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Stories from the Sales Frontlines
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I don't understand doing activities where your chances of dying or injuring yourself badly are quite high.
For example, the young lady who's bungee jump broke and she plunged
111 metres into the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls.
I don't get it!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Richard - I have a great alternative to leaving your Alabama property to me in your will or the evil BIL getting it. You can give it to me as a birthday present! You only have to wait until..... oh, that would be today!
I don't get it!
For the same reason I snowboard, mountain bike and climb NH peaks at almost 50 years old - because it's fun and exhilirating!!
I was just told of a sales rep that used to call on me had recently retired at age 68 because he took a horrible fall while mountain biking last year. But he took a few months to recover but is back out there on his mountain bike, his Ducati and his Corvette and loving it every day.
Life is not about arriving at the Pearly Gates in a well preserved body. It's about sliding in sideways, wiping the sweat from your brow, catching your breath and exclaiming "What a ride!"
I understand some people like to have thrills and they do find that mountain biking or car racing is exciting and fun. Usually, they are risky but it is a calculated risk and you have some control over what you are doing(sometimes I don't think playing tennis for 2 hours on a hot day is very wise).
To me, a bungee jump is too risky...you are trusting your entire life or future quality of life to a cord and their is no safety net so to speak. The other factor is I don't know what kind of regulations they have in Africa and what kind of legal obligations the company would have if the rope breaks. Might not be able to sue if the company is incorporated and just goes bankrupt if they get hit with a lawsuit.
The girl was 22 and was urged on by her friends and at 22 you don't worry about what can go wrong, but it seems we become more careful as we find out how easily accidents happen.
I realize we can't protect ourselves from every eventuality, but why take such an unnecessary risk.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Every decision we make has some risk to it. Yes bungee jumping has a high risk to it but for the very vast majority that do it, it's safe and the thrill they get out of it far outweighs the risk.
I'm not saying to ignore risk but you have to have fun in life. It's not a dress rehearsal. Remember - you could get hit by a bus tomorrow.
If I get hit by a bus it will most likely be because of my own stupid fault, or at least I might be able to do something about it.
With a bungee cord in Africa I am relying on some people who don't care that much what happens to me.
I am never lucky the few times I have gambled so I don't like my odds. I have missed out on a lot of fun things I am sure, but at least I can enjoy a few more things.
Every year guys get killed in mountain slides. It doesn't stop them from going, some people are more daring than others.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I have to agree. I used to fly quite a bit, but I don't fly now. I noticed that I was having pretty bad luck with planes. Here are some examples:
1. Damaged landing gear upon take off---hopefully repaired in flight. Crash landing precautions put in place, but landed safely.
2. Hit iceberg and slid off runway.
3. Engine loss---fell 5,000 feet before engine restarted.
4. Missed a helicopter by inches on landing approach.
5. Gas tank over heated in desert take off---had emergency landing.
I decided that the odds were now against me---the more often that you do something, the greater the chances for a problem to develop. I'm not saying that people shouldn't fly, or that flying is not safe. I'm just saying that flying FOR ME is no longer an option. I'll have to go by ship or automobile. In fact, we'll be going back to Europe next summer. My sister and BIL will fly; we'll sail. Once there, we'll use the rail system. There are ways around such problems, even if they do take a little longer to accomplish.
Richard
Wait, you were in an airplane that hit an iceberg?
Icebergs are usually floating in the ocean.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Why tempt faith?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I could mention the Titanic but I don't want to make you worry.
Some people like roller coaster rides, racing cars, rock climbing, mountain climbing, roller boarding, riding snow mobiles up mountains, and lots of fairly dangerous activities. I have read articles that say these people need a degree of danger to heighten their excitement level.
That's fine. My excitement level is pretty low, just a good nove, a newspaper, a good TV program, a decent movie. Every one has their own level that feels comfortable to them.
I felt less stressed driving 2 1/2 days to get to Florida than I do flying for 2 1/2 hours to get here.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
It's been several years since I've flown but that's more because of lack of need to than anything. Add to that I absolutely HATE what you have to go through to get on a plane these days.
