Stories from the Sales Frontlines

fezo

16 pages of it were reduction in paperwork notifications.

What? You're moving AGAIN?

Here's what you do. Move to NYC and you can be my transportation. There is no real city transit that will do that route. I'll have to take a look and see how one might best do it. Of course mmass transit will expose one to more germs than a cab.

ray80

That was a long MB outage

driver100

Make sense?

Sorry, I haven't been able to get in for about 24 hours......when i would go to sign in I got a road block sign.

But, yes I do understand. You can order a book and 5 people can share the book within that account.

That seems reasonable. Being in the book business I might be prejudice....I still like the feel of a book, just like I like the feel of the road. But a Kindle is a good close 2nd choice. Kind of like the difference between a BMW and a Buick (ha ha).

Thanks, it all helps....and now my wife can read the books I read.

driver100

Hope Lodge is on 33rd St. on the West Side. Sloan Kettering in on the East Side at 68th. Do they have a shuttle? No!!

Maybe you could drive the new convertible across town each day.

You would think there would be a better way to devise a plan so you wouldn't have to go across town almost every day. At least they could give you a hazmat suit!

Kirstie_H

Yeah, something else was done, and it managed to kick the Forums into crazy-land. Very frustrating for all!

mako1a

Hope Lodge so I can be an outpatient.

If you're healthy enough to leave, why not just go home?

I was in St Albans for 3 weeks (active duty military) and my weekends

kept getting longer and longer. Doctor finally said you're gone more than

you're here. You must be healed. Back to the ship (Bayonne, NJ) for you.

mako1a

it managed to kick the Forums into crazy-land.

I saw that "Road Closed" sign and tried to drive around it as usual.

fezo

If you're healthy enough to leave, why not just go home?

I'd love to. Several things against that. I live a good couple of hours from the hospital and need to go in at any given point is really dicey for a few months. It takes a couple of months just to get to building a basic immune system. Six months to a year to get it really up to snuff. If I lived within an hour of the city they might let me commute.

Had the top down today! My kind of January.

roadburner

Good news: I won a set of tires, any style, any size up to 24"

Bad News: The brand is Michelin

Nothing against Michelin, and not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, but the only tires I need right now are a set of what Tire Rack calls "Extreme High Performance Tires"( i.e. tires that have a treadwear rating of at least 180 but are actually designed for track use)- and I need them in size 215/45-18 for the Mazdaspeed3.
Guess which tire company doesn't have an EHP tire in its product line?
Guess which tire company doesn't even make a 215/45-18 tire?

mako1a

I'd be turning Hope Lodge into Hope Hilton. Catnapper chair, Wi-Fi,

Mini Fridge full of Sweet Tea, Kung-Pow and a microwave oven.

Maybe I'm not seeing the kind of shape you'll be in, but comfort should

be top priority for a speedy recovery. Not to mention having all your "stuff".

I wish you well and a hope you get through with as little pain as possible.

roadburner

I'd be turning Hope Lodge into Hope Hilton. Catnapper chair, Wi-Fi,

Mini Fridge full of Sweet Tea, Kung-Pow and a microwave oven.

Maybe I'm not seeing the kind of shape you'll be in, but comfort should

be top priority for a speedy recovery. Not to mention having all your "stuff".

I wish you well and a hope you get through with as little pain as possible.

What he said!

[Deleted User]

Thanks to Richard, nyccarguy, stickguy, and Driver for the support. Much appreciated.

Richard, thank you for the suggestion regarding the deshedding, which is new to me. We've done our best to control her shedding using a FURminator, but even with that tool it's not uncommon to see "dust bunnies" of hair rolling around the garage or kitchen tile. The love of a golden makes it all worthwhile, though. We lost two of our golden girls to cancer a few years back and that process was just as hard as losing a family member.

verdugo

The interior quality is what VW used to be with simple controls and high quality soft-touch surfaces.

Good for Subaru. In September of 2006, I looked at both the Subaru Outback and the VW Passat. The Outback ws not even in the same league as the Passat.

oldfarmer50

"..I got a roadblock sign..."

Me too. All day yesterday. What's up?

oldfarmer50

"...started to seep oil @8 years/130,000 miles..."

I'd expect it at that milage. That's what the Vette has on the odo but it's 20 years older. My old Ford truck had the same problem @235,000 miles but I never bothered to fix it because a gasket was worth more than the vehicle. :lemon:

A valve cover gasket is a simple fix, heck, I bet I could even do it. As long as that was the only problem I wouldn't let it kill a deal on an otherwise nice car.

oldfarmer50

"...no place for a new immune system..."

