I started one of the Equus's up and a cloud of black smoke pored out of the rear exhaust pipes.
Not surprising considering the slow sales of the Equus. Since its introduction in December 2010 the Equus’s best sales month was 362 units in July 2012. For 2013, the sales trend is going in the wrong direction, to wit. Jan 253 Feb 270 Mar 291 Apr 261 May 257
So far, I have seen only one Equus on the road and none at the local dealership. However, Consumer Reports recommended both the Equus and the Lexus LS as best buys but not the Azera.
No wonder they valet the car for all services - they don't want the customer to sit in their waiting rooms!
Actually, there is one thing I think, I don't see anything wrong if you did go for a test drive and/or collected your $50. My reasoning is, they sent you an offer, free test drive and a $50 gift for doing so.
If you were really impressed with the car you would probably consider buying one. Also, you may have a friend who could be interested, and you may tell other people about your experience. In other words, you are a potential customer or may give them a potential customer......so I think it is reasonable for you to take them up on the offer (unless you know you could never be swayed away from MB, then I think it may be questionable to collect the 50 bucks).
If you are a potential customer, they really want to keep you away from the less expensive models, that's the main reason for bringing the car to your home...have to keep the Equus away from the riff raff to protect the image. The thing is, few people want to invite a salesman to their home. Harder to get rid of them.
Mike...while I've never received one from Hyundai (surprising, given that I'm a former customer since I bought my son's former Elantra new, and registered it in my name), I have recieved plenty of others.
I go to a lot of car shows. One or another manufacturer seems to offer a debit card for a test drive at those events.
The best one was in the form of a $250 check to spend a 2 hours giving my opinion of an upcoming, unlabeled car. They had food, coffee, softdrinks. Clearly this was a "here's what we plan on bringing out....let us know if we're on the right track". It was several years ago, but the design they wanted opinions on ended up being the Caddy CTS.
While not a gift card, BMW offers a $1,000 rebate (offered AFTER you negotiate your deal) on any of their cars if you participate at their day long test drive event. It's organized much better than your Equus test drive. Plus, BMW has competitive vehicles on hand to compare and contrast.
Hyundai has a ways to go to offer the BMW, MB, Acura, Lexus experience. But, the franshisee, as a dealer, should know better about how to conduct test drive promos on $60K cars. So, Hyundai and the dealer principal are both at fault.
Personally, I would have signed up for the gift card and told the dealer not to bother with the test drive.
Personally, I would have signed up for the gift card and told the dealer not to bother with the test drive.
Thanks for your feedback, gg! My only reason for taking them up on the offer was to drive the Equus to see if Huyndai has, in fact, built a true luxury contender. I had no interest in the $50 gift card and, did not register to receive one.
I've seen a couple on the road over the past year or two, but I can tell you that the interior of the vehicle is not as luxurious as BMW, Mercedes or even Jaguar. But that is just my opinion. Like I said, it is not a car I would consider for many reasons. :shades:
Hyundai has a ways to go to offer the BMW, MB, Acura, Lexus experience. But, the franshisee, as a dealer, should know better about how to conduct test drive promos on $60K cars. So, Hyundai and the dealer principal are both at fault.
I think that it is virtually impossible to sell $15K econoboxes and a $60K Audi/BMW/Lexus/M-B competitor out of the same showroom. Talk about clashing demographics. I know Hyundai doesn't want to set up a premium dealer channel like Honda, Nissan, and Toyota have done, but you simply must offer an upscale buying experience to complement the car.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
... but you simply must offer an upscale buying experience to complement the car.
I think you hit the proverbial mail on the head, roadburner! Chevrolet is one of the few franchises that has gotten away with not having to offer an upscale dealer experience when it comes to merchandising and selling their Corvette line. $55,000 - $80,000 Corvettes being sold in a dealership that sells 95% of their line for under $30,000 is a true success story.
Remember what happened when VW came out with their Phaeton? Same problem as Hyundai has with their Equus, however VW had lots of technical problems with their Phaeton.
Pretty tough to sell upscale products from a mainstream or low-end showroom. Having the same technician who services Elantras service a Mercedes-type vehicle has to sound off alarms!
Sorry, isell, it was true! Hard to believe! They styled and engineered the Phaeton after the Audi A8 - well, let's say they just used the same frame. There were major problems with the technology - and the car was not built to the standards one might expect from a $70,000 car. But even worse was trying to sell the car in the same showroom as the Bug or the Jetta.
The same thing would happen if they tried to sell the Acura RL next to the Civic in the same showroom.
They probably saw you drive up in your new Merc and figured 'no sale'.
Nope, my neighbor drove me over in his Genesis - same dealer where he leased his car - he was the one who insisted I go over to the dealership when he saw the invitation letter.
I was thinking that if I drove over in my car, they would prequalify me. So no - but I was thinking along those same lines, explorer!
"...did you get lost?...did your hooptie break down?...did you sell your farm?..."
I guess you could say I got lost. As I mentioned in my posts a few months ago we had some very expensive unanticipated home repairs that put us in a cash flow bind. I've been working some long hours to try to get back to normal without draining my retirement accounts.
