Stories from the Sales Frontlines

tjc78

I checked the speedometer against the satellite nav again and this time they were both the same

Do you have a smart phone? If so I would love to see your results with the "GPS Speedometer" app. I find it funny that you and Snake in three different Hyundais are almost spot on and my two are both 3-4 over.

I didn't believe the app in my phone so I used several road-side radar devices (you know the ones "you are going XX in a XX zone") and a TomTom GPS. Results matched the phone app.

I wonder if my car having 17" wheels would account for the difference? Maybe Hyundai only calibrates the speedo for the 18s, although the 18s use a lower profile tire so the overall height difference can't be that much.

driver100

I wonder if my car having 17" wheels would account for the difference?

tjc, maybe your tires are more worn out.

nyccarguy

Forgive me my friends for the sparse details of my buying experience. I posted late last night and was too tired to type up the full details of my sales story on my iPhone.

I've wanted a BMW for a long time. I've always been a very fiscally conservative guy. I've had quite a few reasons over the years to NOT buy (or lease) a BMW. I've been closely following the large quantites of "leftover" 2011 BMW 328xi sedans. When I saw 0.9% financing for 60 months + a $2500 rebate + BMW will make 1st 2 payments (up to $500 each), I said to myself: "Maybe the stars will align for me."

I knew my 2010 Acura TSX (Black/Black w/ Tech Pkg) was worth more than the $14K & change I owed on it, the question was how much more. I purchased my TSX on the last day of Cash 4 Clunkers in August 2009. Since that time we've put almost 49,000 miles on it.

There's nothing wrong with it. I like the way it drives. The suspension is perfectly tuned to be comfortable without complete isolation. Its got a rev happy (7000 RPM) 201 hp 4 cyl engine. The best automatic transmission I've ever driven. Holds the gear until I flick the paddle on the right side to upshift. The interior is very well crafted. Seats are comfortable and very thickly bolstered. It is fully loaded (navigation, backup camera, bluetooth, iPod adapter). There's a huge trunk (1 double stroller or 3 of the 4 17" tires) and lots of passenger room in the back seat (essential for child safety seats).

Somebody hit & run scraped the back bumper (2/3rds) this past August 2011. Enough to leave a mark & drive me crazy, but not enough to warrant paying out of pocket to fix (so it can happen again). Someone also recently hit & run the front bumper. Small scrape under the Passenger side headlight assembly. Both front fog light lenses were cracked. Wheels have minor curb rash. All little things that add up to a lot and that I wasn't willing to pay out of pocket to fix. I don't like the electric power steering & the brakes suck (for lack of a better word).

So I went and drove a 328xi at a dealer on my way home from work one day. Salesman was very professional, friendly, had a car waiting for me to drive, and was a car guy on top of all else. His selling price was very strong, but he only offered me $16,700 for my trade. After doing some research (thank-you qbrozen), I was going to try and get $19K - $20K.

I emailed Wide World BMW where I have a very good relationship with the service department. and received a call back from a salesman who said he could do between $18K & $19K for my trade, but would have to see it. I also wanted to try and buy in NY as opposed to CT where I live because dealers in CT charge outlandish doc fees ($299 for my Pilot, $369 for my Dad's Tahoe). In NY, doc fees are capped at $75.

I made an appointment to see him last night and we hammered out a deal. He looks at my car (which I polished the night before) and asks if it has a clean car fax (never been hit, dealer serviced since new). His initial offer was $18K for my TSX & about $500 too high for the BMW. I told him I want $19K for the TSX and he has to do better on the price of the BMW. He went back to the manager and told me $38,724 + they wanted money to go and get the car. Says he can do better on the price of the BMW if I take one of the 70+ he has on his lot.

No Thank-you.

Give me $19K for my Acura and I'm not paying you to go and get a car.

He goes back to the manager and comes back with $18,500 for the Acura and no charge to go to NJ to get the BMW.

I pondered "walking out" for a second, but thought about the damages to my car that he didn't seem to put on his trade apprasil, figured it was going to need front brakes in the not too distant future, and stuck my hand out. "You got a deal."

