Stories from the Sales Frontlines

isellhondas

Sorry, but the tri power carbs were definatly an option in 1966 on GTO's.

Rear end ratios varied but I think a 3:55 was the more common one.

bwia

I look forward to enjoying the the benefits and complaining about the drawbacks of the citizenship.

Dino, let me also extend my congratulations on becoming a US citizen. How does it really feel? What was the celebration like? Did you go out and have a big steak dinner or did you just stayed home and soaked up the moment. Either way, it must have been an awesome feeling.

Now that you can vote in national elections I hope one of the first things you do is register to vote to open up the White House so we all can visit with our children and grandchildren.

tjc78

to open up the White House so we all can visit with our children and grandchildren

You can still tour the White House. You need to write your local Congressman and ask for admission. It needs to be at least 21 days in advance.

White House Tour

We went to DC for the weekend last summer and we didn't realize what it took to get a tour.

abacomike

No, Mike, the tri-power was not an option on the 66 GTO. It had a 4 bbl.

Mine was a 1966 GTO! I bought it in December of 1965.

abacomike

You can still tour the White House. You need to write your local Congressman and ask for admission. It needs to be at least 21 days in advance.

These cuts that Obama has authorized which includes the tours of the White House were arbitrary - if he didn't play golf with Tiger Woods, there would have been enough money saved to keep tours operating for over a year. Every time that Air Force One takes off, it costs over $250,000. So the taxpayers paid over $600,000 including the back-up 747 for him yo play golf.

My taxes were filed 5 weeks ago electronically, as was my Dad's, and neither has received our refund. Refunds normally are directly deposited onto our checking accounts within 10 days, according to our accountant. The IRS is holding refunds up because of the sequestration - another bunch of lies generated to hurt the people of this country as best as he can.

They should be paying me interest on my delayed refund. Think of the millions of people not getting their refunds so the government can use that money free of interest. It is criminal!

mako1a

Here is the exception (there's always an exception).

1966 GTO-A new engine was offered that saw few takers: the XS option consisted of a factory Ram Air set up with a new 744 high lift cam. Approximately 35 factory installed Ram Air packages are believed to have been built, though 300 dealership installed Ram Air packages are estimated to have been ordered.

If you wrecked one of the 35 factory Ram Air optioned cars, begin kicking yourself immediately.

driver100

Did you go out and have a big steak dinner or did you just stayed home and soaked up the moment.

Thought you were going to ask if Dino celebrated in an American gastronomical institution, such as Hooters. :sick:

abacomike

If you wrecked one of the 35 factory Ram Air optioned cars, begin kicking yourself immediately.

No, it was not a Ram Air, that much I remember. But I do remember it did not have a single carb - it had to be the 3 deuces. The hp was 360+ if my memory serves me right - I remember the salesman Harry H. Telling me that it was an optional engine order.

God, I miss that car - nothing stock in the streets could touch that car in the quarter mile except a 427 Vette.

mako1a

This is from oldride.com > Tri-power option was dropped for model year 1966.

There were always exceptions back then. If the factory had some left over 3 deuce manifolds left from the 65 and yours was a very early 66 they may have been put on yours to use them up.

I had a 67 Camaro SS/RS and thoroughly checked everything right down to the 202 double hump 350 heads (first year for the 350 engine). The book said the engine put out 295 HP. I drove that car a lot and I know 295 HP from 360 HP. 295 was a made up number from the factory for insurance purposes. I sold it 5 years ago for $25k. It was $3,370 new.

dino001

How does it feel... Great, of course, but there is some trepidation. I quite frightened about the future. Not necessarily next couple of years, but twenty years, or so. There are some really scary signs, moreover people do not seem to be ready to face them. They still think the other guy will pay, so why should I give up anything. The politicians, both sides of the isle are just illiterates (or worse- liars) when it comes to economy. They all say they same thing - let's cut, just not in my district, state, not in industries from my contributors; and let's raise taxes, just not mine, not in my district, not to my contributors. I blame equally R and D for the mess we are in now. While the current White House occupant is a total disaster when in comes to economy (if he opened a lemonade stand, he would not only go bankrupt, he would bankrupt the entire block around the stand), but the previous one was an equal disaster. If he had opened a lemonade stand, instead of selling it, he'd engage in three separate brawls with kids from not just another neighborhood. He'd ask his daddy to fly across the country, so he can start another brawl there, too. All of course in name of protection of the kids on his block.
We really did not have much luck when it comes for WH in last decade.

