Stories from the Sales Frontlines

houdini1

I would wish you luck, but you won't need it. Why you ask? With the type of attitude that you have, you can't miss !!

OK, best of luck anyway.

sterlingdog

We'll be thinking about you today. Stay positive.

Richard

Kirstie_H

Weird - I didn't see anything like that, but if it happens again, report it. Probably one of the servers got angry because we didn't feed it... because some people ARE behind on dues.

verdugo

Probably one of the servers got angry because we didn't feed it... because some people ARE behind on dues.

I paid. I can't prove it b/c I can't find my receipt :P

explorerx4

I see a new generation of Jensen Interceptor might be re introduced.

fezo

Wow. I'm away a day and three whole posts to catch up on.

Well, we're looking maybe November. I'm definitely retired on October 1. Will have to see how we make ends meet. There will be short term spots immediately and then six months down the line but back to something resembling normal around January of 13 - that's both the financial target and teh physical one.

On these marrow samplings - they test 10 points for HLA markers. Three of my brothers matched each other on all ten points. They matched me on zero. My other brother matched me on one.

Ready to host any time...

roadburner

I saw that too. There was an Interceptor sold a few years ago which was an update of the original; the 440 was replaced by a Chevy LS1 if I'm not mistaken.

imidazol97

Here's a video that's 5 minutes along and will make you feel good about conspicuous consumption!

It shows a condominium group of garages in Minnesota, of course. Buy your condo, built the interior to suit your wants, and enjoy your cars. A summer cabin replacement, one fellow claims.

Richard64 found this for us.

Auto condos

imidazol97

A classic story full of nostalgia.

Pinto 40th Anniversay

sterlingdog

Thanks so much for posting that video for me. I always appreciate your help in the technology field.

Richard

laurasdada

Hello, RB:

Lotus Esprit

Although not white, if it comes with Barbara Bach and you don't need her, let me know...

houdini1

Did The Rapture take place and just a few of us got left behind ???

sterlingdog

My thoughts exactly. I've never known these posters to be away for three days at the same time. It's as if they all went away Sunday night and never returned. Very strange. :confuse:

Richard

kyfdx

How can that be? I'm still here!

Uh oh... :surprise:

robr2

Hiding from falling satellites....

houdini1

Well, I just assume that all the others went to the bad place, and the rest of us were left here in paradise. Works for me.

im_brentwood

$25,950?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted User]

Things are a bit slow around here, so I'll chime in with my recent shopping experiences. As a little background my wife drives an 03 Grand Caravan AWD and it now has 123,000 miles. We use it to shuttle kiddies to school, tow WaveRunners, fit our golden retriever (used to be two), and plow through the wintery wonderland. The van has served its purpose well despite a few reliability issues to be expected of a Dodge. With the mileage adding up, we decided it was time to look for a replacement and we have been targeting a 2012 model.

It's important to note we're both nerds and proudly so. As part of our shopping experience we created a list, and a long one at that, of potential midsize SUV candidates, which I transferred to a spreadsheet detailing out the specs of each choice. We took a measuring tape to each test drive and filled in the blanks not available on the spec sheets, like width, height, length, and step-up height of the cargo areas. We even detailed out our impressions on each walk-around and test drive. Yes, we're those kind of people.

The options initially included the Toyota Highlander and 4Runner, Honda Pilot, Nissan Xterra and Pathfinder, Subaru Outback and Tribeca, Ford Explorer and Flex, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX9 and Hyundai Veracruz. You'll note no premium brands were included as we didn't want to pay the premium purchase price and premium upkeep. Also, Dodge was eliminated because, well, we own one and I drive one as a company vehicle (Journey). The Traverse was ruled out earlier in the year based on experiences of a friend.

We generated our list based on general size needs, towing capability, and pricing. With the initial list in hand we then test drove the options noting the attributes we liked and disliked. Extra credit was given to those with better gas mileage, better handling, expected reliability, supportive seating, and the ability to be easily maintained by yours truly.

The disaster in Japan has genuinely affected local supplies. Honda and Toyota had few options on the lot, and if my memory serves me accurately, I believe the Honda sales rep mentioned they had 30 new units total on the lot when typically they have 350 this time of year. Ford was the same with the Explorer, but I'm thinking their limited supply had more to do with new model demand. Mazda was down to 2 CX9s.

