Stories from the Sales Frontlines

isellhondas

Well, my CRV isn't ALL wheel drive because the spare which is mounted on a wheel does nothing to propel the car.

It is, however 4WD. The way the Real Time 4WD system works on these, 99.9% of the time you are in front wheel drive only.

When slippage is detected, the rear wheels kick in. There is a bit of a time lag before this happens.

The 4WD system on our 2013 CRV works like a Ridgeline. Every time you start out you are in 4WD. When it realizes there is no slippage, it reverts to front wheel drive only. Very seamless, undetectable and pretty slick.

oldfarmer50

"...any suggestions?..."

Tire Rack. They have a decision calculator to help.

explorerx4

...spare which is mounted on a wheel does nothing to propel the car. HA HA Good one

isellhondas

I did check Tire Rack. By the time I were to pay for shipping and screw around having a shop install them it wouldn't be cost effective at all.

They do have some slick comparison charts etc that I checked out.

Costco seems hard to beat all the way around.

isellhondas

See...There is no such thing as ALL wheel drive!

gogiboy

isell--

We just had 4 Bridgestone Turanza Serenity tires put on the Scion xB. It was the top rated tire on Tire Rack for mixed use 16s. We had them put on at Firestone. Last month Bridgestone had a $70 gift visa card as an extra incentive. They have a long tread life and excellent temp control and are supposedly good in the rain. They seem pretty quiet thus far.

We have only had them for a month so can't really vouch for them long-term, but we put some Bridgestones on our Civic after the factory Michelins wore out and they held up very well despite picking up a nail or two over the years.

Don't know if they come in a size that will fit a CR-V.

Gogiboy

explorerx4

Don't forget, not every vehicle has a spare anymore. :surprise:

stever

What do you call the piece of paper you get from the dealer when you buy a car but something is missing or when the dealer agrees to fix something later after you drive off the lot?

I'm stuck on fix-it tickets that cops give but isn't there an insider's term used in the biz?

thanks....

driver100

Holidays coming up, I don't know if I'll wait for them, or start something now, in the hopes a satisfaction resolution can be attained before the holidays.

GG, just my opinion but I would be pro-active. The squeaky wheel and all that. You might consider writing or threatening to write to a consumer helpline on radio or TV.

You may want them to state in writing that you have reported the problems with the drivetrain and the fact that they will fix it anytime since you did report it.

Thanks for the comments about the Bluetooth....at least we aren't the only ones....but, that is something they should have figured out by now. Kind of makes you lose some confidence in the make if they can't fix that kind of problem.

explorerx4

We Owe.

driver100

What do you call the piece of paper you get from the dealer when you buy a car but something is missing or when the dealer agrees to fix something later after you drive off the lot?

I think the word is "useless".

explorerx4

My Explorer needs the rear axle fluid changed every 50k or one of the rear wheels starts binding. Got that advice from the net, and it's turned out to be true.

stever

I think the word is "useless"

LOL.

Thanks Andy - now I won't wake up at 4am going "aha!" (more likely staying up half the night trying to remember).

stickguy

I always heard it referred to as the "we owe" document.

just make sure if they owe it, they put it in writing, in detail, and sign it.

bwia

What's so special about a Brooks Brothers suit? Nothing really, but read on.

I was reading a student's history paper on Brooks Brothers and came away with some fun facts.
The company has been around for over 195 years. They made uniforms for the union army during the Civil War and uniforms for WWI and WWII soldiers.

Here's more. President Abraham Lincoln was wearing a Brooks Brothers suit when he was shot and was also buried in one. John Kennedy, George Bush and several other presidents wore a Brooks Brothers suit at their inauguration. And Obama wore a Brooks Brothers top coat at his inauguration.

Although Brooks Brothers did introduce a woman's clothing line until 1949, women nonetheless, bought Brooks Brothers clothing from the boys' department. Chick styling for less.

I've never considered a Brooks Brothers suit before, but with this storied history I will definitely give them a try.