So how does it feel? I just joined a great club with fantastic benefits and connections all over the world, but the club's management has been cooking the books for quite a while now and the members seem not care.

Other than that, fantastic ...

driver100

I had a 67 Camaro SS/RS and thoroughly checked everything right down to the 202 double hump 350 heads

While you guys were driving your fancy Camaros, ">Pontiacs and Corvettes I had a manual transmission too!

A 3 on the tree 62 Comet. Talk about lack of power. Not much fun driving one of these.....ratings for feel of the road........0 (zero).



Followed by a 65 Ford Galaxie with no-power steering, brakes, windows, and no a/c.

[Deleted User]

A refreshingly direct, non-partisan view. Thanks for that, and congratulations on becoming a citizen.

I also appreciate your experience with diesels and manuals, and will very strongly consider the automatic and gasoline engine as options when the new Sportwagen becomes available. Supposedly the gasoline mileage efficiency will be close to the diesel, but I do so love a diesel's low-end torque. I drove manual diesels in Europe in the early 2000s and fell in love with them (Fiat group and VW). I'm hoping to find something that brought so much joy on the road as those those cars did.

graphicguy

There were factory tri power GTOs in '66. One of the guys I knew in the GTO Club (now defunct) had one.

Now, as you say, it may have been a '65 parts carryover from the factory, but the one I saw had a build sheet showing the 3-2bbl carbs built that way at the factory.

'67 was a fairly comprehensive overhaul for the GTO. 389 bored into a 400 with either a 2bbl, or a 4bbl, or a 4bbl HO, or a 4bbl HO w/RamAir.

I think that was the same year that Pontiac introduced an OHC 6 cyl in the LeMans (which looked like a GTO).

dino001

Thanks, couple of more thing to consider in gas vs. diesel equation is cost of fuel itself and maintenance. Diesel tends to be even more volataile and can cost even more per unit than premium. Yes, the mileage is better, so will stil be less expensive in fuel, but there is also added maintenance. As I said, diesels are great, when run constantly, i.e. high miles across the country and of course in towing/heavy duty conditions. I think gasoline hybrids in some form are better alternative, especially for city commute. There is also possibility of natural gas is some form (LNG, LPG, CNG). That has limitations on space for small cars, but there are good precedents overseas. In Eastern Europe LPG (equivalent of propane, it is actually propane-butane mix) is quite popular, even in small cars. My dad used to have a "gased" Honda. The overall fuel cost was about half of the gasoline (higher consumption, but much lower price). At this point, we have in the US overproduction of all three gas types. LPG is also called "nat gas liquids), but there is no infrastructure whatsoever. Clean Energy and Westport focus on large trucks run on CNG, I believe, which is not feasible for small cars, unless everybody gets has gas in their house.

michaellno

They should be paying me interest on my delayed refund. Think of the millions of people not getting their refunds so the government can use that money free of interest. It is criminal!

So, you loan the money (taxes paid) to the federal government for the whole year, interest free, then you want interest because your refund was delayed?

:P

What you should do is adjust your withholdings so you keep more of your money in the first place.

Interesting that the only savings many people have is the tax withholding - then they get it back each spring.