I'm jealous. 100 days of vacation with nothing to do but read the brilliant posts of your Edmunds buddies. :P

I have a customer at the farmer's market who went through the bone marrow thing for cancer. I don't know how long she was laid up but she started coming back to the market wearing a mask and gloves. Her doctors saw no problem being exposed to the world within reason. I understand that some people even think that such exposure is good for you in that it challenges your new immune system and makes it stronger. Kind of like exercising a muscle.

I hope everything goes well for you.

oldfarmer50

"...bad news: the brand is Michelin..."

Well......my van could use some snow tires. Right now I'm limping along on some all-seasons rescued from my old Chrysler Cirrus which are so small that it looks like I'm on training wheels. :sick:

explorerx4

How about getting some truck size tires and resell them yourself?
Heck, sell them back to the tire dealer you are getting them from.
Even if you got half, considering price of Michelin's, it would go a long way towards the tires you need for the '3.

roadburner

How about getting some truck size tires and resell them yourself?
Heck, sell them back to the tire dealer you are getting them from.
Even if you got half, considering price of Michelin's, it would go a long way towards the tires you need for the '3.

You read my mind; I'm going to try and find out the most expensive tire and make a deal with a buyer- BEFORE I order them, of course...

[Deleted User]

I totally agree with your quality findings for the Passat and Outback of that era. The new Outback in nice, probably on par with the new Passat. The new Impreza and the current model Jetta SportWagon seem pretty close, too; I'd give each an advantage in different areas. Compared to the new Jetta sedan, though, the Impreza and Outback are much higher quality. However, given how many Jettas VW is selling, despite the downscale interior, their marketing people seemed to have correctly judged the US market (much to my chagrin).

fezo

Comfort, stuff, etc should and will be a priority. I'll be in here as soon as things allow and as I understand that part should be pretty quick. What they transplant is actually stem cells which go in just like a transfusion.

As far as building up an immune system by exposing it to things - that happens later. It's too fragile at first to fight off common infections. That's why they keep me close. Heck, it takes the stem cells almost a month to set up shop and start doing their job which is why I'll be in the hospital itself that long. They do tell me my room will come with a flat panel TV and a computer. Wouldn't want me getting bored.

fezo

I'm jealous. 100 days of vacation with nothing to do but read the brilliant posts of your Edmunds buddies.

Actually I had to retire because of all this back in October so I'm already there.... :P

[Deleted User]

What they transplant is actually stem cells which go in just like a transfusion.

Wow, I had no idea stem cell research had progressed so far. Any idea where the stem cells originate from and what their lifespan is like once introduced to your body? When my daughter was born we froze her cord blood in hopes stem cell therapy would develop fast enough to help my mom with her heart condition. Perhaps it's time to look a little deeper into options for her.

kyfdx

Pilot Super Sports..

255/35-18 X 2
225/40-18 X 2

$800? I'll meet you halfway to pick them up..

roadburner

I'm going to try and strike a deal with a 911 GT3 RS owner; a set of OE Pilot Sport Cup+ / N-Specs for the RS are $2386 from Tire Rack. If I could get $2000 for them it would nearly finance all the track preparation for the Mazdaspeed(Bridgestone RE-11 tires, Koni FSD struts/shocks, and a COBB AccessPORT tuner).

driver100

What they transplant is actually stem cells which go in just like a transfusion.

It is incredible what can be done these days. And, look at the benefits, we keep you around for a lot longer which is a very good thing.

dougb10

OK. it's on my bucket list.

My wife and I are both 73 and in good health...but we all know how fleeting than can be.

We have a 2003 Camry and a 2011 Subaru Outback 3.6 Limited. We use the Outback to tow
a 2011 Aliner pop up camper. We visited many Ontario Provincial Parks last summer and had a lot of fun. The Outback can tow 3,000 lbs. so the loaded trailer weight of 2,000 lbs. was no problem. The main issue was the small space (i.e. cramped) and the lack of a toilet.

So we just visited the Toronto RV Show to look at larger trailers. The problem in a nutshell was that they became longer and far too heavy for the Subaru Outback to pull.

So....we take delivery in May of a 2012 Coachmen Concord 225 LE (Class C) motorhome.

