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Comments
He is still with us.... that in itself is a good sign.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Here's what is certain.....demand for oil plateaued 3 or 4 years ago. Demand has been dropping since then.
Regardless of (if) China's demand picks up, that can't remotely make up for the drop in demand in the West (including the U.S.).
As electrics and hybrids become more prevalent, the price of gas should be dropping to increase demand. It's not.
That means there's manipulation going on since prices have barely budged from their highs (20% off their highs at most.....it's probably more like 10%).
Richard
I passed a new Fiat on the highway. The guy was going about 65 mph. It looked like he was holding onto the steering wheel with both hands....and for dear life.
They are tiny! Probably not too bad in the city for little trips, but I don't think I would want to take it on the highway.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Fiat. The company that brought pure junk cars to the U.S. and left with their tails between their legs leaving people with warranties high and dry.
Now, they own the majority of Chrysler!
Funny how people have such short memories...
Anyways I did an assistant sales manager stint at a local Nissan dealership for about a year before taking on a marketing manager position a few weeks ago that I've been pursuing for a while at a local dealership dealing with high end italian exotics.
It's an absolute pleasure going to work and being surrounded by the most exotic cars in the world. Such a difference in clientele too! I'll try to visit here more frequently. Hope everyone has a great summer!
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Ah, nice to hear from you. Hope those exotic Italian cars aren't Fiats.
Hope to hear from you about the new dealership you are at, and congratulations on the new position.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If I dismissed every car I have ever seen with the driver holding onto the steering wheel with both hands for dear life I would be walking everywhere.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Richard
It was windy and we were on a big bridge. I didn't see any one else holding on to the steering wheel like he wouldn't let go...and I mean two hands like you would have to peel them off with a crowbar.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
before taking on a marketing manager position a few weeks ago that I've been pursuing for a while at a local dealership dealing with high end italian exotics.
Hey ‘boom’, good to hear from you again. Maybe you can contribute to the discussion we had a little while back about convertibles. There’s gotta be a high end convertible tale lurking to be told. They can’t all have solid fixed tops but we’d take any sales tale at this point.
Welcome back and this time stick around.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
What's up there? Alfas? Ferraris? do tell.....
I have one of those under the seat of the Genny but it ain’t for my hands. The alternative is somewhat illegal in our county.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
That was almost brilliant timing - boomcheck dropping in JUST after isell's post about Fiats. Next think you know, they'll be wearing matching shirts.
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
Got the internet quote back from the dealer, it's msrp!
That will have to go on the back burner for a bit.
I'm driving with one of my kids down to Georgia so they can start a 3 month job.
It's a great opportunity and this is the time of life to try it.
That being said one time my sister made the comment, when I was driving, about my death grip on the wheel. Truth be told my hands were at around the 9 and 3 positions but my grip was so light that a sudden jerk would have yanked the wheel out of my hand. In short looks can be decieving.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
By Bernie Woodall
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Honda Motor Co.'s redesigned Civic LX small sedan dropped precipitously in Consumer Reports ratings and no longer rates well enough to be on the publication's "recommended" list, the consumer magazine said Monday.
The Civic fell from "very good" in the previous Consumer Reports ratings of small sedans in the U.S. market, and was rated next-to-last of 12 models tested.
Consumer Reports criticized the new Civic for a choppy ride and excessive road noise, but on the positive side, said it gets the second-best fuel efficiency among small sedans, behind only the Toyota Corolla.
Full story:
2011 Civic
Sorry isell, I just report what I find.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Explorer, sometimes it costs more to be economical.
If I may, 2012 Mustang 6 cyl A/T base can be had for
approx $24k and it will only halve it's value in 6 years.
Fiesta 2012 is not released yet, but for $18-20k...maybe $6k in 6 years.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
My mom is getting the intake gasket fix done on her car, so it's ok if things get pushed off a bit.
There's about $600 between msrp and invoice.
Plus there is a $500 customer cash, $500 marketing support, and my mom has a $750 coupon.
They don't know I know that.