And spend it on new or used cars (hey, gotta keep on topic).

nyccarguy

It didn't dawn on me until today about thinking about graphicguy's 13 year relationship with his exgf. 13 years ago today I met a girl on a semi blind date. We had spoken on the phone, exchanged emails, & she had a photo of me. I'll spare you guys all of the details of that day, but it went fairly well. She had a photo of me & still decided to meet me, she enjoyed herself enough to say yes to a second date, she'd become my girlfriend, then my fiancee, my wife, and then the mommy to our 3 beautiful children. 13 years ago today is still one of the best days of my entire life.

tjc78

These cuts that Obama has authorized which includes the tours of the White House were arbitrary

I don't know how I missed that. I responded to BWIA's post and then thought I would back it up with the link. You would think that if they are cutting a gov't program someone would at least have updated the White House's web page. Sad.

dino001

I think the interest penalty clause will kick in, but not after some time. The 10-day refund is more of a guideline, not guarantee. However, at some point there is a cutoff, after which they should owe you interest, just like you'd owe them if you paid your remaining taxes (if owed) after April 15th. I'm pretty positive about this, as I once filed a correction year after the tax date, in which I showed higher refund. They paid me also interest, which I found bizzare. I didn't ask for the money until the correction, so I thought the clock should start at date of the correction, but I guess for the euqality of treatment they started the clock on April 15th of the original year.

Until then, you'll have no recourse. Anyway, with current rates, I'm sure the interest would only be something like a couple of percent APR - unless it's a penalty. I wonder if anybody knows what the exact rules are for that.

tjc78

That was very nice. Now email her the link to this page so she can see it!! :shades:

I'm 5 months married today! Time goes by fast.

bwia

I wonder if anybody knows what the exact rules are for that.

Apparently, the delay was caused by H&R Block and other taxpayers who incorrectly filled out Form 8863--educational credits.

Since the so-called fiscal cliff issue was not resolved until the very last minute the IRS did not amend Form 8863 until the new year. As a result, taxpayers and H&R Block were confused as to which boxes to check and that apparently screwed up the system for all.

mako1a

How does it feel... Great, of course

Dino, I'm not sure where you live, but if you want to go to a place that still speaks Polish, try Western PA. I'm sure jmonroe will attest to this.

The phone book listings have about half of the names ending in a vowel and many ending in ski. You can still hear Polish, Italian, Czeck, Hungarian, etc spoken on the street, in restaurants and vegetable stands. The steel mills were a true melting pot.

mako1a

Lets see if Ultimate GTO can answer all the GTO questions.

Ultimate GTO

Click on item, then go to top to see results.

isellhondas

I don't care what oldride.com (whoever they are?) says because they are wrong! Pontiac certainly did offer that tri power 360 H.P.engine in 1966 and actually, it was a pretty commom option. Not rare at all. Check it out!

And, yes, Pontiac did buiild a few pathetic "economy" GTO's in 1967 for some reason I'll never understand. They had a 2 BBL carb, a different cam and lower compression so they would run on regular gas.

Waht a waste! Why not just order a Le Mans instead?

isellhondas

Well, Ultimate GTO got the engine option correct for 1966.

Just like I told you! :P

stickguy

yeah, that baby scoots. I still know I should have held firm at something more economical, but when I do get a chance to bury my foot, it is fun!

seems way, way faster than our Odyssey, so probably the same as the pilot, since it has more HP and weighs about 1K less. It is fast by any standard, and quite likely will run with (if not out) your BMW.

graphicguy

NYC...what a great story. Thanks for sharing.

Mako....cool web site. Thanks.

Craig ....unless I read that GTO site wrong, it indeed said that in '66 you could get a tri-powered 389.

In '67 they went to the 400.

Did I read it wong?

isellhondas

That's what I was saying. Mako said there was no tri power option on GTO's in 1966 and there certainly was.

The 335 HP 4 barrel was standard but they build and sold a LOT with tri power in 1966.

abacomike

Well, Ultimate GTO got the engine option correct for 1966.

Just like I told you!

389 Tri-power was an available option in 1966 according to ultimate GTO!

I knew it was more than one carburetor, just wasn't sure if it was 3 deuces or 2 4's. now I know because it was listed as an option on mine.

isellhondas

I had a 1964 Impala SS with the 400 H.P. 409 engine. They also made a 425 H.P. 409 with two 4BBL's.

