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Comments
Richard
He loooooves it.
They are nice. I went to a Cruise night with beautiful 50 and 60s cars with a friend last night. Had the top down and it was just great, beautiful evening, about 74 degrees. There was an 84 Firebird that was absolutely perfect...like brand new.
What do you guys do when you drive a BMW in to work. Park it on the back lot and hope potential customers coming in don't see them.
Shouldn't the salesmaen be driving your own demonstrators?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I was just having fun, I really enjoy tennis and I am fortunate to be able to play at my age. Aches and pains keep getting worse but it is great exercise, not to mention the social element, which is very important to well being. We go for a coffee after playing.
I am saving golf until I can't run at all. I go golfing about once a year or every two years and I have no ability at all for golfing. My long range shots bounce a few times, never reach lift off, and I have no idea how you take the roll of the grass into consideration on putt shots. Not to mention how hard or soft you hit the ball so it goes into the cup. It is tiring me out trying to comprehend it all. I guess if we plan to stay in Florida for a few months of the year I better learn to golf. Last year they told me I had to learn how to play Euchre if I wanted to come back.
I don't know how hot dog eating became a sport. This years winner downed 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes. I guess you do have to train to do it, but does that qualify as a sport?
Give us a report on your travels.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Bill's demo car.
Very nice! Not much "feel of the road" though.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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It was very interesting. Talk about how BMW over engineers there cars. The crash test every model they make to see how it performs in a crash. They have to get the sounds right in every model they make...the tone noises and warnings.
They talked about the disaster buying Rover was because they couldn't get the reliability up. They did get Rolls Royce to grow, and doubled the sales by intoducing the smaller Rolls, just $250,000.
They talked about the quest to get the engineering exactly right, and the design has to be exactly right. And though many people complained about the Bangle butt, the sales went way up.
It was well worth watching!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
To be fair, that is parked in front of the Nissan store for Bill's dealership so that's probably the demo for Nissan's used car manager. Bill no doubt has some sodium silicate to lend him - but I'd want to see that one.
I'm actually driving the 2010 F150... although probably going to switch into that GS460 for the weekend.
Don't blame me, that's our Nissan store
Thanks for the heads up. Down here it's on CNBC.
I should have just said in Canada it was on MSNBC and no one would know I made another mistake, but it was on CNBC here too!
I'm not up on my grammar, spelling, and cable TV channels. :sick:
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Bottom line, it shouldn't have taken the amount of phone calls, the amount of emails, the amount of frustration it took. It was cut and dry....and should have been done within minutes, not days, and certainly not weeks.
Another dealership I'll scratch off my list to never talk to again.
That's funny. Actually it was a very nice clean vehicle for a 2001 and only $4k!
Wonder how they kept it going for over 10 years?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
GG, great that you got it back at least. I think some companies do have processes and red tape to get things done...maybe the bookeeper only comes in twice a month. Often what we think should be a simple process is more complicated than it seems.
Even then, it would have been nice if they got you the refund right away without a hassle....then they might have had a chance to sell you a car in the future.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
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Today in the paper there was an article liksting the Top Ten car models that sold in June. As always the F-150's were on top. Honda didn't even make the list and only Toyota's Camry made a showing.
Mush of this has to do with the situation on Japan. Honda simply doesn't have very many cars to sell and the timing couldn't be worse.
Because they have such few cars, they aren't apt to offer any deep discounts and for good reason.
I'm just thinking that as a result of this...few cars to sell and no big discounts, that a lot of dyed in the wool "Honda People" are probably looking elsewhere, and they are!
Chevy Cruise actually made the Top Ten list!
Quality of GM and Ford cars has improved markedly and so have the Koreans!
I'm thinking it's going to be difficult for Honda and Toyota to regain market share even when inventories are back to normal.
Does the situation in Japan affect the cars that Honda makes in North America? I thought the cars made here were built with NA-sourced parts, but I could be wrong.
I'm just thinking that as a result of this...few cars to sell and no big discounts, that a lot of dyed in the wool "Honda People" are probably looking elsewhere, and they are! Chevy Cruise actually made the Top Ten list!
I will agree with you on this. I think the gap between Honda / Toyota quality and Hyundai / Kia / Chevrolet quality, both real and perceived, is much smaller now than it was 5-10 years ago.
I know that my folks, who drove Toyotas for most of their life, bought a Hyundai in 2003 as their last "new" car.
The two primary reasons why were:
1) They could get a V6 Sonata for the same price as a Camry 4-cyl
2) The thickness of the steel on the Hyundai was appealing to my dad. Yes, it makes the car heavier and reduces fuel economy, but that wasn't what was important. As they live close to the ocean, the heavier gauge steel is more impervious to rust.
I suspect many Toyota and Honda faithful are finding out that there are other manufacturers that build just as nice of a car, at a competitive price, with a better warranty.
Interesting thoughts Isell. What happenned when they said there would be a shortage of all cars because most of the instruments were made in Japan?
I think companies will use any excuse to make it seem there will be a shortage so they can find reasons to raise prices.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I think he would be more comfortable in something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wuZ7CbRktw
:P
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Craig - good points. If the quake had hit three years ago it wouldn't be a big deal long term but these days everything has changed.
