Stories from the Sales Frontlines

jmonroe

We'll start our new Subie adventure by taking it to the hockey game tonight. Next week it takes on family duty when my wife uses it for car pooling and such. It looks great, drives great, and makes me smile.

I’m glad that you get a smile out of it. New cars seem to have a way of doing that.

As I’ve mentioned here before, we are in the midst of a bathroom redo so we went to a tile place of our choosing to pick out the tile for the floor and the shower area back in late December; the contractor has been cooperative in that regard so far. He even had no problem with me doing the wiring. Anyway, the tile comes in last week and they call to say it’s ready. Mrs. jmonroe has to go to the plumbing design place near this place so I said, “get the tile while you’re almost across the street anyway, OK? They’ll put it in the car then I’ll take it out when I get home. Tell them to put some in each well in front of the rear seats and some in the front seat well so that they don’t weigh down the trunk too much”. She says, “huh, it’s not a truck ya know, it’s my new car. Let Joe have one of his guys go down there and get it. They’re not even ready for it yet”. Coincidentally they’re installing it as I post.

She’s becoming a car gal. Doesn’t want to hurt her new baby. Now to see if she’ll want to wax it the first nice day this spring.

jmonroe

driver100

Now to see if she’ll want to wax it the first nice day this spring.

Maybe you could do it for Valentines Day!

sterlingdog

I can remember when you wouldn't have dared to put stacks of tile in the Genny. Good for Mrs. J.

Richard

oldfarmer50

"...can talk the talk but not wrench the wrench..."

Ha ha I love it! That's me as well. I know just enough to get scared out of doing it myself. And don't forget that $300 special tool you'll need for the job.

I remember a friend who went out and bought new struts for his car and then found out he could't install them without a strut compressor which cost a bundle. I bet roadburner knows how to do that job without special equipment but the thought of a strut spring letting go in my face sends me right to my indie mechanic.

jmonroe

I can remember when you wouldn't have dared to put stacks of tile in the Genny. Good for Mrs. J.

C'mon now, they're in boxes and there are matts. In fact the heavy duty rubber weather matts are still in the car. The carpet mats are still in the trunk all wrapped up nice to keep them pretty. I'll take those out in the spring when the snow is gone.

It's kinda funny to see her being protective like this. I've never seen this side of her with cars. Maybe that help with a wax job will come about. I'm not holding my breath but if it's ever going to happen it will be with this car.

jmonroe

imidazol97

>then found out he could't install them without a strut compressor which cost a bundle.

Spring compressors are a loaner item from OReillys, Autozone, Advance Auto Parts, etc. Many other items that a customer rarely needs except to do a specific job are available for loan.

roadburner

$1161- parts, labor, and sales tax...

sterlingdog

"...all wrapped up nice to keep them pretty."

I have a thought for you. When we purchased the SRX, the light camel colored matts were so pretty. I wanted to keep them that way. I had the Cadillac dealer to order the clear, heavy duty plastic matts. The four matts were about $90. They have been worth every penny. I can wash them and place them back over the beautiful carpet matts. They are the exact size of the carpet matts. I don't have to worry about dirt, mud (or in my wife's case dog poop---remember the convertible story?)) messing up the nice carpet matts. They remain anchored really well and don't slip or move.

Richard

sterlingdog

I was close, but you did better than I thought. What a great deal for all of those repairs.

Richard

jmonroe

I have a thought for you. When we purchased the SRX, the light camel colored matts were so pretty.

The carpet and carpet matts in the Legacy are almost black. Subaru calls it "Dark Charcoal". So I don't have the problem that you have with light colored floor matts. The XG350 had beigh carpets and matts so they did take more care. To save the matts in the XG350 I put a beigh towel over the matts and taped it to the back of them. In the spring I took the towels off and threw them in the washer. The guy that bought the XG350 has matts that were hardly used. The dealer didn't even have to replace them when he put that car on his lot.

The Genny has black, so no problem with that either but I put towels over them too. I told the tale about doing that when the Genny was new and a fellow worker commented on how the matts were upscale too. When I said, "look again, they're towels", he then did that to his cars too.

Now that we're into the winter season, you guys in the snow regions might want to try this 'jmonroe-method' of keeping matts clean. It's also a lot easier on the backs of your shoes than the heavy duty winter rubber matts.

jmonroe

driver100

$1161- parts, labor, and sales tax...

I forget, what was the question?

