Stories from the Sales Frontlines

sterlingdog

"How to manage your money in high school."

You are very perceptive and oh so correct in your thinking. I used to scream for such a course when I was teaching. I always received the same excuse from the principal and central office staff: We have to prepare the students for the state exams. When I was finally promoted to the central office and placed in charge of teacher training, I spent classroom time covering those very topics with new teachers. I can tell you that in the months and years that followed, so many of those young teachers thanked me for those basic money management tips. I taught them how to balance a bank statement, how to shop for a house/condo, how to plan a monthly budget, how to grocery shop to save money, how and when to use credit, etc. I believe that it was time well spent. In this day and age, we can never assume that the home takes care of such things.

Richard

driver100

But BMW didn't get where it is today by pandering to that clueless 98%.

True, but, these days it's the shareholders you have to please, so you broaden the appeal to make it a car for the masses. There is no going back, now you have a big factory, dealers, and employees that have to look after, oh yes, and investors who want to see a return on their investment. The fun days are over, now it is big business, so the idea is to sell as many cars for as much profit as possible. You may have to move to a Maserati or something to get the same kind of kick as a bmw used to have.

Oh, I agree for the most part...the 5er has become a luxo-barge. But, it still does what it is supposed to do better than almost any other car...possible exceptions being an E Mercedes or A6 Audi.

You never made it clear if you tested a 535 with the M package and Sport - Sport+ driving options. They make a huge difference, but, will still be a long way from satisfying the enthusiast.

You said bmw now panders to the clueless 98%. These days there is no loyalty......companies do what they have to in order to maximize profits.

driver100

They could not isolate which injector was leaking so they have to replace all 6.

That's what we told them to do about 12 hours ago...or was it 24 hours ago.

they are going to replace the oil filter and change the oil anyway..

Well, looks like you will have at least one oil change before you trade it in.

sterlingdog

"How many miles did you get on the original set? Were all 4 equally worn...?"

For the SRX, the Goodyear Eagles lasted 45,325 miles. Yes, all 4 were equally worn. I'm big on tire rotation. The car just seems to ride smoother if I regularly rotate the tires. I probably could have gone anohter 5K but I don't like to cut it that close.

Richard

driver100

I taught them how to balance a bank statement, how to shop for a house/condo, how to plan a monthly budget,

How not to buy a car...based on the monthly payment.

Another one that gets me is those cash chequing places. We had an employee who just started working for us, and the cash chequing place called to ask if she was really employed at our place. It was a shock, people could be that dumb, lose 10% of their pay because they were too lazy to open a bank account.

sterlingdog

"...write down the $5.00 tip...then hand me a $5 bill."

That is so sad. I don't blame you for keeping your mouth shut. You work hard and deserve the tip. Like the rest of us, they will just have to learn from their mistakes. The sad part is that some never will.

Richard

oldfarmer50

"...the Goodyear Eagles lasted 45,325 miles..."

I have Goodyear Eagles RS-As on my Eclipse and at 36k they still have about 1/2 tread left.

Interesting thing about these tires is that as they have worn down a bit they handle noticeably better than when they were new. This perception was born out in a C&D long term test where their Eclipse with the Eagles got better G numbers at 40k than when new.

In absolute terms the Eagle RS-A was universally panned as a performance tire for handling.

I suppose if your prime concern is how long they last (50k) then they are a good tire.

graphicguy

Ricard....OF....that's really good longevity out of what I thought was a relatively sport tire.

driver100

OK, I need some help in choosing a battery maintainer (trickle charger) for the Passat, which will be left in Florida for up to 8 or 9 months.

There are 2 auto parts places nearby, Napa, which only had a few to choose from.

I checked Advance and they have quite a selection, from about $20 and what seems to be a deluxe one for $66.

Here is the webpage from Advance;
Battery Charger/Maintainer

The question is, what would suit my needs? Also, when I buy these things, my thinking is, the $40 model gets 2.5 stars on 8 reviews, the $66 model gets 4.5 stars on 26 reviews.....so to me, if I am going to spend $40 I may as well spend $26 more and get the one that everyone seems to really like.

What do you think?

Just noticed the last model on page 2 gets 4.5 stars and it is $27!

oldfarmer50

"...really good longevity..."

Yeah, but at the expense of handling. I think when these are shot I'm going to get something stickier like P-Zeros. Even if I only get 20k out of them it will be worth it. You only live once.

oldfarmer50

"...what do you think?..."

I've got the first one on your list #1275A. Works well but it doesn't have an auto shut off on trickle mode. I fried a lawn mower battery last year when I forgot to turn it off. Since you won't be around I would definitely have that feature unless bubbling and dripping acid is something you like. :sick:

tjc78

I don't know much about chargers, but couldn't you just have a neighbor start it once a month and run it to temperature ?

driver100

I've got the first one on your list #1275A. Works well but it doesn't have an auto shut off on trickle mode.