Of course the hooptie broke down just at the wrong time. The bureaucrats of NYS took 3 months to get my state refund back that I was planning on using to pay my federal tax bill. I had to max out my credit cards to pay that one while buying farm supplies.
All in all a very interesting spring.
Still trying to get to Largo. I check out the Tampa Craigslist car ads when I get a chance.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1992 Mercury Grand Marquis low miles super clean senior car speedometer says 45000 miles everything works ice cold ac like 4 new goodyear tires very nice body and interior its a senior car if it needs something it get it if your looking for a car that will last a long time and look good doing it this is it dont miss the boat on this one it wont last at $1500
This car has 4 brand new Goodyear tires on it and the whole car is $1500! My new tires cost me $2500 to have them installed...I should have bought the car and then used the tires.
I think the wording " speedometer says 45000 miles" is suspicious, it is different than saying the car has 45000 miles on it...though I may be overly suspicious.
I hope you get your financial affairs under control. We have a similar problem, no outside income from the business and so we have to live on savings.....no more monthly allowance!
Mike...agree with you and RoadBurner....tough to sell a luxo $60K car in a showroom that looks like a trailer in a trailer park, and inhabitants that give car sales a bad name (with all due respect to those who live in trailer parks).
At a "watering hole" I frequent (http://www.thesilverspringhouse.com), there's an Equus parked seemingly every time I go (about 1X/week). Good looking car. I've never peered inside.
But, if you can't present your wares in an attractive light, train your sales staff, give a potential customer an experience to even plant their posterior and their checkbook at the desk, you're not going to sell many.
nyc....my former Tahoe as an LTZ, too. They could get pricey once you start ticking off options. But, they also threw enough trunk money at them to resemble a drunken sailor the last night on shore leave at a house of ill repute.
driver...that's the first think that struck me...."odometer reads 45,000". To me, a red flag. New tires....straight...senior car. I guess the price scares me the most. With 145,000 on the odometer, I can see the $1,500 asking price.
Wish I were local to Tampa, I'd give it a look, just to satisfy my curiousity.
You know the old adage, if it's too good to be true.........
To this day I wish I had held on to my Mother's GM. I should have bought it from her. It was pristine. I could have used it to go back and forth to the airport, if nothing else.
oldfarmer...as long as we've bantered with you here at Edmunds, I'm fairly certain you're going to weather this storm and prosper.
Hey all .. drove back from Utah to Colorado on Wednesday. Two tanks, both around 24-24.5 MPG in the CX-7. While in Utah we got less than 17 MPG - but, it was about 90% city driving, so not surprised.
DIL's surgery (brain biopsy) was successful - no after effects that we can tell when we talk to her on the phone. Now for the painful waiting as the sample is shipped to NY for full analysis. She is expected to be released from the hospital today, at which point they will be coming to Colorado to live with us as we figure out next steps.
Son and his best friend will make a trip back to Montana (10 hours one way) to close out checking accounts there and bring their stuff back.
. Now for the painful waiting as the sample is shipped to NY for full analysis.
Life is very fragile. We have had friends and aquaintences that have had unexpected medical problems lately;
*One friend in excellent health though 87 years old got pains in her stomach. Went to the hospital, they found cancer in the whole liver, she never regained consciousness. We all thought she would outlive her husband who has been in bad health for several years.
* A friend was at a family get together. He goes to the gym every day, works out for 2 hours, and plays tennis 2 or 3 times a week, he's in mid 70s. A niece asked him if he wanted cake and he just had a blank look. Seems he had mini-strokes, doctor reported to license agency and he can't drive his car for at least a year.
*Friend, mid 70s goes for annual check up. They find a tumour in his heart and an arterie that is 90% blocked. Tumor is benign but that along with the clogged artery were a ticking time bomb. Fortunately tumor will be removed and a by-pass was done on the artery.
Life is fragile and we have to find the balance. Do the things you want to do and can do, but, plan for the future just in case.
Good luck, michaell, it is nice that your DIL has such caring people around her....that makes a big difference.
"As more than one brain-dead imbecile has told me, "I need a FWD or AWD car because I need to be able to drive it in the rain."
Maybe their experience was with those sorry RWD Detroit sleds of the 60s and 70s. I remember my friend's VW beetle got excellent traction during those MI winters in the mid-70s and it had RWD and basic radial tires. Of course, it did benefit from a rear mounted engine. I can remember more than a couple of people who threw anything heavy they could find in the trunk when the first snow fell. Trunks were big enough in those days that you could have bags of sand or cinder blocks in the trunk and still have plenty of room for luggage (or Jimmy Hoffa).
I remember my friend's VW beetle got excellent traction during those MI winters in the mid-70s
Yes, I looked at a few articles on the subject and AWD should help quite a bit on wet roads, and FWD should be slightly better for driving on wet roads...for the reason you mentioned, more weight on the driving wheels.
Both make a much bigger difference in snow, but there is an advantage even for wet slippery roads.