Overall the sales reps made the experience pleasant. The Honda/Toyota/Mazda reps all apologized for low inventories, but committed to watch for 2012s and contact us when they arrived. Honda just followed up this week saying their first 2012 arrived. No follow up yet from the other makes.

After whittling down the list, we ended up with.....drum roll.....nothing. Seriously. Not one option truly sparked our enthusiasm to plunk down $35,000ish before TTL. The 4Runner was close with a stellar history and genuine off-road prowess that we would have enjoyed in Moab, but the newer design sacrifices substantial on-road handling to do so and we felt the cargo would be a tad short for our weekend camping needs. The Pilot was next, and I have to say it topped our list for interior practicality, but I can't stand the motor/tranny combo and it seems quality has dropped off from previous Hondas we've owned.

I've agonized over this to be honest, probably too much so considering it's just a vehicle and there's far more to life. I keep thinking to myself that if I'm going to pull that much cash out of savings, I'd better darn well like my purchase, and I'm afraid that I'll be disappointed in some big way with each of the options. Maybe I'm just over thinking it.

One option we're floating right now is keeping the van and focusing its use on the tasks it performs well, and then purchasing a smaller vehicle with better gas mileage for everything else. In that situation annual mileage on the van would drop from 15,000 to an estimated 3,000, giving us more time before a replacement is truly needed. The Cruze Eco with a manual tranny is a great drive, and the Focus and Elantra look like good options as well. This story is to be continued, so to speak, as we're still deciding what to do.

So, comment away. What would you do? I'm guessing Driver will comment on the practicality of the X5 provided we can tear him away from an Italian gelato served in a dinner roll (the genuine way to eat ice cream in Italy) :P

sterlingdog

First, allow me to welcome you to our little family, especially small since one of our hosts made off with all of the dues money and practically shut us down. :P

When it comes to purchasing cars, I am not the practical type. I look for comfort and a floaty ride. I drive a Cadillac SRX and a Sebring Touring convertible. Though I can't offer you any advice, I do have a question. How did the Ford Flex rate on your spreadsheet? I nearly purchased one last year. I do like them a great deal. Since your research was so thorough, I would be interested in the results for the Flex.

I wish you the best of luck in your decision. Once again, welcome to our world.

Richard

mako1a

ty, I saw the Explorer got a mention on your list, but the Escape did not.

Even though a few pages back I bemoaned the weak trade-in on my 07

I still think they are a quality vehicle with no delays in acquisition of vehicles

or parts. The V6 4WD works quite well in snow (better than my wife's Denali).

The best part is they're priced about 10-15k under the Explorer and since

you take a tape measure to a car lot just like me, they fit in the garage nicely.

explorerx4

If you do decide to keep the van, set aside some money to pay for future repairs and I'm thinking a mid size sedan would be a better choice than a smaller car. A small CUV/SUV might be worth looking at, too.
Add Insurances costs of each to your spreadsheet.

nyccarguy

Where are you located? Too bad you didn't like the Pilot. It's interior practicality WON me over. I bought one 4 months ago. I like the way it drives. It isn't really designed to hustle, but will answer the call when needed.

Regarding the engine/tranny combo, I've never said to myself "Wow, the motor on this thing is Suuuuweeet!". I find it works well.

Good luck with your search & please keep us posted!

[Deleted User]

Thank you kindly for the warm welcome, Richard. It's appreciated. I've lurked here long enough to follow your SRX purchase and was surprised as most you went back to Cadillac. It's great to read how well your new Cadillac experience is turning out and I wish you many happy motoring miles. I think you picked up a great ride at a good price, and I actually prefer your year versus the newer ones.

Regarding the Flex, it's length, turning circle, and low ride proved to be a bit challenging. At first I liked the idea of a low riding vehicle that would make ingress/egress easier, but then a recent launch of my WaveRunner left me wondering if I'd flood the passenger compartment on shallow ramps. Most ramps will perfectly fine with their steep incline providing for enough depth to float the hull before jeopardizing the cargo door seals, but this summer we've had particularly high water levels and some of my launches have required wading out pretty far before getting to the required depth. My Grand Caravan has self-leveling rear suspension and rides fairly high for a minivan, but even with that we've had to be a bit careful and listen for the tell-tale gurgle of the exhaust. The length of the Flex and its turning radius also made everyday parking a chore. One other ding was real-world gas mileage. Most owners seem to be reporting on the low end. That said, a good friend of mine has a Flex, loves it, and I helped him move part of his house recently using it. The cargo capacity is amazing in that thing. If the used market were more typical of prior years, versus today's outrageous resale values, we'd probably consider a Flex coming off lease and figure out a way to deal with shallow launch ramps.

