Another thing, a fully loaded Pilot certainly isn't cheap either.

As for 3 in 1s, I really like HP models as well. I have one at the office and at home and they all have been great. If you do a lot of scanning, look for the "office" models that have the document feeder on top. It makes scanning things easier. HP has a new line that includes a detachable tablet (like a stripped down Ipad) its pretty cool.

graphicguy

"...3:40--...he also tells Obama he loves him..."

You'll do anything to get off that terrorist watch list, won't you?

oldfarmer.....funny stuff....

I would imagine the Secret Service is doing a thorough background check on the young man who made that statement.

Regarding NYC's car shopping. I actually rode on a new Pilot last night that a friend had just bought. Those things have become very nice. His was totally loaded with leather and rear seat DVD. So, I don't know what that cost him. But, you'd be hard pressed to tell it wasn't from the likes of Acura, Audi, Mercedes if you only saw the inside.

Rode nice, too (at least from the back seat).

I thought my former Tahoe was very nice, too. It was a little "hinky" when it came to loading/unloading the rear seats, but it was as reliable as a hammer.

nyccarguy

There are a few differences between the Honda Pilot EX-L w/ NAV & The Acura MDX w/ Tech Pkg.

The big and obvious difference is in the 2 cars MSRP. The Pilot stickers for $38,375 + Tax while the MDX stickers for $47,115 + Tax. That's $8,740.00 that I don't have.

The second difference is in their 4WD Systems. Both SUVs are built on the same FWD platform.

The Pilot is a FWD vehicle all the time. When the front wheels start to slip, power is transfered back to the rear wheels.

The MDX uses a more "active" system. It's Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) not only transfers power from front to back, but also from left to right during spirited driving. I'm sure this works much like the Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS) in my 2001 Prelude Type SH (Super Handling). ATTS transfers up to 80% of the torque to the outside wheel during hard cornering.

The boxy, utilitarian design of the Pilot appeals to me. There is no sloping roof line in the back that cuts out precious cargo space. My older son is 4 1/2 and walks pretty much all the time, my younger son is 2 and needs to sit in the stroller sometimes, & we'll have the baby. We have a double stroller that folds pretty flat, but is still big. It actually fits in the trunk of our TSX with room to spare.

Both the Pilot & MDX have 6 LATCHes for child safety seats across the 2nd row. I know for a fact that the Pilot has 1 LATCH in the 3rd row.

I'm sure the MDX has nicer interior appointments, thickly bolstered front seats (like our TSX), & a higher quality leather. But with 3 children under the age of 5, that kind of stuff doesn't matter.

Honda has this really cool (genuine Honda accessory) 2nd row seat cover that is made of wetsuit like material & is machince washable. That appeals to me.

The MDX's warranty is longer (4 years/50K) than the Pilot's (3 years/36K).

This SUV that we will purchase is going to be my wife's vehicle. Since I work 6 days a week, I'll only really be driving it on Saturday afternoons & Sundays. So as long as the car has some reasonable amount of pickup for highway merging & doesn't wallow around every turn I'm OK with it.

nyccarguy

Today is Good Friday. Most people have been off from school all week & A lot of people are off from work today. Traffic was light. My sunroof was open, I jumped on the Merritt Parkway & just ripped through the 1st 4 gears until my car's 7400 RPM redline. Even with over 140,500 miles, my Prelude is still rock solid at (let's say) speeds that would be "reasonable & prudent" in the state of Montana. This car still has a lot of life left in it.

I'm leaning toward keeping my Prelude, shining up the TSX really nice & pretty, trying to sell it for a little more than I owe, & putting that towards the Pilot down payment.

tjc78

Even with over 140,500 miles, my Prelude is still rock solid at (let's say) speeds that would be "reasonable & prudent" in the state of Montana

They have speed limits now. I had some fun there prior to that.

driver100

I usually do some reading in reviews on sites such as Amazon, NewEgg, Tigerdirect, and others such as Newtag and Target where reader comments are allowed

I like that idea and I am going to start doing that. I didn't think there could be a big difference in an under $100 3 in 1.

