Stories from the Sales Frontlines

roadburner

Well, I built a Mustang using Ford's configurator and a GT built to my specs would have an MSRP of @$40,000. For that amount of money I could find a really, REALLY nice 2005 M3 with the Competition Package and have almost $10,000 left over for maintenance, track tires, and brakes- or I could spend @$5,000 more and get a Boss 302. But that's just me- looking at things from the perspective of a confirmed track rat...

driver100

By the way, is Buffalo still in New York State?

I think you hit on all the major points. Hockey fans might mention the Sabres, but that's about it. Oh yes, Buffalo is definitely in NY State and it is just about 15 miles from Niagara Falls. Buffalo has very friendly people and that seems to be a characteristic of cities that are economically challenged. I can think of a few towns that are that way, so I think there is some kind of dynamic there.

driver100

What? You don't think my wife needs a car?

Oh, how did I forget that?

jmonroe

By the way, is Buffalo still in New York State?

Nah, they sold it to the Canadians when the real estate market went south. However, the sale had a contingency that when the market picks up NY wants it back as long as the Canadians didn't use what was left of their prime real estate to build too many hockey rinks.

jmonroe

mako1a

some old homeless guy leaning up against the car

The previous day I was 61. That day (car arrival) I reverse aged to 51.

According to you I should have taken the pic with my wife beside the car.

mako1a

But that's just me- looking at things from the perspective of a confirmed track rat...

Look up the HP on a Shelby GT 500 for 2013. It's over 620HP. No clue as to how it tracks, but for only $62k you'd win the HP title. Driver would call that "only 100 dollars per HP"

snakeweasel

Driver would call that "only 100 dollars per HP"

Interesting, the wifes Sonata costs about that.

abacomike

They sold it to the Canadians

Is it true that it snows so much in Buffalo that New York City sends snowplows up to find the city in the winter? I heard that one year, they searched for days and just couldn't find it, so they found Rochester instead!

The only thing I can remember about Minneapolis-St. Paul Minnesota is that when I got off the plane and sneezed I caused a blizzard about 10 feet in front of me. Yep, both are cold places to be sure, and my only visits to those two cities was when my planes were diverted because of weather. Got to love those people who live there - tough European stock. Why did they settle there instead of discovering Florida?

driver100

Driver would call that "only 100 dollars per HP"
Interesting, the wifes Sonata costs about that.

That's excellent value, mine is about $220 per horsepower.

A new way to figure out the price to pay for a car. :sick:

driver100

Is it true that it snows so much in Buffalo that New York City sends snowplows up to find the city in the winter?

I am not sure about New York sending snowplows but Toronto has sent men and equipment a few times. Buffalo is just South of Lake Ontario and Artic air sweeps across the lake and dumps lots of snow on Buffalo. We are just about an hour away, and North and West of Buffalo, but we get a fraction of the snow because we are on the side of the lake where the wind starts from.

Why did they settle there instead of discovering Florida?

I don't know why any American, who can choose a place to live and can move there with no real problem, would choose to live in Buffalo. But, like I say, the people are friendly - I guess you have to be that way when you have to rely on others so much.

driver100

Nah, they sold it to the Canadians when the real estate market went south.

Even we wouldn't want Buffalo. Maybe if it included Tampa, Miami, and Orlando.

imidazol97

>Why did they settle there instead of discovering Florida?

Because they didn't like the plethora of bugs, high humidity, and hurricanes?

jmonroe

Maybe if it included Tampa, Miami, and Orlando.

That would cost you guys a lot more than $100 per degree F delta in February. :shades:

jmonroe

abacomike

Bugs, high humidity and hurricanes

High humidity and infrequent hurricanes for sure, but not many bugs down here - less than most would think! I remember living in the suburbs of Chicago and had to fight off mosquitoes the size of small birds. I can't remember the last time I had a mosquito bite. In a week or two, we'll be inundated with June bugs - harmless except that their remains play havoc with the paint job on your car if not promptly removed. When I drive south on the Sawgrass Expressway (adjacent to the Everglades), my windshield gets literally covered with Junebug carcasses during late May through early July.