When my mom retired in 1980 at 62 she started flying lesons almost right away. Got her license and actually bought a plane (that was more an investment - she leased it back to the aviation company and more often than not rented another plane to fly). Used to go up with her several times - over the Statue of Liberty which you can't do anymore, out to see my brother who was in Ohio at the time - fun stuff. Nothing like that feeling that the only thing between you and the hard earth a few thousand feet below is your 70 year old mother!
Boy, I leave the hint in there and no once says happy birthday. I may as well go back to my previous age....
Edmunds treated me poorly today, all my watched discussions were gone. I had to go into each one and put the watch back on. I want my dues refunded.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Tell your Chicago airport that. It was Christmas Eve of 1969. I was flying from Detroit via Chicago to Charlotte. I was on the last flight out of
Chicago before they closed the runways due to a bad snow storm. Airport personnel had tried to clear the runways of snow and ice. They had left a huge mound of snow and ice, evidently mixed with other debris, on our runway. The plane hit it and slid off the runway to the right. Not actually an iceberg but...."
Richard
As for flying, my wife still loves to fly. She has been searched a couple of times, and had her luggage turned inside out. Messing with her neatly packed clothes is a definite "no,no". She has had a few choice words for some of those inspectors.
Richard
Richard
We'll be on the Queen Mary; it has enough life boats.
Richard
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The Eastland (look it up) also had "enough" lifeboats,
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
He said he saw where I bought a Regal on Edmunds. They are watching. :surprise:
I am quoted in the last few paragraphs. He got almost all of it right. :P
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204124204577150740662153200.html
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
What happened to me is that on my "watched items" page all the discussions were gone. I knew something was up when I checked in around 4 yesterday and there were no posts in any of the forums I frequent here.
We'll be on the Queen Mary
The Queen Mary (2, right?) is a beautiful ship and Cunard line seems to be really luxurious, its a division of Carnival who certainly knows cruising. I am looking at honeymoon cruises now. We sailed on the Norwegian Gem and had an amazing time. Right now I leaning toward the Norwegian Epic out of Miami in November this year. I've only been on one cruise, but I am certainly hooked for life. NCL isn't traditional cruising because there aren't set dinner times, etc but we loved it.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Stop at the customer service desk and they'll give you a credit for your next year's payments.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I'm sure Driver will LOVE reading that last quote :P
The upcoming 3 series 4-cylinder looks to be a very impressive vehicle with incredible acceleration and fuel economy. BMW has upped the size once again, so combined with excellent performance, practical fuel consumption, and the more family-friendly size, it could be an option for me in a couple of years after recovering our car savings from the Subaru purchase.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
("It handles really well," Mr. Reed says. "It's not a BMW, but nothing is." )
I did!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Sorry,
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1111_2012_bmw_3_series_first_drive/
Impressive at first glance. The Chris Bangle debacle really turned me off from BMW right at a time when I could actually afford such vehicles, but the new styling direction sans-Bangle has piqued my interest. I've never owned a luxury vehicle and really haven't felt compelled to do so, but an efficient and fun-to-drive wagon could interest me in due time.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I thought, at first, that he was just looking to buy a car and wanted to weed a few out.
Who knew? :shades:
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
I got quoted in the Detroit News in 2005, and I made no friends at BMW NA when I was asked what I thought of Chris Bangle's redesign of the 7 Series and 5 Series:
"The new cars are still a blast to drive, but their hideous styling and Buick-like cockpits virtually ensure that my next new car won't be a BMW," he said, adding that "BMW execs have insinuated that BMW customers don't like the new styling and iDrive because they aren't bright enough to appreciate them. Talk about arrogant."
One Roundel staffer told me not to worry, adding "Sometimes the lead dog needs to be told that his butt stinks." :P
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
You mean fate. Why not? Life is short and shouldn't be boring.
I'm not talking about bungee jumping everyday but we all should do it - or something like it - at least once. This past summer, I rapelled down a 50' granite face and ziplined 80' above a river gorge. Next summer I plan to do higher and longer.
My car was hit head on by an errant tire on the highway at 70 mph and I had a health scare a few years ago that put things in perspective. I'd rather tempt fate than have it hit me in the head when I'm not expecting it.
Although some are happy sitting on the couch reading a book or watching TV or playing golf, that's not for everyone. As my wife said a few years ago "I hope we are the old couple everyone looks at while we're hiking and skiing and climbing."
