Stories from the Sales Frontlines

graphicguy

OF....that's the way you're supposed to drive a 'vette.

graphicguy

Yeah.....hoping Sandy's OK! East coasters......STAY SAFE!!!

28firefighter

Greetings fellow edmunds friends! Sorry being MIA lately - I am now happily married and at 37,000 feet on a flight from Atlanta to Seattle, returning from our Honeymoon in Aruba. Aruba was great, minus the 3.5 days of rain we had on our 5 day trip. The wedding was absolutely wonderful, but seems like a blur already.

To all of you in the Northeast, please stay safe. My parents have a place down in the Ventnor/Margate/Longport area and live just outside of Philadelphia, so I am watching this closely. My colleagues at the Fire Department are preparing as well for the storm, mostly concerned about flooding, downed trees/powerlines, and the potential for this to produce tornadoes.

To keep things semi-car related, my Dad has both his Mustang GT and my moms A5 stored securely in the garage, but it looks like the Touraeg is going to have to weather the storm outside with a car cover. Yikes.

I'll be thinking of all of you and watching/reading the updates that you're all safe.

oldfarmer50

"...what about the actual gas?..."

Last year I used Stabil gas stabilizer and started the car about once a month to keep the battery charged. Worked fine for the six months it was stored. The year before when my son still owned it and I wasn't as concerned about it I left if with half a tank and no gas treatment. Still worked out fine.

You'll be parking it for 8 months with no start up so I would use a trickle charger with an auto shut off so you don't boil the battery. The gas stabilizer is a must IMO. My mechanic says that the Stabil for marine use is better but it costs more.

driver100

You'll be parking it for 8 months with no start up so I would use a trickle charger with an auto shut off so you don't boil the battery

Thanks, great advice from the "car storage guru". I am going to keep this info on hand so I will have it all when we leave Florida.

One more question. Does a trickle charger need any parts added to the car. In other words, should I ask the VW dealer to install something now (maybe they will do it instead of the window tint) or do you buy the charger as a unit and hook it up to the battery? If a part is needed on the car what does it cost?

Oh, great one, I will await your informative reply.

jmonroe

Oh, great one, I will await your informative reply.

You talking to me !

Just buy the charger and hook it up to the battery according to directions, it is complete as sold. Don't but a cheap one. The new Passat deserves the best.

Enjoy the trip and the new car.

jmonroe

ray80

I noticed that yesterday and wondered 'why bother with the winds forecast '
I attempted to do something better by cleaning the leaves out of the gutters,worked but with breezy conditions starting they are full again today :mad:

oldfarmer50

"...oh great one..."

LOL, two things to keep in mind:

---an expert is only someone who made every possible mistake already.

---free advice is worth every penny you pay.

[Deleted User]

I go through something similar every winter on the Yamaha. Here's what I do:
1. Fill up the tank with fresh fuel mixed with Stabil Marine formula (more concentrated). This eliminates voids in the tank that could allow moist air to condense into water. Some people suction out the fuel and then dry the tank the next season.
2. Run the motor to pull the stabilized fuel through the entire system.
3. Change the oil. Could also be done at the front of the season. Positives and negatives each way.
4. Fog the cylinders with Stabil Fog. There are two steps, the first involves removing the air filter and spraying the fog into the air opening while the engine idles, and then shutting it down. The second involves removing the spark plugs and dousing each cylinder with more fog. This is probably overkill on your Passat.
5. Place the battery on a Battery Tender. Very easy to do and Battery Tender has a good reputation.
6. Coat the engine external metal bits with Yamaha corrosion protectant. This step removes water from the surface and leaves a film behind to keep aluminum from oxidizing. Again, overkill on the Passat.

driver100

Just buy the charger and hook it up to the battery according to directions, it is complete as sold. Don't but a cheap one. The new Passat deserves the best.

Excellent....you guys are a wealth of information.

driver100

-an expert is only someone who made every possible mistake already.

That is true. One of the valuable lessons I learned in starting a business is that you are going to make lots of mistakes. Keeping this on the topic of cars, when GM was riding high the president told managers if they weren't making mistakes they weren't coming up with enough new ideas.

Before starting the business I was extra cautious, didn't want to make a foolish mistake. Now, I don't care, you don't get anything good unless you make a few mistakes along the way.

-free advice is worth every penny you pay

On that one, I disagree. Sometimes free advice is better than advice you pay for.

driver100

Fill up the tank with fresh fuel mixed with Stabil Marine formula (more concentrated).