It sounds like a reasonable price.....I think :confuse:

stickguy

was all set to go out car shopping this morning. Had my schedule all worked out for it and everything.

So of course, there are a couple of inches of snow on the ground, with freezing rain coming down now, so the roads are a big slushy mess. Not conducive to driving 30 miles to a dealer. And pretty sure the local guy won't want someone out doing donuts in his BMW in it! At least that one I can try to see tomorrow when it clears up.

I think getting out to see the 2005 at the VW dealer is just not meant to be for some reason.

driver100

I mentioned, we are considering buying a car we could leave in Florida and then we could fly down for a few weeks, and we would also have a 2nd car when we come down for a few months.

We'll probably wait until next winter to buy but I saw an ad for a Honda Dealer on the TV and they had a nice looking Accord for $8900. I thought that might make a nice Florida car, though it didn't have a cloth roof on it.

Any way, I went on their site to get more details and to check out the price of 2 year old Accords. Every car I looked at had "Call Dealer for Prices" next to it. That just put me off, all other dealers state their prices so you get an idea whether they have a car in the range I am looking for.

In my opinion, this is a big mistake!

oldfarmer50

"..are available for loan..."

You still have to know how to use them without breaking any bones. :sick:">

oldfarmer50

"...clear, heavy duty plastic matts..."

You put mats over the mats which are over the carpet? That reminds me of the plastic covers people put over their couches in the 1960s. A bit OCD but reasonable if your wife likes to haul dog poop in your car. :P

driver100

I had the Cadillac dealer to order the clear, heavy duty plastic matts.

That's one of the reasons I like BMWs, just so sensible. They would have given me off white mats to match the interior if I requested them. The default is heavy black mats with grooves to soak up rain or snow. It makes sense most people like to have matching floor mats because they look smart. But, the fact is, every one with common sense just puts rubber mats on top of them so they don't get dirty.

BMW just calls it as it is, gives you huge thinck rubber mats that you can clean or wash, they are solid and are anchored with velcro, and they look nice because they look functional and were designed right for the car.

Carpet mats make as much sense as broadloom did before we came back full circle to hardwood floors.

driver100

You put mats over the mats which are over the carpet? That reminds me of the plastic covers people put over their couches in the 1960s.

My point exactly, but you said it better!

driver100

The 2013 Fusion looks great....

oldfarmer50

"...this is a big mistake..."

I agree. When I see that "call for price" business I just move on. As an avid car ad reader I have developed a few interpretations of their jargon:

Call for price--asking too much.

No milage listed--high milage junk.

Needs nothing--will need plenty within a week.

Just needs a $10 part--and $2000 worth of labor to install.

driver100

Call for price--asking too much.
No milage listed--high milage junk.

I like those interpretations. Once in MAD magazine they had interpretations for apartment rentals.
Cozy - means tiny
Close to amenities - right next to a school
Fireplace - means supply your own heat
Close to transportation - means a bus stop outside your door.
Snuggle up - means you will need blankets, place is freezing
Warm feeling - means no air conditioner

I think calling to ask for a price is a scam. They want your number and to get started on their sales pitch etc. No thanks, just looking at this stage, but if I see something I could become interested. There does seem to be a shortage of used cars though, even Ford dealers don't have many Fusions, and 2010s with 50k miles are over $15k. Not much else on their lots too.
They say you can get a new one, standard with no extras for $19200!

mako1a

The 2013 Fusion looks great....

You're right, Fusion is looking better than Mustang.

Now if they'd put in SYNC and Shaker for less than $8k (Mustang Price) I'd opt in. Oh, but there's the 400 HP thing. OK, optional 3.5L EcoBoost and we're there.

Driver, Mad Magazine. Wow, I haven't seen Spy vs Spy in 20 years. What a great magazine. Even though guys like Richard probably confiscated them (and never read them).

roadburner

I forget, what was the question?

A brief recap:

I had put off changing a noisy idler pulley on my wife's 128,000 mile 1997 528i, and my procrastination was rewarded by the pulley bearing disintegrating and taking out both serpentine belts as well as the fan shroud. It was the middle of winter, so I decided to let my independent BMW tech handle the repairs. While he had the car we decided to replace the radiator, the water pump, and the remaining idler pulley as a precaution. My tech also found and replaced a bad tie rod and had the car aligned. Anyone care to guess the total repair bill?

roadburner

Now if they'd put in SYNC and Shaker for less than $8k (Mustang Price) I'd opt in. Oh, but there's the 400 HP thing. OK, optional 3.5L EcoBoost and we're there.