But, no snow, no cold temperatures - just daily thunderstorms between 3:00 and 6:00 PM every day between late May and beginning of October. Of course, slip in a category 3 Hurricane every 4-6 years, and you top that off with a sinkhole here and there, and you've rounded out out climactic impact.

Not Eden, but not hell either!

driver100

High humidity and infrequent hurricanes for sure, but not many bugs down here

I was amazed at how few bugs there are in Florida, not even flies or mosquitoes. But, I'll take a few bugs over 3 feet of ice and snow and "0" (zero) degrees fahrenheit.

tjc78

I was amazed at how few bugs there are in Florida

That should tell you something! I can't stand the heat/humidity in Jersey let alone Florida summers. Just too darn hot for me.

I'm a sissy, if the temps get over 78 the A/C in the house is on.

driver100

I'm a sissy, if the temps get over 78 the A/C in the house is on.

Me too, except I turn on the a/c at 74 F.

I wouldn't want to be in Florida in the summer. People who do live there in the summer adjust, just stay inside a lot, stay in the pool, play golf early in the morning, go out for an early bird dinner in your a/c car.

The ideal life would be a winter place in Florida, a summer home in New England as in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont.

imidazol97

> was amazed at how few bugs there are in Florida,

What were those things crawling all around in Ft. Lauderdale. Some of them were big enough to put a saddle on? Like cockroaches. Driving the windshield got covered going and coming.

When my sister lived in Boca Raton, I recall bugs when I drove her Buick at night. I don't remember as many bugs crawling. I was there in sweater season (65-75 deg) weather. Don't recall the exact time of year, but I know my sister said it was "cool" weather for them.

abacomike

Big enough to put a saddle on

The only thing I can remember big enough to put a saddle on down here in Florida is a beautiful thoroughbred racehorse I bet on at the track. We really have fewer bugs than most people think. The largest bug we have is something called a palmetto bug, a large cockroach that measures about 6 inches long. I haven't seen one of those in almost 15 years. But when you do see one, it is a shock. I saw one in my kitchen in an apartment that I was renting down here in Coral Springs back in the early 90s. Only safe way to kill one of those is with a 9 mm.

As for air conditioning, we keep our thermostats set at 78° in the summer. Temperature rarely gets above

• 95° in the summer. When I lived in Palm Springs, California, the temperature was between 108 and 115° every day in the summer, but they call it a dry heat! Wet heat or dry heat, heat is heat!
  
  

dino001

The are called lovebugs. They actually fly in pairs doing their reproduction business for everybody to see. Makes me wonder why we don't have congressional hearings on indecency of the creatures, yet. Just perfect issue ad for those SuperPACs.

Evasive species - they were brought in to eat mosquitoes, but found some better thing to eat. So now we get both. Worse, lovebugs have very acidic bodily fluids, which eat the paint if the bug gets stuck on your front bumper. That was some great idea for University of Florida to bring them in. :sick: :mad:

dino001

Palmettos generally live outside, but sometimes wonder into a house. The worse ones are the smaller species. When you see one of those, you can be sure there are thousands of siblings and cousins living nearby.

tjc78

we keep our thermostats set at 78° in the summer

Too warm , I like 73 or so. If I didn't care about the electric bill I'd probably go lower. If it gets way into the 90s I'll go 74. It doesn't matter if it gets to 100 because I don't think the system will maintain anything lower than that.

Our office put in some new high efficiency A/C units in and when its 95 out it won't get it below 78. They have been checked out many times and operatiing to spec. The old ones would have chilled beer.

driver100

, I recall bugs when I drove her Buick at night.

Ah, now I see what your problem is.

If you live in Florida, you don't drive around at night.

Everyone is supposed to be at home and in bed by 9.

oldfarmer50

"...I reversed aged to 51..."

Funny you say that because the average age of a Mustang buyer is...51.

As to having your wife pose next to the car, that might be a good idea. All the car shows hire attractive women to stand next to the cars. Even though it's usually the old guys who actually buy the cars you almost never see an old fart like me draped across the hood of a sports car.