I have never been unhappy with any HP product, and many have been amazing...I am going to read those reviews and try to stick with HP.

driver100

Another thing, a fully loaded Pilot certainly isn't cheap either.

I think an SUV can be almost as good as a sporty car. The X1 and X3 are almost 3 Series cars any way. With turbo chargers or more horses, you can come pretty close to matching a sedan. And there are some advantages, such as higher seating position and SUVs are often shorter...a little more manouvering ability.

In fact, my X3 was a lot more sporty than many sedans I have driven...and it isn't like a Prelude is a true sports car. I think it is a personal car, an Accord for 2 (+2 theoretically).

driver100

The Pilot stickers for $38,375 + Tax while the MDX stickers for $47,115 + Tax.

And that's a very important consideration these days. I was thinking after making a case for the MDX...no one should over extend themselves these days. The recording industry was hit with MP3 units, the DVD industry was devestated by Pay-per-View, the book industry is getting hit by E-Readers, the yellow pages business has changed because people check for phone numbers on the internet....we all know what happened to the US car industry.

Every business is vulnerable these days. I don't think it is wise to overextend oneself these days. I will say, in the add I read it said the MDX was $42k in Canada, and our prices are usually 15 to 20% higher, so I thought it would be closer in price to the Sorento.
Sounds like the Pilot is the perfect car for you.

mako1a

I was touring around on craigslist when I spotted the perfect motorcycle for me.

I emailed the guy. He called me back and we arranged for the look-see at 4PM.

I arrived all fresh and calm waiting for the sales pitch. There was none.

We went out to the garage to see the motorcycle. It looked good right off the bat.

I sat on it. He said the battery was dead and carb probably needed adjustment.

Not much more to do but arrange financing since I could do all the repairs myself.

I reached into my wallet, pulled out 3 twenties a ten and a five. Whew, that part was over.

Now the delivery. He showed me the horn, starter lights and turn signals.

He then helped me fold it up and put it in the back of the Escape.

It's in my garage charging now. I can't believe I'm a biker. Now I need a beard and tattoos.



Daves Bike ">

driver100

when I spotted the perfect motorcycle for me.

That's the fastest sale I have ever seen around here. Thanks for the quick brief sales story. I hope you enjoy your new ride, and I am sure you are going to have the "feel of the road".

jwilliams2

I can't believe I'm a biker. Now I need a beard and tattoos.

Definitely. Riding that bad boy you need to look the part. Maybe a spiked helmet and black gang type jacket as well. :shades:

tallman1

I have never been unhappy with any HP product, and many have been amazing...I am going to read those reviews and try to stick with HP.

It will be interesting to see what you find. When I bought an all-in-one a couple of years ago, lots of reviewers where really down on HP saying that quality had slipped.

mako1a

I'm thinking rifle rack. I did encounter a Cougar going for the mail once.

fezo

You drive a hard bargain there, Dave.

jwilliams2

I'm thinking rifle rack. I did encounter a Cougar going for the mail once.

I don't know, maybe a dual saddle so you could give her a ride. How old was she? Was she hot? Oh wait, you meant that kind of a cougar. :P

oldbearcat

Driver:

I agree with you. My GLK handles better, and, is sportier than most of the sedans I've owned as well. While it weighs in at about 4000 pounds, it amazes me how agile and quick it is.

Regards:
Oldbearcat

driver100

My GLK handles better, and, is sportier than most of the sedans

I'm glad you said that...I felt the same about my X3. It stands to reason since they are really built about the same as the car MB or BMW, just has a larger body. Handling characteristics are pretty close to the equivalent car model.

If I was looking at a Pilot, I would be curious to check out an MBX. Sometimes the options come as standard equipment and that makes up for a big part of the difference in price. Sometimes they are just trying to move models out. The 2012s will be out soon and a 2011 might cost the same as a new Pilot.

But, if you are shopping and want to keep the cost lower, and it isn't important to you, or you don't want to stretch the budget because of other priorities (such as 3 young children) than the Pilot is the more sensible choice.

roadburner

I don't mind driving my wife's X3, but I can definitely feel the added mass when hustling along. The truck's reflexes are just not as sharp as those of a 3 Series. This is not to say that "sporting" SUVs are unpleasant to drive, but you cannot repeal the laws of physics.

driver100

The truck's reflexes are just not as sharp as those of a 3 Series.