I thought battery maintainers went on for awhile, and then off for awhile, so batteries would not get fried.

I am glad you like the unit, but, I think I would want some kind of shut off protection.

driver100

I don't know much about chargers, but couldn't you just have a neighbor start it once a month and run it to temperature ?

I thought about that, but, not as easy as it sounds. Insurance costs $600 for 6 months. However, if we aren't here, we pay $100 for 6 month of comprehensive insurance only. So, when we aren't here, the car is not covered for liability, so I can't let the neighbor take it for a spin.

btw, you can stop full coverage after say 2 months, go on vacation for 1 month, then go back to full.....kind of a banking system. It is too good a rate to mess around with.

roadburner

I think when these are shot I'm going to get something stickier like P-Zeros. Even if I only get 20k out of them it will be worth it. You only live once.

I had PZero Nero All Seasons on my son's X3 as well as my Mazda. They are a pretty decent performance tire all things considered. They lasted 38,000 miles on the Mazda and 39,000 miles on the X3. I've since swapped them for Cooper Zeon RS-As, which are supposed to offer equivalent performance and longer tread life. The performance claim is accurate, but the jury is still out regarding the longevity- although they currently seem to be wearing quite well.

A while back I mentioned I won four Michelin tires. Well, the voucher was about to expire so I went ahead an got a set of Pilot Super Sports for the Mazdaspeed. I mounted them on a set of 2010 MS3 wheels(along with new OEM TPMS I found on eBay). All I can say is: WOW! They are relatively quiet and the ride is firm and not harsh- but the level of performance they provide is just incredible.
So far I've run out of courage before I've run out of grip.

roadburner

OK, I need some help in choosing a battery maintainer (trickle charger) for the Passat, which will be left in Florida for up to 8 or 9 months.

I'd go with one of these:

AccuMate Battery Charger LS6/1.2 This is the one I use. It's a "smart" charger/tender that wont cook your battery. It does take a while to charge a battery but it's a great tender; I use it on my Triumph Speed Triple and on my two ZTR mowers. It's a great product.

BMW Battery Tender This would be my other choice. BMW also sells one that plugs into the cigarette lighter/power port, which you may find more convenient- though you will have to leave a window cracked open in order to run the power cord.

Both are priced under $60; I'd go with the BMW unit if you only want a tender for car batteries. The AccuMate offers versatility that you probably don't need. In any case, I would focus on quality rather than price.

oldfarmer50

"...couldn't you just have a neighbor start it..."

Hey, back off! :mad: Fezo and me are already working on him to let us live at his place rent free in return for doing that. We also offered to eat all his food and drink his booze so it doesn't go bad on him.

oldfarmer50

"...run out of courage before I've run out of grip..."

That's what I'm looking for. I've read the reviews on Pilots and they seem great but I always wondered if they were worth the extra expense. On the other hand my Eagles are about $250 each so I definitely won't be getting those.

roadburner

That's what I'm looking for.

I have Dunlop Direzza Star Specs on my ti, and I've been pleased with them as well. Several of the race sanctioning bodies have mandated DOT approved tires with a treadwear rating of at least 180 in their stock/production classes. That's what the Star Specs are designed for. Other equivalent tires are the Bridgestone RE-11, Hankook R-S3, Toyo R1R and the Yokohama AD08.

The Michelin PSS are equally -if not more- capable but they are designed for high-dollar exotics and other high performance cars- yet they have a treadwear rating of 300. I got my set for free, but I think I'll buy them again...

nyccarguy

"So far I've run out of courage before I've run out of grip."

That's what I call a ringing endorsement!

nyccarguy

I'm glad they've found the problem with your E350. The service dept there sounds top notch. If they hadn't listened to you or just didn't care, you could've very easily gotten a "we couldn't replicate the problem sir..." Type of response.

Let us know how the trip to your brother's house goes.

roadburner

That's what I call a ringing endorsement!

Don't just take my word for it- Car and Driver agrees: Monsters of Grip: Nine Summer-Performance Tires Tested

roadburner

The service dept there sounds top notch.

Yes it does.

abacomike

I'm glad they've found the problem with your E350. The service dept there sounds top notch. If they hadn't listened to you or just didn't care, you could've very easily gotten a "we couldn't replicate the problem sir..."

Yes, but I think if I hadn't called the Director of Service/Parts, I would not have gotten the response I did. Luckily, since I have purchased 7 cars from them, not only do they know "me" but I also know "them"! He is the only one who has the authority to order parts and expedite the process.

