Stories from the Sales Frontlines

imidazol97

If it's the plastic stuff they flow on hot from a machine, it's really slick when slightly wet because of oils and water. Even during a definite rain where the oils have dispersed, the stuff is slick. They use it here for crosswalks and arrows, and the tires slip easily accelerating from a stop if you are on top of the plastic.

sterlingdog

"My guess is that he's going to still be riding decades from now..."

Perhaps. Still, I view it as a dangerous sport. Then again, some sports are that way. Glad that you made it to age 60 on a bike without serious mishaps. We all have to make our own decisions.

Richard

sterlingdog

"Bare is to reveal, show, open, explain."

Yes, as I said in naked or with no clothing---reveal, open, etc. I should have provided more examples.

Richard

Kirstie_H

gotta ask, what did the youngest do to you to not count?

Nothin'.
He's my SO's son, and he lives with his mother and just visits us occasionally. It's only about an hour away. With just one left, though, we can afford to fly him once a month to wherever we move, and he's OK with that. We couldn't afford to fly more than the one, regularly.

stickguy

well, that certainly makes sense.

My plan is to point my daughter south in her college search (NC, SC, VA). then we can just follow her, and establish residency in the correct state.

[Deleted User]

That's probably it, then. They put a stripe right in the bike lane at the turn apex, plus another dead center of the car lane next to the bike lane. In that particular turn I enter the car lane and avoid the bike lane because of a manhole just after the stripe, so I likely hit the one in the car lane. Add a few drops of car oil and I had no traction.

gogiboy

" Did you keep cycling afterward? How long before you jumped back on the saddle?"

Ty--

After it happened, since it had done no damage to my bike, I rode an additional 10-15 miles, which wasn't too smart probably.

I was on the bike again within a few days because the bruise looked much worse than any pain I suffered. The groin injury took longer to heal but was more of an issue clipping in and out of the pedals.

Glad to hear your bike is okay. Obviously you should always replace the helmet if it sustained an impact (much better than your head). My understanding is that those STI shifters have dozens of small parts. I used to do all of my own servicing in the days before everything became indexed and sealed and hydraulic and now even electronic.

I too have a titanium road bike (made by Seven). They're hard to beat for the perfect mix of comfort, liveliness and longevity even though carbon is all the rage these days. Wish my commuting bike was titanium as well, but I have to live in the real world.

Anyway, glad you are okay. Glasses, helmets and bike parts can be replaced, body parts and brains cannot.

Gogiboy

oldfarmer50

"...to save $500 the manufacturer cheaps out..."

To YOU it's $500 but to the accountants at the car company it's $500 X one million units. The guy who saves the company $500 million get the promotion.

Remember the Ford Pinto with the exploding gas tank? That was a $5 part that would have made it safe. :lemon:

oldfarmer50

"...you, sir, are SOL..."

Don't call me sir, I work for a living! :P

It's not so much the nanny state mandating things it's that they can't keep focused. First it was gas milage, then it was safety, now it's back to milage again. Government types always want to invent a problem that they then have to solve, usually at your expense.

gogiboy

"that being said, why would I want to drive around in a car with inferior materials on the interior? I've enjoyed the car itself as a convertible, but I have increasingly become disappointed with the interior appointments. I see a trade in the future."

So true and yet I wonder how many people get sucked in the glitz of the exterior. The problem is we all spend the vast majority of the time of the interior and it's really others that get to enjoy the exterior.

I love the functionality of my wife's car, but it is sooo cheap on the interior and it looks like first year industrial design students came up with the layout and materials. One should not have to spend $40K to get something that is liveable with a bit of panache, but with manufacturers juggling so many wants and desires I guess some stuff gets tossed.

The flip side is that I've grudging accepted and even like the large digital speedo because it's so damn easy to read. At first it seemed so cheesy. However, I still can't get used to or fully accept the gauge cluster located in the center of the dash instead of in front of the driver. Somehow it just smacks of communism.

Gogiboy

houdini1

Well, it was really a kind of spur of the moment deal. My wife and I were talking last week and I told her I needed new tires, a front end alignment, oil change, and new brakes. She looked at me and said, "How long have you had that car"? I said about 4 years and she said why don't you just get a new one?

Bought it the next day...just to make her happy, of course !!

isellhondas

Thanks to the HOST that took the time to email me and get me back on the right track.

To the other HOST who shall remain unnamed, it is NOT easy (at least for me) to do a search and find this forum! I tried several times and finally gave up. I should be OK now.

