Was just talking to my sister last night, who scored a brand new '11 Camraro SS Convertible....totally loaded. She lives in AZ. Apparently, the dealership who she bought it from had ordered it for a customer, who backed out of the deal. Now, why it took them another year to actually find another buyer, we'll never know. But, it wasn't a demo. It had 48 miles on it when she bought it.
Red with white strips, total ground effects package. Not certain, but it may be the model with the 'vette motor in it. She sent me pics. She'll definitely be visible.
Anyway, she asked me how to use the GPS in her car. I told her, it should have a relatively large screen in the dash. She sent me a pic of what looks to be a one line radio display.
Come to find out (and much to her chagrin), in 2011 Chevy didn't offer a nav system other than the subscription "OnStar" service (which isn't very good).
She won't tell me what she paid for the car because she knows how I am about making a "deal". Since it's a 2011, and we're now cranking up the 2013 MY, I'm hoping she did well.
That said, if she saw the car, liked it, she bought it, regardless of the "deal".
I'll get more info from her....maybe have her send me pics to post here.
That is curious that it took another year to sell. Hopefully it was kept in the showroom out of the sun. They're real quick and sound good with pedal down.
A local Nissan dealer is running ads where they say they will double manufacturer rebates. I don't know what Nissan is offering on rebates currently but if a car had a $2k rebate, doubling that could add up to a pretty substantial discount. There has to be a catch somewhere.
Is this a true bargain or not?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Since it's a 2011, and we're now cranking up the 2013 MY, I'm hoping she did well.
She probably paid a really low price for the car, if she is planning on keeping it for a few years. The car is in real terms, 2 years old, so has probably lost one third of it's value, if say she was to try to trade it in right away. I doubt the discount was that large, but it was probably a very enticing deal.
My layman guess, the car sat there for a year because they tried to sell a one year old car at cost, and when it couldn't be done discounted it more.
A local Nissan dealer is running ads where they say they will double manufacturer rebates.
Offers, that sound too good to be true usually are. My guess is (It's like a game show - Guess the Scam) there is probably a $1000 or $2000 rebate and they will double it, from the full MSRP. Meaning, what you will pay will end up being the same.
I saw ads on TV for used cars at a Honda Dealer in Florida, that said ask about our famous 10 year warranty. That sounds pretty good, get a 10 year old car and it will have a 10 year warranty! The deal was a total of 10 years minus the age of the car now. So on a 5 year old car you could get a 5 year warranty, on a 1 year old car a 9 year warranty. Then, of course the price of the warranty varies with age, and it was a pretty basic drive train warranty.
The mark-up on a Nissan Altima is a few thousand dollars. If they double the rebate ($1500-$2000), the have just enough profit to double the rebate. Now, if you expect a discount besides, guess again! Of course it's a scam. Either I discount the car or I double the rebate, take your pick!
They sure aren't going to sell their new cars at a net loss, are they? If they did, how long would they stay in business?
We have a dealer down here who will give $3000 over and above your trade's book value. Now, try to get another $3000 off sticker!
It's just another way to get you onto the showroom. Once there, they have a shot at selling you a car. If you don't come in, they have no chance at selling you a car. Other dealers have an ad on the paper where they will lease or sell you a car at a great price, but then list one or two stock numbers on the bottom of the ad stating many more available at "similar" savings. Now what does "similar" mean. The sometimes list the car as "incoming" which means the car may not be there for a month.
I never worked for dealers who put out ads like that, but I know how they work. Just remember that a dealer is not going to sell lots of cars at a loss - they just can't!
my guess on the fine print? The car as a "dealer protection package" (wheel locks, a pin stripe, and mats) for $1,995 on it, so the discount is figured from the dealer price. basically mark it up 2K, then offer 2K more off of it.
bottom line, you should end up at the same point, but some people might feel better about getting there!
A local Nissan dealer is running ads where they say they will double manufacturer rebates. I don't know what Nissan is offering on rebates currently but if a car had a $2k rebate, doubling that could add up to a pretty substantial discount. There has to be a catch somewhere.
I'll take a stab at this ... do you think you can still get a discount from MSRP and get the "double rebates"?
It all depends on the amount of the rebate and/or the mark-up available from invoice. Find out the invoice of the car, determine the profit margin to MSRP, then determine the rebate, then double that, and see if there is any dealer profit left after comparing the two. If there is, you might get a little more off.
One thing my parents always told me was, "...if you can't say something nice about...don't say anything at all!"
Mike, you weren’t here when ‘gogi’ had his interstate accident a few years ago and he almost lost his dog too as a result of it. Lost, like in, ran away due to the confusion of the accident. Finally weeks later, maybe even a month or so, the dog was found and they were reunited. I believe he and his wife were banged up a little but are now back to normal, I think. Because of that he said something like “once you've been in an accident on the interstate, safety is now very important”. I wouldn’t say he was being disrespectful of ‘drivers’ purchase of the Audi.
If we were in his shoes I’m sure we’d feel the same way about crash tests.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Yesterday Mrs. j told me about a conversation she had with a couple in their 60’s last week in a grocery store parking lot because I pointed out to her that a car 2 lanes over was just like her Subie. Same color and it was a 6 cylinder. The conversation went like this:
Man: Mam, would you mind telling me if that is your car or your husband’s?
