Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    I see your point. If a second key will cost $150, I hate to think what any repair bills would be!

    It's cheaper than having some thief make off with your car in less than 3 minutes. :P

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Hondas may be boring and they may lack the "feel of the road" but they simply don't break.

    Boring is right! Now you have some excitement in your life, trying to figure out how to get the warning lights off, how to get a new key, how to do various repairs..............your not only getting the feel of the road, you are feeling your life as you take on these many challenges.................

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I just spent fifteen minutes on the Reatta. I used McGuires cleaner wax on that back panel and was shocked with the results!

    15 minutes? :confuse:

    It takes me 20 just to find all my equipment for a wax job. :sick:

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "It's cheaper than having some thief make off with your car in less than 3 minutes."

    Who would steal a BMW? They couldn't afford to keep it up! :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "15 minutes?"

    On top of that, he's 3 hours behind you. :P That boy is quick.

    Richard
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Isn't the guy a scream? I really should include him in the Will.

    He is priceless. He just never gives up.

    Speaking of wills, I had an interesting experience at the lawyers the other day that every one should consider, and almost no one does.

    We spent about 2 and half hours discussing our plans, then we all shook hands and we were going to have the will drawn up. My wife and I trust each other, so we are confident if one goes, the other will make proper arrangements and the kids will be left something etc when the last one goes.

    Just as we all stood up, I said I have a question that might sound stupid but here goes. What if I die first, my wife gets everything, she meets some hunky young guy who is 30 years younger, and he gets what is left, or talks her into not giving anything to the 3 children involved? The lawyer says, this actually happens lots of times, and few people think about it or provide for it.

    Our solution was, if one of us goes, children get a portion of their inheritance at that point. Then all is not lost. Also, we left some money to whoever will take care of our dog Gigi. No one has been listed yet, but I can put Fezo on the list if he would like that.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Who would steal a BMW? They couldn't afford to keep it up!

    Ahhh, that's what also makes them theftproof. Those BMW engineers are always thinking. :P :P

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    I would love to have one of those air horns and the big yellow lights sitting on top.

    Not big enough. You need 12 tone Train Horns.

    They sell them on ebay and other places. Hoooooonk!

    Train Horns

    Pinehurst will never be the same.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Yep, I need the "Super Heavy Duty High Volume" for $589. They would put half of my neighbors in the hospital. :sick:

    Richard
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    What type of dog are you talking? :P

    I have to keep on Richard though. I need it more than his niece and nephew....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,297
    In case you didn't know...

    http://finance.rr.com/kiplinger/read.php?CS_id=kiplinger&UX_id=kiplinger_others&- kiplinger_cat=others&kiplinger_subcat=spending&kiplinger_id=8f546d67ec127d1bd2fe- 75f06c8ebae8

    Most of that is old news but have you guys ever heard of Car Gurus for pricing?

    The other thing I found interesting was the mobile car inspection services. For a local car I prefer my regular indie garage but scheduling is always a problem. A service that goes to the location, does a test drive etc. might be worth it for a distant car or one where you couldn't get to your local garage.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    My Jeep goes 2k per year. Just sits and waits for 3-4 drives per month to keep it fit. Just over 20mpg on the highway and 16 around town. My 10 year old granddaughter already has her eye on it for her 17th birthday.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    edited August 2011
    2010 Ford Mustang (I didn't know about this one)

    This is spooky. Just yesterday I saw a Mustang doing that and thought it was really cool. I come in here today and I get the whole history of sequential turn signals.

    I love this forum! It's worth every penny. :P
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,297
    "...It takes me 20 just to find all my equipment for a wax job..."

    Yeah, but Isell probably isn't stopping to pick up women on the way. :P

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    Then my wife drug me to GM with the SRX.

    She had to get you high to go with the GM? Hope she used some good drugs.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,823
    It's not the first Ford she has had, although her last one was a '56 Fairlane with a tbird v8.
    After that she had a 64 Dodge Dart, 74 Dodge Dart, 84 Chrysler LeBaron and a 1993 LeBaron.
    She looked at a 2003 Sebring, but the Malibu was a better deal and better car.
    We started out looking at the Cruze and Focus, but she saw an Aveo and thought that was a better size.
    No way she was getting one of those, so I started looking for Fiesta's.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    although her last one was a '56 Fairlane with a tbird v8.