[Deleted User]

That's a great question. About a year ago we started to get the new vehicle itch and at first thought we would target the "larger" compact SUV market. The Toyota RAV4 with a V6 was the initial thought, but an Escape V6 was a potential, too. What we've come to realize is we need more volume for those summer weekends. Between May and September we'll spend two to three weekends a month at the various lakes, some as far as 6 hours drive from our house. In addition to the WaveRunner we have to pack the accessories, like flotation jackets, anchors, beach toys, food, water, tow toys, and lots more. It's amazing how much "stuff" we pack for a simple weekend away.

For business I put a lot of miles on a vehicle, roughly 45,000 in the last year. My next car will probably be an Escape or Edge, but since I can't tow under company policy (insurance thing), our personal vehicle will need to handle that duty. I'm hoping to string out my current vehicle, a Dodge Journey, long enough for the new Escape to launch.

[Deleted User]

Ugh, tell me about it. This year I've replaced the rack and pinion, outer tie rods, inner tie rods, front struts, sway bar end links, tires, and some rotting HVAC lines that route engine coolant to the rear heater core. At least I've been able to do most of that myself. Fortunately the motor, tranny, and AWD components are running exceptionally well and this particular model year has a good reputation in those areas. I've been meticulous in their maintenance which I think has helped.

Insurance is a great thought! When we priced out the cost to insure the 4Runner we were shocked to see our rates literally double. What in the world?! It's not like our insurance on the van has gone down since we bought it. I figured a true 4X4 SUV would be a bit more, but double? Ouch

mako1a

Not to sound like a know-it-all, but I have experienced

the same problems you're talking about and here are some

fixes. A rooftop carrier for weekend trips (Sears installed

if you have rails for about $150). More room when you need it.

The trailer problem reminds me of the time I got so frustrated

trying to back a 17 foot boat that I got out and lifted it into a

straight line with the ramp (motor, boat and trailer). Fix for that

is a longer tongue. Cheap fix (buy or weld). Also makes backing easier.

[Deleted User]

Hi nyccarguy. I live in Utah. My apologies if my first post came across as harsh against the Pilot. My mom bought a 2005 based on my recommendation, and the current gen was at the top of our list and will continue to be if we go that direction. What I liked about the Pilot was space utilization. Given the exterior dims, it's simply amazing what they accomplished with the interior space. Kind of like the Fit. You look at the outside and get an idea of the space inside, and then you step in and are blown away by how spacious they both are.

I was really hoping to see a horsepower boost and 6-speed tranny for 2012. But none of those things happened which left me a bit deflated. If we do move forward with a midsize SUV, then it'll be a tough call between the 4Runner and the Pilot, with the Pilot probably getting the nod for practical reasons. I sure wish Honda would put iPod compatibility into the EX, though. With the new refresh I simply cannot understand why they didn't make that simple technology standard across the model range given that competitor vehicles at half the cost have it. A sunroof is a deal killer for me, so the EX is the highest model in the Pilot range we would consider.

[Deleted User]

Ha, ha. Yep, with such a short wheelbase our WaveRunner trailer is a little challenging to back up. My wife has had to learn the tough way, but she's got it down now and looks like a pro at the ramp. Earlier this year I had some folks encouraging me to launch off the beach just like they did with their lifted 4X4 full size pickups. Yeah, right. We'd have to drive out 20 feet just to get a couple feet of depth. I think they were hoping for an entertaining YouTube video, but I wasn't biting on their bait

I do like the idea of a cargo carrier. That would help in the case of the 4Runner for those weekends when we need camping supplies in addition to lake gear. We have a very tall garage and I could probably engineer a hoist system to lift and store the carrier above the vehicle. That's not a bad idea at all. I couldn't pull into the bay because of the garage door height, but beyond the door there's an additional 4 feet of height. What's your experience been like with wind noise and packing those? Is weight a concern?

nyccarguy

No need to apologize. I don't get offended. I think the horsepower boost (via Honda's 3.7L V6) & 6-speed automatic would jack up the price too high & put it too close to MDX territory.

mako1a

short wheelbase our WaveRunner trailer

Many people don't know that it's easier to back an 80 foot semi truck

than a short trailer. Backing a 5 foot log splitter can make one look foolish.