We get a LOT of requests from a variety of media outlets. Some of them look at the forums, and others just know our members are a valuable resource, and that if a vehicle or vehicle issue or purchasing experience exists, we've probably got a member somewhere who can talk about it. Thanks for doing that one, venture!
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Ahhh. The cat is out of the bag. No problem, my pleasure. Now my son thinks I'm famous. :surprise:
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
I hadn't but I read it now and it was an excellent article. They say what I would say, I don't like that electronic steering, it isn't real. It makes steering softer and since it compensates for the road it isn't as accurate. I also don't like BMWs getting larger. Although the 5 makes a great highway cruiser it is bigger than most people need for the city.
The new 3 sounds like a great car, especially if those guys liked it, and they are critical and that interior is magnificent.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
As I went on, I realized that those shiny bits on the road were not glass fragments, but road salt. Yes, it is supposed to snow here later today. How much? A whopping one inch anticipated. When is it supposed to arrive? Around 9pm this evening. Yet at 2pm (and 50+ degrees, which it has been for over a week), they've spread out salt. Not even going to wait for the evening "drive home" traffic to clear.
You guessed it. By the time I was driving home 30 minutes later, most of the salt was gone, either picked up by tires or scattered by wind, who knows.
The sales part: I bought groceries for dinner. We're either having gorgonzola-spinach chicken penne pasta, or seafood-stuffed manicotti. I paid full sticker price.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
The spinach chicken penne sounds good. Fiance and I have an appointment tonight, so it is looking like a good 'ol NJ diner meal tonight.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
We'll miss you.....
My car was hit head on by an errant tire on the highway at 70 mph and I had a health scare a few years ago that put things in perspective. I'd rather tempt fate than have it hit me in the head when I'm not expecting it.
Indeed. A friend of mine's father was killed exactly like that years ago. Was driving into the city to work a tire came from the other direction and that was the end of him.
Today's news....
Got blood today and came home with a call to make an appointment with the doctor in the city. We will see...
1. New air filter---$25 (I agreed to it.)
2. Rotate and balance tires---$45.00 (I agreed to it.)
3. Fuel system service---$145.00 (I declined.)
4. Power steering flush service---$120 (I declined.)
5. Right outer tie rod end and alignment---$153 (I told them that I would let them know.)
I need opinions on #5 above. Thanks.
Richard
Hey, you asked for an opinion!
anyway, if the alignment is out, certainly do that. But how could a tie rod end go in that many miles? Is this under warrenty still? that certainly would be covered.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My son's TL has had the brake light flashing occasionally, and he reported some issue the other day of brakes not stopping car (that's important, right?) but the issue resolved itself.
so, had him go to local goodyear shop that did the last alignment, since it is close. Told him he needed brakes, rotors (had to replace, couldn't cut) and a fluid change. Wanted $519 out of the kid!
Since the kid is funded by me for this stuff, told him to come home, and today sent him to a different store (that I used for my Accord and was happy with). This guy? Just do pads, and fluid (believed there was air in there). Since rotors looked smooth and we have no shimmying, he said to leave alone. And when I asked about just bleeding (had the fluid done last May), he knocked the price of a flush down to be the same as just bleeding it.
total was $217. A nice tidy savings, especially considering the car has 160K on it (still the original rotors now I think!) and the kid does not put many miles on.
Oh, this was only the 2nd pad set on the front, and the backs were only done 1 time.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Now here is the good part. When we returned, I spotted a 2009 Mercedes C300 sports sedan...black over black. Finally, I had a chance to try out a Mercedes! What a dream machine it was to drive. It had that "feel of the road", but in a very comfortable way. Now I know what you mean! The handling was superb. If you apply the brakes quickly, there is no tipping or dipping to come to a stop. It's just an even stop. The same thing is true if you suddenly take off from a dead start. The car has this perfectly balanced 50/50 suspension engineering. I was so impressed. Though the front passenger side doesn't have as much leg room as I would like, the driver's side has more than enough. An eight foot person could fit behind the wheel of this baby! Power is absolutely no problem---plenty of horses just waiting to be used. The cabin has nice appointments with easy to reach controls---many of them on the steering column. The exterior has pretty lines. This particular 2009 model has 44K miles with an asking price of $26,750. Blue Book shows a retail price of $28,600 for "clean retail". This car was super clean---looked brand new. I later showed it to my wife. She loved it. She'll say anything to get rid of the convertible.