    I had one of those for one summer. Loved that thing because no one expected it to be fast. It was 12 years old at the time but it flew.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,823
    edited August 2011
    I don't think I could drive anything like that either.
    $48,500 sounds like a lot of money, but it's a limited edition and is pretty much a match for an M3, maybe even a bit faster at the track.
    Here is a link to a video describing the Boss 302 and also the Laguna Seca upgrades.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,823
    edited August 2011
    I still remember the first time I saw that engine when my dad opened the hood and i saw Thunderbird embossed on the valve covers.
    Been a Ford guy pretty much ever since then.
    Filled up the Explorer today. 406 miles and took 18 gallons.
    Not bad for a 'Big Fat Greek Station Wagon'. :)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    What type of dog are you talking?

    Bichon, only 7 years old, never barks, just 10 pounds, knows some tricks, sleeps most of the day. Looks similar to this one.......
    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    This is spooky. Just yesterday I saw a Mustang doing that and thought it was really cool.

    Here is what I am not sure of. It looks like the first light goes on at the side of the car, then go inward. I think the lights should start in the middle and go outward, pointing the direction the car will be going.

    Sequential lights are a really nice thing though. I also like the indicators built into the hood that the old Mustangs used to have. Isell will say that they overheat the engine or something and ruin those for me too.
    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Then my wife drug me to GM with the SRX.

    Did Richard actually write that sentence!!! And some people complain about me. :sick:

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    but she saw an Aveo and thought that was a better size.

    There is an ad for the Chev Cruze on the upper right corner of this page...at least it is there right now. I watched the video and I was really impressed, for $16k, it looks like a pretty good little car (of course I was impressed by CAR MD too). Really though, build one, check out the colors, watch the clip, it looks like a great value. When I see an Aveo on the road it doesn't even look that stable, it has those thin little tires...the 4 door seems a bit better but it is nice to have some metal around you.
    image

    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,823
    edited August 2011
    The Blue car is a Sonic which is the Aveo replacement.
    Aveo is just old tech, kind of like a Corolla.
    The Cruze and Focus were pretty much like 3/4 length Malibu's.
    She doesn't really need the width of those cars.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Well, actually the Thunderbird had the Ford Fairlane V8 but at least the Thunderbird decals were impressive.

    In 1956 you could get a 292 V-8 in a Fairland or a 312 and both of them had thunderbird on the valve covers.

    Kinda like the guys with the VW air cooled vans that would tell you how they had a Porsche 914 engine in them.

    Actually those 914's had a Volkswagen engine.

    Sounded good though.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    What a mamby pamby showroom but it was like old home week for me.

    Two sales guys from Honda that I worked with for years are there now and one of our old Service Advisors.

    Had a nice visit.

    Only 80.00 for the key which is less than Honda charges for theirs.
  • gogiboygogiboy Member Posts: 732
    I read that Fortune Magazine has declared the Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet the most disliked car of 2011 based on the breath of reviews thus far. It is the heir apparent to the Pontiac Aztek. I like these comments (all from men): "lumpy, dumpy, shaky, and sluggish", "...Riswick found it so bizarre that he looked for a "seven-foot furry creature riding shotgun.", Road & Track quoted one observer who thought the CrossCabrio resembled 'some weird mechanical mutant' and then added on its own: "Thinking of the billions of yen and exhaustive engineering efforts needed to create the 'world's first all-wheel-drive crossover convertible' is as shocking as the CrossCabriolet itself.', and finally, "With its raised suspension and high deck lid, the CrossCabrio looks somewhat like an artichoke on wheels, the prototypical niche vehicle."

    Women, on the other hand, apparently like it with one reviewer calling it, "a spirited-yet-cushy mom mobile for those who value adventure and luxury," From the photos I've seen (check out the available colors) it does seem to ooze estrogen--not that there's anything wrong with that!

    Has anyone actually seen one on the road? If so, what was your reaction? Nothing seems quite right in my opinion. My take: an overstuffed VW Eos with a purdy paint job. I fully expect the well-heeled sorority girls to be driving them to class.

    Gogiboy
  • gogiboygogiboy Member Posts: 732
    edited August 2011
    "Then my wife drug me to GM with the SRX. So far so good. I would have never believed it. Still, it hasn't been a year yet. We'll see."

    Richard--

    Don't you mean my wife"drugged" me with a powerful narcotic produced by GM called Cadillac Kool-Aid? Next thing you knew, you were tripping on SRX (or is it on a trip with SRX). By the way, the pharmacological name is SRXstacy, but for the users it's just "SRX" or even "X". My understanding is that people on "X" often feel like they've traveled cross country visiting national parks and the like, when, in fact, they've only been in their own bedroom watching the paint move on the walls.

    Gogiboy
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,823
    So are you upset because when I looked under the hood of Honda I never felt the love? :P
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,823
    edited August 2011
    click on video of the red one
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Only 80.00 for the key which is less than Honda charges for theirs.