As far as noise from the cargo roof box, I never noticed any.

Problems only happen when you forget it's there and try to use a

drive thru and the window person says "whew, you just cleared that".

venture

Here are some wondering thoughts, in no particular order, about my 3 weeks with the new Regal. Feel free to pass over this one if not interested:

It is shorter than the Mazda6 I just traded – it fits in the garage better.

It has a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty.

Mine is the CXL Turbo. Standard equipment is 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, heated sideview mirrors, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, OnStar, leather seats, 12 way (counting 4 way power lumbar) power seats, heated front seats, front seat side-impact airbags and full-length side curtain airbags, auto-dimming rearview & sideview mirrors, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, a trip computer, a 60/40-split rear seatback, a 7 speaker stereo with CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, iPod/auxiliary audio jacks and steering wheel controls, and Bluetooth.

Options on my car include rear parking sensors, xenon headlights, rear seat thorax air bags, a Harman Kardon 320 watt premium 9 speaker audio system, and a sunroof. You can also get, which mine doesn’t have, 19-inch wheels, an Interactive Drive Control system with Sport, Tour and Standard modes, and a hard-drive-based navigation system with digital music storage.

Most come with a 6-speed automatic with manual shift capability. A 6-speed manual is a no cost option on the turbo, but I haven’t seen one. Gas mileage is18 mpg city/28 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. The 2.4 is slightly higher.

It drives nice. The steering is firm, but not to excess. The steering wheel is meaty. The Regal weighs about 3,600 pounds. The turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque is not that fast, but it seems to have a lot of low-end power which makes it feel quick.

The parking brake is electronic. You pull a switch on the console to use it and push the same switch to release it.

Both models have antilock brakes, traction control, stability control, and OnStar. Brake assist is included on the turbo.

The IIHS calls it a “large family car” and gave it a "Top Safety Pick" with the highest score of "Good" in frontal-offset, side-impact, roof strength, and rear crash protection/head restraint.

The Opel Insignia, which the Regal is based on, won the European Car of the Year award in 2009. The only major difference I can see between the Insignia and the Regal is the grill.

The power door lock switch is high on the center stack. I kept looking for it on the door where it belongs.

The interior is like most German cars; simple yet elegant. There is some chrome trim to break up the monotony. Black and chrome together makes an appealing combination – to me anyway.

The climate controls are easy to use. It has adjustable outlets for heat and A/C on the back of the console for rear passengers. It has a two 12 volt outlets, one where the ash tray used to be and one in the center console. There is a 120 volt power outlet located in the rear of the center console.

The front seats have plenty of support and are well bolstered. They hug you pretty well on meandering back roads. I don’t know about long trips, but I don’t see how they would be uncomfortable. I took a 3 hour interstate trip and they were fine. It chews up real estate on the back roads and is well mannered on the highway.

If you regularly haul adults in the back seat for extended periods of time you should probably consider something else. The trunk is fairly large, but the opening is a bit narrow.

MyBuick.com is really cool. You can lock/unlock the doors, check oil and fuel status, tire air pressure, and other things using your smart phone. You can mark where you parked it on a map and you can set an alarm so you know when your parking meter time is about to expire. It works through OnStar.

stickguy

I have seen one. A guy in my neighborhood has a Regal turbo with the stick shift. No moonroof either, probably an even rarer combo!

kyfdx

Sounds loaded.... what's the MSRP for a rig like that?

venture

That's exactly what I wanted - manual without the moon roof. This is the closest I could get. By that I mean the closest the dealer had sitting there.

Mrs. Venture would throw a fit if I brought home a manual - even though she *may* drive it once a year.

venture

Sticker was $32,135.

Standard vehicle price $28,745
Options $2,445
Carbon Black Metallic $195
Destination $750

I always wondered why Mazda and BMW, for example, can ship a car to the dealer for $795 and $895 respectively and U.S. manufacturers charge $750.

Floating on the water must really be cheap.

BTW - This Regal's final assembly point was Russelsheim, Germany which raises more questions than answers. :shades:

oldfarmer50

"...The Opal Insignia, which the Regal is base on..."

So this new one bears no resemblance to the Regal/Century of old. I did like the style of the old Regals but this new one sounds nothing like it. That may be a good thing.