That's a beautiful car, enjoy it for a long time.

abacomike

If you live in Florida, you don't drive around at night

Actually, *driver, you are dead on to something. I haven't driven down here in Florida at night in over a year, and before that, only once or twice a year. Everything closes up down here by 9 PM except for bars and movie theaters! Those June bugs are worse at night than they are during the day. The damage they can do to a car's paint job is unbelievable. That's why you have to wash the car immediately after driving at night and even after driving the car during the day near the Everglades.

If you live down here in Florida during the summer, you have your thermostats set at 78°F by day and 75°F by night. When you come from the heat and humidity, the 78° temperature is cool enough - but at night, we turn it down a little. You can get used to just about anything if you are inclined.

jmonroe

When I lived in Palm Springs, California, the temperature was between 108 and 115° every day in the summer, but they call it a dry heat! Wet heat or dry heat, heat is heat!

I agree with that but southern Florida is hot in the summer and also has high humidity so that makes it worse. When I lived in SC the summer days were the same. Temps well into the 90s and the humidity just about matched it.

Back in the early 80s a few of us stopped in Tempe AZ coming back from the LA area where the temp was into the 90’s that week. It was in September around 8 PM and because AZ does not have DST it was dark. The temp was an even 100. On our way to the rental car one of the guys said, “damn it’s hot”. Having been there a few times before I said, “we're in a hot spot, we’ll walk right out of this in another 50 feet or so”. Wrong, it was 100 that night EVERYWHERE. It took me a while to grasp that it could be that hot when the sun was down. It got worse the next day. When we went to lunch around 11:30 it was 112 when we finishes a little more than an hour later it was 122. The humidity was around 20% but 122 is HOT, with or without humidity, especially for a guy from the Burgh.

jmonroe

abacomike

but 122 is HOT, with or without humidity, especially for a guy from the Burgh.

It really isn't very much more humid down here in the summer than it is in New York or New Jersey, or anywhere south of that. Even Chicago has high humidity. We just experience 92-95 every single day - no breaks. Humidity is about 70% and with those temps, it is very uncomfortable. Then it rains about 3:00 PM every day, making it even more unbearable.

As for Phoenix or Palm Springs (actually more humid in Pheonix during the summer due to the winds coming in from the southwest over the gulf California - monsoonal flow they call it.

In Palm Springs area, the mountains to our south prevent the humidity from getting to the desert floow - thus 105 with daytime humidity aroudn 15%. During the winters, it's unbearable with the low humidity. 3 - 4 % indoor relative humidity. You have to put a humidifier into your bedroom at night or you get nosebleeds - at least that is what I had to do.

San Diego had the best overall climate of any place I lived. 80's in the summer, 65-72 degrees in the winter. As long as you were 10 or so miles east of the ocean, you didn't have to deal with the early morning to early afternoon marine layers that blocked the sun until 1:00 or 2:00 PM. But, inland San Diego was the nicest climate of all.

driver100

Everything closes up down here by 9 PM except for bars and movie theaters!

And most concerts, theatre, dances, entertainment begins at 6:30 or 7, so every one can go home by 9 at the latest.

The only people out after 9 are ones the police should be following.

driver100

It got worse the next day. When we went to lunch around 11:30 it was 112

We used to have sales meetings near Phoenix in May. One day it was a really hot 114, but the weatherman said it was cooling off and would only be 112 the next day!

One morning we had breakfast on the trail. We rode horses and we had a chuckwagon and they made pancakes for us out in the desert. It may have been 100+ during the day, but the nights get pretty cold...we had breakfast on the trail, and froze our a---s off early in the morning!

abacomike

One morning we had breakfast on the trail

I lived in the desert for almost 10 years and I never remember an evening in the summer when the temperature dropped below 90°. Temperatures would range between 105°F to 110°F by day, and in the evenings 90°Fto 95°F.

You might have been there in spring or fall with cooler temps at night. But I never remember cold nights in the desert (low desert) unless you were in the high desert (3000 - 5000 ft. Above sea level like Flagstaff or near Flagstaff.

mako1a

I don't want to bore everyone with Mustang stories, but this 2013 is light years ahead of my last one (98 GT). The rims I ordered are 18" x 8" and they came factory with Pirelli P-Zero tires.