I got an offer from the bank where my daughters car is financed with an offer to skip the July payment. (I'm making the payments for her - that's why I got it).
The length of the loan will be extended one month. Interest will still accrue for July. The final loan payment at maturity will be higher.
All this for a deferment fee of only $218.89!!!! :surprise: Cripes, the payment is only $390.
Instead of signing it and sending a check, I just wrote, "You're kidding. Right?", and mailed it back.
They didn't even include postage, but it was worth a stamp. :P
All this for a deferment fee of only $218.89!!!! :surprise: Cripes, the payment is only $390.
I got a similar pitch from my credit union but they are charging "only" $30 to skip a payment. In this low interest environment it is very tough for financial institutions to make money from interest income only, so they pad their bottom lines with fee income derived from every imaginable source.
Instead of signing it and sending a check, I just wrote, "You're kidding. Right?", and mailed it back.
You should also have written back....."next time I will try to remember not to take out loans with horse thieves". That incredible payment is one reason I would not want to do business with that bank.....if they can do that who knows what they are capable of.
I got a phone call the other day from my cable TV provider wanting me to switch to their telephone service. I get turned off immdiately when they start with "Hello Mr. um, er ah" and then can't pronounce my name and I can barely understand them. And, they always have the worst telephone line in the world, static, cuts out, I can hear other people talking on the line. So, I said, why would I buy your telephone lines when the quality is so poor I can barely make out what you are saying? So, he says, we don't use our telephone lines, I am on another line...I think he said visa.
Well, doesn't that tell me something, if you don't use it why in the world would I use it?
Yes, I looked at a few articles on the subject and AWD should help quite a bit on wet roads, and FWD should be slightly better for driving on wet roads
Speaking of FWD vs AWD; I was just reading an article in Automobile Magazine that sounds counter intuitive. It says that according to the IIHS unbelted occupants are safer in airbag equipped cars than those wearing seat belts.
How can that be? Is this a misprint or am I missing something?
Driver, I was on calls today with a colleague, and while IM'ing with him about the silliness going on (crappy day overall) he told me that on top of the work mess, that his Uncle was found dead in his apartment last night (apparent heart attack).
and like you said, live does not always work out how you planned it. This guy had just retired, and just days before had gotten his first pension check. then boom. Very sad.
I see an Equus quite often, because there is one that lives a few blocks away.
funny place too. It is an older neighborhood of small houses, pretty nondescript. Except in one garage there is a black Equus. Over the years they usually had red chevies (celebrity, etc. ) then one day this appeared.
I just got off the phone with my grandson - they live in La Quinta CA (about 14 miles east of Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley) and he told me that the temperature outside the house just reached 117 degrees F with 120 degrees forecasted in an hour or two.. There are severe heat warnings throughout the desert southwest. The heat warning is in effect from now through next Monday with highs expected between 122 and 125 degrees. I told him to stay indoors and not to go outside until evening.
I lived out there from 1991-1998 and the highest temps I remember we're in the 112-115 range - but never 120's. It's a very, very dry heat but humidity or not, 124 degrees is darn hot! They expect this heat wave to break all kinds of temp records. I just hope they will be OK!
For the life of me, I'll never know exactly how anyone could live in an are like that. I have a close friend (from Kindergarden) who lives in La Quinta.
I love it when people from Phoenix or Las Vegas tell me.
" It's only hot three months out of the year"
" It's a dry heat so it doesn't matter as much"
I know, you go from an air conditioned house to an air conditioned car to an air conditioned office or stores....still!
I really feel for those people and it's only June!!
It says that according to the IIHS unbelted occupants are safer in airbag equipped cars than those wearing seat belts
My guess is that may be true in very particular cases, but, I don't think it is true overall. I have heard of lots of cases of people who may have been saved, if they were wearing a seatbelt, including Princess Diana.
There have been a number of accidents in our area lately, occupants were thrown from the car, and they died either from being run over or from hitting something.
This guy had just retired, and just days before had gotten his first pension check. then boom
That happens too much, that is one reason it is important not to deny yourself something if you can afford it at all.
One friend is 87 and his health is not the best. I have mentioned him before, he drives the 2008 Chev Uplander, but he could afford whatever car he wanted. He wouldn't buy an air conditioner, their furniture is about 60 years old, they burn old newspapers in the fireplace and it almost kills me when I see the smoke, they love a newspaper but only get one if I give them mine.
His wife died 4 weeks ago and he is putting his affairs in order. I don't know how much they have but indications are a few $million...I would guess $3mill. He is planning on giving almost all of it to a nephew he rarely sees and a neice he hasn't talked to much over the years and who rarely calls...even now to ask him how he is. The unfortunate thing is, he was so careful with every penny, and now it will go to two people who haven't done anything to make their lives happier or better. They could have bought things to make their life better.
There is balance...must provide for the future, but, one must also enjoy their life as much as possible now. And life is fragile, I sometimes think....every year over 50 is a bonus...live it to the best of your ability.