Thanks for taking the time to outline the method used to store your car. I have noted these steps and will review before we return.

Does anyone do anything about tires? My B-I-L got an Impala about 5 years ago that stays in Florida. His original equipment tires had flat sides that he could not get out, so he bought newer more expensive tires, they don't seem to be a problem....he does keep the car on 4 rubber mats. Any other ideas, don't really want to put it on blocks?

sterlingdog

...like outward vision is a rear problem."

Yes, I had heard that before and also when reading the various reviews. I have talked with one owner who doesn't see it as a problem. I actually haven't done a test drive, so I would have to see. I think that one thing that attracted me was the boxy design. You and I both like that type of design.

"I think they are pretty spartan, rubber mats instead of carpet..."

You can get the carpet mats as part of one of the packages.

"...but I haven't seen one for a long time now."

On our trip to the mountians last week, we saw lots of them. They probably function well in that area. Our local Toyota dealer has three new ones that he is showcasing out front. I haven't researched the sales data to see how many have been sold. I was pleased, however, with the various reviews.

"...I wanted you to get an MB."

You've told me that many times, but you never buy one when you trade cars. Why? I still may get one; I've got plenty of time to shop around.

Richard

sterlingdog

"...separated at birth."

You must really have a passionate hate for the vehicle if you took all of that time to find a picture of it sitting by a port-a-toilet. :sick:

Richard

sterlingdog

I hope that all of our poster friends in the area of Sandy will remain safe. Keep us posted, if possible, on your situation. I'm sure that many of you will be without power after tomorrow. It's been strange here---lots of wind but not one drop of rain. We've been surprised, especially since the forecasts all called for 100% rain. I'm sure that many of you have made preparations---food, water, medicine, gas, etc. Having lived with hurricanes over the years, preparation is important. Don't forget to move the patio and porch furniture inside. Those objects can really slam a house or windows. Fill your bath tubs and sinks. You may need the water for pets, sponge baths, or dirty dishes. We always invest in paper products for the storm---saves on dishes. If you go outside during or after the storm, please be careful about power lines and sharp objects. As you know, stay away from the windows and doors. With the strong possibility of flooding, get your important papers into a briefcase or box that you can take with you or store in a high place. Good luck to all of you. I'll be keeping you in my prayers.

Richard

sterlingdog

Thanks for the kind words Dan. I was beginning to think that no one liked the FJ. You did put me to thinking about something. At the farm in Alabama, I could ride across the pastures and the "goat patch" areas, as well as the dirt tractor paths. The old pick-up truck in the barn is dead now, so this would be a great solution for when we go down there. Thanks.

Richard

sterlingdog

Good to hear from you. Glad that all went well and that you are now a happily married old man. When you get a chance, give us more details about your trip.

Richard

jmonroe

Any other ideas, don't really want to put it on blocks?

You are right about not wanting to put the car on blocks.

Doing that can cause problems, although I never put a car away for the winter or long trips, I know someone who did back in the late ‘70s. He didn’t listen to me when I said, “don’t let the suspension system hang for long periods of time because the shock absorbers will be under load”. I told him if he was going to raise the car it should be jacked up, as close to the shocks as he could get, just enough to take the load off the shocks. But that would take 4 jacks which he didn’t have. So, he jacked it up and left the suspension system hang.

When he came back from Florida, the car started right up after he got it jumped from his neighbor’s car but when he drove it he could tell that it didn’t ride like it did before he left. He took it to a shop and was told his shocks were shot. He admitted that he wasn’t surprised because of what I told him but he quickly said, “if they were that close to going bad they probably needed replaced anyway”. I told him he could justify it whatever way satisfied him but his car was a year newer than mine with less miles than mine (I had a ’75 Grand Prix he had a ’76) but mine didn’t need new shocks. He had a peculiar look on his face and did more justification by saying, “well, at least I won’t need new shocks when you do”. :confuse:

Like I said, this was back in the ‘70s and I know the suspension systems are different today but the thought of letting something hang that wasn’t designed for that just doesn’t seem right to me.

Don’t hurt your pretty new Passat by hanging it.

jmonroe

jmonroe

You must really have a passionate hate for the vehicle if you took all of that time to find a picture of it sitting by a port-a-toilet.