A Mustang would a bit much for her.
The Fiesta we are looking at has an msrp of 20,580.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
My mom always went alone to buy...AMC Pacer, VW Rabbit,
Corvair, Chrysler K-Car. I asked why she traded every 4 years.
Her reply, I trade when the battery expires. New car, new battery.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
In 2003 I got her to buy the Malibu.
This will be swapping out a bit early for her.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Of course, I shouldn't care now that I'm no longer in the business but I suspect it's tainted. I've lost a lot of faith in CR in the past few years.
Still, this is going to hurt Honda at a time they don't need it. A loot of people buy into everything CR reports.
I drove one and I remarked at the fact it was quietier than the previous models.
Market forces determine pricing, not what a dealer may have paid for a car.
It's funny, the Civic still gets good mileage, it is one of the most reliable cars around, it is as safe as can be. I think CR just expected more since other car makers have improved a lot.
There are people like my brother, he will buy a new Civic every 10 years, not try anything else, not even shop around. He'll go to the Honda dealer when his car is in it's 10th year and buy another one, no questions asked.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I know I just came back from a business trip after renting a Corolla. The steering actually scared me (as it had absolutely no connection to what was happening with the tires). You'd manipulate the steering wheel and kind of hoped, prayed, wished the car would go in the direction you wanted. There was no way to tell how far the steering wheel needed to turn to go where you wanted.
I guess people get used to that. I had the car 3 days and never did.
I like Hyundais, too. However, I've always felt that the Civic was the "BMW" of small cars.
CR has never liked what I've liked.
Typical Toyota... they really are just like the old American cars. Floaty and disconnected steering. Just point it straight and go. My kind of ride!
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
I told the tale about meeting a guy in the grocery store parking lot a couple years ago who owns an ’09 Genny V6 in the same color as my car, Cabernet Red Pearl. Yesterday as I was approaching the grocery store there was a Genny V6 (Cabernet Red Pearl) in front of me and we both pulled into the lot. We both park but I stayed in the car for a minute playing with the NAV system naming a location. I get out of the car and there is the driver of the other Genny waiting for me. This time it’s a woman. She said she saw me in her mirror and waited for me because she wanted to talk to me. She said she lives up the hill which isn’t but a mile from me. We jab for a bit and I said this is the second time I’ve seen another car like mine here in this same lot and asked if she was related to the guy I saw before. She said, “I guess, how many of these cars can there be around here”? To be sure, I said, “was this car hit on the parkway not too long after you got it”. She said, “yeah, how’d you know that”. I told her that her husband told me that. Now I know for sure it’s the same car.
She mentioned that her car was not as clean as mine but it would be this weekend. I said bring it over and we can do a waxing together. She said, “I don’t do that stuff” (sounds like another woman I know
Some people just don’t know how to get any fun out of life.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Richard
Richard
I suppose I was unimpressed at the lack of changes. I thought I was looking at a 2011 Civic and it was a 2012!
Richard
Sounds like Honda didn't keep up with it's payments.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I always say that when the trend is towards little puddle jumpers it's time to buy the big old V-8 SUV monster trucks. In a year when people are dumping the cramped little econo-boxes you can trade your (now more in demand) SUV in at a premium.
This has happened every time gas spiked since 2005. I can even remember it happening in the late 70s. People went crazy paying full boat or more for any 4-cyl. car only to dump them like a case of herpes a year later.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Hondas handle very well at the expense of a rougher ride and more road noise.
Honda can't rest on it's laurels and expect total loyality as they have enjoyed in the past. They have taught their competitors quite well and now they have competition like never before.
The Elantra has swoopy styling, which I like, but the rear visibility doesn't seem to be very good. The 2012 Civic seems to have good rear visibility.
Both do great on crash tests. Hyundai has come a long way in this regard. But overall I still think Honda's advanced compatibility engineering is tough to beat. And I read somewhere that the IIHS tested the roof crush strength of the 2012 Civic at 15,000 pounds--5 times the weight of the vehicle and way over even the new tougher 2.5 times standard. It looks sleek, but underneath it's a tank to equal anything Volvo has ever made.