    There are some adantages.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Fortune Magazine has declared the Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet the most disliked car of 2011

    Not my kind of thing, but not too bad in this picture. I could imagine it would look pretty bad from some angles. Maybe it just looks homely, and some nurturing women want to fondle it and look after it.
    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    click on video of the red one

    That Fiesta is pretty slick....seems to be light years ahead of the Aveo.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,394
    Drove by the Mini dealer tonight and the car I'm looking at still hasn't been moved- or detailed. The dealer may have snoozed and lost; on the way home I found a 2003 Protege 5 fitted with a nice suspension kit wheels, and a few other mild mods(intake, exhaust) for $4500.

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    lumpy, dumpy, shaky, and sluggish

    Hey, leave my lawyers out of this.

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

  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    They did modify some of those vans with some kind of high performance engines -- I think they were from porshe. Drove a stock one on 1968 for 2 months as a driver for a private school near Philly. Had to take some kids on the turnpike to get them home. Scary slow unless you had a tail wind and if the wind was right, you literally changed lanes involuntarily.
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "Also, we left some money to whoever will take care of our dog Gigi."

    You really are a good guy. That was a sweet thing to do. :blush:

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    That would be a wonderful gift for your sweet granddaughter.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Between you and Fezo, I don't even need to watch Comedy Central! :D

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "Did Richard actually write that sentence (Use ? mark)!!!"

    The sentence is fine. It's not "drugged" as in taking drugs. It's "drug" as the past tense of "drag". BTW, we don't complain about you; we just try to correct you. ;) You should be nice to me. I let another one of those "your" things pass today. I'm so looking forward to the day when you use "you're" correctly in a sentence. :D

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Actually, if you want to go on a nice trip, I have a formula much better than "X". You take Viagra + one pint of Jack Daniels + three glasses of Bonterra Chardonnay + two Xanax pills + two packs of cigarettes. You'll see more than the paint move on the walls. In fact, the Grand Canyon never looked more spectacular.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    If that picture is an indication of the convertibles of the future, then it is definitely time to trade for an F150!

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    It is so strange that they haven't detailed the Mini and called you to come in to get it. What could they be thinking? :confuse:

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Explorer, I'm sorry that I forgot to answer your question the other day. You asked me about the engine in the red F150 XLT. Though it's all Greek to me, here is the info:

    1. 3.55 Axle Ratio with limited slip differential
    2. 5.0 L V8 FFV Engine
    3. 6 speed electronic automatic transmission with OD and Tow/Haul mode (STD)

    Sounds like enough power for me.

    You're doing great with your new Explorer---18 gallons for over 400 miles? Not bad at all.

    Richard
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,297
    Now that I see all the really neat cars he's getting off Craigslist, I'm thinking of getting a CL convertible too.

    What do you think of this one?

    http://albany.craigslist.org/cto/2539138250.html

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    I'm thinking of getting a CL convertible too.What do you think of this one?

    Sounds like a steal. How much did you offer?

    Some of The bad:

    Death Trap
    Breaks down every 500 miles
    Needs new tires every 600 miles
    Violent shaking in the steering wheel over 35 mph
    Driver will open but does not close
    Convertible top does not go up-leaks badly when it is up. However, will come with poncho
    Nobody in this area knows how to put new top on
    Exhaust is ripped off-weld will fix it
    New brakes barely work. Light on fire when used excessively. Emergency brake works once in awhile
    Radio held in by duct tape. Comes with extra duct tape-basically holds the whole car together

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    I may have figured out why "drug" seemed to be a strange past tense for "drag"! (or ? whatever).

    I got this at dictionary.com; (or :, whatever)

    drug
    2    [druhg] Show IPA
    verb Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. Nonstandard .
    a simple past tense and past participle of drag.

    It seemed strange to me, but it is normal to you.
    You're off the hook on that one!

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,700
    edited August 2011
    >The sentence is fine. It's not "drugged" as in taking drugs. It's "drug" as the past tense of "drag".

    So the conjugation of "drag," the verb, is drag, drug, and drugged? ;)
    As in: they drag the box today, they drug it yesterday, and they have drugged it before?

    http://www.verb2verbe.com/conjugation/english-verb/drag.aspx

    However there's a Southern thing:

    drug2    /drʌg/ Show Spelled[druhg] Show IPA
    verb Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. Nonstandard .
    a simple past tense and past participle of drag.

    http://www.verb2verbe.com/EnglishConj.aspx?verb=drug&tail=&type=query

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,144
    Could have been a sales story.....

    This past weekend, my favorite festval of the Summer happened near me. It's a blues festival, that also combines a classic car show, with a BBQ festival, all in the same place, all at the same time. What's not to like?