While filling out the credit app in his office, we started talking about the new F30 3 series. He said it drives nice. Still a better driver's car than the competition. There's nothing like an old school BMW though. "My daily driver is a 1998 540i Sport w/ 6 Speed."

I'm happy. I could have called and emailed 40 different dealers to trya dn squeeze more for my trade and get the selling price a little lower, but was happy with the salesman & love their service department. Plus with my car rapidly approaching the 50K miles depreciation plateau, I figured now was the time to act.

nyccarguy

The color:

Titanium Silver/Black Leather

stever

Heh, my '99 Quest rolled over 172,000 miles today here in Charleston. It could easily die close to your backyard as we head north toward my sister in N. Virginia. I feel good about this part of the trip because I can reach a Fitzmall pretty easily if need be. :shades:

Now the '97 creampuff Outback has new shoes and less than 90k, so you may actually like that one.

stickguy

where in Jersey did it come from (or coming, since I assume you don't have it yet?) Another dealer swap, or from a storage area (port)?

nyccarguy

I think it's coming from another dealer.

driver100

There's nothing like an old school BMW though.

Great story, well told! Great deal and it seems like a good time to trade. Hope you enjoy it....I am sure you will. Nice color choice too!

Do you have it now or when do you take delivery. Nice doc fee too, seems Florida is going to be $599 - ridiculous!

driver100

. It could easily die close to your backyard

If it dies will it to Fezo. He'll take it off your hands!

stickguy

Virginia is not particularly close to NJ. But you will be closer to me than him.

stever

It's closer than home at this point. :-) But even with my lax maintenance, the van just doesn't want to die.

But hey, enough of that, I may be on the road but I'm working....

A reporter is looking to hear from new car buyers who considered buying a convertible within the last year but opted for something else. If you’d like to share your story, please email PR@edmunds.com no later than 4p.m. Pacific /7p.m. Eastern Thursday, March 15, 2012 with your daytime contact information.

fezo

How about if I considered something else but opted for a convertible? And another day of thankful I did!

Just finished the taxes. After that I will be glad to take four months off......

Not even so much the amount as the complexity that gets me. No wonder they pay the accountants the big bucks!

sterlingdog

Great story with lots of details. I enjoyed hearing all about it. Again, congratulations to a fine young man. Enjoy!

Richard

mako1a

I'd like to know when a reporter is going to investigate why house prices are

down, but car prices continue to climb. Or better yet, why it costs $7k to put

a decent stereo in a Mustang. Can't order the Shaker Stereo ($1,295) unless

you first order the Premium package for a whopping $6,000 containing (you

guessed it) a bunch of stuff I don't want.

jmonroe

Do you have a smart phone?

I didn't believe the app in my phone so I used several road-side radar devices (you know the ones "you are going XX in a XX zone") and a TomTom GPS. Results matched the phone app.

I do not have a smart phone. The one I have is just like me…pretty dumb. That’s why we get along so well. :surprise: As for those road side radar speed indicators, I don’t know how good they are in Jersey but the ones they used on the PA Turnpike during the years of construction I went through are not very accurate. It isn’t just me saying this; everyone I work with said the same thing. I was clocked at every speed imaginable on different days at different times and places. Then were times that I thought it was pretty close. So I have no faith in those things.

Son #1 probably has an app on his phone so someday I’ll ask him to check out the accuracy of the Genny with that widget and/or I can have him bring along his new Garmin nav and then I can really confuse myself reducing all that data. That $130 Garmin that he got before we went to Myrtle Beach this past summer will do waaaay more than the multi thousand dollar nav in the Genny.

And don’t get me started on the nav/bluetooth in the Legacy, that thing is the worst un-user friendly piece of junk that could ever be put in a car. A total waste of money. Maybe all the 2012 cars are like this but once you’re moving you can’t pick a point of interest or chose a phone number to dial from the screen. The screen is no longer highlighted for those functions when moving. However, I was told by the dealer, that you can call via the button on the steering wheel (voice command I think). So far I can’t do that either. When I went to the dealer thinking they could re-program to allow full use of what I paid for they said it’s a built in safety feature and it can’t be changed. How do you like that, I bought a hammer and they tell me I can’t use it unless I pull off the road. Somehow I think there is something that I’m not doing right but so far I can’t figure it out and I think the dealer is blowing me off, which wouldn’t surprise me. Totally fed-up with that thing. :mad:

‘driver’… did I hear you say your 5 Series is something like this? If it is we were both taken advantage of. :sick:

jmonroe

nyccarguy

Glad you enjoyed the story. I aim to please;). I'll post the F&I information when I take delivery of the car next week.

tjc78

Wow, J the Subie Nav is really locked down. In most GM models (my Buick included) you can at least select a stored address to navigate to while moving. I also can place a call from a number in my phone book, but not digit dial (or dial an extension after the car is placed). All safety related items.