Still, I hope Honda improves the plastics and other issues CR had with the car asap. They should aim to be on top again as soon as they are able.
Given how competitive the small car segment has become I'm surprised that Honda hasn't made more substantial changes. When we bought our 1994 Civic we both felt it was the "class" of the segment--and by a large margin. We had driven quite a few comparable cars and really felt that the Honda represented a great value--even the EX model, which we bought. Honda has always had utilitarian interiors, but in 94 the materials, especially the seats, switch gear, dash and door panels and headliner were all first rate (for the segment). I still think back fondly to that padded--almost leather-like headliner. Dual airbags and antilock brakes were a big plus, too. The weak links were intrusive road noise, lack of peppiness and a kind of forced anonymity produced by having so many others on the road (this could also be construed as reassuring).
Fast forward to 2007 and I was ready to get another Civic. To my great distress the 07 Civic was no quieter, the materials had become much more pedestrian (except for the really great SI seats) and the acceleration was still pretty anemic (again, except on the SI). The exterior styling was no longer distinctive or adventurous.
If you read the CR evaluation carefully, it's still deemed a respectable car, just not a "recommended" class leader and Honda has only themselves to blame for failing to address the recurring issues like blandness and road noise. Would it kill them to find a better, more workable sound insulation solution to the road and tire noise? Hell, my wife's tinny Scion is quieter that the Civic (and my Mazda3). Too much resting on their laurels while their competitors have pulled along side.
Fortunately, the Civic still has reliability, fuel efficiency and respectable resale working for it. Perhaps those attributes will carry it through until a "real" update. Let's face it, cars like the Focus and Elantra can no longer be dismissed as also-rans. I opted for the Mazda3 and have had better reliability and much more zippiness, but, alas, at the expense of fuel efficiency.
I write the above as someone who will always admire Honda and the Civic and want to see both continue to be respected. I agree that the timing couldn't be worse because there is a significant swing towards smaller, fuel efficient vehicles and Honda should be a viable choice.
Gogiboy
I think that one reason that we enjoyed it was because it did handle extremely well---tight on the corners, no loose steering, etc. For a 4 cylinder, I was amazed at how well it would climb steep mountain grades. My wife enjoyed it because it was the perfect town car---parked on a dime and visibility was great.
My sister and BIL have a 2011 Pilot, a 2010 Pilot, and a 2010 Accord. They love Honda and have no complaints. In fact, my BIL traded his Lexus for the top of the line Accord. He likes the Accord much better. Would I buy another Honda? Yes, if they would improve the MPG and some interior materials.
Richard
I need a little advice, especially from the sales folks, but all opinions are welcome.
How soon is too soon to test drive your next vehicle?
My lease is up in December, and I'm planning on buying a pick up. I have 3 on my short list, but I haven't driven any of them. I don't want to be a tire kicker, but if I drove them sooner than later, I may eliminate 1 or 2 of them, saving time and hassle later.
Right now, I research them daily. Reviews, incentives, forums, etc. If I knew for sure I didn't want one of them, I obviously wouldn't waste anymore time on it.
On the other hand, if I did a test drive too soon, that salesperson may not be there by the time December rolls around, plus I don't want to waste someone's time when I can't honestly buy the vehicle yet, even though my intentions are honorable.
Thoughts?
Nelson
The only thing that would happen by going this early is that you will get each salesperson trying to get you out of your lease early.
'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
You went from a new BMW to a Corolla.....no wonder you felt out of control without "that feel of the road". GG, I think you asked what the "feel of the road" meant......now you know when it is missing.
I find the steering in the BMW feels like it isn't power assisted after driving a rental car. Once I get used to it again I realize how much I miss it.
Honda might be riding on their laurels a bit. I was a passenger in the back of a late model Accord. It felt OK, fairly comfortable, fairly good ride, but not as nice as I would have expected. And, the styling, though inoffesive, was not very dynamic....when compared to say a CC VW.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250