Mine was a MONSTER that swilled gasoline. I can't imagine what adding another 4BBL would have done for mileage!

explorerx4

Dino001,
Congrats on your becoming a US citizen. Make sure you vote, although sometimes it will seem like there are no good choices.
Does this mean you start paying Social Security or were you already contributing?

explorerx4

Mike,
We got our refund last week. Maybe you should use my accountant.

dino001

I've been paying both income and FICA taxes since 2001, then on temporary worker visa, later on permanent resident status. Full taxation, just like citizens.

abacomike

Mike, We got our refund last week. Maybe you should use my accountant.

Well, I called my accountant and he traced both electronic returns. He told me they were both recorded, but the refunds are being held up by the IRS. We both took standard deductions since we don't have enough deductions to beat the standard deduction. He further stated that the returns are not being held up for audit as there is nothing to audit on our easy returns. He just said that 9 out of 10 returns he has filed electronically have gone through but the IRS is just not issuing refunds.

Isn't that nice? Because of the sequester, the IRS has been ordered to hold refunds up. Gotta love this government!

cdnpinhead

. . . what it si!

Si, indeed. Certainly true in my neck of the woods -- AZ.

abacomike

So, you loan the money (taxes paid) to the federal government for the whole year, interest free, then you want interest because your refund was delayed?

What you should do is adjust your withholdings so you keep more of your money in the first place.

I don't withhold any taxes from my social security, so I have to withhold quite a bit from my pension. Remember, I pay income tax on 80% of my social security income. Thus I have to have almost $1000 a month withheld from my pension. I usually get a refund of about $1800 a year. If I lowered my withholding I would have $150 a month more which I would probably spend - can't make any money on savings anyway - less than 1%. So, when I get the tax refund, I usually put it in my annual car buying account toward the purchase of a new car.

It just seems easier that way. Many people do the same thing.

abacomike

Dino, I'm not sure where you live, but if you want to go to a place that still speaks Polish, try Western PA. I'm sure jmonroe will attest to this.

As you know, Dino, the largest Polish population in a city here in the US is still Chicago. Illinois is the only State that closes its schools for Kasimir Polaski's Birthday. Illinois has a huge Polish population. I worked in northeastern Pennsylvania for a couple of years before I retired from education. That was another area that had a large Polish population - Hazelton, Wilkesbarre, Scranton, Stroudsburg were some of those cities and towns.

The Polish people, on general, are extremely hardworking and very pious. The Catholic Churches in Chicago and its suburbs were always filled with people of Polish decent. Dino, you should be proud of your heritage and never, ever lose sight of you roots.

[Deleted User]

I saw quite a few compressed gas vehicles while working in India. The price of gasoline and diesel was rising, and many families were converting their vehicles to compressed gas. They could import quality conversion systems from Britain, or save money with a local copy of those systems. Can you guess which ones most frequently blew up? :surprise:

Nearly all our vehicles were Chevys and Toyotas with small displacement 4 cylinder diesels and manual trannies. Those motors were simplistic and spewed soot. Probably last forever.

Economy is definitely one consideration for diesel, but for me, it's the driving experience. I really connected with the low RPM torque in the Euro models I drove. Those particular models had a decent power curve and could accelerate even when caught in a gear too high. The 2.0 diesel coming out from VW is a vastly different version than the model available today, so no telling what it's driving characteristics will be like. Worst case you can opt for the excellent DSG auto transmission. Or the new 1.8 gasser engine. I'm sold on the wagon body style regardless of drivetrain. Midsize SUV storage in a compact package with stellar gas mileage and road handling.

abacomike

I saw quite a few compressed gas vehicles while working in India. The price of gasoline and diesel was rising...