There are "black boxes" available for most manufacturers to trick the nav into thinking the car is stopped. It must tap into the VSS signal and make it equal to zero.

Mako,
I've heard you mention this about the Mustang before. My best suggestion is to buy the model you want and then let a high-end install shop work their magic on a sound system for you. For $2000-2500 you would have a system that would blow the doors off any factory installed unit.

verdugo

I'd like to know when a reporter is going to investigate why house prices are down, but car prices continue to climb. Or better yet, why it costs $7k to put a decent stereo in a Mustang. Can't order the Shaker Stereo ($1,295) unless you first order the Premium package for a whopping $6,000 containing (you guessed it) a bunch of stuff I don't want.

That's simple. The answer is "because enough people will pay for the bundled options so that Ford doesn't have to offer the Shaker Stereo as a stand alone option."

As usual, it's all about supply and demand. :shades:

driver100

A reporter is looking to hear from new car buyers who considered buying a convertible within the last year but opted for something else.

That would be me. I had a 2008 BMW 328 Cabriolet that was James Bond Blue. The 4 year warranty was up and at first I wanted to get a 2012 335 Cabriolet in white with red and black interior.

Then, I thought about it. My wife doesn't like to go for a ride in the convertible unless it is under ideal conditions. No sunlight, not too hot, not too cold, not too fast, not too windy. So, I had the top down a total of about 20 times with just me in it, and about 5 times when both of us were in it. She took it about two times on her own and put the top down....though I don't like lending my car....to me...it is a personal item, kind of like a toothbrush.

I knew we would be using a new car for going to Florida each year and I wanted something bigger, more comfortable, and a better highway car.

I tried the 535 and it really suited my needs. I loved the Cabriolet, but it isn't worth the lack of space, and being less comfortable for about 25 days in the year when I want to put the top down.

Am I glad I changed. Well, a Cabriolet with the roof down passed me yesterday and it brought back fond memories. But, overall, the 535 suits my needs more of the time and I am happy I got it.

My experience is too boring to discuss with a reporter though, and since I am in Canada today, it might not be useful for his article. Headed for Atlanta tomorrow and then will be in Florida for 2 weeks. If it sounds like what he wants to know you can write me and I might be able to set something up....especially if there is a T-shirt involved.

Kirstie_H

Just copy & paste your post into an email and send to pr@edmunds.com.

Otherwise, it puts us hosts back & forth in the middle of the conversation & exchange of contact info.

driver100

post into an email and send to predmunds.com.

I did it....we'll see...maybe I will become famous.

explorerx4

I hope you tell them what size t shirt you wear, otherwise you might end up a kid's size.

mako1a

Yep, Driver. That's how you get a T-shirt emblazoned with Edmunds Logo.

They were nice enough to ask me my size and send it since I forgot to specify.

mako1a

The answer is "because enough people will pay for the bundled options so that Ford doesn't have to offer the Shaker Stereo as a stand alone option."

You are, of course correct verdugo. I just wish aftermarket stereo installers could add steering wheel controls. Unfortunate for me, the market will bear a lot when it comes to Mustangs. And now with Shaker Pro...new for 2013. Oh My.

driver100

They were nice enough to ask me my size and send it since I forgot to specify.

Kirstie, tell the guys to send me a medium, but if they shrink a large.

driver100

the market will bear a lot when it comes to Mustangs.

How about a 2013 Shelby GT500, for almost $60k?

explorerx4

Edmunds promised me a t shirt once, but they didn't ask my size and I never got one.
Just looking out for Driver. :shades:

sterlingdog

LMAO! A medium? You must be planning to give it to a friend. The picture that I saw of you in the blue convertible would indicate a large to me. Then again, perhaps that little car just made you look bigger. :P

Richard

fezo

They can send me a medium. Free advertising in the hospital.