GM seems to be following the lead of Ford in bringing over versions of it's European cars. I think that's a good thing. Chrysler sold rebadged Mitsubishi cars for years and GM put their name on Toyotas and other Japanese brands. Now they go to Europe.

verdugo

Tyguy,

Welcome. I know you said you don't want another Chrysler, but have you looked at the Jeep Grand Cherokee? It's getting great reviews, and you can get some good deals on the 2011's.

verdugo

ty, I saw the Explorer got a mention on your list, but the Escape did not.

Keep in mind that the Escape is going to get completely redesigned next year (based on Europe's Kuga, sexy looking CUV.) So if you want an Escape, maybe wait a bit and get a good deal.

Oh, and how about a Ford Edge?

kyfdx

Gonna have to run this one by the wife.... You never know..

I thought the price would be higher...

mako1a

I think we need to put Venture in sales. That was a bang-up job he

did describing a Buick Regal to the point of making one want to buy.

[Deleted User]

Scratching the Grand Cherokee off the list wasn't an easy decision considering I learned to 4X4 in a Wrangler and my dad has driven Jeep for nearly 20 years. We rent modified Wranglers in Moab, in fact, and trust our lives to them in some challenging environments. It really came down to reliability and size. It's not that I'll never trust Chrysler again, but I'd like to give them some time to sort out their processes and procedures before jumping into the deep end. We'll keep this next vehicle for some time and will likely hand it over to our daughter for her college vehicle. If I did go that route, I'd probably choose the Durango for the extra cargo capacity. I think Chrysler is on a positive path, but I still feel they have many years of development ahead before they catch up completely.

[Deleted User]

The Edge and Venza were not considered for similar reasons. If we're going to pay an SUV price and get SUV gas mileage, I want SUV cargo capacity. The Venza and Edge come up short on cargo volume, so to speak, and actually would make head room challenging for our Golden. The sloped rear cargo doors really intrude on already short space, so she'd have to pant/drool on the poor passengers in the rear seat :surprise:

I'm looking forward to seeing the new Escape. Should be nice given the latest releases (Explorer, Fiesta, Focus, Taurus, Fusion).

sterlingdog

Ty, I appreciate your evaluation of the Ford Flex. I can certainly see the disadvantages with its length and turning capabilities, though the cargo space is a definite plus. The model that I considered had all of the luxury options, and I was quite taken with the ride and the appointments. My wife, on the other hand, detests the Flex. She claims that it is a cross between an ambulance and a hearse. :P I would probably never have considered another Cadillac had it not been for her. She did love the SRX. In this case, I have to agree. It was an excellent choice for what we wanted in a vehicle. Next to our former Town Car and Tahoe, the SRX is one of my favorite modes of travel. Thanks again.

Richard

roadburner

I have seen one. A guy in my neighborhood has a Regal turbo with the stick shift. No moonroof either, probably an even rarer combo!

A man after my own heart...

explorerx4

I've had a couple of different car toppers. The one I have now is pretty big, 17 Cu/Ft.
It does cut mileage maybe 1 mpg, and it is noisy when empty.
It doesn't weigh a lot, maybe 35 lbs, so I usually put it on and take it off by myself, although it is an awkward process.
When I do use it, I put a trash can right inside of the garage door so I don't forget, ever again, that it's up there.
If you do a lot of highway driving, I would not recommend a soft one, they really cut the fuel mileage.
We try to pack it with bulky, but light stuff. I'm sure we overload it by a factor of 2 every time.

oldfarmer50

At least not a newer one.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20110922/VIDEO/309229792/1219

I might sell one though.

verdugo

Only 4 posts today. Really? Have all the regulars gone on vacation together? :P

oldfarmer50

"...Have all the regulars gone on vacation together?..."

Nah, we're just over in NJ looking for a good used car for fezo to buy once he feels better.

graphicguy

Farmer.....no doubt about the strong used car biz. I know I got really strong money on my TL a couple of months back. Only a couple tried to low ball me. Knowing the market, I was confident in my number, though. I know it came in well above wholesale, black book, or whichever low end bids dealers try to use.

The downside, if you're looking for a Japanese brand for a new car, their stock is thin because of the tsunami recovery in Japan.

So, you make get big money on your trade, but won't be able to make a deal, or even find a Honda/Acura/Toyota/Lexus, etc that you want.

fezo

Yeah, once I'm out to the hospital farmer and company can buy me a nice Mazda 3 or 6. More likely something from an ad that reads "Edsel - needs full restoration."