Phoenix and Vegas are artificial cities. They'd turn to dust, their primary state, btw, the moment electricity or water got turned off. There are some places people should not settle. Unfortunately, half of my state is of this kind, too. One day, when insurance will double mortgage payment, we will all move out.
My guess is that may be true in very particular cases, but, I don't think it is true overall.
In Exhibit 6 of a 1996 Report to Congress on the Effectiveness of Occupant Protection Systems and Their Use the statement appears to be true. Don't know if that assertion is still true today but that seems to go against the grain of common sense. Can others share some light on this paradox? Source: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/airbags/208con2e.html
I know, you go from an air conditioned house to an air conditioned car to an air conditioned office or stores....still!
I really feel for those people and it's only June!!
Actually, isell, June and July, from what I remember when I lived there in Palm Desert, are the hottest two months of the year there. If I had a choice, I would prefer 110 degrees in Southern California where the humidity is 8-10% to 94 degrees with 75% humidity here in South Florida.
I remember back in 1995, I had been visiting my folks in Florida in August (95 degrees and rain every afternoon with high humidity), got on a plane and landed in Palm Springs that afternoon - walked out of the plane, got hit on the face with 104 degree dry heat and exclaimed - "...boy it sure is good to be back in the desert!"
It really does make a big difference - hot oven air vs. a steam sauna.
Somehow, this is a trick statement, because airbags are affective, only when used with seatbelts. Seatbelts save way more lives than airbags
Saving lives is one statistic, but what about injuries - which is another statistic. Do airbags and seatbelts reduce injuries, result in about the same injuries, or do they increase injuries while saving lives?
The reason I bring this up is that I know several people who were injured in the face and chest by airbags deploying at the time of a collision. One of them even sustained a concussion. I don't doubt that the proper use airbags and seatbelts have reduced the incidence of death in automobile accidents, but the airbags may also be responsible for the increase in the incidence of injuries.
Saving lives while increasing injuries is one possibility which, when though out logically and investigated statistically, may be an acceptable trade-off. But I do not know if the deployment of airbags, while saving lives, has increased injuries in cases where no airbag deployment would have resulted in no injuries.
Anyone know if there are statistics to prove or disprove this hypothesis?
For the life of me, I'll never know exactly how anyone could live in an are like that.
I think we've had this conversation recently- we live where we live and wonder why anyone would live anywhere else.
I'm in Boston and this past week was high 90's with dew points in the 70's. In February, there will be 2' (61 cm for driver) on the ground with temps at -10F/-23C. Those are the extremes and lasts only a few days but I wouldn't trade it for:
6 months of hot and humid in Florida 6 months of 110 and dry in Arizona 6 months of worrying about tornadoes in the mid west 12 months of worrying about drought, flood, fire, earthquake, riots in Los Angeles.
We have similar weather to Boston, here in Cincinnati, just a little less snow on average (we make up for that with lots of hills to slide around on when it does snow)..
I'd trade for a few places.... the Upper South is one...
. Do airbags and seatbelts reduce injuries, result in about the same injuries, or do they increase injuries while saving lives?
Just, let me repeat this statistic, because it is important; And how many lives in total has the seat belt saved since 1975? 267,890 lives. More than a quarter million.
This piece of technology is by far the most effective and impressive life-saver on the list of devices. Child restraints have saved around 10,000 lives, and full-frontal airbags have saved around 30,000
Read this article to see that airbags plus seatbelts are a big advantage; Fun Trivia
Very little chance of injury if you are an adult and use a seatbelt with an airbag.
In general, it is better to have an airbag and not be killed, even if it means being injured.
"6 months of worrying about tornadoes in the mid west "
Rob--
Here in OK we have had tornadoes in every month. However, most Okies will tell you that you really have to be concerned from Mid-April to Mid-June (two months, not six). Usually by mid-June it's just hot with very infrequent thunderstorms until about October. This years storm season ran a tad late with most action between mid-May and the beginning of June. We have had a really hot, humid stretch with higher than typical humidity that has finally abated for a predicted week or more.
Like Mike I prefer the dry heat. OK is on the cusp between more humidity (MO, AR and less humidity NM, AZ). Late summer here is always a low humidity time, while May and early June see more gulf air. Last summer when I returned from visiting my folks in MI I kissed the ground in front of my house. It was a bit above 100, but very pleasant compared to the 85 degree temps and near equal humidity of MI.
I am reminded of a line from the film Hang em High where the marshal cuts down Clint Eastwood who has been hung (but not killed) by vigilantes. As Eastwood comes to the marshal exclaims "I know you think you're in hell, but your still in Oklahoma territory." This sums up my own thinking at times.
In February, there will be 2' (61 cm for driver) on the ground with temps at -10F/-23C.
Thank you for providing the metric conversions, very thoughtful. Canadians under age 40 would probably know what 61 cms and -23C are better than me....I have to convert cms and Centigrade to inches and Fahrenheit to really know what they are. Since my car only has kilometers I have to constantly convert kms into miles when driving in the USA. I do it X .6 so 100 kms = 60 mph, 60 kms = 36 mph, 80 kms = 56 mph. I guess it is good exercise for the brain.