FWD and no manual is a deal-breaker for me, although I'd consider one with rear-biased AWD and a DSG equivalent to the boxes from BMW or VW.

sterlingdog

You are correct. After 40 years in education, I had a huge collection of magazines that I had confiscated---Mad, Play Boy, Motor Trend, Photoplay, Seventeen, Dell Comics, paperback romance novels etc. I read some of them, but you'll have to guess which ones. When I retired, I sold the entire box to a collector for $300. I also confiscated lipsticks, nail polish, cigarette lighters, cigarettes, cigarette wrapping papers, plastic tubes, unused condoms, sex toys, diaries, decks of playing cards, combs, brushes, hair "pics", sun glasses, nail clippers, flasks, various food items, love letters, cheat notes, etc. From that collection, I kept the cigarette lighters and cigarettes, and threw the rest in the trash at the end of each year. I did return to the students their radios, cameras, and calculators.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...just not meant to be for some reason."

The car gods are looking out for you.

Richard

sterlingdog

I totally agree. If it says "Call for price.", I just move on to another dealer. I would imagine that some good customers are lost by using that method.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...everyone with common sense just puts rubber matts on top of them..."

I like the clear matts because you still get the beauty of the original matts, but they are protected at the same time. It's like getting the best of both worlds. The parts manager told me that they sell quite a number of the clear matts. These are also nice because they are designed to fit the SRX.

I'm surprised that BMW uses the velcro as an anchor. On the Cadillac, they snap into place. That method seems more secure to me. Still, I suppose that velcro would work.

Richard

roadburner

I pulled out my spreadsheets and checked the maintenance/repair costs of my four newest vehicles over the last 15,000 miles(I purposely omitted the 1975 2002 since it is in the process of being restored/upgraded).

Here they are:

2007 Mazdaspeed 3, 97,680 miles- $1351(includes $795 for purchase of four UHP all-season tires).

2004 BMW X3 2.5, 127,800 miles- $365

1999 Jeep Wrangler 4.0, 109,800 miles- $762

1995 BMW 318ti, 130,600 miles- $1012(includes $417 for purchase of four summer/track tires)

It essentially costs @$300 per month to maintain all four vehicles- but since I don't have a car payment I think I'm ahead of the game.

stickguy

good point about a car payment covering a lot of repair costs.

And people that buy new(er) to have a warranty are paying a lot to be afraid of some repairs. Interest, depreciation, etc.

In real terms, you can have a new car that depreciates 5K in a year vs. an older one that might depreciate 2K, plus have say 1K in repairs. Your warranty then is really costing you money.

sterlingdog

"...I have developed a few interpretations of their jargon:"

I love those house ads that say "Just needs a little TLC." That translates to a $50,000+ redo.

Another one is "Lots of privacy". That means stuck out in the middle of no where.

Then there is "Freshly painted" which means cheap paint in colors of red, orange, and purple.

My favorite is "Mature landscaping" which means that the entire yard has to be redone because the shrubbery is 30 years old.

I saw one the other day that said "New roof in 2002". Excuse me? I believe that it is now 8 years old.

I love it when an agent says, "You could easily add another room on the back." My response is, "Great. Is the seller paying for that?"

The classic remark from agents is, "Oh, those are just cosmetic changes." My response, "Oh, your agency is paying for those?"

Richard

driver100

Mad Magazine. Wow, I haven't seen Spy vs Spy in 20 years.

That's the problem with kids these days, too much texting and Face Book....when what they really need is Mad magazine.

fezo

You are absolutely ahead of the game - four nice vehicles @ $300 a month for the lot? Sign me up!

driver100

I had put off changing a noisy idler pulley on my wife's 128,000 mile 1997 528i,

That was a lot of work for just $1000+. Hopefully you won't have another problem for a few years and your cost of repairs average will come down to a few $100 a year.

oldfarmer50

I found this story here on Edmunds. Sounds like the guy got hosed. What do you guys think?

http://answers.edmunds.com/ViewQuestion.aspx?questionId=146220&#answer146231

driver100

FWD and no manual

Apparently there is a 6 speed manual. That is what I would prefer to get, but you don't see them too often. Must be a hard one to resell, which could work in my favor.

stickguy

I don't keep a spreadsheet, but knock wood, have not had to spend much on the fleet in the last year. Though none of them get too many miles (probably 5K max on the kids car, 7k on mine and 10 on the van).