I was clicking on "My recent posts" and realized that I must not have posted in here for awhile, hence this thread fell off the list.

Been busy in retirement. Volunteering two days a week at our local Food Bank. It's pretty hard and physical and we centainly get some "interesting" clients but I work with great people and
I really enjoy it. Kiwanis want me to volunteer for EVERYTHING so I have to be careful there.

Anyway, I've missed you guys that a special thanks to the those who cared enough to go looking for me!

houdini1

On the other hand, I have lost many items on local golf courses...including my wallet several years ago on a public golf course...had about $125. in it. Every lost item has been returned, and all by total strangers...and not one of them would accept any sort of reward !!

IMO, it is the old 80/20 rule. 80% of people are honest and obey the Golden Rule, and the other 20% are Democrats !!

stickguy

setting up watching on a thread you want to keep tabs on is absolutely the way to go.

I just got to edmunds.com, then click on forums and then watched items. Put the email/PW in (for some reason, it will not remember me any more) and right where you need to be.

Kirstie_H

Hey now! The first HOST who emailed you emailed me, and said if it was OK with me, he'd take care of it (since he happened to see Richard's post first). It's not like I was ignoring you.

isellhondas

OK, you're forgiven as long as you won't ignore me!

jmonroe

I know this will upset many people, but I wanted to break this news to you gently, if bmw and Audi have done away with dipsticks, I think you will see that happening with more cars within a year or two.

FWIW, my ’09 Genny has an oil dipstick. Only because that car does not have the new fangled oil monitor system but it does not have a dipstick for the transmission nor a monitor system for it. Since that is the way it is built I have to live with it but I’d prefer a dipstick for both oil and transmission fluid.

I agree it looks like in a few years the dipsticks for oil will be a thing of the past, like the buggy whip, bias belted tires, cloth seats and road maps to name a few. I think I’m going to show my grandsons (all 4 of them) what an oil dipstick looks like. Hell, I might as well show my granddaughter what it looks like too, just so she won’t be left out of the conversation when her brother and cousins say I remember when cars had dipsticks. And I remember it like it was just yesterday when this old guy showed me one.

jmonroe

cdnpinhead

Welcome back, Craig.

This place is just as off-topic as ever, but still entertaining.

isellhondas

Thanks!

I'll try to provide my fair share of the entertainment!

houdini1

isell, we have missed you. Welcome back.

jmonroe

Been busy in retirement. Volunteering two days a week at our local Food Bank.

OH…so I guess it was a bad rumor that you were selling KIA’s and spending lots of time helping your customers to settle in on the right color for them.

Like the guy said, off topic as usual.

Welcome back.

jmonroe

stickguy

my 2013 Acura seems to be old school then. Has an oil dipstick, and a trans dipstick too. And instructions in the owners manual on how to check both of them (really old school, it tells you to check the oil every time you put gas in! that is like 1960s vintage stuff right there).

We do also have the maintenance minder system, that has a nice oil life % counter as part of it. Same as on my 2005 Odyssey. It counts the oil life down, but also has other letter/number codes to tell you what else it needs.

no digital dipstick though. I would find that useful, since I really don't check it myself all that often.

jwilliams2

Good to see you posting again, Isell. As a fellow retired car salesperson, I'm glad to hear retirement is agreeing with you.

By the way, I use a bookmark for the "My watched items" page, so when I click the bookmark for Edmunds, it takes me straight there and shows me what watched forums have unread posts. Generally works pretty well.

isellhondas

Thanks for the welcomes!

Maybe my detractors have gone away or something?

sterlingdog

"...why don't you just get a new one?"

I knew that you were married to a real jewel---especially after she said that she liked my telephone voice. :P I thought of that last week when a real estate company asked me to do a radio commercial for them. I was flattered. I'm scheduled to do it this week.

Richard

oldfarmer50

"...does not have the new fangled oil monitor system..."

I'm with you. I don't want R2d2 reading my fluid levels.

fezo

Hey, Craig! Glad to see you back. Welcome to the fountain of all information (some of it even correct).