I think you should live where you have friends and family and a network of activities and things to do that you enjoy. Moving somewhere doesn't suddenly make someone happy...it is the friends and things you do that make life enjoyable.
I was just reading an article in Automobile Magazine that sounds counter intuitive. It says that according to the IIHS unbelted occupants are safer in airbag equipped cars than those wearing seat belts.
How can that be? Is this a misprint or am I missing something?
The problem is that our crash regulations require that the car protect an unbelted driver in a 35 mph barrier crash. That's why US spec cars have those big under-dash knee bolsters and heavy padding in the interior- not to mention airbags inflate so fast that they cause injuries. In Euro-spec cars the airbags complement the belts- they aren't a substitute for proper restraints.
I think the US regs are an unwarranted interference with the Law of Natural Selection. I'm not kidding.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Here in OK we have had tornadoes in every month. However, most Okies will tell you that you really have to be concerned from Mid-April to Mid-June (two months, not six). Usually by mid-June it's just hot with very infrequent thunderstorms until about October.
Gotcha.
My SIL lives in northern OK about 40 south of Wichita. The one time I visited it was August. The hottest day was 113 and it was dry and what was her lawn was now cracked earth. She said it was unusually hot that week but 100+ and no rain for 3 months was common.
So I'll change my answer:
2 months of worrying about tornadoes and 4 months of stupid hot, dry weather.
Gogi...why doesn't every home and building have a tornado shelter?
From what my SIL tells me is that the soil in OK isn't conducive to basements. The water table is pretty high and the clay soil is very absorbent but dries out putting pressure on the basement walls causing cracks. Her house has a basement but it's usually wet.
The waterproofing systems used today could probably deal with the issues. Now they just have to convince people to pay for the basement when the house is built.
Comments
Not surprising considering the slow sales of the Equus. Since its introduction in December 2010 the Equus’s best sales month was 362 units in July 2012. For 2013, the sales trend is going in the wrong direction, to wit.
Jan 253
Feb 270
Mar 291
Apr 261
May 257
So far, I have seen only one Equus on the road and none at the local dealership. However, Consumer Reports recommended both the Equus and the Lexus LS as best buys but not the Azera.
More sales data at http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01/hyundai-equus-sales-figures.html
Actually, there is one thing I think, I don't see anything wrong if you did go for a test drive and/or collected your $50. My reasoning is, they sent you an offer, free test drive and a $50 gift for doing so.
If you were really impressed with the car you would probably consider buying one. Also, you may have a friend who could be interested, and you may tell other people about your experience. In other words, you are a potential customer or may give them a potential customer......so I think it is reasonable for you to take them up on the offer (unless you know you could never be swayed away from MB, then I think it may be questionable to collect the 50 bucks).
If you are a potential customer, they really want to keep you away from the less expensive models, that's the main reason for bringing the car to your home...have to keep the Equus away from the riff raff to protect the image. The thing is, few people want to invite a salesman to their home. Harder to get rid of them.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I go to a lot of car shows. One or another manufacturer seems to offer a debit card for a test drive at those events.
The best one was in the form of a $250 check to spend a 2 hours giving my opinion of an upcoming, unlabeled car. They had food, coffee, softdrinks. Clearly this was a "here's what we plan on bringing out....let us know if we're on the right track". It was several years ago, but the design they wanted opinions on ended up being the Caddy CTS.
While not a gift card, BMW offers a $1,000 rebate (offered AFTER you negotiate your deal) on any of their cars if you participate at their day long test drive event. It's organized much better than your Equus test drive. Plus, BMW has competitive vehicles on hand to compare and contrast.
Hyundai has a ways to go to offer the BMW, MB, Acura, Lexus experience. But, the franshisee, as a dealer, should know better about how to conduct test drive promos on $60K cars. So, Hyundai and the dealer principal are both at fault.
Personally, I would have signed up for the gift card and told the dealer not to bother with the test drive.
Thanks for your feedback, gg! My only reason for taking them up on the offer was to drive the Equus to see if Huyndai has, in fact, built a true luxury contender. I had no interest in the $50 gift card and, did not register to receive one.
I've seen a couple on the road over the past year or two, but I can tell you that the interior of the vehicle is not as luxurious as BMW, Mercedes or even Jaguar. But that is just my opinion. Like I said, it is not a car I would consider for many reasons. :shades:
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I think that it is virtually impossible to sell $15K econoboxes and a $60K Audi/BMW/Lexus/M-B competitor out of the same showroom. Talk about clashing demographics. I know Hyundai doesn't want to set up a premium dealer channel like Honda, Nissan, and Toyota have done, but you simply must offer an upscale buying experience to complement the car.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I think you hit the proverbial mail on the head, roadburner! Chevrolet is one of the few franchises that has gotten away with not having to offer an upscale dealer experience when it comes to merchandising and selling their Corvette line. $55,000 - $80,000 Corvettes being sold in a dealership that sells 95% of their line for under $30,000 is a true success story.