Everybody sources some parts from that part of Japan - you saw that with GM closing the truck plant for a while and Ford suspending that black paint. Honda and Toyota are hurt the worst by it. Even though they have high American content they have enough from that section of Japan to leave them really screwed. Nissan had less exposure so they have more available. Maybe the only reason it's not worse for Mazda is that nobody seems to be buying Mazdas these days.
I'd sooner walk than drive one of those...
I'd sooner walk than drive one of those...
You're not being socially responsible.
(please note you're)
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Even if this were true, how much thicker could it be?
And, I grew up right on the ocean in So. Calif and I NEVER saw a car rust.
I saw pitted chrome sometimes but never rust.
I still don't like anything Korean. They tried to elbow themselves into an already crowded market with lousy cars.
Yes, they got better. MUCH better but (in my mind anyway) they are still Korean cars. They aren't much less money and they are cheaper for a REASON!
They went to the longer warranty because they HAD to. Honda and Toyota shoul simply raise their prices a couple hundred dollars and do the same thing to stop the Koreans from crowing about their 100,000 mile POWERTRAIN warranty.
Powertrains rarely give trouble these days on ANY car.
Actually the idea of a Prius is fine with me. Appeals to my inner cheapskate. If they were cheaper I'd think about it. I suspect if I were going to buy a car specifically for mileage I'd get a VW TDI of some sort or an Elantra.
2001 Honda Prelude Type SH - 2 door coupe - red - 142,883 miles
2010 Acura TSX - 4 door sedan - black - 37,468 miles
2011 Honda Pilot - SUV - grey - 3,517 miles
Connecticut
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2011 Mercedes Benz GLK350 4Matic - silver - 6500 miles
2010 Honda CRV LX 2wd - Red - 46000 miles
1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Town Sedan - Red - 72000 miles
West Virginia
My guess is that Honda will come roaring back once it gets its supply going again. I just sold my brother-in-law on a 2012 Civic Si. They didn't have it in stock, and so he special ordered it and will take delivery in about 6 weeks. He's willing to wait for Honda quality.
By the way, you've probably already commented on this somewhere, but now that you're not selling cars are there days when you miss it, or is it mostly just a relief to be out of the game?
I'm sure you're having a wonderful retirement. What are you driving these days?
Sould be interesting;
2008 BMW 328 Cabriolet James Bond Blue 35000 miles
2008 BMW 335 4 Door - White on white 34000 miles
Ontario
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
1999 Chevy S10 Ext Cab V6 2wd Pewter/Black 114K
2008 Hyundai Elantra GLS Charcoal Grey/grey 23K (GFs)
2009 Hyundai Genesis V6 Burgundy/beige 23K (lease expires May 2012
South Jersey (right outside Philly)
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
I was at the dealer on Saturday having the Genesis serviced and I can tell you Hyundai must be doing something right because that dealer was HOPPING salesmen and managers working deals at several stations and I saw a couple deliveries taking place.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
I think ten years from now Hyundai will probably be as big as Honda in the US market. And it's not that I think Honda is going to slip, I just think that Hyundai is going to do very well indeed...
My biggest pet peeve for Hyundai is that most of their designs have poor rear visibility. They look nice from the outside, but from inside the view is compromised.
Honda has built a wonderful reputation over many decades in North America.
Koreans made some mistakes with their first cars, but most businesses of this type don't get it right from the beginning....they learn from their mistakes.
Hyundai has learned from their mistakes, and their sales are taking off....good value for the price.
If you can reduce labor costs etc. you can cut costs, and not necessarily quality. Hondas weren't that great in the beginning either, but the quality eventually got there.
Don't count Hyundai out. They have good designers and if you combine Kia which is improving rapidly too, their sales are really growing.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
1956 Packard Caribbean Convertible, I think 21k miles
1956 Lincoln Premiere 81k
1958 Porsche 356A Coupe Who knows.
1960 Vauxhall Velox (probably 151k) 51k miles
1960 Vauxhall Victor (?K)
1962 Vauxhall Velox 112k I think, maybe...
1988 BMW M5 196k
1997 BMW 740iL 153k maybe?
2006 Jaguar XJ8 68k
2007 Lexus GS350 AWD 63k
And today's demo...
2008 Lexus GS460 62k
My wife has a. 2007 Honda Pilot EXL. 73k miles
I drive a. 2001 Chevrolet Silverado ext cab. 218k miles
My fun car. 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. 135k miles
I need to replace my daily driver soon. I think I'm going to get either a Mazda 3 or a Hyundai Sonata turbo. I will keep the truck and sell my Z.
-2003 Hyundai Elantra GLS-110,xxx miles
-2007 Honda Accord EX (4 cyl)-47,xxx miles
-2011 BMW 335i xDrive Coupe-200 miles
My son drives the Accord, but I still hold the title.
Craig, as far as Honda slipping on the sales front, I'm sure the lack of inventory hasn't helped. I think GM, while much better, still has some improvements to make in order to match up to Honda and Toyota. Ford, I believe is there. I haven't been in a Chrysler product except for a rental car several months ago. I think the Mercedes bug (poor reliability) was still biting Chrysler. I read that their newer cars are much better in that regard.