G'night, folks. I have to be in NYC at 7AM tomorrow which means leaving here like 4:30. They are putting in a catheter, doing an ultrasound and another doctor visit.

Social Security has screwed up my claim and are saying I have to start over. That won't stand but my wife's going to have to fight that battle. I go in Sunday and will be out of commission. I do figure to be here, though.

jmonroe

LMAO! A medium? You must be planning to give it to a friend.

The way T-shirt sizes run today, I'd go with an X-Large. If it shrinks like they usually do it'll fit. If it doesn't, you have a polishing cloth for your wax jobs. Which BTW we're into that season again and you can never have too many of those things.

jmonroe

driver100

LMAO! A medium?

...it's like sometimes I don't admit I am a senior at a movie because I'd rather pay $2 more than say i am that old...so i'll take a medium so I don't have to admit I need a large on here.

Actually I put medium on here, but after the interview I'll tell him to make it a large....or extra large!

btw....I think the Cabriolet is pretty small...it's just a little 2+2 seater, so people look larger in it.

driver100

which means leaving here like 4:30

Time flies....I knew you were scheduled but now it's time.

Once you get settled in let us know what is happening. Find out what kind of cars those drivers have.

Maybe we can get a deal on 2 mediums.

driver100

If it doesn't, you have a polishing cloth for your wax jobs.

Always thinking!

Who else would come up with using it as an extra polishing cloth?

Yeh, sizing is way off these days with all these things being made in China.

Yesterday I called Expedia to change our car rental to pick up the car a few hours earlier than we first stated....our flight will now come in 3 hours earlier.
I asked the guy with a different accent where he was....his answer was Cairo! I talk to someone about a car rental in Florida and the guy is in Egypt!

Strange too, a Ford Fusion standard sixe car is just $290 for 15 days, or less than $20 a day. You know what they want for picking up the car 3 hours early? $17 an hour!!!!!! :sick:

stickguy

understanding rental car pricing these days requires a PhD in something math related.

I seem to recall the last time I rented it would have ended up being cheaper to rent the car, bring it back and re-rent for 2 more days.

I do know that the extra day was hugely expensive. since we were flying in at night and staying over by the airport, we just shuttled over and I went back early in the morning to get the car then go pick up the family. Saved something crazy like $200.

driver100

I seem to recall the last time I rented it would have ended up being cheaper to rent the car, bring it back and re-rent for 2 more days.

It is crazy. Once I rented the car for 5 days but it would have been a lot cheaper if I had rented it for a full week. I told them I would leave it on the street after 5 days, they could leave it there and bring it back after it was there for 2 days.

They didn't want to do that. :sick:

driver100

Just copy & paste your post into an email and send to predmunds.com.

Heard back from the reporter. I will try to call today (flying to Atlanta and at a trade show today and tomorrow) but will try my best to touch base with her as soon as possible.

I'll try to make it interesting................
I was driving in my convertible, but then it became a dark and stormy night.............................

tjc78

btw....I think the Cabriolet is pretty small...it's just a little 2+2 seater, so people look larger in it

Using your logic, I'm going to start driving a Limo so I look smaller than I really am. :shades:

imidazol97

>I was driving in my convertible, but then it became a dark and stormy night

Another transformer?--the car became a dark, stormy night?

Sorry. I need my coffee. I have another 15 minutes for my thyroid pill before I can have anything! :sick:

snakeweasel

Once I rented the car for 5 days but it would have been a lot cheaper if I had rented it for a full week.

That happened to me once, I just rented for the full week and returned it early. Still got the week rate.

fezo

Back again. They put this monster catheter in me that loos like I could plug into the stereo.

We are confirmed to go in Sunday. No time yet. I'm counting on a thing like yesterday when they called at almost 6 PM to tell me to be in NYC at 6:45 AM! Drove in the dark all the way.

We are confirmed for Hope Lodge which is a major weight off. Around April 20 or so I move there to live for 2 - 3 months.