Remember what happened when VW came out with their Phaeton? Same problem as Hyundai has with their Equus, however VW had lots of technical problems with their Phaeton.
Pretty tough to sell upscale products from a mainstream or low-end showroom. Having the same technician who services Elantras service a Mercedes-type vehicle has to sound off alarms!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Sorry, isell, it was true! Hard to believe! They styled and engineered the Phaeton after the Audi A8 - well, let's say they just used the same frame. There were major problems with the technology - and the car was not built to the standards one might expect from a $70,000 car. But even worse was trying to sell the car in the same showroom as the Bug or the Jetta.
The same thing would happen if they tried to sell the Acura RL next to the Civic in the same showroom.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Are you between harvests?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Nope, my neighbor drove me over in his Genesis - same dealer where he leased his car - he was the one who insisted I go over to the dealership when he saw the invitation letter.
I was thinking that if I drove over in my car, they would prequalify me. So no - but I was thinking along those same lines, explorer!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I guess you could say I got lost. As I mentioned in my posts a few months ago we had some very expensive unanticipated home repairs that put us in a cash flow bind. I've been working some long hours to try to get back to normal without draining my retirement accounts.
Of course the hooptie broke down just at the wrong time. The bureaucrats of NYS took 3 months to get my state refund back that I was planning on using to pay my federal tax bill. I had to max out my credit cards to pay that one while buying farm supplies.
All in all a very interesting spring.
Still trying to get to Largo.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/cto/3893473410.html
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
This car has 4 brand new Goodyear tires on it and the whole car is $1500! My new tires cost me $2500 to have them installed...I should have bought the car and then used the tires.
I think the wording " speedometer says 45000 miles" is suspicious, it is different than saying the car has 45000 miles on it...though I may be overly suspicious.
I hope you get your financial affairs under control. We have a similar problem, no outside income from the business and so we have to live on savings.....no more monthly allowance!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
At a "watering hole" I frequent (http://www.thesilverspringhouse.com), there's an Equus parked seemingly every time I go (about 1X/week). Good looking car. I've never peered inside.
But, if you can't present your wares in an attractive light, train your sales staff, give a potential customer an experience to even plant their posterior and their checkbook at the desk, you're not going to sell many.
nyc....my former Tahoe as an LTZ, too. They could get pricey once you start ticking off options. But, they also threw enough trunk money at them to resemble a drunken sailor the last night on shore leave at a house of ill repute.
Wish I were local to Tampa, I'd give it a look, just to satisfy my curiousity.
You know the old adage, if it's too good to be true.........
To this day I wish I had held on to my Mother's GM. I should have bought it from her. It was pristine. I could have used it to go back and forth to the airport, if nothing else.
oldfarmer...as long as we've bantered with you here at Edmunds, I'm fairly certain you're going to weather this storm and prosper.
Hang in there, buddy!
DIL's surgery (brain biopsy) was successful - no after effects that we can tell when we talk to her on the phone. Now for the painful waiting as the sample is shipped to NY for full analysis. She is expected to be released from the hospital today, at which point they will be coming to Colorado to live with us as we figure out next steps.
Son and his best friend will make a trip back to Montana (10 hours one way) to close out checking accounts there and bring their stuff back.
Life is very fragile. We have had friends and aquaintences that have had unexpected medical problems lately;
*One friend in excellent health though 87 years old got pains in her stomach. Went to the hospital, they found cancer in the whole liver, she never regained consciousness. We all thought she would outlive her husband who has been in bad health for several years.
* A friend was at a family get together. He goes to the gym every day, works out for 2 hours, and plays tennis 2 or 3 times a week, he's in mid 70s. A niece asked him if he wanted cake and he just had a blank look.
Seems he had mini-strokes, doctor reported to license agency and he can't drive his car for at least a year.
*Friend, mid 70s goes for annual check up. They find a tumour in his heart and an arterie that is 90% blocked. Tumor is benign but that along with the clogged artery were a ticking time bomb. Fortunately tumor will be removed and a by-pass was done on the artery.
Life is fragile and we have to find the balance. Do the things you want to do and can do, but, plan for the future just in case.
Good luck, michaell, it is nice that your DIL has such caring people around her....that makes a big difference.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Maybe their experience was with those sorry RWD Detroit sleds of the 60s and 70s. I remember my friend's VW beetle got excellent traction during those MI winters in the mid-70s and it had RWD and basic radial tires. Of course, it did benefit from a rear mounted engine. I can remember more than a couple of people who threw anything heavy they could find in the trunk when the first snow fell. Trunks were big enough in those days that you could have bags of sand or cinder blocks in the trunk and still have plenty of room for luggage (or Jimmy Hoffa).
Gogiboy
Yes, I looked at a few articles on the subject and AWD should help quite a bit on wet roads, and FWD should be slightly better for driving on wet roads...for the reason you mentioned, more weight on the driving wheels.
Both make a much bigger difference in snow, but there is an advantage even for wet slippery roads.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The length of the loan will be extended one month. Interest will still accrue for July. The final loan payment at maturity will be higher.