I just missed test driving the big BMW convertible. I was going to try it after the Mercedes, but it was sold during the 30 minutes that we were gone! It was a 2001 emerald green with a black top and camel interior. It was a one owner (golf pro) with 92K miles. Asking price was $11,500. A guy walked into the dealership and said that he knew that car very well. He told the salesman to get the paper work ready while he wrote the check. He was in and out in less than 30 minutes. It must have been a good deal.
At any rate, it was a fun morning. My salesman said that business had been really good, especially in December. Though he is a bit younger than I am, our personalities have always clicked. He seems to enjoy having me try out these cars. In fact, he says that it helps him learn about the workings of the cars on the lot. This is the seocnd time that we have done this. A few months ago, we spent a couple of hours trying out trucks on a slow day. i had much rather do this than sit in the waiting area, and it helps him to pass a boring day. Who knows? He may get a sale out of me later. It has never seemed to bother him that I bought the SRX from the other dealer. His attitude and disposition always remains positive and friendly. He's a great salesman and a super nice person.
Richard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so0vL-ZOwY8
Here's another. Both of these have lots of play in the them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBrTRhEl9_E&feature=related
You can see any movement within the input rod and the output of the tie rod, it probably can benefit from replacement.
Note: I think they were ripping you. A bad tie rod end is probably under warranty -- 36,000 miles? AND if one tie rod end is bad, the other one on the other side should be replaced because it will show some of the same wear and will need replacement in the future. Replace both, they're relatively cheap, and avoid having to do a second alignment ( $79.95) later.
A good shop would have shown you the movement in the tie rod end AND explained replacing both. I believe Chrysler has had some problems with steering components wearing early, so try the dealer.
My car, at 130,000 mi, shows slight wear on the tie rod end. I'm going to check when I have the car up on ramps. My tire place tried to scare me with that 3 rotations ago. I do all that stuff myself, so they don't get me for anything. I'll have the alignment done at my favorite dealership for Buicks.
If your power steering fluid needs flushed, there's a major problem. I was getting my tires rotated and balanced free at a local tire chain. I listened to the service sales folks tell everyone they needed a power steering fluid flush. One guy thought he did great telling them okay for the $89.95 service. I suspect one change of the fluid at 100,000 miles is more than the car company expects to be done. I'll bet they didn't even do a flush--they just held the car in the service bay. A flush requires hooking up an outlet tube instead of the power steering return hose and pouring fluid in while they let the pump push the old fluid out.
I doubt you needed an air filter. I think 36,000 was the recommendation mileage for my cars or it might be 50,000. Did they give you the old one and it was covered with oily dirt? I do know that the Sebring has been driven through fields and things. It might have collected more dust and dirt on the intake than average.
I hope this wasn't a Chrysler dealer.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Tie rod end? Sounds fishy to me but I wouldn't know.
I have to go to stick's mechanic. Sounds cheaper than mine.
I am really glad you got a chance to drive a Mercedes. Every one should get a chance to do that at least once in their lifetime. I would guess that a MB, BMW and Audi are all very similar, although they are all slightly different. MB will be more luxurious, more solid, better ride, BMW will be more performance oriented, luxury is a little less important, and Audi is in the middle.
I don't say the cars are better, they just have a very different driving experience. They really try to get it right, with the steering and handling and engineered right.
That salesman sounds like a really nice guy, and I am sure it pays off in sales. He realizes he might take 10 people out for a test drive but someone will buy or will come back when they are ready.
What a great idea too, taking you out for a no obligation test drive. He's the kind of guy I would like to buy a car from.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Your quote perfectly reflects my thoughts on the matter. I remember vividly Chris Bangle explaining to the press that all the people criticizing his designs were not sophisticated enough to appreciate his artistic direction. What a jerk.
Look for Part #5.
If it is worn, you should be able to hear it (a suspension rattle)when you hit a bump.
Usually, the rubber part is worn out.
I just had both replaced on our '04 Escape. It does have 95k on it.