Mrs. j: It’s mine. Why do you ask? :confuse:
Man: I see it’s a 6 cylinder and most women don’t buy those.
Mrs. j: It’s a 6 cylinder because my husband insisted that we had to have it like this. He didn’t want a 4 cylinder. For some reason he felt I had to have this one.
Man: Oh, I get it. He must drive your car a good bit, huh?
Mrs. j: Only when he gets home and we go somewhere around here, otherwise he takes his car.
Man: What kind of car does he drive, if I can ask? Does he have a 6 in his car too?
Mrs. j: He has a Genesis. It has a V8 and he HAD to have that too.
Man: I’ve heard those are nice cars. If I bought one of those I’d want the V8 too. Gee, we sound alike.
Man’s wife: ALL you guys sound alike, especially when it come to cars.
Mrs. j and this woman now start to compare notes and are having a good time with it. She said they must have talked for a few minutes and the guy was trying to defend the male gender but they wouldn’t let the poor guy get in a word edgewise. As they are about done Mrs. j said to the guy, “I guess you have a 6 or a V8 too”. She said the guy just nodded his head yes. I guess he was tired trying to talk. :sick:
The guy’s wife points to a red Vette a few spots away.
Mrs. j: Now I understand.
Man’s wife: No you don’t. He was such a baby until he got that thing. You wouldn’t believe how much he carried on about it either.
Mrs. j: OH YES I DO.
And they started in again about males.
I don’t think we’re as much alike as they profess.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
something like that should come with a license and registration holder by the steering wheel. Just to keep them handy for the frequent use (passing them out the window to various LEOs) they are likely to get.
well, I am working on convincing my wife that the base 4 cyl (non-turbo) in a Santa Fe will be more than plenty. Nothing to do with the $1,700 cost differential of course...
No, *jmonroe, I was not! My comment might have been different if I had known that. But, I responded not knowing that!
However, even when considering the above, there are still ways to make a point. When I read his post, his first paragraph sounded very negative, and still does! I was involved in a very serious accident on I-75 8 years ago which put me in the hospital for 6 weeks. I was rear-ended by a car doing 70 mph and I was stopped for an accident in front of me. The force rammed me into the rear of a semi. Even though I am extra sensitive about buying cars with ample accident protection, I would never demean or be critical of someone's selection of a new car and bring up thousands in savings on an Acura. Besides, I knew that DRIVER did not know about the crash tests when he bought his car.
I still contend there are ways to communicate concerns for a car that failed a crash test other than criticizing *driver's purchase and how much he could have saved on another car.
I just wanted YOU to know my rationale for my comment. There were many POSITIVE ways of alerting *driver to a failed crash test.
"...a dealer is not going to sell a lot of cars at a loss..."
Of course not. I assumed that as driver100 and you said, take the double rebate and pay sticker. I just wondered if there was some of that double-secret trunk money going to dealers this time of year that might make such an offer legit.
Are you still getting heavy rain? I'm looking at the weather radar and it shows heavy stuff all up the Florida east coast but not over near Tampa. Go figure. :confuse:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Yes, we are. We've had 6" of rain since midnight with strong winds. They predict that we have had over 14" of rain since the storm started to affect us Saturday. It just doesn't seem to want to stop. Enough is enough! At least we didn't lose power.
If there is double-secret trunk money, it's still a secret to me! At the end of a model year, there is always additional incentive money provided by manufacturers on each car sold. I really don't have any idea how much that might be. As a guess, $1000-$1500 would be the norm on addition to the customer rebate. Remember, this is just a guess!
"One thing my parents always told me was, "...if you can't say something nice about...don't say anything at all!"
I do like to kid driver, but I hope he didn't take it as being mean spirited. It's sometimes hard to convey a joking tone (minus those obtrusive emotorcons), but he kept saying how the money he saved by switching to the Audi was vanishing and I figured the Acura was even cheaper.
If I was being a bit dark (or perhaps cynical) it was pointing out that the (read: any) luxury cars on the list should fail a tough offset test since that protection should be part of what one expects when purchasing such a car.
Although I'm stuck strictly in the vanilla middle-of-the-road pack I'm always hoping to get the most safety I can.
Driver, sorry if I offended, that was not my intent. Most posters on here are better informed than me anyway and I guessed (perhaps incorrectly) that driver had already seen the same article.
Obviously, I am not speaking for driver, but if you had ended the first paragraph with, "...just kidding *driver, enjoy the new Audi..." it would have alerted me that your intentions were more comical than critical. That's all I am tring to convey.
Now that I know who you are and that you and *driver kid each other a lot, I must apologize for perhaps being overly critical of your post.
Some good deals on the Genesis are airing here locally. Base car $29,300. That is about $6,000. off msrp. Add the prem pkg. and it goes to $34,400. Fitzmall has about the same pricing so it is probably a nat'l deal. The V6 of course.
it was pointing out that the (read: any) luxury cars on the list should fail a tough offset test since that protection should be part of what one expects when purchasing such a car.
Gogi, it is nice to see someone else's comments get misconstrued because that usually happens to me. It is amusing now that you explained it...I could save even more by buying the Acura...how about a Fiat!
As JMonroe reminded us, you were in a serious accident and I am sure that will affect your choice of car forever. My wife is very safety minded so that crash test will be a concern to her - she was also in a bad accident through no fault of her own. They have only tested a few cars so far and not too many are acceptable, I have a feeling when they do the others very few will pass this new test that was sprung on the automotive industry suddenly.