All this for a deferment fee of only $218.89!!!! :surprise: Cripes, the payment is only $390.
Instead of signing it and sending a check, I just wrote, "You're kidding. Right?", and mailed it back.
They didn't even include postage, but it was worth a stamp. :P
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
I got a similar pitch from my credit union but they are charging "only" $30 to skip a payment. In this low interest environment it is very tough for financial institutions to make money from interest income only, so they pad their bottom lines with fee income derived from every imaginable source.
You should also have written back....."next time I will try to remember not to take out loans with horse thieves". That incredible payment is one reason I would not want to do business with that bank.....if they can do that who knows what they are capable of.
I got a phone call the other day from my cable TV provider wanting me to switch to their telephone service. I get turned off immdiately when they start with "Hello Mr. um, er ah" and then can't pronounce my name and I can barely understand them. And, they always have the worst telephone line in the world, static, cuts out, I can hear other people talking on the line. So, I said, why would I buy your telephone lines when the quality is so poor I can barely make out what you are saying? So, he says, we don't use our telephone lines, I am on another line...I think he said visa.
Well, doesn't that tell me something, if you don't use it why in the world would I use it?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If they charged that amount as interest they would probably be fined for gouging, but, calling it skip a payment little gift makes it legal.
No wonder I am grumpy today...when I hear stuff like that.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Speaking of FWD vs AWD; I was just reading an article in Automobile Magazine that sounds counter intuitive. It says that according to the IIHS unbelted occupants are safer in airbag equipped cars than those wearing seat belts.
How can that be? Is this a misprint or am I missing something?
and like you said, live does not always work out how you planned it. This guy had just retired, and just days before had gotten his first pension check. then boom. Very sad.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
funny place too. It is an older neighborhood of small houses, pretty nondescript. Except in one garage there is a black Equus. Over the years they usually had red chevies (celebrity, etc. ) then one day this appeared.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I lived out there from 1991-1998 and the highest temps I remember we're in the 112-115 range - but never 120's. It's a very, very dry heat but humidity or not, 124 degrees is darn hot! They expect this heat wave to break all kinds of temp records. I just hope they will be OK!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I love it when people from Phoenix or Las Vegas tell me.
" It's only hot three months out of the year"
" It's a dry heat so it doesn't matter as much"
I know, you go from an air conditioned house to an air conditioned car to an air conditioned office or stores....still!
I really feel for those people and it's only June!!
My guess is that may be true in very particular cases, but, I don't think it is true overall. I have heard of lots of cases of people who may have been saved, if they were wearing a seatbelt, including Princess Diana.
There have been a number of accidents in our area lately, occupants were thrown from the car, and they died either from being run over or from hitting something.
I'd like to see what tests they used.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That happens too much, that is one reason it is important not to deny yourself something if you can afford it at all.
One friend is 87 and his health is not the best. I have mentioned him before, he drives the 2008 Chev Uplander, but he could afford whatever car he wanted. He wouldn't buy an air conditioner, their furniture is about 60 years old, they burn old newspapers in the fireplace and it almost kills me when I see the smoke, they love a newspaper but only get one if I give them mine.
His wife died 4 weeks ago and he is putting his affairs in order. I don't know how much they have but indications are a few $million...I would guess $3mill. He is planning on giving almost all of it to a nephew he rarely sees and a neice he hasn't talked to much over the years and who rarely calls...even now to ask him how he is. The unfortunate thing is, he was so careful with every penny, and now it will go to two people who haven't done anything to make their lives happier or better. They could have bought things to make their life better.
There is balance...must provide for the future, but, one must also enjoy their life as much as possible now. And life is fragile, I sometimes think....every year over 50 is a bonus...live it to the best of your ability.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That would be really bad, but it is better than the floods in Calgary or the hurricanes and tornadoes in the U.S., and the fires in Colorado.
Everything is relative......at least you have some control over hot weather.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
In Exhibit 6 of a 1996 Report to Congress on the Effectiveness of Occupant Protection Systems and Their Use the statement appears to be true. Don't know if that assertion is still true today but that seems to go against the grain of common sense. Can others share some light on this paradox?
Source: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/airbags/208con2e.html
I really feel for those people and it's only June!!
Actually, isell, June and July, from what I remember when I lived there in Palm Desert, are the hottest two months of the year there. If I had a choice, I would prefer 110 degrees in Southern California where the humidity is 8-10% to 94 degrees with 75% humidity here in South Florida.
I remember back in 1995, I had been visiting my folks in Florida in August (95 degrees and rain every afternoon with high humidity), got on a plane and landed in Palm Springs that afternoon - walked out of the plane, got hit on the face with 104 degree dry heat and exclaimed - "...boy it sure is good to be back in the desert!"
It really does make a big difference - hot oven air vs. a steam sauna.
But, let's face it, hot is hot, period.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
It says that according to the IIHS unbelted occupants are safer in airbag equipped cars than those wearing seat belts.
Somehow, this is a trick statement, because airbags are affective, only when used with seatbelts. Seatbelts save way more lives than airbags.