I seriously considered buying an E Class diesel this time around, but with diesel prides higher than premium gasoline nowadays and the fact that the diesel only gets 2 mpg better economy (gasoline will be 22/32 and the new diesel is 24/33) it didn't make much sense. With the new Eco Stop/Go being brought out in the new E Class for US delivery, it will probably be even better.

full LED headlights

I ordered the new car with full LED headlights. What is the major advantage of LED's over HID Xenon lights?

nyccarguy

I have no doubt it will run (possibly out) my BMW. When I owned the TSX, they gave me a V6 TSX as a loaner that was incredibly fast. Unfortunately the V6 weighed 250 lbs more than my car's 4cyl & was like a boat anchor between the front wheels.

robr2

Because of the sequester, the IRS has been ordered to hold refunds up.

Have you actually been told that?

Everything I have read blames delays in refunds due to the fact that the IRS wasn't ready to process returns until January 29. The IRS couldn't process a month's worth of returns so it's backed up.

Under the sequester, the IRS is working under a hiring freeze - not layoffs. No reduction in staff will be implemented until after tax season. The areas most affected currently by the sequester is auditing.

10 day payment on an electronic return is not a guarantee - it's typical but not assured. 3 weeks is what the IRS aims for.

roadburner

I ordered the new car with full LED headlights. What is the major advantage of LED's over HID Xenon lights?

LED headlamps will will probably last the life of the vehicle, they don't require ballasts, and they draw less current. As for which is better from a visibility standpoint, it depends on the design rather than the lamp source itself.

abacomike

...which is better from a visibility standpoint, it depends on the design rather than the lamp source itself.

Thanks - like I drive much at night anyway! But I was told that the Xenons are brighter. As we age, the brighter the better. I know that front fog lights have been replaced by many manufacturers with LED running lights. The only fog lights I have are in the rear of the car - a button on my dash turns on the rear fog lamps - so that cars behind me can better see me. As if I drive a lot when it's foggy - we don't get much of that down here.

robr2

LED headlamps will will probably last the life of the vehicle, they don't require ballasts, and they draw less current.

...and will be a pain in snow country as they don't generate enough heat to melt heavy snow leading to poor visibility at night.

boomchek

Congrats on your US citizenship! Hope you had plenty of Wyborowa to celebrate! :shades:

boomchek

we still have that white Mustang in the garage today

I was going to ask that very question since I haven't been on these boards for a couple of years.

These models are hard to come by nowadays; most that are available are poorly modified, or just destroyed. :sick:

boomchek

Congrats on your sale!

I had a feeling the deposit guy and the neighbour were afraid to pull the trigger based on what you wrote about them. Anyways it just takes one willing buyer to make the deal happen quickly.

I just sold my MDX I bought late last year for winter and had a similiar experience.

Few people came and looked at it, others emailed with a lowball. One guy called from out of town (northern part of the province) offering close to my asking price but the problem was he was about 6 hours away and couldn't get down here for about 2 weeks. He said he'll buy it "for sure". Now since working in car sales for nearly a decade, I learned that when somebody promises they'll buy something that there's a high chance they'll bail before having to commit. So I suggested to him to call me a few days before he plans to come down, and if I still have it for sale I'll do him a favor and hold it for a day or two.

He didn't like that idea and asked me not to sell it until he comes. I explained to him that it's just not going to happen, I won't be holding my car for anyone for two weeks, and that it's a first come first serve kind of thing, unless he's willing to send me a deposit somehow.

So he said he contacted a friend that he has here in town that would come look at my car on his behalf and leave a small deposit. About 4 days passed and I haven't heard from his friend, which I relayed to him via text. He said he'll try calling him again and meanwhile sent me a photo of Greyhound bus ticket he purchased to come here to buy the car.

Of course a day later two guys come to see my car, drive it, make an offer that was only $50 less than what long-distance buyer promised, and so I decided to sell the car to them.

From experience, when you have something for sale, holding it to someone promising to buy it never ever ever works out.