Thank you for coming back and explaining. I always admire people who can pull off humor, because it is a two edged sword, great when it works, but, can be disasterous, when it fails......just ask Gilbert Gotfried, Michael Richards or Charlie Sheen.
Come on, houdini, all of us on this posting board ALWAYS NEED A CAR! The only thing holding us back is an offer we couldn't refuse! If someone offered me such a deal (one i could not refuse) on a car I could smack my lips on, I would make a move, to be sure! I'm always ready to pull the trigger. All that is needed for me to make such a move is to be WOWED!
I feel much the same way...and if I get "wowed" I'm signing the papers !
I bought a car I always wanted a few years ago, a 2006 Lexus LS 430. It now has about 75,000 miles on it and still runs, drives, and looks like new. I have owned it longer than any other car, and right now, I am simply reluctant to give it up.
I have a feeling when they do the others very few will pass this new test that was sprung on the automotive industry suddenly.
I doubt that this new test was a total blindsided test to the manufactures. I’m sure they will be able to build to the new spec and have more than likely got a pretty good handle on it already. Because it will be more expensive none of them that weren't doing a new design wanted to build to the new requirement and have their cost go up while the others kept to the old requirement and held the old line on their prices.
When push comes to shove they know what’s going on and they only respond when they have to. The insurance companies will give them time to do it. It will take a couple of years but they’ll all meet the new spec. when they have to.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I don't blame you. The LS460 is a great car. That's why I bought a Lexus GS350, loaded with all the goodies. I like the ride, the handling, and especially the longevity of Lexus (not that I keep cars that long). But as things go, I expect to keep this one for at least 3 years (good grief I sure hope I don't have to eat those words).
I test drove the LS at the same time I test drove the GS. I found the GS a little more sporty yet had a very similar, smooth ride. And the difference in price was substantial - GS MSRP'd at $58,860 while the LS with the same options l MSRP'd at $73,450. The difference of $15,000+ was enough to draw me to the 2013 GS over the 2012 LS.
But, have you driven the 2013 LS? I have and found it to be a totally different car from the 2012. But the GS and LS ride very similarly - major differences are V8 vs V6, weight and pure luxury. I prefer a sportier ride, but the F Sport in the GS and LS are a bit too stiff for my tastes.
I'm reminded that these forums are a poor substitute for real communication where tone of voice and facial expression can speak volumes. I used to use those emotorcons, but felt they were tedious and it seemed everyone was dropping them. Mike's response reminds me that at minimum I'm guilty of "familiarity breeding contempt" and that any joking really should be made clear even if I have a long history of needling driver.
I still have lingering problems from my accident and it could have been much worse. It really has negatively impacted my daily life, which surprises me. Still, given the difficulties others on this forum like fez and Mike are facing I feel fortunate.
My next car would be a Volvo XC60 for both safety and practicality if I thought I wouldn't be a wage slave to some guy named Sven who has a yacht payment and kids to put through private college. (do I need an emortorcon here?)
I doubt that this new test was a total blindsided test to the manufactures
If you check this article it says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just announced these new tests this year. It goes on to say that car companies will be scrambling to get some devices added to their 2014 cars.
Forbes - latest Crash Test
The front end tests that were begun a few years ago have saved many lives. Now the Insurance Institute has developed a new test that measures what happens in an accident if the 25% of the front of the car on the drivers side hits something. In the video, it shows Volvo added an extra brace from the front of the car to the firewall region. That is why it passed the test.
Some people say the Insurance Institute is being really picky because they have an interest in keeping injuries to a minimum.
It's nice that Acura TLs and Volvos passed this new test, but the auto makers will need time to respond to this new test. Probably 95% of the cars on the road won't be able to pass the test, until they start producing next years cars.
I'm reminded that these forums are a poor substitute
Stupendously well stated and well worded!!!
By the way, I did not need an emoticon as an adjective.
I, too, still have I'll effects of my no-fault accident. My right shoulder still bothers me and my back is a killer. I was in a 2001 Lexus GS300 when I was hit. That Lexus saved my life! Hit me from behind at 70 mph while I was stopped. The force was so great it pushed me into a semi. My rear end was pushed onto my back seat and my engine was pushed through the firewall. But thanks to airbags and crumple zones, I had no broken bones - a dislocated right shoulder and 2 crushed discs iny back. I sure was lucky.
The guy had $10,000 liability and no collision insurance. Luckily I had uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance. I tried to sue him but he went into personal bankruptcy right after the accident. I was so mad I wanted to do him mortal harm. He was talking on a cell phone when he hit me - paying no attention to what was happening on front of him. He was ticketed for going too fast for highway conditions, reckless driving and failure to stop.
But in summary, words speak louder than emoticons when posting, to be sure!
guy named Sven who has a yacht payment and kids to put through private college. (do I need an emortorcon here?)
You would, if we didn't know you better. :P (I am not ashamed to use emotocons) An accident can affect you forever and people should probably try to buy the safest car they can afford. However, sometimes the safest car isn't the most reliable, or you don't like the styling, or it costs too much. We can all just ty to do the best we can.
You were doing a lot of biking. Did the accident affect your biking?