Hyundai....you'd be hard pressed to tell me that they haven't done well, very well, with their cars....to the point where I'd put them up against any other brand, at any price point.
My son's Elantra (OK....I hold the title to it, too) has been a sterling example. Aside from routine maintenance, tires, batteries, etc, it's been a wonderful car.
I came away impressed with the Genesis when I test drove one a couple of years ago. Seems like the owners here like them, too.
That said, I do love Honda products (especially Acura). It's about product. If it looks good, and drives well, there's a good chance any car will be a hit in the market place. I'm not so sure that being lean on inventory is such a bad thing, particularly for Honda. Back in the 80s, when the first faux gas crisis hit, Honda couldn't sell their cars fast enough. And, the inventory situation was slim. It almost became a status symbol to have a Civic or Accord.
I can see that happening again. Hondas and Acuras are very well made, very well engineered cars, that promise 200K miles of trouble free, inexpensive driving. Regardless of the way other cars have improved, that's still a big hammer when people walk into a Honda showroom. That's what they're looking for.
Having less to go around just may be a good thing in the long run for them.
I believe all the Japanese manufacturers will benefit from this wherever they sell or manufacture cars in the world. They will learn lessons about how to build even strurdier, even better engineered cars because they've had to overcome huge odds to get back on their feet.
Mine-2008 VW R32-Gray, 20,400 miles.
Seattle
BTW, Honda has announced that it's moving all of its Japan based assembly plants to South Korea, stating better quality and cheaper labor force as factors in the decision. Just kidding isell!
I don't have a problem with them being Korean at all. I used to be very critical of them because I thought that they weren't very good cars and that, while their initial purchase price might have been tempting, they had such atrocious resale value that a $14k Sephia was often MUCH more expensive to own than a $17k Civic.
In the meantime? What I have seen out of Hyundai is amazing. As the used car manager I deal with the used cars... these things come in, 50k miles on them, and aside from tires, brakes, belts, etc.. they just don't need repairs.
Toyota Camrys with 30-40k on them often had leaking struts, Highlanders often needed rear control arms by 4 years of age, 4Runners and Tacomas often needed calipers....
These things? Nothing. I can't believe it! And you KNOW what I used to say about Hyundais and Kias, they were lousy cars with lousy resale.
Nowadays? I'd take a Sonata over an Accord or a Camry. All day long.
But yeah, I'm not trading the Jaguar in though!
2009 Toyota Camry LE red 14K
2011 Honda CRV 4WD grey 2K
I got my CRV right before the big squeeze seemed to begin...altough it was made in Mexico- not sure how I feel about that ultimately...
Richard- glad to hear the trip went well....
Fezo- glad to hear that you're dealing with Sloan- the best!! I had a relative treated there-she's doing wonderful years later- and my family raved about the staff as well....
What do you mean? He is polluting less by walking than driving a Pruis. Cuts down on the so called green house gasses and saves fuel. Plus it's healthy.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Living in the Midwest with the snow and the salt used on roads you rarely see a rusted car. Used to be an issue many decades ago but not now.
I still don't like anything Korean. They tried to elbow themselves into an already crowded market with lousy cars.
Same can be said for Honda and Toyota, they elbowed themselves in with lousy cars, now they make good cars and so does Hyundai. I would put the wifes Hyundai up against anything comparable that Honda and Toyota puts out.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
1975 BMW 2002A - 2 door sedan - Atlantikblau - 194,755 miles
1995 BMW 318ti Club Sport - 3 door( hatch) - Hellrot - 126,969 miles
1999 Jeep Wrangler Sahara - SUV - Desert Sand Pearl - 109,100 miles
2004 BMW X3 2.5 - SUV - Flamencorot - 118,135 miles
2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 - 5 door hatch - Cosmic Blue Mica - 83,693 miles
And on two wheels:
1996 Triumph Speed Triple 900 - streetfighter - Fireball Orange - 14,458 miles
Louisville, KY
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2003 Hyundai Accent 4 door sedan Black 130K miles (son drives but in our name)
2008 Chrysler Sebring convertable white 51K miles
2011 Hyundai Sonata 4 door sedan White 11K miles
Chicago metro area.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Love that 72 Civic you got there--and that's a great example. Didn't the civic have FWD, CVCC engine, independent suspension, and a 5 speed manual?
That same year if you'd gotten a Corolla it would be RWD, less advanced engine, no independent suspension, and a 4 speed manual. Yes, the Corolla was probably $500 less, or the Honda was $500 more, back when that was a lot (small cars being c. $2500-$3000 back then), but you really got $500 more of engineering in the car, imho.
That's why the Honda cult started and the cars practically sold themselves--superior engineering.
The wifes car is non turbo yet it does have more than adaquate power. A turbo must be pretty good for that car.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I just can't stand the Prius for a whole number of reasons. First of which is that driving one is just misery.
'07 GTI 6-spd
'00 540i 6-spd
'85 MR2 5-spd
'08 Town & Country Ltd
'99 Saab 9-3 auto cabrio
NJ
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S