I've been getting a little more daring lately on the nice twistie mountain roads around here and I have to say, this thing tracks like it's on rails. No detectable slippage around turns. Maybe it's the 3.31 rear with posi-trac and keeping a foot in it that helps or maybe it's the traction/stability control. I don't know, but my old Mustang could never do what this one does.

js06gv

Keep an eye on those Pirellis. My 2011 GT has the 19 inch rims and the Pirellis only gave me 18K. Besides the premature wear, the tires started getting really noisy around 10K. Won't go with Pirellis again. Replaced them with Continental Extreme Contacts based upon some favorable reviews I've read. So far so good and man are they so much quieter.

driver100

I never remember an evening in the summer when the temperature dropped below 90°.

Yes, Flagstaff...it was at a fancy resort but my employer didn't pay too much to have a meeting in May or June.
Today's weather there is high 70s, but nightime is mid 40s. That's cool when all you bring are short sleeve shirts because you think you are going to a desert where it will be very hot all the time.

imidazol97

...and it's about a car sale! Some here know what game the dealer is playing (or not playing) on this buyer.

Would someone would like to jump in over there?

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f1aea81/2949#MSG2949

"I found out several weeks later that the dealer never cashed my bank draft (they only cashed down payment check) and that they filed for a loan with Ally bank-their lender that I was not aware of until I got a phone call for Ally saying my payment was late."

driver100

this thing tracks like it's on rails.

Good, well at least someone else now understands "rides like it's on rails" and the "feel of the road".

Welcome to the "appreciate great handling" side.

nyccarguy

You are not boring anybody by any means. We're glad you are enjoying your car.

nyccarguy

This weekend officially marked our 2011 Pilot's 1 year birthday. In 17,000 miles we've gone through A LOT of gas, 2 oil changes, 2 tire rotations, & 1 tire. This one's definitely a keeper. Only 4 more years & it's all ours:)

oldfarmer50

Maybe one of the sales pros could explain how they work and how a buyer could use them to his/her advantage.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120521/VIDEO/305219814/1219

Kirstie_H

Thanks, man! I was just headed over here to post a note about the question, then I saw yours, then I saw some folks had helped.

oldfarmer50

"...don't want to bore you with Mustang stories..."

LOL! As if that were even possible. Refresh my memory did you order the Performance Package? If memory serves you get those P-Zeros, zippier rear end ratio and lots of good suspension bits from the GT. It was a $1995 option and gave you .97g on the turns. Be still my heart.

If you confirm this I can start living vicariously through you full time.

robr2

And most concerts, theatre, dances, entertainment begins at 6:30 or 7, so every one can go home by 9 at the latest.

The only people out after 9 are ones the police should be following.

I hope I'm never that "old" where I would think that 9 PM is late.

roadburner

If you are talking about PZero All-Seasons, I got 38,000 miles out of an 18" set on my Mazdaspeed 3, and 47,000 miles out of a 17" set on my wife's X3.

abacomike

Stair-Step Programs

First of all, consumers are usually not aware of Stair-Step programs. It is an internal means/incentive to boost sales and by doing so, if a dealership meets the sales targets agreed to by the manufacturer, they can make out like bandits. Here are some clues as to whether you could benefits from one of these programs.

1. Do you car shopping early in the month - BUT DO NOT BUY A CAR! Just determine what brand, model, color and equipment you want. You can price if you like, but DO NOT BUY A CAR!

2. During the last 3 days of a given month, call a few of the dealerships you visited and priced cars. See how motivated they are to sell you a car at a lower price - even a price that goes below invoice.

3. If a dealer tells you to "come in and I'll make you a deal of a lifetime" on that car, go ahead in. Bring you checkbook, title for trade, etc., and when you walk in the door, make sure your checkbook and title are prominently displayed in shirt pocket. That always excites a dealership - a customer who came in with his checkbook and title!

4. If he quotes you a price that is a hundred or so lower than the original price he quoted you, stand up, thank him, and start walking out. If there is a Stair-Step incentive at that dealership for that model or brand, you won't make it to the front door.

So the only way to benefit is to keep trying it out at different dealerships until you find one that is affect by this incentive program.