When the service consultant called me last night, she said that if I had not called the Director, they would still be trying to find the leaking injector. She also told me that the shop foreman added lots of gray hairs over my car. The fluoroscope was unable to find which cylinder's injector was causing the problem.

Now, I hope the parts are delivered on Monday morning. If they are back ordered or are late coming in, they won't have the car ready Tuesday evening. I guess there is always hope!

isellhondas

That sounds like a great store to me!

Thay are doing a lot of things they really don't have to do.

driver100

AccuMate Battery Charger LS6/1.2
BMW Battery Tender

I like the sound of both of those....that sounds like a big help. I particularly like the idea of the bmw unit that plugs into the cigarette lighter outlet.

My Passat Dealer has a BMW dealer right next door....I could check their parts department.

driver100

RR, I have another problem. The battery tenders weren't compatible with a 2013 Passat.

They list these as being compatible, but which one looks best? That cig-lighter feature would be nice.
Amazon-Battery Maintainer/Tender

driver100

Hey, back off! Fezo and me are already working on him to let us live at his place rent free in return for doing that.

lol, what a kind and generous offer.

driver100

"So far I've run out of courage before I've run out of grip."

Are we talking tires.....or, Polident?

driver100

since I have purchased 7 cars from them, not only do they know "me"

Yeh, but all at no profit for the dealer!

nyccarguy

I keep seeing JK Wrangler Unlimiteds EVERYWHERE. Jeep wave or no jeep wave, they are awesome looking. Even if they are "mall crawlers."

oldfarmer50

"...a tread wear rating of 300..."

I did a quick search of Tire Rack and that 300 rating is about the best there is for that class of tire ( at least in sizes that fit my car). At about $250 each it's comparable to most of the competition. There was one as cheap as $130 and my OEM Eagles are down to $127 (they must be obsolete).

The Michelins are classified as "Max Performance", is that the top of the line as far as handling? Is MP better than "Ultra High Performance"? All the cutesy categories make it confusing.

Note: I just read the article in your next post. Yeah, now I get it.

oldfarmer50

"...that plugs into the cigarette lighter..."

Uh...am I missing something? How would you keep a battery charged on a non-running car by using the very battery you are charging to power your charger?

I know I'm dumb but am I stupid? :confuse:

roadburner

I'd go with the 021-0128 Battery Tender Plus and then buy the Deltran Cigarette Lighter Adapter.

roadburner

How would you keep a battery charged on a non-running car by using the very battery you are charging to power your charger?

The tender is powered from a wall outlet and the lighter adapter takes the place of the battery clamps. It will work fine for maintaining a battery, but I'd connect to the battery directly to charge -or jump start- the car.

abacomike

Yeh, but all at no profit for the dealer!

They ALWAYS make something! If I was not making them money, why would they keep selling me cars? You should know, *driver, that they still have holdback and remember, I send them lots of customers. I sent two of my doctors over to them and each of them have purchased or leased cars for themselves and members of their families. Also, five neighbors have gone there and purchased C's, GLK's, and an S class.

You've been around the block a few times yourself so you know it's not just what they can make on you, but what they can make on referrals as well!

driver100

I'd go with the 021-0128 Battery Tender Plus and then buy the Deltran Cigarette Lighter Adapter.

Excellent....they came highly recommended and will cost less than $50.

Thanks for the help RR!

driver100

so you know it's not just what they can make on you, but what they can make on referrals as well!

I was just joking....actually finally getting back at you, remember a few months ago you did something similar to me.

Actually, they must really like you and appreciate your business, to take such good care of you.

roadburner

Thanks for the help RR!

You are welcome!!!

abacomike

I was just joking....actually finally getting back at you, remember a few months ago you did something similar to me.

Actually, I do not, but it obvious you hold grudges and I guess I was the brunt of your "payback!" It it out of your system? Are you satisfied? If not, why not take another shot at me - I can handle it - and I don't hold grudges!

cdnpinhead

the cigarette lighter battery tenders aren't going to work on a car that turns off the power to the lighter when the ignition is off. Some cars do, some don't. My Honda does and the GM cars I rent for work don't.

How about the Passat?

bwia

She also told me that the shop foreman added lots of gray hairs over my car. The fluoroscope was unable to find which cylinder's injector was causing the problem.

That's not good. Now, I am dreaming about cars. Mike, last night I dreamt that in your search for diagnosing the problem you discovered that the catalytic converter was filled with about four to five pounds of sand.

As soon as the catalytic converter was disconnected the sand came pouring out and voila! all problems gone. Don't know what that means but I am sure those familiar with dreams and séance will probably have an interpretation. Where is Miss Cleo when you need her?

driver100

ctually, I do not, but it obvious you hold grudges and I guess I was the brunt of your "payback!"