After selling it locally I informed long distance buyer that it's no longer available. He had almost a week to leave a deposit and didn't. I felt a little bit bad :confuse: but considering the fact that we're going away for 3.5 weeks later this month, I just did not want to be stuck with it for an extra month if long distance guy would decide not to buy it.

tjc78

I was talking to my brother the other night and he was explaining their need for a bigger vehicle. He currently has a newer Camry on a crazy low lease payment and a paid off 05ish Corolla.

He tells me he was at the dealer the other night and was thinking of trading in the Corolla and leasing a new Highlander. He said the payment was only 289/month. I asked where the 6K from the Corolla was going and he said down payment on the lease.... OMG!! I asked him if he was crazy or not. I said if he wants to do that, put 1st payment down and cash out the rest. It took a lot of convincing, but I **think** I got through to him.

The worst part of this is that is must have been a pretty crappy lease with a 36 month payment that would equate to $456/month. He said it was a base model w/cloth interior so MSRP couldn't have been much more than $31K.

I'm a chronic leaser, but I could never trade in a paid off vehicle and roll all that money into a lease, if you total it tomorrow you are out all that money. If you can't afford a zero down lease payment, you can't afford the vehicle. Period.

graphicguy

boom....thanks. You guys who are/were in the biz see these types of buyers every day.

I do agree with you. Anyone who says they're absolutely, positively a buyer, aren't qualified without some money changing hands, even if it's only $100 to hold the vehicle.

Now I understand why some dealerships ask for a deposit. While I still won't fork over a deposit, given that I ordinarily don't walk into a dealership unless I'm at least midly interested in their vehicles, I'm probably not the "joy rider" they are
used to.

Your guy who had a "friend" to inspect the MDX sounds really flaky....almost like it had some elememts of a scam. I can imagine....friend comes to look at the MDX, calls the buyer on another line. Buyer says he has the money in an account, but needs your account info to do the transfer...etc, etc, etc!

Glad you got the MDX sold.

I had quite a few calls on the BMW. Had several "no shows". They'd see my car in a parking lot somewhere, ask to drive it. I'd agree to a time, then they'd be a no show. There were a couple of times, if I were finishing up my errands, and I'd agree to do a "spot" test drive, given they had to have seen the car in the parking lot I was currently in. Even then, after I'd probe them a bit (what are you looking for? What do you think the car is worth? etc) sometimes I would retract the test drive offer when it became clear that they...

a) were joy riding and had no intention of buying
b) no way they could buy the car (this based on my subjective judgement of the way the acted, their age, their demeanor, or the "blinged" out Civic they pulled up in).
C) Were just to sheepish and creepy to let them test drive my car

But, I think that's a function of the car. If it were a Grand Marquis, I doubt very seriously that it would have attracted those types.

dino001

I'm not really Polish that way. Somehow never developed taste in liquor. I'm a beer and wine guy, some sweet liquor just recently.

dino001

Funny, I kind of had exactly opposite experience and stance. Diesel engines are OK in certain circumstances, but give me a naturally aspirated (or turbocharged) six or eight cylinder gas engine without consideration of fuel price and diesel would not stand a chance with me.

I'd choose diesel ONLY if the economics worked in its favor by long extension. I'd NOT give up my six-in-line gasoline engine if diesel offered something like 10 or 20 percent cost advantage. It would have to be 30-50% cost reduction for me at current prices in the US to even consider a move, or the reduction could be smaller in percentage, but from much higher base than now (read: gas prices at European levels).

Couple of weeks of driving my dad's Audi A4 1.9TDI (which is a nice car in its own right, btw) made me miss my 328i a lot. Because the governments rob you blind over there every time you have to refuel, it sure makes sense to me to compromise and I don't blame people for getting those diesel Golfs, Jettas, or Opels. But not here, the gas alternatives are basically superior, IMHO. If (when) current President's wishes get fullfilled and we are forced give arm and leg at the pump, then I will likely reevaluate, just like those milions of Germans, French, or Polish people do. But I bet you, if their governments lifted their heavy hand (not gonna happen, but one could dream) and fuel prices moved to US levels, the diesel powered small cars would definitely lose their marketshare, big time. But that's just my opinion.