Like I said, there is no way for you to know up front if the brand or model qualifies for a Stair-Step incentive from the manufacturer. If you are friendly with a salesperson or know a salesperson who would let you know about the possibility of Stair-Step programs, tell him you will buy, but only below invoice.

I don't know of any other way to help you guys out on this. When I was in the business, I would never tell a customer about Stair-Step incentives on my cars - why would you want to take a loss on a car if you can make money on that same car plus get an incentive from the manufacturer?

Hope this help you guys out a little.

abacomike

I hope I'm never that "old" where I would think that 9 PM is late

*driver, believe me when I tell you that there WILL COME A TIME when you are sitting in the den or livingroom watching your favorite TV show at 8:30 PM and all of a sudden your eyelids get heavy - so you get into bed and turn the TV on in the bedroom, and now it's 9:00 PM and you start yawning, etc. Your eyelids get even heavier, so you set the TV timer for 1 hour so the TV will turn itselp off but you don't last more than another 10 minutes.

10 years ago, I would go nuts if I didn't go out every night for a drink, or just to socialize, etc. Now, I'm happy if once or twice a week a bunch of friends get in a couple of cars and we drive over to Dunkin' Donuts for Coffee and some donuts, just so I don't have to go home and watch TV - which happens to stink nowadays. I have 160+ channels plus 76 HD channels, and some nights trying to find something to watch is almost impossible. When you have to tune in the National Geographic Channel or the Travel Channel because everything else is a repeat of boring, you know you are fast approaching that age, *driver, where 9:00 PM is late.

I personally hope you live long past that time, well into your 90's, but I warn you, it will come upon you like a calm before the storm. Trust me, *driver, it will happen!

driver100

you know you are fast approaching that age, *driver, where 9:00 PM is late

I (driver) agree with you 100%. It is rob who needs to be taught how we change over time. I used to be up until 11 and then I read or watched the news until 12 midnight. Now I go to bed at 10, watch the news and read and almost make it to 11. Many people in Florida go to bed at 8:30 or 9.

Tastes change with time, the kind of cars we buy, the food we eat, the entertainment we like, and bed times....and I will say getting up times. Though I go to bed earlier, I get up earlier and I think older people tend to do that. So much you can do with your day when you get an early start, and you want to accomplish as much as possible in a day.

BTW, if you want to see a great movie and it is one your wife's would like to, the Exotic Marigold Hotel. It is a British movie and it takes place in India. It is clever, funny, great acting, great scenery, great premise, and it is about seniors who can only afford to retire, in what they think is a magnificent hotel...in India.

driver100

It is rob who needs to be taught how we change over time.

That reminds me....where is explorer?

I know you are lurking out there explorer. That was the kind of mistake that was made when you didn't get a proper answer to your post. These things happen, hope you join us again soon.

stickguy

Mike, is the simple way to describe the program itself, that it is a volume (units sold) incentive program, and the "steps" are certain volume targets? And that reaching each step can be worth a boatload of cash to the dealer?

so basically, they might get a 20K (making that up!) bonus for selling 50 Pilots this month, and if it is late on the 31st and they are sitting on 49, you ain't leaving without one!

mako1a

did you order the Performance Package?

I got the 202A package (pretty sure that's it) plus the 3.31:1 Posi rear.

Pony package is there, but performance gives you brembo brakes and

removes the spare. I wanted a spare so I didn't get that one. I tried to

order recaro seats, but they were N/A with my package. Ford packages

are very confusing.

tjc78

Posi rear.

It is a Ford! That is a "Traction-lok" axle. The Posi is for the GM guys :P

tjc78

so basically, they might get a 20K (making that up!) bonus for selling 50 Pilots this month, and if it is late on the 31st and they are sitting on 49, you ain't leaving without one!

This happened to my Stepdad on a Highlander. There was a sweetheart lease deal for something like $279.00/month zero down for a 4cyl base model. He went in looking for that car. They didn't have any on the lot. He ended up leaving with a pretty well equipped V6 model for the same price (it stickered over 30K).

They told him that this was a deal that wouldn't be repeated. I'm sure they were staring down a bonus and were closing a deal on a HL one way or another.

FWIW when that lease was over an equivalent was over $350/month.