Good time to send all those nice gifts - iTunes cards, B&N cards, Edmunds t-shirts, new BMWs......

explorerx4

If my kid gets some good BMW swag, I'll see if I can pass some on to you.

canadiantoyota

....especially if there is a T-shirt involved.

I received one of the Edmunds t-shirts and I don't know what I am doing wrong, but it seems to add about 20 pounds to me and makes me look "husky". Must be the t-shirt, couldn't be anything else.

Randy

jmonroe

I received one of the Edmunds t-shirts and I don't know what I am doing wrong, but it seems to add about 20 pounds to me and makes me look "husky".

... AND WE HAVE A WINNER ... over here in this driveway we have a guy with a hellava car polishing cloth.

jmonroe

nyccarguy

back on the leasing hamster wheel. If I buy my new 328xi, the payment comes to $691/ month (60 months). If I lease the car for 30 months (20K miles per year), the payment comes to $570/month.

At the end of the 30 month lease, the car will have 50K miles and be out of warranty & the free maintenance period. Not that it is going to fall apart, but will require brakes (50,001 miles) & a major service (Inspection II) at 60K miles.

I can always buy the car out if I love it or buy a CPO model with less miles.

Comments welcome as always.

BTW guys, it has been officially 1 week since I got my $299 speeding ticket (81 in a 55). I've been excellent (so far). I've been keeping my cruise set between 60 & 65. I haven't gone over 70 except for a few brief seconds to let a tractor trailer pass (I was in the right lane).

Keeping my speeding under control is so much easier in the Pilot than in my Prelude or TSX.

While I am much more relaxed now, I do find myself asking the question: "Where are the cops when you need them?"

stickguy

too rich for my blood. either of them! At least as long as I am funding active college educations...

my take? If you are worried about having it out of warranty, and aren't looking for a "til death do us part" relationship, might as well just go with the lease. Like you say, can always buy it out.

and if nothing else, you can bank the difference in payments and have $3,600 in the bank as seed money (plus whatever DP, if any, would be involved in the lease).

let's see, $700/moth, I could buy the 5 speed 325xi I found near me (a 2003, 66K on it) at asking price, and have it paid for in 14 months!

tjc78

NYC I'm a chronic leaser, so I certainly see the allure of leasing. With the miles you put on its a tough call. IIRC you have some equity in your TSX. I assume you are cashing out that equity and not rolling it into that 570 a month lease correct ? If so the lease may work for you. If you are rolling that equity in as a cap cost reduction I would certainly buy instead as I feel that is too much money down on a lease.

The good thing for you leasing is no maintenance cost and if you see yourself going over miles you can use the Prelude.

nyccarguy

Either way I'm taking the equity from my TSX & banking it to make payments. I wouldn't put "money down" on a lease.

driver100

I'm going to start driving a Limo so I look smaller than I really am.

Good idea! I think that is why so many people buy SUVs these days. Maybe a reporter should do a story on what cars make you look slimmer.

driver100

Another transformer?--the car became a dark, stormy night?

A transformer car...that was funny. I have been having trouble with language skills lately.

I went for a ride in my friends new $130,000 Maserati the other day. Without thinking I wrote to my brother who loves cars that I went for a ride in my friends new $130000 Maserati, and I like the way the motor sounds like an old MG.

He wrote back...nice, a $130,000 car that sounds like an old MG?????????

driver100

I just rented for the full week and returned it early.

That's the point, they would charge me the daily rate when I brought it back early and the daily rate for 4 days was more than the weekly rate.

I did really well today with Budget. It was supposed to be a standard car (Fusion) for $284 for 15 days. All other cars were over $800 from all the other rental companies. When we got there she asked if we wanted a Gennie for $25 a day. No! A Taurus for and extra $10 a day. I said no because it might not fit in the garage...I think it would but not sure. I asked if they had a Passat since we might buy one. She said she would try and she got it. I was just joking, never heard of a VW rental car. It was only $247 and it is a pleasure to drive. Solid, quiet, nice on the highway, lots of room inside and in the trunk, nice instruments. The only negative for me is a bit of torque steer from the front wheel drive.....maybe I am just so used to AWD and rear drive that I notice it. You would never know this was a low $20k car.
Maybe I'll get one for myself next time.