I am not holding a grudge, just have a good memory, for useless things that don't matter. It really wasn't a big deal, it was just a little practical joke.

driver100

the cigarette lighter battery tenders aren't going to work on a car that turns off the power to the lighter when the ignition is off

Good point! I can't tell because the lighter is really a 12 volt plug....it isn't a lighter at all from what I can tell.

I have the manual and will look it up. The plug in for the lighter costs just $7. If I order it and can't use it I can use the tender the old fashion way....direct to the battery.

I just checked the manual and the 12 volt works if ignition is on. However, I am going to write to the sevice manager, explain what I am thinking of buying, and see what he says. Your post was good, because it made me think to do that.

abacomike

...Now, I am dreaming about cars. Mike, last night I dreamt that in your search for diagnosing the problem you discovered that the catalytic converter was filled with about four to five pounds of sand...

Better you than me, bwia! I have enough to worry about, as do most of us here, to be sure. Good grief, I think I would excrete a "brick" if that actually happened to my car.

True about Miss Cleo, but have you tried Dionne Warwick's "Psychic Friends?" LOL!!! I think that was the fraudulent organization she was involved with way back in the 80's or 90's - when she would advertise on TV to call "Psychic Friends" on the telephone for about $1000 a minute, or something like that. She ruined her career with that one.

cdnpinhead

a cell phone charger (or in my case, one of the low-rent not built in GPS units) it's proof positive what's happening. I have to remember to manually shut off my GPS in a GM car and manually defeat the automatic shutdown when I'm in my car or my wife's Nissan.

abacomike

I got in the loaner car this morning to take Dad for a walk at Boca Town Center. I started the car and go on to the main road in the development, which is a circle that goes around all 75 buildlings. I was doing the speed limit or a little less, 22 or 24 mph, when this car from my left crosses the road and heads right for my left front end. I blew my horn quicky and swerved to the right to avoid her hitting me. But she kept coming and took out my left rear end!

I got out of the car and started yelling at her. She was wearing an eye patch in her glasses over he right eye, so obviously she couldn't possibly have seen me. I called the police and I was still letting her have it. She must have been 85 years old, or even older. When the police arrived, the patrolman went over to the woman, who was still in her car (probably afraid I'd take a swing at her if she got out of the car). He took one look at her, then at my damage, and then at her damage, and came over to talk with me.

He said this was the third time in the past year this woman was involved in an accident here inside my development - has no valid driver's license, and no insurance, and is legally blind. The last time this happened, the judge gave her a suspended sentence due to her age. The cop told me she would probably get another suspended sentence - he said they give her citations, even arrest her, and then she gets off.

I called my insurance company, since it is my insurance that has to pay for the damage since she has not insurance, and they said it would be repaired by collision and uninsured motorist. Unfortunately, I have $1000 deductible on my collision, so I am going to have to come up with the $1000 - unless I take her to court and sue her - which would be a waste of my money since she has no money and would cost more for the lawyer than I could get from her.

Unbelievable! And we were just talking about these old people and how they can't see, don't have llicenses, have no insurance because they can't afford the rates down here, and cause all these accidents. Now I know why my insurance is so high!!!

sterlingdog

In the realm of dream interpretation, yours was not a difficult one. You needed emotional relief for a problem(s). Since you do not express your inner feelings openly, your mind came to your rescue. When the sand came pouring out, you received some stress relief in order to better deal with a problem(s) in reality. Dreams can be a healthy source for working out problems, not just for the frustrations of life but for finding solutions as well. Some people say that they never dream, but they do. They just don't remember it when they awaken. If you remember a certain dream, you should think about it as soon as you awaken. The dream may contain certain helpful information that your conscious mind has been blocking. Not all dreams have the purpose of solving problems. Some dreams are just a rehash of the previous day's events illustrated in a different format.

Richard

bwia

Unfortunately, I have $1000 deductible on my collision, so I am going to have to come up with the $1000


Too bad the old blind woman will walk away Scot free. But what your collision waiver deductible that covers you in the case of an under- or -uninsured vehicle? besides, that coverage could have been added to your own policy or purchased from the dealer or rental car company.

With that said, perhaps the dealer can cut you a deal and only charge for the material cost component and throw in the labor for free. No harm in asking, I'm sure they will understand.

sterlingdog

Mike, I'm so sorry to hear about the accident. I'm also glad that there were no injuries. You have had one hell of a week. We do have spells like this in our lives. Just wondering. Since you're driving a loaner, would the dealership have any form of insurance that would help to cover the extra $1,000?

If the lady has a family, they need to take the car and the keys away from this woman. We had to do that with my mother. They miss the independence but they can't go around threatening the lives of other people as well as their own. No judge or court is going to convince this woman. The only solution is to impound the car and take the keys. I know this because talking with my mother didn't mean squat. I simply had to take it all away. Best of luck.

Richard