This gives us the most bang for the buck. It is powered by a Ford V-10 6.8 litre engine, with a power slide-out section to give us more width. All the comforts including a 32" TV. It is 25 feet long.

We traded in BOTH the Aliner trailer and the Camry...and saved 13% tax on this amount by doing so. We can easily get along with just one car.

A new adventure is ahead of us..and after we have learned about our new rig we will revisit familiar spots in Ontario, then head farther afield. Arizona, Texas and certainly the Canadian West and East, including Newfoundland.

Please don't jump on me about the expected lousy gas mileage. You only go around the block once and we haven't completed our journey yet.

Doug

tjc78

Please don't jump on me about the expected lousy gas mileage.

Can't be that much worse than a large pickup towing a trailer. I would think all the money you save on hotel rooms makes up for it.

fezo

If we hadn't found a suitable donor amongst the those in the donor bank cord blood would have been the next thing to look at.

What I will get are adult stem cells. The donor, who I have no idea who it is or even basic information like age, gender, whatever... will come to the hospital maybe a week before me where they will do certain things to up his/her production of such things and then take some blood, spin the stem cells out and return the rest of the blood. It is amazing.

All of this is very recent. It has pretty much replaced the old going into the marrow to do things method. That said they grabbed marrow from me on Monday. They do tests on that periodically. They get information on how to proceed from that. The transplant doc is the best I've ever had at grabbing bone marrow. A little uncomfortable but not what I would call pain.

Doug - go with it! If gas isn't an issue for you I'm not the one to say it should be. In the big picture we have to figure out how to get things done with less oil but that is hardly your individual responsibility.

stickguy

Sounds like fun.

And unlike a trailer, in a pinch you can use the MH as a spare car.

just curious, why the V10 over a diesel? Was that an option?

dougb10

With these particular models, a diesel was not available. The Ford V10's are the most widely used.

Doug

jmonroe

Please don't jump on me about the expected lousy gas mileage.

Don’t worry about me doing that. I have never, ever, purchased a car with consideration being given to gas mileage. Maybe I should but I haven’t. If I did I wouldn’t have purchased a V8 Genny and a 3.6 Legacy.

You only go around the block once and we haven't completed our journey yet.

Go for it and let us know how you’re doing when you guys get a few trips under your belts. While I’m not quite at your age, I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.

jmonroe

fezo

Funny thing that. I'm partial to economical vehicles for the most part and definitely think as a society that we have t move in that direction but I've never really used economy as a major decision factor in buying either. Found something that fit the bill at the time and went with it.

Another nice day here. So I get to add another month to my "the top has been down every month I've owned the car" list...

tjc78

but I've never really used economy as a major decision factor in buying either

I think it all depends how much you drive. I drive barely 12k/ year and my fiance and I work at the same place so often we go in together schedule permitting. Our monthly gas bills are pretty low.

Now OTOH if I drove 30k+ a year I certainly would look into FE more closely.

[Deleted User]

Congratulations, Doug! My dad retired last year and is enjoying himself in a big diesel pusher he purchased as his retirement gift to himself. He's already crossed the US once and is now planning the next trip, which I believe will be Florida. Enjoy it, Doug, and I wish you many happy motoring miles.

stickguy

same deal for me. i work 3 miles from the house, and other than that drive mostly pop around town taking my daughter places and running errands.

At this point, I might be doing 6K on my car. So giving up a few MPG for the "feel of the road" is not going to matter that much.

If/when i hand it down to the kid, miles probably drop even more.

[Deleted User]

Extraordinary. I truly had no idea how far the research and therapy had advanced. Your story has prompted me to investigate the options available for heart repair. Thank you.

Kirstie_H

You're in the wrong forum if you're looking to be criticized for your choice based on gas mileage, but I can point you toward our global warming and hybrid discussions if you're up for a beating.

Congrats to you! Sounds like a load of fun to me. We're hoping to get a water version of your vehicle - a sailboat - in our later years. It'll be the kind with a motor, so I don't suspect we'll be on any "green" top 10 lists either.

Kirstie_H

I saw that "Road Closed" sign and tried to drive around it as usual.

That gave me a giggle. Thanks.

roadburner

Buy what makes YOU smile- and to heck with what anyone else thinks!

driver100

but I can point you toward our global warming and hybrid discussions if you're up for a beating

That sounds like the last place any of us want to go to.