Maybe not as sharp as a 3 Series, but much better handling than say a Buick or a Camry.

driver100

I made a mistake in the price of the price for an MDX in Canada. I thought the ad said $42000, but there was also a picture of an RDX on the other side of the ad...the price was referring to an RDX, the MDX price was harder to find and it was $52000.

Also, so an ad for an MKZ Lincoln that I thought looked like a good price, just $30,000. I thought that sounds like a pretty good value. However that was the cash price on a lease deal. In other words, hand over $30,000 cash and they will lease you a Lincoln for 3 years.
How many people are going to do that?

houdini1

Maybe not as sharp as a 3 Series, but much better handling than say a Buick or a Camry.

What do you base that statement on? Has there been any track comparisons? If true, I would think BMW would be shouting it from the roof tops in their advertising. "BMW Suv has much better handling than Buick or Camry".

cdnpinhead

ma.

The m piece (mass) is huge.

Then we could discuss cg height compared to the wheel CL and many other things.

Lipstick on a pig.

driver100

If true, I would think BMW would be shouting it from the roof tops in their advertising. "BMW Suv has much better handling than Buick or Camry

Why advertise the obvious? If you have driven those 3 cars, and can't make out a difference in the way the cars handle...then no amount of advertising is going to help.

And, if you want to buy a Buick or a Camry, then the handling is just not important to you.

If you prefer a cushiony ride, then those cars will do. People buy those cars for the soft ride and light steering. They won't be converted by an ad.

roadburner

I don't like to "read test" cars by comparing bare numbers- they are only part of the story. Having said that, Car and Driver has tested the X3, the Camry, and the Regal CXL. Depending on which test you are looking at, the X3's lateral acceleration during steady-state cornering varies between 0.81 to 0.88g while the latest Camry pulled 0.79g and the Regal managed 0.85g. Essentially a wash. However I prefer the X3's handling balance as it is much more neutral at the limit. In addition, the X3's steering actually communicates what the front tires are doing. It all depends on what you want out of your car or truck.

oldbearcat

In comparison - according to Car and Driver - the GLK pulls .82G, does 0 - 60 in 6.5 seconds, and is drag limited to 143 MPH.

Regards:
Oldbearcat

sterlingdog

It is a special season of the year. To all of my Christian and Jewish posters on this site, may we remember these important days and what they mean to us.

I've been reading but not posting. I have shingles and it is pretty painful. I come to the computer in spurts. The doctor says 2 weeks minimum and 8 weeks maximum. I'm hoping for the lesser.

Have a joyous weekend.

Richard

sterlingdog

I do hope that I didn't offend you on Monday when I took the fatherly approach to giving input to your questions. I think that it would be very good to finish off your basement, especially for the children to enjoy as they grow. As for needing a new vehicle, i can certainly understand it. BTW, congratulations on becoming a father again. As for my mentioning the importance of saving money, I only said that because i know how careful you have been as a young man with your finances. You know your situaiton and life style far better than me. I know that you will make the right decisions, and I wish you the best of luck.

Richard

sterlingdog

Congratulations on your new motorcycle. That's a very pretty blue. Hope you enjoy it, and be careful on it.

Richard

sterlingdog

"You don't want to stretch the budget---then the Pilot is the more sensible choice."

We probably don't want to mislead people. My sister and BIL, the doctors, just purchased another Pilot with all of the gadgets---$40,350. They can purchase by choice what they want. I wouldn't say that they are cheap cars. Lower models begin at $28K+ with average models at about $35K. My sister now owns two Pilots and an Accord. They are a Honda family by choice, after owning Lexus, Cadillac, MB, and other models. i think that Hondas are very good cars regardless of price. We certainly enjoyed our CRV in 2000. Another $8K or $9K doesn't necessarily make for a better car. My SRX at MSRP was $56K+. I'm sure that there are better cars on the road for less money. It simply boils down to what a person likes and what gives them driving pleasure.

Richard

sterlingdog

"And, if you want to buy a Buick or a Camry, then the handling is just not important to you."