P.S: I don't know if any of this true I simply excised it from the student's paper.

gmanusmc

In my experience, it's been called a "due bill."

Bill G

driver100

I think the word is "useless"

I suppose you could call such a document a "chit" (which is similar to another word which would be more accurate).

chit
1 [chit] Show IPA
noun
1.
a signed note for money owed for food, drink, etc.
2.
any receipt, voucher, or similar document, especially of an informal nature.
3.
Chiefly British . a note; short memorandum.

I remember when I bought my 1979 Cutlass I really wanted wire wheels. When the car arrived it had flat chrome wheel discs. The contract said wire wheels. I had to go back several times and try to get those WWs, and that was right in the contract. The dealer finally bought after market wire wheels, probably got them from a junk dealer.

driver100

President Abraham Lincoln was wearing a Brooks Brothers suit when he was shot and was also buried in one

They should use that info in their ads....what a great testimonial!

driver100

I always heard it referred to as the "we owe" document.

I thought "we owe" document sounded funny, but, that is what it is called. If you look up "we owe document" you will see lots of examples.

This one was about a dealer on yahoo;

While our salesman was absolutely wonderful and I would buy a car from him again in a heartbeat, his managers are completely dishonest. We purchased a used car and as part of our contract, we filled out a "We Owe" document meaning that the dealership owed these particular items to us prior to us purchasing the car. They were: fully fix air conditioning and fully fix trunk latch. The trunk latch was fixed although it took 2 times for it to be do correctly.
The A/C was fixed but only worked for a few weeks after we purchased the vehicle. Once the problem was discovered, we tried for 2 additional weeks to get anyone to return our phone calls. Once Frankie, the manager, returned our call (a week after the message was left) we went to see him. We found out that he wasn't there that day so asked another person in the finance office for a copy of the "We Owe" document as we were not given one at the time of sale. We were told by two different departments that they didn't have access to the document. In fact, the finance person told us to talk to the used car sales manager and the the used car sales manager told us to talk to the finance person. We were told to again come back the next day where we were treated like criminals by Frankie (including listening to insulting epithets from him and watching him put his head down on a desk any time we attempted to speak.) Frankie did finally give us a photocopy of the "We Owe" document which we discovered had been altered after we had signed it to add the words "meaning only add freon" after fully fix A/C. We know that this was added after because everything else on the document was writing BY ME in my handwriting and then signed BY ME immediately after I filled it out. "Only add freon" was added after we signed the document. We never would have agreed to this as we were promised by our salesman and Frankie that the A/C would be completely fixed as a condition of us purchasing this vehicle.

Consumers beware of this company and their dishonest business practices.

fezo

We had a we owe on that 04 Odyssey we had. In writing thank goodness. it must have taken ten tips to a dealer 20 miles away before they made good on it. Dumb stuff like being short a key fob and a couple little items. Soured me on the dealership.

houdini1

Your "money is money" comment reminded me of a long ago co-worker of mine who once said about his expense account:

"I keep my money in one pocket and the company money in the other pocket, because my money is my money and their money is some of my money".

graphicguy

Steve...I've always heard it referred to as a "Due Bill".

old farmer.....how silly of me to ask what I should do in this forum...;)

kyfdx

Do you get snow?

snakeweasel

Can't say about the world wars but in wars prior Brooks Brothers only made uniforms if you went to them to get them custom made. The government went to the lowest bidder for Government Issued uniforms. Wealthy and/or powerful officers got dress uniforms from Brooks Brothers but rarely field uniforms.

Personally I would welcome a President that gets their suits from JC Penneys.

robr2

Personally I would welcome a President that gets their suits from JC Penneys.

Would you really want the President wearing some off the rack, Asian made, fused with glue suit??