    It's held in a sleepy little town just northeast of Cincinnati called Lebanon, known for two things. First, the oldest hotel/restaurant still standing in Ohio. And, the town is also (in)famous for the Lebanon Correctional Institute. It really is a sleepy little town that appears that time left behind. That's the way the residents like it.

    They actually close down downtown to have this festival to foot traffic only.

    Probably some of the nicest iron that I've ever seen is at the classic show.....a good portion of it for sale.

    Anyway, I spied a '63 Ford Fairlane. Black over black and looked to be in real nice shape. I was about 100 feet from it when I saw it and saw one of those plastic "For Sale" signs in the window of it. I went to look at the car and see the sign. It had a whole host of descriptions on it with the numbers "$5,000" very large at the bottom. I was "speed reading" it until the owner came up to me.

    I introduced myself.

    He said it was a "barn find" (not so sure about that since he kept deflecting my questions about how he came to own it and if he had done the work on it). And, that the car came from TX. He didn't have to replace any of the panels, but did have to cut in some metal to one of the rear 1/4 panels. He said he painted it black (although the black he used was not a Ford approved "black". It looked like one of those custom black colors that you see show car people use.

    Paint job was decent and the body looked straight....no rips, drips, runs, or errors.

    He openend the hood to reveal a 4.6L V8 (where there should have been a 289 V8 to be period correct). He said he lifted it out of a wrecked-totaled '04 Mustang GT. It was all dressed up with chrome valve covers, radiator shroud, etc. While it did fit under the hood, I could tell he had to do some "finagling" to get it in there.

    The interior was straight out of the same Mustang. Not bad, but again, I could tell there was some custom fitting that had to be done. Some of it perfect, some of it "not so perfect".

    Long and short of it, it "looked" in decent shape. I would have had to get someone to correct some of the issues of fit and finish.

    I told him I was seriously interested in buying it if everything checked out. He got into the car, started it up. Sure enough, that typical Ford V8 rumble was there. The motor looked like it was rocking in its motor mounts a lot whenever the throttle was blipped.

    Sitting in it, it had the seats of a relatively recent Mustang, with the dash of an early '60s Fairlane. I liked that.

    I asked him if we could get together the day after the show (last Sunday) to drive it. He said he was from TX and only came in for the show. He was trying to rush me along.

    I thought $5K was way too cheap. And, I really didn't get a chance to do a proper inspection. I thought "how bad can I get burned for $5K?". Well, I didn't even know if the car was road worthy, if it was safe, if the motor would fall out once on the road.

    I passed. If the guy had been local, I might have taken a chance. But, it would have been my luck, the car wasn't road worthy, the drivetrain was a drop of oil away from seizing, the title was phony, the super glue holding the body panels together would melt, and my new buddy would have been long gone, never to be seen again.

    It wasn't quite "straight enough", with just enough that didn't fit quite right, with just enough of a "sketchy past", that it just sounded too good to be true.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    A service that goes to the location, does a test drive etc. might be worth it for a distant car or one where you couldn't get to your local garage.

    I mentioned this before when Son #1 bought his ’95 Trans Am track car in the spring of ’09.

    He looked all over the Burgh for a Camaro or Trans Am; he drove several even a ’95 Vette. But he didn’t like the price and/or the condition of the cars here. His track buddies told him not to give up, keep looking and to settle in on a Trans Am with a given engine so that he could start his upgrades from there. Why a Camaro wasn’t as good I don’t know. They all felt that while the Vette would be good for tracking, its price and difficulty doing maintenance should be avoided. Anyway he finds a ’95 Trans Am in one of those trade rags that’s in Charleston WV (4 hour + ride from the Burgh). He’s not going down there just for a look so he talks to his track buddies again who go out on the prowl to people they know in the Charleston area. They find 3/4 places that are supposed to be reputable and he tells the owner of the car the only way he’s going to buy is if he takes it to one of those places (no others) and if it passes their inspection and his when he gets there, he’ll buy it. The owner says, “great, one of those places is almost around the corner from me so how about me taking it there if that’s OK with you”. He takes it in, it gets a good bill of health then the following Saturday we go down to get it.

    The young 30 something school teacher guy said the car was almost never driven in the rain and was absolutely NEVER driven in the snow. We substantiated the snow bit when we did the first upgrade which was installing the Corvette C5 brake package. The underside of the car still had the black factory paint on the suspension components. I remember my son saying when we climbed under it, “well, so far, it doesn’t look like he lied to me about how he babied this car. I’m almost expecting to find wax residue somewhere under here”. He got a pretty nice car and he still thinks the price was great and so do his track buddies but he did have to invest time searching and making sure it was OK before we spent the time going back and forth to get it.

    The car looks more like a show car (black/black) than it does a track car.

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

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