But just oil changes I think on the van (maybe a tranny fluid change) and oild on the Accord (and a couple hundred to replace some emissions vent valve thingee).

The TL cost some money, but that was the first time in 3 years (outside of tires and struts shortly after we got it). Did all the fluids last spring, and just did front brakes last week, and $350 for a heater valve in November. So might have put 1K total in that recently, but still only about 2K total over 3 years (not bad for a car that only cost 2K to start with!)

driver100

The parts manager told me that they sell quite a number of the clear matts.

I have had clear mats and they looked quite nice. I think BMW doesn't like to try to fancy up something...so a mat should look like a mat (though a nice one).

By the way, is the word "mat" "matt" in the USA or is that just a NC thing?

stickguy

I was reading the articles about the upcoming dodge dart, and that looks perfect for me. Hopefully it isn't too "young" for a more mature (aka old fart) like me.

especially if I want to stay with a stick, since the manual trans is standard in all trim levels.

perfect size too, at ~184" long. About the size of the old Mazda 626 I had, or a mid-90s Accord. IOW, perfect mama bear size.

driver100

Sounds like the guy got hosed.
THERE IS ENGINE MOVEMENT DUE TO THE MOUNTS BEING FATIGUED AND IT CAUSED THE EXHAUST AND FLEX PIPE TO BREAK WHICH WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $2,900.00

Yes, I think he got hosed. I would be a little careful with Toyota dealers....I think a lot are hurting since the big scare. They seem to be looking for new ways to keep the dealership going.

I haven't heard of motor mounts getting fatigued causing an exhaust pipe and flex pipe to break. It sounds like the motor mounts were faulty or the car was poorly designed if that can cause such a big ($2900) problem.

I would see what an independent garage says.

cdnpinhead

a mat is a thing that goes on the floor and Matt is a proper name.

I'm certain we'll hear why that doesn't apply, in special cases.

sterlingdog

It must be a Jmonroe/Richard thing. :P You are correct. "Mat" is for car mats and "matt" or "matte" is for the car finish. I need to learn my "mats" from my "paints". Good boy. You even used your quotation marks correctly.

Richard

tjc78

I must admit to the "mat on mat" thing. I always put clear mats on top of my carpeted mats. I've had the same set in multiple cars.

I guess it's my tribute to my Grandparents plastic slip covers on the couches.

sterlingdog

"I'm certain we'll hear why that doesn't apply, in special cases."

Not always---just when I know that you are lurking. There is a debate over whether to use "matt" or "matte" regarding finishes dealing with paints and floor finishes. As for "mat", Driver is correct. :surprise: I am wrong.

Richard

verdugo

That is a nice looking car! Good for Ford.

sterlingdog

"I guess it's my tribute to my grandparents..."

LOL! When I was growing up, my aunt had a white sofa and three young children. She kept the sofa covered with clear plastic. By the time that the children grew up, and my aunt could finally remove the plastic cover, the white sofa had yellowed. She missed all of those years of enjoyment. Life is a "hoot". Come to think of it, the three children are now deceased. Except for me and my sister, our family just doesn't hang around here very long. I had another aunt with two children, and an uncle with two children. All of those cousins are now deceased as well. They were all younger than me. I guess that I'm just too mean to go yet. :shades:

Richard

sterlingdog

"-four nice vehicles@ $300 a month for the lot?"

We also have to take into account that he does much of his own work. It's great that he can manage those four cars so well.

Richard

sterlingdog

"Hopefully it isn't too 'young' for a more mature..."

A car is never too young for a guy who loves them.

Richard

sterlingdog

"Sounds like the guy got hosed."

Poor man! I thought that I got hosed for a $200 tie rod. This poor guy was raped!

Richard

sterlingdog

"I would be a little careful with Toyota dealers..."

Take it from one who knows!!!

Richard

roadburner

We also have to take into account that he does much of his own work. It's great that he can manage those four cars so well.

True, but not as much as you'd think. My only DIY work on the Jeep was replacement of the wiper blades. On the 318ti I changed the oil twice, rotated the tires twice, and replaced an idler pulley and the wiper blades. I changed the oil once on the X3 and replaced the battery. I also replaced the battery on the Mazda, but my dealer performed the rest of the maintenance.
And note that many shops install wiper blades and batteries for free.