This link, though not official explains it pretty well;
fun trivia
And this article may be of interest;
seat-belts-have-saved-more-than-a-quarter-million-lives
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Saving lives is one statistic, but what about injuries - which is another statistic. Do airbags and seatbelts reduce injuries, result in about the same injuries, or do they increase injuries while saving lives?
The reason I bring this up is that I know several people who were injured in the face and chest by airbags deploying at the time of a collision. One of them even sustained a concussion. I don't doubt that the proper use airbags and seatbelts have reduced the incidence of death in automobile accidents, but the airbags may also be responsible for the increase in the incidence of injuries.
Saving lives while increasing injuries is one possibility which, when though out logically and investigated statistically, may be an acceptable trade-off. But I do not know if the deployment of airbags, while saving lives, has increased injuries in cases where no airbag deployment would have resulted in no injuries.
Anyone know if there are statistics to prove or disprove this hypothesis?
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I think we've had this conversation recently- we live where we live and wonder why anyone would live anywhere else.
I'm in Boston and this past week was high 90's with dew points in the 70's. In February, there will be 2' (61 cm for driver) on the ground with temps at -10F/-23C. Those are the extremes and lasts only a few days but I wouldn't trade it for:
6 months of hot and humid in Florida
6 months of 110 and dry in Arizona
6 months of worrying about tornadoes in the mid west
12 months of worrying about drought, flood, fire, earthquake, riots in Los Angeles.
We have similar weather to Boston, here in Cincinnati, just a little less snow on average (we make up for that with lots of hills to slide around on when it does snow)..
I'd trade for a few places.... the Upper South is one...
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Just, let me repeat this statistic, because it is important;
And how many lives in total has the seat belt saved since 1975? 267,890 lives. More than a quarter million.
This piece of technology is by far the most effective and impressive life-saver on the list of devices. Child restraints have saved around 10,000 lives, and full-frontal airbags have saved around 30,000
Read this article to see that airbags plus seatbelts are a big advantage;
Fun Trivia
Very little chance of injury if you are an adult and use a seatbelt with an airbag.
In general, it is better to have an airbag and not be killed, even if it means being injured.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Rob--
Here in OK we have had tornadoes in every month. However, most Okies will tell you that you really have to be concerned from Mid-April to Mid-June (two months, not six). Usually by mid-June it's just hot with very infrequent thunderstorms until about October. This years storm season ran a tad late with most action between mid-May and the beginning of June. We have had a really hot, humid stretch with higher than typical humidity that has finally abated for a predicted week or more.
Like Mike I prefer the dry heat. OK is on the cusp between more humidity (MO, AR and less humidity NM, AZ). Late summer here is always a low humidity time, while May and early June see more gulf air. Last summer when I returned from visiting my folks in MI I kissed the ground in front of my house. It was a bit above 100, but very pleasant compared to the 85 degree temps and near equal humidity of MI.
I am reminded of a line from the film Hang em High where the marshal cuts down Clint Eastwood who has been hung (but not killed) by vigilantes. As Eastwood comes to the marshal exclaims "I know you think you're in hell, but your still in Oklahoma territory." This sums up my own thinking at times.
Thank you for providing the metric conversions, very thoughtful. Canadians under age 40 would probably know what 61 cms and -23C are better than me....I have to convert cms and Centigrade to inches and Fahrenheit to really know what they are. Since my car only has kilometers I have to constantly convert kms into miles when driving in the USA. I do it X .6 so 100 kms = 60 mph, 60 kms = 36 mph, 80 kms = 56 mph. I guess it is good exercise for the brain.
I think you should live where you have friends and family and a network of activities and things to do that you enjoy. Moving somewhere doesn't suddenly make someone happy...it is the friends and things you do that make life enjoyable.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Gogi...why doesn't every home and building have a tornado shelter?
Maybe that is a great new business idea...installing shelters in the OK area.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
and on your fancy pants machine, can't you just go into the menu and pick which system you want to display?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
How can that be? Is this a misprint or am I missing something?
The problem is that our crash regulations require that the car protect an unbelted driver in a 35 mph barrier crash. That's why US spec cars have those big under-dash knee bolsters and heavy padding in the interior- not to mention airbags inflate so fast that they cause injuries. In Euro-spec cars the airbags complement the belts- they aren't a substitute for proper restraints.
I think the US regs are an unwarranted interference with the Law of Natural Selection.
I'm not kidding.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Gotcha.
My SIL lives in northern OK about 40 south of Wichita. The one time I visited it was August. The hottest day was 113 and it was dry and what was her lawn was now cracked earth. She said it was unusually hot that week but 100+ and no rain for 3 months was common.
So I'll change my answer:
2 months of worrying about tornadoes and 4 months of stupid hot, dry weather.
From what my SIL tells me is that the soil in OK isn't conducive to basements. The water table is pretty high and the clay soil is very absorbent but dries out putting pressure on the basement walls causing cracks. Her house has a basement but it's usually wet.
The waterproofing systems used today could probably deal with the issues. Now they just have to convince people to pay for the basement when the house is built.