Perhaps we shouldn't make such a blanket statement. How a car handles is importnat to most people. Your interpretaiton of handling may not be the same as others. Some drivers don't like a stiff, rough, or jerky approach. Still, that doesn't mean that they don't want a car that handles well. I would say that it is more of a choice rather than a particular brand.

You told me months ago to remind you again if you were going a little over the top. Is this such a moment? I know how passionate you are about the "feel of the road", but remember that not all others share that same opinion. BTW, you still need to try that Town Car or SRX to get that real "feel of the good life".

Richard

tallman1

Happy Easter back to you, Richard. Truly a joyous time of year.

Sorry to hear about your shingles. I've heard that the pain is excruciating. :sick:

bolivar

I hope your doctor is giving you drugs for that. Valtrex is the main anti-viral drug out there. Take double the doctor's advice. It hammers the liver, so stop taking any other drugs that are tough on the liver, such as Lipitor, etc, diabetic drugs, etc.

If you doctor is just wanting to 'let it run its course', I would speak to another doctor. If you had taken Valtrex at the very onset, the outbreak would be much lessened.

Playing a doctor on Edmunds, Dr. Bolivar

driver100

I've been reading but not posting. I have shingles and it is pretty painful.

Happy Easter/Passover to you too! Weren't you scheduled for a trip? I thought you were away on a trip so I didn't ask where you were.

We have had two friends who have had shingles recently and it is not very good. I strongly advise everyone to consider getting a shingles vaccine. About 1 person in 3 over 60 will get shingles and it can be a long and painful experience. The vaccine costs just under $200 and is very effective.

My thoughts are with you, and I hope this one is a speedy recovery - missed your posts....now I will address the ones after this one........

driver100

My sister and BIL, the doctors, just purchased another Pilot with all of the gadgets---$40,350. They can purchase by choice what they want.

Most cars today are pretty nice at whatever the price. Some people don't get that much pleasure from their car so they buy a car that has what they need to get them comfortably from A to B. Nothing wrong in that. Some people don't get pleasure from a Rolex watch, others are perfectly happy with a Timex. Nothing wrong with that.

Your BIL just wants comfortable transportation and he is satisfied with that. That is fine, but if he really enjoyed driving he might opt for a Cayenne or an X5. I doubt his Pilot has the same handling characteristics, but he would be wasting his money because he either doesn't need those features or he just doesn't care about them.

Some people need a home theatre to watch a movie. Half the time I forget to turn to High Definition channels because while watching the TV has some importance to me......I don't really need to have it as clear as humanly possible.

I mentioned we have friends who are multi-millionaires who drive a 4 year old Chev Equinox. They can buy any car they want but they like to see their money sitting in the bank. They love their Chevies, but they only put so much value on a car...obviously they won't appreciate the touches that a finer car has.

Nothing wrong in that, just what your priorities are.

driver100

How a car handles is importnat to most people. Your interpretaiton of handling may not be the same as others.

I was hoping not to be misinterpreted again, so I tried to be as clear as I could. What I actually said was;

"And, if you want to buy a Buick or a Camry, then the handling is just not important to you.

If you prefer a cushiony ride, then those cars will do. People buy those cars for the soft ride and light steering. They won't be converted by an ad.
What I was meaning is that some people want stiffer ride, more control of steering and handling.......other people do not find that important, they prefer softer ride and they think lighter steering is better. It is impossible to have both, so what I am saying is you have to choose which one is important to you. Nothing right or wrong about either choice...but you do have to choose. I am sure the day will come when I will choose soft ride and less precise control.

Another factor when buying a car is how much do you want to spend on a car. You might be restrained by a budget number...or it might be restrained by the fact a car is worth only so many dollars to you.

Thanks for helping, but I think what I said is fair.....not that every one needs to have the feel of the road or wants it. I drove the Fusion for 2 weeks and it was a good car......but, I (just speaking for myself) get more enjoyment driving a car that gives me.......(you know the rest)

mako1a

I still don't see why people keep driving those Alpha/Numeric (foreign) cars on the track and the highways looking for all this g-force handling and road feel.