My parents had a roll over on the way back from Florida one year. It happened near Ocala where they had a wonderful hospital (talk about safety, this is what the hospital in Ocala says on their website: Patients have a 73% lower risk of dying at a 5-star-rated hospital than a 1-star hospital. Research your hospital options here, then talk to your doctor about what’s right for you.).
My parents survived their injuries quite well, but, as one doctor said, they may seem better but that accident will affect them for the rest of their lives.
Safe cars not only save lives, they also prevent injuries, so it is an important consideration.
I, too, still have I'll effects of my no-fault accident.
That's a tough one Mike...you suffer and the irresponsible moron gets off. My wife, daughter and son were driving on a 2 lane country road....they were all in the front of a pick up truck. My daughter had her learners permit...it was late evening.
My daughter slowed down to turn left. The car behind swerved around on the gravel to go around without having to stop.
A transport truck couldn't see them until to late and crashed right in the back, sending them across the road into the ditch. They were battered and bruised, but nothing broken and no long term injuries that we know of - very lucky.
It can happen so easily and quickly, so it is best to consider safety when buying a car.
When you said red with white stripes, I wasn't too sure I'd like it, but that hood stripe looks great. It even kind of mimics the gauge pods you can see on the other side of the windshield. Someone needs to figure out what's halfway between Arizona and Virgina, put a $100 bill under rock, then tell your sister and Mako, 'First one there gets it!'
As far as the 'Nav' goes, just have her pick out some place that she knows where it is and she wants to go to, then press the OnStar button and ask for directions. That way, if she does really need or want it, she'll know how to use it.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
Basis OnStar does not give you the 'navigation' feature. (It does give you one free nav.) You have to have the upgraded Onstar option, it's about an additional $100 a year or so.
Buy a Garmin for about $150 with forever map updates and don't worry about a car not having nav.
*explorer, I don't know if they do that, but you have to admit that they (IIHS) have pushed the auto industry over the past several years into improving and refining their safety engineering. If we look back just 10 years ago and compare the safety engineering in those cars with the safety engineering in today's cars, it would show significant gains. Whether these gains were all due to IIHS is highly questionable, but they sure have made an impact.
Ford has been in the forefront of safety improvements over the past few years as have Volvo, GM, Mercedes, BMW and Audi.
Whether this new offset front collision test will have any significant impact on future designs is unknown, but when the IIHS says something, people listen.
what percentage of crashes the test is comparable to. It's probably .0005%.
This particular test probably would save about that many lives. This is what some of the new features have done, when combined over the years, and it is impressive:
To be sure, a combination of safer cars and stricter state seatbelt and DUI laws have help reduce traffic fatalities by about 25 percent from 2005-2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The IIHS says the number of drivers of 0-3-year-old vehicles involved in fatal frontal crashes has dropped by 55 percent since 2001. And for the first time since such data was collected, crash-related deaths are no longer among the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. (they now stand at number 11).
The local meteorologists on local TV indicated that Isaac left us locally (Northeast Broward County) with over 14 inces of rain from Saturday through this evening. That's what I call a deluge.
We had street flooding and some of our water retention ponds are overflowing. It sure could have been much worse. The flash flood warning we were under has finally been lifted. The said that the affects of this storm have a radius of over 300 miles. Those rain bands we got this afternoon were all caused by Isaac which is over 300 miles to our northwest. Unbelievable how a tropical storm (not even a hurricane) can affect so much territory.
Well, we now await our next storm, wherever that one will be coming from. We are just about halfway through the hurricane season. We still have September, October and November to get through. Remember that Wilma hit us in mid-October.
Mike, I pretty much agree with your assessment, but I still would like to see the any numbers related to these safety improvements. Back in 2002, my family was involved in a big accident, but lucky for everyone involved, not resulting in any major personal injury. My 2000 Expedition was not highly rated in the specific crash tests, but despite having the left front wheel and suspension knocked off, it was pretty much not too dramatic. One of my kids woke up and said 'Did something just happen?". The other one stayed asleep until I woke her up when it was time to drag the Expedition up onto the flatbed. When I traded it in, I downsized to my '02 Explorer.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
I can think of several additions to safety engineering in cars and SUV's over the past 10 years that have "obviously" reduced injuries, lives and damage:
*curtain, A-pillar, hip and knee air-bags *reinforced firewalls and engine mounts that direct the engine down on front collisions *reinforced cabin integrity (side doors and front impact) with the increased use of aluminum alloys *increased use of electronic sensors and computer chips that cut the ignition in certain roll-over and front collisions
Additionally, safety engineers, independent of IIHS, have introduced such safety precautionary features as adaptive headlights, blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping monitors, driver's lack of responsiveness (Mercedes added this feature that alerts the driver if the system detects slow reaction etc), to name a few.
But I agree with the article *driver cited in his post that YHE IIHS is insurance industry-driven, for obvious reasons.
I remember my '66 GTO - I believe seatbelts were the only safety features that came standard. I was hit head on by a Jeep that year and was almost killed - no airbags, etc.
We sure have come a long way in terms of safety engineering in YHE past 45 years!
I remember my mom's 66 Biscayne as being our first car with seat belts - lap belts only. Our 67 Tempest had a separate shoulder belt.