Well, 'robr2' is in the plumbing biz. That FJ probably belongs to a fellow employee that parked near a company rental john at work.

jmonroe

[Deleted User]

I'm in agreement with Jmonroe about avoiding lifting the Passat off the floor for long term. My winterization efforts are for a marine motor, but same concept. It's a modern aluminum block/head, overhead valve, computer controlled, electronic throttle, four stroke, fuel injected, CARB emmissions compliant power plant. My trailer tires are very high pressure and haven't developed flat spots. How about increasing the Passat's tire pressures to near max rating? Manufacturers often employ that tactic for transport to prevent flat spots.

driver100

You've told me that many times, but you never buy one when you trade cars. Why?

I have looked up the sales for the FJ Cruiser and they are pretty steady, down just a bit.
Sales figures FJ Cruiser

It will be interesting to see how you like it after you actually drive it. They do look like they are kind of fun, and you can feel a little bit like smaller Arnold.

I would certainly consider an MB, we have had 2 and they were good. Just that the BMW and Audi suit us more. My wife likes a manual which isn't available with MB, and I just like the handling of a BMW more, but, I sure wouldn't pass up an MB if someone gave me one.

You may like the new Cadillac ATS, it is supposed to be a pretty good copy of an MB/BMW/Audi....though they don't think too many people will switch. MOre like Caddie may stop some people from switching away from Cadillac.

driver100

he quickly said, “if they were that close to going bad they probably needed replaced anyway”

Sounds like the "Driver Method of Rationalizing any Situation".

Thanks for the tip, I won't suspend the Passat in the air.

driver100

How about increasing the Passat's tire pressures to near max rating?

That certainly makes sense and is well worth a try. Seems a lot of people leave cars for a few months in Florida, so it isn't like some kind of magic trick, just have to figure it out. So far, the advice I am getting sounds very good.

driver100

When you get a chance, give us more details about your trip.

How much detail do you want...it rained 3 out of 5 days!

abacomike

You may like the new Cadillac ATS, it is supposed to be a pretty good copy of an MB/BMW/Audi....though they don't think too many people will switch.

It's much smaller inside than a C Class. They have one displayed at the mall and it's not that much lower in cost than the CTS - high 30's. I was not impressed by it at all. For a couple thousand more, the CTS has much more to offer. A C Class is similar in pricing as is the 3 series BMW.

abacomike

I hope that all of our poster friends in the area of Sandy will remain safe.

Same hopes and prayers from me, too. This is some storm. We are about 800 miles southwest of the storm and still have wind advisories ongoing. Right now, it's 82 degrees with clear skies, but 25-35 mph winds coming in from the northwest with super low humidity. We are also under a fire watch due to relative humidities below 35% and strong winds. Supposed to drop into the 50's tomorrow night and only reach the mid 70's. Kind of early for this time of year.

Just be careful up there - everyone! This storm should not be taken lightly!

imidazol97

I thought the radars maps showed NC eastern part getting lots of rain. Are you sure it isn't raining? :grin

We had the rain front move through here on Friday with a full day of rain while AbacoMike was sunning on the coral sand beachs there near the Boca Resort. Now it is pushing back through with heavy clouds as the 3 storm parts merge and the jet stream is moving back west.

Driving to and from Columbus today, we see lots of electrical line service bucket trucks and tree service trucks moving east. I don't recall seeing mass movements in advance of a bad weather event before; I've seen them move almost immediately after an event is occuring.

It's almost scary that they predict snow this early even back into Ohio from this weather event. Wednesday I was putting liquid rubber sealer into the separators in the concret driveway.

oldfarmer50

Who was it who lived up in the mountains there and had an old plow truck. I remember he didn't get to use it last winter. Hope he didn't sell it.

stickguy

That's Make I think. In VA, not west virginia.

abacomike

We had the rain front move through here on Friday with a full day of rain while AbacoMike was sunning on the coral sand beachs there near the Boca Resort

I wish I could have done those things - get a tan and lay on the beach at a Boca Resort! I haven't sat in the sun in years and it was much too windy and rainy anyway.

You mentioned seeing all those "bucket" trucks heading east - reminded me of WWII when all the canons and tanks were headed toward the German front. This is the same concept - bucket trucks headed to the "eastern" front! Looks like they are preparing for the worst, which is the proactive thing to do.