Why not get a Corvette? It should be able to smash all records by BMW, Audi and whatever else comes along. And the power is unsurpassed.

driver100

I still don't see why people keep driving those Alpha/Numeric (foreign) cars on the track and the highways looking for all this g-force handling and road feel.

Mako, like I say, it is just personal preference. I feel I have more control of the car if I can feel the nuances of the road, and the steering is firmer. Most people probably prefer a more comfortable ride (softer) and many people think the lighter the steering the better...but, even American manufacurers are getting away from light steering.

There might be some misunderstanding of what firm ride means. It isn't necessarily so hard you will be jarred by bumps...the difference is you will just feel the bump slightly, so you have a better sense of what the road surface is like. In other words, with a soft ride you might not realize you are on gravel, or rough surface.

I get some enjoyment from having my senses pick up the surface of the road, and the exactness of steering. I understand if you like a softer ride, but remember, the price you pay is you are being desensitized to the changes in the road surface and steering is not as precise.

For many people this is not what they want and for others they wouldn't know about that difference if they tested 2 cars, one with and one without those characteristics. I get that. Almost every one here gets pleasure from driving their car....I find it more pleasureable to have the extra degree of control and a feeling of the road surface, others like smooth ride and light steering. It is just personal preference.

By the way, I am not trying to convert any one. I am just trying to explain why some people like their cars that way. A lot of ads highlight cars have a soft ride, but these days there are people who hear that and it will be a reason not to buy that car.

Didn't you get an Escape or Explorer? That has a pretty firm ride. Not designed for cornering, but in order to carry stuff those cars have to have firm suspensions. Cornering and handling....not so much. How does it compare with an Avalon?

driver100

Why not get a Corvette? It should be able to smash all records by BMW, Audi and whatever else comes along. And the power is unsurpassed.

There is a limit to how hard I want the suspension to be and how much power I need. I also need a bit of a back seat and a trunk or I will not like my car very much.

My neighbor has a Corvette that he takes out for about an hour if the weather is nice on a Sunday. That is very impractical for me and for most people. There are limits as to how firm and how fast any one needs their car to be. A Corvette doesn't interest me...but to each his own.

fezo

I have shingles and it is pretty painful.

I have vinyl siding which isn't nearly so bad....

Sorry to hear it. I went through shingles and was completely down for a week. Barely got out of bed. This, too shall pass.

A happy Easter to all who observe and a happy what you do observe to all others. This should ne interesting. We are going to dinner today at the family of my oldest daughter's boyfriend. We've never met them. Stay tuned.....

houdini1

Roadburners comparison numbers came in about where I would expect, a wash, which certainly doesn't equate to much better handling for the BMW. I also agree with his statement that you just can't beat the laws of physics.

I think you are confusing subjective "feel of the road" with actual performance.

houdini1

Fortunately there are choices other than buckboard hard or cushy soft. If you put BWM at one end of the spectrum and say, an Avalon at the other end, most people would choose a car somewhere between the two.

I use the Goldilocks method of choosing a car. Some ride too hard, some ride too soft, and some ride just right...for me. I prefer taut and compliant with good, somewhat firm steering feel.

driver100

I also agree with his statement that you just can't beat the laws of physics.

Roadburner was comparing newer models that have been updated to try to compete with a BMW. When I originally made my comments I was comparing my 2004 X3 to about a 2008 Buick Century (or Lesabre...they both look the same to me) rental car and about the same vintage Camry, also a rental.

I am not an enthusiast who reads Road and Track (unless I am at my doctors office) on a regular basis...so I wasn't talking about the latest models...which use BMW as the benchmark for what they are trying to achieve by the way.

I am saying in my real life experience, there was a lack of any feel of the road and a lack of any kind of handling ability in the two rentals I drove.
They did have soft cushiony rides, which is fine if that is what one desires.
I am sure I will appreciate that quality in about 20 years from now.

driver100

I use the Goldilocks method of choosing a car. Some ride too hard, some ride too soft, and some ride just right...for me. I prefer taut and compliant with good, somewhat firm steering feel.

Well put and I think that sounds fine. I forget what you drive....I want to know what car is exactly in the middle.