Was back at the hospital today. Things are going as well as can be expected. Medicine to fight the infection interferes with blood cell growth but we're only talking another week. The I go back on preventative medication - the one they originally stopped. No more choice in that matter.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Well, *fezo, it sounds like they are getting on top of things with you. I sure hope I don't have to go through what you have gone through. Good luck my friend - you're always in my prayers.
maybe you will run into Robin Roberts while you are there. My wife was looking at the news and saw that she is about to leave her show and go into treatment, and it seems logical that it will be where you are.
Terrific news! You'll be out looking for cars you can scoop up in no time.
My used 1965 Ford Galaxie had seat belts. I think the rest of the car was pretty unsafe, big plastic steering wheel, hard surfaces everywhere, chrome around the windows, and of course no airbags. I think we have come a long way since then, and the car industry keeps coming up with new devices, because safety is important for many people when making their buying decisions.
I'll add these to Mike's list;
When you apply brakes hard they actually detect that and automatically try to stop you as quickly as possible.
Radar like devices that can detect objects that are in front of you, though you might not see them.
Robin Roberts has just what I had. She's in for a long haul but does not have the toxoplasmosis to deal with. It's still a year's worth of recovery though I have no doubt she'll be back on teh air in less than that.
Word is she might well end up in Hope Lodge where I stayed for three months.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Comments
'11 Camraro SS Convertible....totally loaded. She lives in AZ. Apparently, the dealership who she bought it from had ordered it for a customer, who backed out of the deal. Now, why it took them another year to actually find another buyer, we'll never know. But, it wasn't a demo. It had 48 miles on it when she bought it.
Red with white strips, total ground effects package. Not certain, but it may be the model with the 'vette motor in it. She sent me pics. She'll definitely be visible.
Anyway, she asked me how to use the GPS in her car. I told her, it should have a relatively large screen in the dash. She sent me a pic of what looks to be a one line radio display.
Come to find out (and much to her chagrin), in 2011 Chevy didn't offer a nav system other than the subscription "OnStar" service (which isn't very good).
She won't tell me what she paid for the car because she knows how I am about making a "deal". Since it's a 2011, and we're now cranking up the 2013 MY, I'm hoping she did well.
That said, if she saw the car, liked it, she bought it, regardless of the "deal".
I'll get more info from her....maybe have her send me pics to post here.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
LOL!
Hey, maybe you know something about this.
A local Nissan dealer is running ads where they say they will double manufacturer rebates. I don't know what Nissan is offering on rebates currently but if a car had a $2k rebate, doubling that could add up to a pretty substantial discount. There has to be a catch somewhere.
Is this a true bargain or not?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Who needs it? That car is so fast that if you find you've missed your destination by 20 miles it'll only take you a few minutes to get back.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
She probably paid a really low price for the car, if she is planning on keeping it for a few years. The car is in real terms, 2 years old, so has probably lost one third of it's value, if say she was to try to trade it in right away. I doubt the discount was that large, but it was probably a very enticing deal.
My layman guess, the car sat there for a year because they tried to sell a one year old car at cost, and when it couldn't be done discounted it more.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Offers, that sound too good to be true usually are. My guess is (It's like a game show - Guess the Scam) there is probably a $1000 or $2000 rebate and they will double it, from the full MSRP. Meaning, what you will pay will end up being the same.
I saw ads on TV for used cars at a Honda Dealer in Florida, that said ask about our famous 10 year warranty. That sounds pretty good, get a 10 year old car and it will have a 10 year warranty! The deal was a total of 10 years minus the age of the car now. So on a 5 year old car you could get a 5 year warranty, on a 1 year old car a 9 year warranty. Then, of course the price of the warranty varies with age, and it was a pretty basic drive train warranty.
It's hard not to be skeptical these days.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The mark-up on a Nissan Altima is a few thousand dollars. If they double the rebate ($1500-$2000), the have just enough profit to double the rebate. Now, if you expect a discount besides, guess again! Of course it's a scam. Either I discount the car or I double the rebate, take your pick!
They sure aren't going to sell their new cars at a net loss, are they? If they did, how long would they stay in business?
We have a dealer down here who will give $3000 over and above your trade's book value. Now, try to get another $3000 off sticker!
It's just another way to get you onto the showroom. Once there, they have a shot at selling you a car. If you don't come in, they have no chance at selling you a car. Other dealers have an ad on the paper where they will lease or sell you a car at a great price, but then list one or two stock numbers on the bottom of the ad stating many more available at "similar" savings. Now what does "similar" mean. The sometimes list the car as "incoming" which means the car may not be there for a month.
I never worked for dealers who put out ads like that, but I know how they work. Just remember that a dealer is not going to sell lots of cars at a loss - they just can't!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
my guess on the fine print? The car as a "dealer protection package" (wheel locks, a pin stripe, and mats) for $1,995 on it, so the discount is figured from the dealer price. basically mark it up 2K, then offer 2K more off of it.
bottom line, you should end up at the same point, but some people might feel better about getting there!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I'll take a stab at this ... do you think you can still get a discount from MSRP and get the "double rebates"?
My guess is no.