Since Hurricane Wilma hit us, Florida Ppwer and Light has put up concrete poles to replace all the wooden poles and has been burying miles and miles of cable to prevent the catastrophe we had with the power going out for 10-18 days. Toughest part of that was when the power went, so did water - pumps need power to pump the water throughout the county. We had no water for 10 days.

Good luck all - my prayers are with you!

stickguy

since my area is now dead center on where this is coming through, I want as many utility trucks near by as possible. 10 inches of rain and no sump pump will not end well.

mako1a

Who was it who lived up in the mountains there and had an old plow truck.

It was me. I traded it on the first Mustang for 2013 along with the Escape.

fezo

YEah, and it goes dead center through my house on its way to yours. If you see anything of mine flying by just grab it and save it.

nyccarguy

Mike & Sandman - glad you guys are ok. Mako1a - I think this thing is going to hit you overnight. Craziness going on here. They've closed schools here in Stamford until Thursday. They shut down mass transit in NYC starting @ 7:00 tonight.

I test ran the generator, put all the outdoor furniture & patio furniture away. I gassed up the Pilot which was on fumes & my BMW which had half a tank. I'm not worried about storm surge (from LI sound) because I live a solid 5 to 6 miles from the shore.

Given the fact that I sell plumbing supplies & my name's on the door, I'll be working tomorrow. I'll be providing a valuable service to my plumbing customers & landlords by selling them the sump pumps they need to make sure their basements stay dry & cast iron pipes in case the water backs up into their old sewer systems.

Explorerx4 - being a relatively new (2 year) CT resident, I'm not sure what the deal is between Murphy & McMahon. Can you offer some insight?

Richard64 - I think Craig told the story of someone who traded in an FJ cruiser real quick due to the blind spots. If you are looking for something "tough looking" than can handle some more than mild off roading. You are also thinking if getting rid of your beloved convertible. Why compromise? Buy a Wrangler Unlimited. I was talking to someone at a Halloween party (whose wife was dressed very inappropriately as Morticia Adams) who last year bought a Wrangler Unlkmited when the lease was up on his Mercedes-Benz GL450 & he LOVES IT!

Stay safe all my friends!

driver100

I was not impressed by it at all. For a couple thousand more, the CTS has much more to offer.

Thanks for your impressions of the ATS. Sometimes the reviewers overdo the praise of some new American cars, I think they like to help the industry. Sometimes, they are overly positive and build up Big 3 cars, maybe it will help preserve their jobs.

Good luck to all with Sandy....I think by the time it gets to the Great Lakes area it will just be lots of rain. The just said it is a once in a Century storm, the Perfect Storm, 3 fronts coming together. I hope it is just the 24 hour news channels building this thing up for ratings.

verdugo

BTW.....if anyone wants to see a really good true-story thriller I highly recommend Argo. I am sure it isn't completely accurate, but it gives a pretty good account of the U.S. Iranian hostage crisis, and the major part Canadians played in helping to save the hostages.

I saw it yesterday. I liked it, but I was curious about how close to reality it was. I looked it up, and I was disappointed.

Spoilers: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argo_(2012_film)#Historical_accuracy

Ben Affleck's excuse was kind of lame, IMHO, "Because we say it's based on a true story, rather than this is a true story, we're allowed to take some dramatic license. There's a spirit of truth."

oldfarmer50

"...it was me. I traded it..."

Too bad with the threat of snow it would come in handy. Make sure that Mustang is safe.

It looks like my area will get some winds but only an inch of rain. Looks like driver100 is going to get the rain.

mako1a

account of the U.S. Iranian hostage crisis

I haven't seen the movie, but I remember it well from being there.

I was on the USS LaSalle (command/surveillance) about 40 miles off

the coast of Iran in Jan/Feb, 1980. During the Carter fiasco with the

lost choppers (sand in the turbines) and botched mission. I arrived

back home to 4 feet of snow in Va Beach. Reagan took office a couple

days later. Iranians said "this guy is not bluffing" Hostages released the

next day. Shah was already stateside and the Ayatollah gave it up.

sterlingdog

I bet that you are correct. I forgot that "robr2" was in the plumbing business.

Richard

sterlingdog

"How much detail do you want...it rained 3 out of 5 days!"

That's what will make the honeymoon details so interesting! :shades:

Richard

driver100

it's based on a true story, rather than this is a true story, we're allowed to take some dramatic license. There's a spirit of truth."