We can hug trees and sing Kum Ba Yah together............

driver100

It is powered by a Ford V-10 6.8 litre engine, with a power slide-out section to give us more width. All the comforts including a 32" TV. It is 25 feet long.

Sounds good.....don't forget about a trip down to Florida next winter...you'll feel right at home.

driver100

We put in an offer on a house today. The Offer to Purchase was 32 pages long!

What happened and where are you. :confuse:

tjc78

Buy what makes YOU smile- and to heck with what anyone else thinks!

One of the best posts I've ever read!

Kirstie_H

Yeah, those hard-core hybrid enthusiasts & hypermilers are a breed I just can't understand. To me, they're kind of like people who are scrapbooking hobbyists. While the outcome of both hypermiling & scrapbooking is admirable and impressive, the enthusiasts of both aren't generally content to just enjoy it - they want YOU to enjoy it too.

"Just try it - you'll like it!"
I won't, and I assure you I wouldn't, and I might actually go insane in the process.

driver100

he enthusiasts of both aren't generally content to just enjoy it - they want YOU to enjoy it too.

That is what bothers me too. If they want to do their thing than I couldn't care less, but why do you insist I have to join in.

I am not going to go out and try to buy a gas guzzling Hummer or something to make my point. But, if I can afford a car or motorhome, I have worked to earn it, and if I can pay for the gas then let me drive it and enjoy it.

I won't interfere with their tree hugging, scrapbooking or hypermiling activities...knock yourself out doing what you enjoy.

btw.....is hypermiling the guys who drive behind trucks to save a few cents per gallon of gas? And put our lives at risk on the highways.

verdugo

However, given how many Jettas VW is selling, despite the downscale interior, their marketing people seemed to have correctly judged the US market (much to my chagrin).

Jetta sales went down in January. The best selling VW model for the month of January was the Tiguan, which is still made in Germany.

Let's wait for a few more months to see if this trend will continue.

sterlingdog

From a person who drives an SRX that gets 17 mpg, don't worry about me saying a word regarding gas mileage. I don't buy cars for the mileage; I buy what I like. Congratulations on the Coachmen. You're in for a great experience. We have friends in Indiana who own what I believe is a Blue Bird motorhome. They have traveled the country for ten years now. They visit us once a year for two or three days. Their "bus" is a huge monster once it is parked at the end of our drive. I'm always amazed at the layout of the interior---just like a house. The cockpit reminds me of a 747 with all of the dials and gadgets. Happy motoring!

Richard

sterlingdog

Progress with stem cells is amazing. A friend of mine had bone cancer diagnosed five years ago. They saved some of his own stem cells in case he went into remission. He did. They operated using his own stem cells. He's been doing great during the last year or so. Were it not for this wonderful research, he wouldn't be with us now. Though your 100 days won't be a picnic, it may not be as bad as you think. Having that TV and computer will be very nice. It will be even nicer that you can stay in touch with us here.

As for your top down experiences, we have had beautiufl weather as of late. It feels more like October than January. It's also nice on the heat bill.

Our house offer will be presented tonight. We'll see how much countering back and forth comes into play. It's a beautiful Georgian style built in 1950 with 4,200 Sq. Ft. of living space. It has a new designer kitchen and the three and a half baths have been beautifully remodeled. We'll see.

Richard

fezo

I could get into a hybrid if properly priced. That, however would likely be my wife's car since I have no desire to be out of the convertible, thanks.

Speaking of the convertible, I'm still good with having teh top down at least once every month I've owned it. Today was fabulous.

What wasn't fabulous was that I went to the dentist today for both 6 month check and pre-transplant OK. Well, there are two items. One is an old filling that's cracked. He said if I weren't doing the transplant he'd just keep watching it which he's been doing for some time but once I've had the transplant I can't have dental work for at least 6 months. So he'll be redoing that filling next week.

The other bad thing there is I have a molar that's been held together by force of habit, a root canal and other such things. Again, without the transplant being an issue you just leave it alone. It's doing its job. Unfortunately it has one root that is just hanging there and is an open invitation for infection. He likely has to yank it but he's considering just taking the one root because I'd rather do that. Ain't this fun?

YA know with the cheapened VWs I can see why some folks would buy but for me the new interiors take away everything that made me want to buy one. Given my history with my one VW that's probably a good thing politics, etc - I know I'm polar opposite of many friends here and elsewhere. I'm glad they have a political thread over in Off Topic. I make it a point to not go there.