It all depends on the amount of the rebate and/or the mark-up available from invoice. Find out the invoice of the car, determine the profit margin to MSRP, then determine the rebate, then double that, and see if there is any dealer profit left after comparing the two. If there is, you might get a little more off.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Mike, you weren’t here when ‘gogi’ had his interstate accident a few years ago and he almost lost his dog too as a result of it. Lost, like in, ran away due to the confusion of the accident. Finally weeks later, maybe even a month or so, the dog was found and they were reunited. I believe he and his wife were banged up a little but are now back to normal, I think. Because of that he said something like “once you've been in an accident on the interstate, safety is now very important”. I wouldn’t say he was being disrespectful of ‘drivers’ purchase of the Audi.
If we were in his shoes I’m sure we’d feel the same way about crash tests.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Man: Mam, would you mind telling me if that is your car or your husband’s?
Mrs. j: It’s mine. Why do you ask? :confuse:
Man: I see it’s a 6 cylinder and most women don’t buy those.
Mrs. j: It’s a 6 cylinder because my husband insisted that we had to have it like this. He didn’t want a 4 cylinder. For some reason he felt I had to have this one.
Man: Oh, I get it. He must drive your car a good bit, huh?
Mrs. j: Only when he gets home and we go somewhere around here, otherwise he takes his car.
Man: What kind of car does he drive, if I can ask? Does he have a 6 in his car too?
Mrs. j: He has a Genesis. It has a V8 and he HAD to have that too.
Man: I’ve heard those are nice cars. If I bought one of those I’d want the V8 too. Gee, we sound alike.
Man’s wife: ALL you guys sound alike, especially when it come to cars.
Mrs. j and this woman now start to compare notes and are having a good time with it. She said they must have talked for a few minutes and the guy was trying to defend the male gender but they wouldn’t let the poor guy get in a word edgewise. As they are about done Mrs. j said to the guy, “I guess you have a 6 or a V8 too”. She said the guy just nodded his head yes. I guess he was tired trying to talk. :sick:
The guy’s wife points to a red Vette a few spots away.
Mrs. j: Now I understand.
Man’s wife: No you don’t. He was such a baby until he got that thing. You wouldn’t believe how much he carried on about it either.
Mrs. j: OH YES I DO.
And they started in again about males.
I don’t think we’re as much alike as they profess.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Nice color. To me, they always look better in that color.
Don’t ask about the deal. That will bug you I’m sure.
Pass on my congrats. When you get back from Arizona let us know how the test drive went.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
No, *jmonroe, I was not! My comment might have been different if I had known that. But, I responded not knowing that!
However, even when considering the above, there are still ways to make a point. When I read his post, his first paragraph sounded very negative, and still does! I was involved in a very serious accident on I-75 8 years ago which put me in the hospital for 6 weeks. I was rear-ended by a car doing 70 mph and I was stopped for an accident in front of me. The force rammed me into the rear of a semi. Even though I am extra sensitive about buying cars with ample accident protection, I would never demean or be critical of someone's selection of a new car and bring up thousands in savings on an Acura. Besides, I knew that DRIVER did not know about the crash tests when he bought his car.
I still contend there are ways to communicate concerns for a car that failed a crash test other than criticizing *driver's purchase and how much he could have saved on another car.
I just wanted YOU to know my rationale for my comment. There were many POSITIVE ways of alerting *driver to a failed crash test.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Of course not. I assumed that as driver100 and you said, take the double rebate and pay sticker. I just wondered if there was some of that double-secret trunk money going to dealers this time of year that might make such an offer legit.
Are you still getting heavy rain? I'm looking at the weather radar and it shows heavy stuff all up the Florida east coast but not over near Tampa. Go figure. :confuse:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Yes, we are. We've had 6" of rain since midnight with strong winds. They predict that we have had over 14" of rain since the storm started to affect us Saturday. It just doesn't seem to want to stop. Enough is enough! At least we didn't lose power.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
If there is double-secret trunk money, it's still a secret to me! At the end of a model year, there is always additional incentive money provided by manufacturers on each car sold. I really don't have any idea how much that might be. As a guess, $1000-$1500 would be the norm on addition to the customer rebate. Remember, this is just a guess!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I do like to kid driver, but I hope he didn't take it as being mean spirited. It's sometimes hard to convey a joking tone (minus those obtrusive emotorcons), but he kept saying how the money he saved by switching to the Audi was vanishing and I figured the Acura was even cheaper.
If I was being a bit dark (or perhaps cynical) it was pointing out that the (read: any) luxury cars on the list should fail a tough offset test since that protection should be part of what one expects when purchasing such a car.
Although I'm stuck strictly in the vanilla middle-of-the-road pack I'm always hoping to get the most safety I can.
Driver, sorry if I offended, that was not my intent. Most posters on here are better informed than me anyway and I guessed (perhaps incorrectly) that driver had already seen the same article.
Gogiboy
Obviously, I am not speaking for driver, but if you had ended the first paragraph with, "...just kidding *driver, enjoy the new Audi..." it would have alerted me that your intentions were more comical than critical. That's all I am tring to convey.
Now that I know who you are and that you and *driver kid each other a lot, I must apologize for perhaps being overly critical of your post.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Sure wish I needed a car !!!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Gogi, it is nice to see someone else's comments get misconstrued because that usually happens to me. It is amusing now that you explained it...I could save even more by buying the Acura...how about a Fiat!
As JMonroe reminded us, you were in a serious accident and I am sure that will affect your choice of car forever. My wife is very safety minded so that crash test will be a concern to her - she was also in a bad accident through no fault of her own. They have only tested a few cars so far and not too many are acceptable, I have a feeling when they do the others very few will pass this new test that was sprung on the automotive industry suddenly.