Warning: Spoiler Warning! Yes, the words "based on a true story" give them a lot of leeway. The hostages were in hiding in the Canadian Embassy for over a year, they did escape, but, I think a lot of the details were exaggerated or dramatized to make the story a lot more thrilling than it really was. I doubt if those cars chased them down the runway.

It was a great movie and it shows once again, fact can be more exciting than fiction. I'll can tell you one thing, I am not going to go on a vacation to Iran.

I have a friend who takes an old bike and rides it through countries like Afghanistan and Iran. He is there now. He is a million times more adventurous than me.

driver100

. Looks like driver100 is going to get the rain.

We have had rain since Friday, and it is expected to be here every day until at least next Friday. Could be strong winds near Windsor area...60 mph.

I don't want it to hit anyone else, but, I am hoping Sandy doesn't come too far inland.

jmonroe

How much detail do you want...it rained 3 out of 5 days!

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. It was the guys honeymoon for crying out loud. What did he want a blow by blow, pictures or what? That would have band another poster. :surprise:

‘firefighter’…Hope you made the best of the bad weather. Don’t anybody go there. I hate to say it but maybe you were being prepped for the Seattle weather. Start rooting for the Seahawks your Eagles are done. Stay well you have many more vacations to look forward to.

jmonroe

graphicguy

I have a friend who takes an old bike and rides it through countries like Afghanistan and Iran. He is there now. He is a million times more adventurous than me.

Having traveled quite a bit for business, even those countries that are not necessarily our enemies (i.e. Venezuela), I wouldn't travel to. U.S. Citizens are easy targets for unfriendly countries who are trying to show that "Americans aren't safe".

The Iranian people are afraid of their own leaders. Why would someone think it's an adventure to go biking there as a foreigner?

Looking for excitement? There are all sorts of exciting places in foreign countries....places that are either friendly with the U.S., or at least neutral.

Again, why go somewhere where they're hostile towards us?

I was in the U.K not long ago meeting with business colleagues. The topic of untapped business in Cuba came up, and my colleagues believed it was easier for me to travel there than it would be for them. As I explained, while "non-U.S. Citizens" can travel to Cuba freely, we can not.

I told them that although travel restrictions had eased somewhat. Doing business there would be next to impossible for a U.S. citizen. Actually, it's tough for any foreign entity outside of Cuba proper to do business in Cuba.

That segued into the Iranian situation. Again, another country's leadership who is hostile towards Americans. I had to remind them of the hostage crisis 30 years ago. And more recently, of the more threatening possibility of a nuclear armed Iranian gov't, which should scare all of Europe, Israel and the rest of the Middle East.

For reasons that befuddle me, most of my European colleagues feel that the Iran issue is only an issue with the U.S. And, that as always, the U.S. will take care of it.

As I explained to them, while that may be true, the more likely scenario is if missiles start flying, it will be between Israel and Iran....with Europe being sucked into it.

Point of all this, the world does indeed expect the U.S. to be their global police force and to keep the Western World safe from bad guys.

driver...not sure if your friend is an adventure seeker, or just not very bright.

robr2

You must really have a passionate hate for the vehicle if you took all of that time to find a picture of it sitting by a port-a-toilet.

Nah. I frequent another automotive forum and that picture has been floating around there for years. Did it not occur to anyone at Toyota that electric blue and a white top would draw a comparison??

I have no feeling either way towards the FJ. I had thought Toyota had cancelled the FJ so I was surprised to see it still offered.

sterlingdog

"Hope you made the best of the bad weather."

And you talk about ME?! :surprise:

Richard

sterlingdog

According to Driver's research, sales are still pretty steady. I actually prefer the yellow with the white top. That might be a worse comparison.

Mike, I am so with you on the new Cadillac. I don't care for it. For the money, I would just buy the CTS. Though I love the SRX, I don't want two cats in the barn. I would prefer something different.

Nyccarguy, you have a good idea. I might look at that Jeep Wrangler. I don't know why I hadn't thought about it. I owned a Jeep back in '96. I have always liked them. Thanks for the tip. As Oldfarmer would still remind me, I do love the big pick-up trucks, but the wife is dead set against it.

Richard

jsyodes

Sounds like a Dilbert strip, someone may need to help me figure out how to post the link. link title

Steve

driver100

"Hope you made the best of the bad weather."
And you talk about ME?!

Between you and Monroe I am ROFLOL.

driver100

Sounds like a Dilbert strip,

I'll try....it is funny but painful....that is exactly how I think!