Obama wears custom Hart Schaffner Marx suits made in the USA and they are in a classic American style.

tjc78

I second that. Nothing wrong with an off the rack suit. The pres doesn't need to spend $1500 on a suit to look professional.

roadburner

Every now and then I post a comment on Car and Driver magazine's "Backfires" forum. On October 31 I commented on an October 30 article about the Lincoln MKZ. The conclusion of the article-and the opinion of most of those posting comments-was that the MKZ was a very expensive Fusion clad in a tuxedo. Lo and behold, a new participant joined on November 1- screen name "Don't Hate, Congratulate." This person began responding to almost every other poster who thought the MKZ was a tarted-up Ford- and he/she did so with what appeared to be canned talking points. I subsequently commented(in part):

"It is interesting to see that we now have a blatant shill for Lincoln frantically posting in this topic- a manic frenzy which is probably being compensated as part of a guerrilla marketing campaign."

Since then, "Don't Hate" has fallen off the map...

robr2

I respectfully disagree. The leader of the free world has to look like a leader - not like a cube dweller in a ill fitting, shiny polyester, foreign made suit. Do you think Putin, Cameron or Harper wear $199 off the rack?

graphicguy

Ford is having woeful problems trying to figure out what to do with Lincoln. You look at Lincoln, and see what Cadillac has done, and the issues are blatant.

It's all about the product. The days of tarting up a car and calling it "luxury" (as in a tarted up Fusion and Taurus and calling it a Lincoln) went bye-bye a while ago.

As much good as Ford has done (Fusion, Mustang, F150, Explorer, etc), they really can't be that dull as to not be able to make a worthwhile Lincoln, can they?

RB, I'm thinkng Lincoln would have to pay someone to shill their vehicles in C&D. Nobody is buying them to make a statement that they are worthwhile vehicles.

That said, if Lincoln starts the inevitable fire sale to get them out of inventory, and price them just a wee bit above their Ford counterparts, maybe they'll move them.

explorer....I'm not so certain the Audi's problem is the transmission. Personally, I think there's some sort of coupling (I'll assume, fluid based ) that's engaging at the wrong time in the Quattro system that's causing the binding. Mentioned this to the dealership. But, they say they're just following Audi's prognosis and repair process. They're the experts. So, I must defer to them.

It's going back yet again on Monday. We'll see if there's a trans that needs to be replaced. If they decide to follow that route, I'll have to give serious thought into getting them to do a buy back.

snakeweasel

Would you really want the President wearing some off the rack, Asian made, fused with glue suit??

I have a few well made, American made 100% wool suits from Penneys. They are far less expensive than Brooks Brothers and look just as good.

Obama wears custom Hart Schaffner Marx suits made in the USA and they are in a classic American style.

He, like most that wear high end clothing are pretty much out of touch with mainstream America. Our interests are best served when we are represented by someone more in touch with us and our situations. Few who wear Hart Schaffner Marx suits fit that.

isellhondas

Our President out of touch with mainstream America?

Say that isn't true!!

snakeweasel

The leader of the free world has to look like a leader

I disagree with that, the leader of the free world has to lead. If he leads people will follow, if he "looks" like a leader but doesn't lead few will follow.

That being said there are plenty of low priced nice looking 100% wool suits to be had out that that look as good as high end clothing but at a much lower price. But hey if you want to spend an extra $1,000 for a label that's your business.

In short you can look good without paying brooks Brothers prices.

roadburner

The shill on the CD board kept mentioning that Lincoln was trying to compete with Lexus and NOT Audi/BMW/Mercedes. That still doesn't address the fact that the car is perceived as little more than a glitzy Fusion.

The shill also kept claiming he could rattle off over a dozen significant differences between the MKZ and the Fusion, but in my opinion you've already lost the battle if you have to spend all your time convincing people your car isn't a blinged-out version of a lower priced mainstream sedan...

snakeweasel

I have to agree with you. I don't know where Ford is taking Lincoln and I don't think Ford knows either. They really need to reinvent themselves and stop making high priced Fords.