Thank you for coming back and explaining. I always admire people who can pull off humor, because it is a two edged sword, great when it works, but, can be disasterous, when it fails......just ask Gilbert Gotfried, Michael Richards or Charlie Sheen.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Come on, houdini, all of us on this posting board ALWAYS NEED A CAR! The only thing holding us back is an offer we couldn't refuse! If someone offered me such a deal (one i could not refuse) on a car I could smack my lips on, I would make a move, to be sure! I'm always ready to pull the trigger. All that is needed for me to make such a move is to be WOWED!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I bought a car I always wanted a few years ago, a 2006 Lexus LS 430. It now has about 75,000 miles on it and still runs, drives, and looks like new. I have owned it longer than any other car, and right now, I am simply reluctant to give it up.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I doubt that this new test was a total blindsided test to the manufactures. I’m sure they will be able to build to the new spec and have more than likely got a pretty good handle on it already. Because it will be more expensive none of them that weren't doing a new design wanted to build to the new requirement and have their cost go up while the others kept to the old requirement and held the old line on their prices.
When push comes to shove they know what’s going on and they only respond when they have to. The insurance companies will give them time to do it. It will take a couple of years but they’ll all meet the new spec. when they have to.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I don't blame you. The LS460 is a great car. That's why I bought a Lexus GS350, loaded with all the goodies. I like the ride, the handling, and especially the longevity of Lexus (not that I keep cars that long). But as things go, I expect to keep this one for at least 3 years (good grief I sure hope I don't have to eat those words).
I test drove the LS at the same time I test drove the GS. I found the GS a little more sporty yet had a very similar, smooth ride. And the difference in price was substantial - GS MSRP'd at $58,860 while the LS with the same options l
MSRP'd at $73,450. The difference of $15,000+ was enough to draw me to the 2013 GS over the 2012 LS.
But, have you driven the 2013 LS? I have and found it to be a totally different car from the 2012. But the GS and LS ride very similarly - major differences are V8 vs V6, weight and pure luxury. I prefer a sportier ride, but the F Sport in the GS and LS are a bit too stiff for my tastes.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Driver--
I'm reminded that these forums are a poor substitute for real communication where tone of voice and facial expression can speak volumes. I used to use those emotorcons, but felt they were tedious and it seemed everyone was dropping them. Mike's response reminds me that at minimum I'm guilty of "familiarity breeding contempt" and that any joking really should be made clear even if I have a long history of needling driver.
I still have lingering problems from my accident and it could have been much worse. It really has negatively impacted my daily life, which surprises me. Still, given the difficulties others on this forum like fez and Mike are facing I feel fortunate.
My next car would be a Volvo XC60 for both safety and practicality if I thought I wouldn't be a wage slave to some guy named Sven who has a yacht payment and kids to put through private college. (do I need an emortorcon here?)
Gogiboy
If you check this article it says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just announced these new tests this year. It goes on to say that car companies will be scrambling to get some devices added to their 2014 cars.
Forbes - latest Crash Test
The front end tests that were begun a few years ago have saved many lives. Now the Insurance Institute has developed a new test that measures what happens in an accident if the 25% of the front of the car on the drivers side hits something. In the video, it shows Volvo added an extra brace from the front of the car to the firewall region. That is why it passed the test.
Some people say the Insurance Institute is being really picky because they have an interest in keeping injuries to a minimum.
It's nice that Acura TLs and Volvos passed this new test, but the auto makers will need time to respond to this new test. Probably 95% of the cars on the road won't be able to pass the test, until they start producing next years cars.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Stupendously well stated and well worded!!!
By the way, I did not need an emoticon as an adjective.
I, too, still have I'll effects of my no-fault accident. My right shoulder still bothers me and my back is a killer. I was in a 2001 Lexus GS300 when I was hit. That Lexus saved my life! Hit me from behind at 70 mph while I was stopped. The force was so great it pushed me into a semi. My rear end was pushed onto my back seat and my engine was pushed through the firewall. But thanks to airbags and crumple zones, I had no broken bones - a dislocated right shoulder and 2 crushed discs iny back. I sure was lucky.
The guy had $10,000 liability and no collision insurance. Luckily I had uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance. I tried to sue him but he went into personal bankruptcy right after the accident. I was so mad I wanted to do him mortal harm. He was talking on a cell phone when he hit me - paying no attention to what was happening on front of him. He was ticketed for going too fast for highway conditions, reckless driving and failure to stop.
But in summary, words speak louder than emoticons when posting, to be sure!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
You would, if we didn't know you better. :P (I am not ashamed to use emotocons) An accident can affect you forever and people should probably try to buy the safest car they can afford.
However, sometimes the safest car isn't the most reliable, or you don't like the styling, or it costs too much. We can all just ty to do the best we can.
You were doing a lot of biking. Did the accident affect your biking?
My parents had a roll over on the way back from Florida one year. It happened near Ocala where they had a wonderful hospital (talk about safety, this is what the hospital in Ocala says on their website: Patients have a 73% lower risk of dying at a 5-star-rated hospital than a 1-star hospital. Research your hospital options here, then talk to your doctor about what’s right for you.).