Well, for a guy as sick as I am I'm in pretty good shape. Was up for the weekly visit and all was well. Not all the numbers back where they should be but taht will be a long time.

sterlingdog

Well, I see that you made it back here. Promise me that you won't get too irritated at the off topic chatter. We haven't improved much in that area. In fact, our wonderful Hosts have completely deregulated this thread in exchange for sheer entertainment value. :P We've had quite a number of car sales recently and a healthy discussion on oil changes and dipsticks. You must let jmonroe give you the post numbers so that you can read his disaster story about his wife's car. Also, we have a few really nice posters now on board since you left. You'll enjoy meeting Mike---a former educator and car salesman. Like Mackabee, we became awfully worried about Fezo for several months. Fortunately, he has fought the hard fight and is recovering nicely. Thank goodness he is still with us. As usual, I continue to try to keep Driver on the right course. He's behaving pretty well. Welcome back old friend.

Richard

abacomike

As I mentioned a day or two ago, I was invited up to my Mercedes dealer to see the new 2013 E350 Sport. They had a Diamond White that just came in with a Premium 2 pkg. which includes their top of the line options, Natural Beige/Black leather interior (Saddle color) with Burl Walnut wood trim, AMG Wheel pkg, Wood/leather steering wheel, Split folding rear seats, Sport plg, Lane tracking and Blind spot monitors, Rear Spoiler, etc. MSRP = $64855.00. With USAA discount, $57125.00, and $49,000.00 for trade.

Couldn't resist getting back into a Mercedes. Lexus just didn't measure up in my opinion. Going up tomorrow morning to pick it up. What made me do it was that Dad gave me $5000.00 toward the price - how could I resist?

28firefighter

Mazal Tov, Mike! Use it well. The diamond white is a great color and the interior sounds really great.

You are becoming THE Chronic Car buyer on this board! Granted, I probably would be, too, if I had the space to park multiple cars. Moving to Seattle is only going to make that part worse...

How have you been feeling, by the way?

mako1a

Mike, I bought two 2013 Mustangs in the last 5 months and you make me look like a piker. (Lexus just didn't measure up) Wow.
If you ever get into buying Class A motor homes you'll have to try a Prevost.

nyccarguy

Welcome back my friend. You have been a wealth of knowledge to me over the years. How's the BMW?

nyccarguy

Mazel Tov & congratulations! You definitely belong on CHRONIC CAR BUYERS ANONYMOUS! Good for you. I'm glad you are back in a Mercedes:). You deserve it. As tomorrow reminds us all that you only get 1 shot at life & "you never know" when you last day will be

abacomike

You are becoming THE chronic car buyer...

It does appear so, doesn't it? The only thing it didn't have that I wanted was the ventilated seats, which I lived without most of my life. The split folding rear seats are nice to have, but I never use them. It has a comfort box in the trunk, and have no idea what that is. The wheel locks are nice to have with the AMG wheels and the wood/leather steering wheel sets it off nicely.

So, I go up at 10:00 AM tomorrow morning to finalize everything including the USAA coupon which they handle for me at the dealership.

As for my health, not great, unfortunately. I would give anything to wake up in the morning and not have to use my inhaler or not cough for an entire day.

So you are moving to Seattle! I've been there many, many times when I lived in Palm Springs area. We'd fly up on Alaska Air for long weekends in the summer to get away from the desert heat. Beautiful area, but get ready for lots and lots of rain in the winters. There are people who buy these homes on pontoons and actually live on the water. I used to visit the area west of Seattle across the sound in Bellevue. Really nice and Snowkwamie (not sure of spelling) Falls are beautiful.

Thanks!

nyccarguy

I picked up my Prelude's new battery today & installed it in 5 minutes. My older son helped. He held the flashlight & held the ratchet when I was done. Score one for DIY Bradd!

abacomike

Mazel Tov and congratulations...

Thanks much. I really missed the Mercedes. The GS350 had great acceleration and a softer ride, but the Mercedes handled surer and firmer and the steering was more responsive.

Yes, you only go around once in life, nyc, and with the way I am floundering with my health, you never know.

Thanks, nyc! TODAH RABA!

28firefighter

I used to do that same kind of thing with my Dad when I was younger - car stuff, DIY home repairs. My nickname was "911 Man" just in case something went wrong...

I did help him jump his car once when my Mom was at work. Sat in the other car hitting the accelerator while he sat in the dead one. I was 8. Mom was not happy.

28firefighter

It looks as though we will be moving to West Seattle, near my soon-to-be brother-in-law.

I'm used to the rain and cloudy days...I live in Pittsburgh! Happy to give up the extreme cold and snow-storms though.

abacomike

...you make me look like a piker...

I doubt that very much, mako. I would love to have a Mustang GT 6 speed in white or red. Problem is with my back and bad left knee, just wouldn't be fun very long. Besides, at my age, I could get into the Mustang, but the problem would be trying to get out!!!

abacomike

...I'm used to the rain and cloudy days...