My parents survived their injuries quite well, but, as one doctor said, they may seem better but that accident will affect them for the rest of their lives.
Safe cars not only save lives, they also prevent injuries, so it is an important consideration.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
That's a tough one Mike...you suffer and the irresponsible moron gets off.
My wife, daughter and son were driving on a 2 lane country road....they were all in the front of a pick up truck. My daughter had her learners permit...it was late evening.
My daughter slowed down to turn left. The car behind swerved around on the gravel to go around without having to stop.
A transport truck couldn't see them until to late and crashed right in the back, sending them across the road into the ditch. They were battered and bruised, but nothing broken and no long term injuries that we know of - very lucky.
It can happen so easily and quickly, so it is best to consider safety when buying a car.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
What's for sale now was pretty much done under the supervision of Ford.
Someone needs to figure out what's halfway between Arizona and Virgina, put a $100 bill under rock, then tell your sister and Mako, 'First one there gets it!'
As far as the 'Nav' goes, just have her pick out some place that she knows where it is and she wants to go to, then press the OnStar button and ask for directions. That way, if she does really need or want it, she'll know how to use it.
Buy a Garmin for about $150 with forever map updates and don't worry about a car not having nav.
*explorer, I don't know if they do that, but you have to admit that they (IIHS) have pushed the auto industry over the past several years into improving and refining their safety engineering. If we look back just 10 years ago and compare the safety engineering in those cars with the safety engineering in today's cars, it would show significant gains. Whether these gains were all due to IIHS is highly questionable, but they sure have made an impact.
Ford has been in the forefront of safety improvements over the past few years as have Volvo, GM, Mercedes, BMW and Audi.
Whether this new offset front collision test will have any significant impact on future designs is unknown, but when the IIHS says something, people listen.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
This particular test probably would save about that many lives.
This is what some of the new features have done, when combined over the years, and it is impressive:
To be sure, a combination of safer cars and stricter state seatbelt and DUI laws have help reduce traffic fatalities by about 25 percent from 2005-2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The IIHS says the number of drivers of 0-3-year-old vehicles involved in fatal frontal crashes has dropped by 55 percent since 2001. And for the first time since such data was collected, crash-related deaths are no longer among the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. (they now stand at number 11).
Here is the Forbes article about the new crash tests;
Forbes Luxury Cars Struggle
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
We had street flooding and some of our water retention ponds are overflowing. It sure could have been much worse. The flash flood warning we were under has finally been lifted. The said that the affects of this storm have a radius of over 300 miles. Those rain bands we got this afternoon were all caused by Isaac which is over 300 miles to our northwest. Unbelievable how a tropical storm (not even a hurricane) can affect so much territory.
Well, we now await our next storm, wherever that one will be coming from. We are just about halfway through the hurricane season. We still have September, October and November to get through. Remember that Wilma hit us in mid-October.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Back in 2002, my family was involved in a big accident, but lucky for everyone involved, not resulting in any major personal injury.
My 2000 Expedition was not highly rated in the specific crash tests, but despite having the left front wheel and suspension knocked off, it was pretty much not too dramatic.
One of my kids woke up and said 'Did something just happen?".
The other one stayed asleep until I woke her up when it was time to drag the Expedition up onto the flatbed.
When I traded it in, I downsized to my '02 Explorer.
I can think of several additions to safety engineering in cars and SUV's over the past 10 years that have "obviously" reduced injuries, lives and damage:
*curtain, A-pillar, hip and knee air-bags
*reinforced firewalls and engine mounts that direct the engine down on front collisions
*reinforced cabin integrity (side doors and front impact) with the increased use of aluminum alloys
*increased use of electronic sensors and computer chips that cut the ignition in certain roll-over and front collisions
Additionally, safety engineers, independent of IIHS, have introduced such safety precautionary features as adaptive headlights, blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping monitors, driver's lack of responsiveness (Mercedes added this feature that alerts the driver if the system detects slow reaction etc), to name a few.
But I agree with the article *driver cited in his post that YHE IIHS is insurance industry-driven, for obvious reasons.
I remember my '66 GTO - I believe seatbelts were the only safety features that came standard. I was hit head on by a Jeep that year and was almost killed - no airbags, etc.
We sure have come a long way in terms of safety engineering in YHE past 45 years!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Was back at the hospital today. Things are going as well as can be expected. Medicine to fight the infection interferes with blood cell growth but we're only talking another week. The I go back on preventative medication - the one they originally stopped. No more choice in that matter.
Well, *fezo, it sounds like they are getting on top of things with you. I sure hope I don't have to go through what you have gone through. Good luck my friend - you're always in my prayers.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Terrific news! You'll be out looking for cars you can scoop up in no time.
My used 1965 Ford Galaxie had seat belts. I think the rest of the car was pretty unsafe, big plastic steering wheel, hard surfaces everywhere, chrome around the windows, and of course no airbags. I think we have come a long way since then, and the car industry keeps coming up with new devices, because safety is important for many people when making their buying decisions.
I'll add these to Mike's list;
When you apply brakes hard they actually detect that and automatically try to stop you as quickly as possible.
Radar like devices that can detect objects that are in front of you, though you might not see them.
ABS brakes and traction control.
Improved headlights that are directional
Any more you can think of?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Word is she might well end up in Hope Lodge where I stayed for three months.