That's good because the rains start in December and continue through May. Seattle also gets snow, but not like Pittsburgh. And the temperatures are more temperate, 40's and 50's during the winter. I really got a kick out of the fish market.

West Seattle is where I used to go - not as crowded and much less dense.

driver100

a real estate company asked me to do a radio commercial for them.

You must have been the candidate with the most experience...of moving!

Hey good luck...you'll have to tell us if it is on a website.

driver100

Couldn't resist getting back into a Mercedes.

You are too funny. I just said two days ago it was about time you got a new car....I thought it has been about 4 to 6 months since you got the Lexus.

A Lexus is very nice, but it isn't a Mercedes. You did really well to switch cars and upgrade for $8000. Now, I predict you'll keep this one longer, but you'll be in the market when the 2014s come out.

Congratulations and have fun!

driver100

I tried several times and finally gave up. I should be OK now.

Welcome back!

Been busy in retirement. Volunteering two days a week at our local Food Bank

So, the rumors about you selling Kia's aren't true?

There were probably about 40 posts here today. You were smart to come back, I am dying on the Passat site, there are about 6 posts a year over there.

explorerx4

Inquiring minds want know, does the new Merc have any dipsticks?

cdnpinhead

I don't want R2d2 reading my fluid levels.

I'm with you on that, for sure. I don't even want R2D2 reading my car's fluid levels.

[Deleted User]

Fantastic! Congrats Mike.

roadburner

Congrats!

stickguy

"funny" story. Or sad. You decide.

as previously reported, on 8/31 I travelled about 100 miles to north (from southern) Jersey to get the Acura of my wife's dreams. Hard to find color by me, and cheap price. So far, she loves it. that story previously recounted (vols. 1-14 I think).

anyway, last week we get a VM on my wife's phone (which she does not notice for a day or so, and then has no clue how to retrieve. Yet, I digress). And I believe an email from the salesguy. Gist of it is, they gave us the wrong 2nd key and books. And they are going to fed ex the right ones, with a return envelope for the originals. Seems odd to me, since the books are generic, and both our keys work just fine. I email and VM telling him this, and hear nothing back. So, I assume they figured out they were just confused.

fast forward to today, when a big fed ex package shows up. Yes, a bunch of identical owners manuals, and a key fob. So, when the wife gets home with the RDX, we pull out all (3 now) keys, and try them. As expected, the originals work fine (remote and the metal key part).

Oh, forgot the 1st odd message the day after we got it. They said the salesdude put the wrong SSN in for my wife, and the bank now wanted a copy of her SSN card. We never did send that, and they did not ask again. must have gotten that straightened out on their own!

anyway, back to our story. I have now proven that they are totally messed up at this dealer.

TBC.....

stickguy

while looking at the books, I realized they did not include the one that actually was specific to the car (maintenance records). this has the PDI checklist in it. Being curious, I go check that to the VIN on the dash. matches. Then I pull out the window sticker. Matches. then I look at all the finance office paperwork.

Oops.

That all has a different VIN on it. One digit was different (we had 274, they wrote up 254).

After a few tries to get to a real person of authority and leaving some VMs, finally get a call back from the sales manager. He starts into the same spiel (gave you the wrong key/books off the desk, yada yada.). I calmly explain the Vin discrepancy. finally the lightbulb goes on, and now he is in a panic.

not sure if it was a simple keying error by the salesman, but somewhere along the line they fouled themselves up. I think what happened is they switched units mid deal, and the guy doing the entering forgot to change it in the system (the original unit they were going to use was at some remote lot, so we got an identical one that was at the dealer instead).

Pretty sure that is why they thought they gave me the wrong stuff, though it is still hard to understand the logistics. In any case, now they are scrambling to redo all the paperwork, which they have to fed ex down overnight for us to sign and send back. Not really a big deal to us, because we will end up with a clean title (since they never actually tried to put ours through I don't believe).

what will be a mess is trying to undo the registration that they processed (or tried to?) on this other vin. That could be an interesting carfax at some point! Though right now, the state quite possibly thinks we own a different RDX.

I suspect someone at the dealer is having themselves a new one ripped over this! And man, will I be royally P.O.'d if this someone messes us up down the line (like at renewal time or when we finally go to sell!) Gonna have to scrutinize the paperwork real close, and follow up myself with the DMV at some point.

stickguy

other than the owners usually?