However I do like the direction GM has taken Caddy.

audia8q

There are some great looking suits available for a reasonable price...but real problem is many folks don't get the suit properly fitted. A nip and tuck here and there by a quality tailor can make an average suit look like an expensive one.

jayrider

Pretty much every mfr is making "good" cars. How you convince people that a particular brand is a "better" car can be a challenge. Then of course comes the problem of getting people to pay more for better when good is available for less. And sometimes, they discount better cars extra to move product so the lines are blurred even further.

stickguy

at least in the (relatively) mainstream market, the luxo brands really have a tough row to hoe. That is because, like you said, normal cars have gotten really good. And the top line versions of them (Accord, Camry, Passat, etc.) are incredibly well equipped. If anything, they blow away the luxo models from just a few years ago. So what can Lexus or Acura really sell, other than a snobby badge, or a concierge type dealer experience?

For now, the Euros still can cater to the badge snobs, but they have to be feeling the heat too.

Different story I guess with the low volume high end cars. Mainstream does not compete with that (though different question of whether there is any reason to spend that much when a car 1/2 the price is so good now!)

explorerx4

I'm pretty sure if Ford was able to shed their debt obligations and still carry them forward as write offs, they would have a lot more money to put into Lincoln.
Look where the Ford brand was a few years ago, and where they are now.
Not sure if they have plans like that for Lincoln, only time will tell.

tjc78

I really think that if you are gonna call the MKZ a tarted up Fusion than there are several other cars and SUVs that fall into the category.

Camry - Lexus ES
LaCrosse - Caddy XTS
Golf - A3
Toureg - Cayenne
CRV - RDX

Etc, etc.... Until you get into the exclusive price points most luxury cars are based on something else more common.

As for the Pres, I'm sure he would look equally good in a modest 2 or 300 suit. Someone mentioned the fact that a suit needs to be tailored for best fit, which is so true. There is no reason for the tax payers to spend tens of thousands on his wardrobe, but I'm sure it goes with the territory.

gogiboy

"I don't know where Ford is taking Lincoln and I don't think Ford knows either."

Maybe Ford is taking (Auto) Lincoln where Brooks Brothers took (Abe) Lincoln...out to be shot.

See, I take notes on the many off-topic digressions that take place here.

Gogiboy

gogiboy

"Can't say about the world wars but in wars prior Brooks Brothers only made uniforms if you went to them to get them custom made."

One historical tid-bit, among many, that I gleaned from the Ken Burns Civil War documentary on PBS was about the poor quality Union uniforms made of Shoddy.

From Merriman-Webster: "shoddy (“fabric from wool-processing byproduct”) for unsuitable applications such as for military uniforms at the beginning of the US Civil War."

The uniforms did not hold up and the word has entered the American lexicon as synonymous with poor quality and poor craftsmanship. The word is used with some frequency to describe cars and other consumer goods on this forum. I would think Ford would prefer to be associated with Lincoln rather than shoddy.

Gogiboy

robr2

There is no reason for the tax payers to spend tens of thousands on his wardrobe, but I'm sure it goes with the territory.

I highly doubt that the tax payers pay for the President's suits....

explorerx4

Is this a good time point out that a Mazda Speed 3 is a muscled up last generation Ford focus?

snakeweasel

But in reality do you think it is wise for the POTUS to be wearing high priced suits when we have true unemployment in the double digits, an economy that is creating few full time jobs, people losing their homes and the standard of living falling?

jayrider

Fancy suit costs pale in comparison with the PAC slush funds both parties enjoy that have absolutely no restrictions on spending. They even get to take the cash with them when they lose or retire.
We can go on forever with this stuff. I like car talk better. Anyone else agree ?

robr2

Presidents have worn custom tailored high priced suits going back scores of years - through good and bad economies, war and peace. George De Paris - a DC tailor - has been the unofficial custom tailor to every president from LBJ to GWB and has also made suits for BO.

I think most people in the United States could care less how much the President spends on his suits.

isellhondas

Actually those "tarted up" comparisons are fairly accurate.

Oh, the upscale versions are nicer and have more features but "tarted up" fits pretty well!

roadburner

The last generation US Focus was actually a generation behind the MS3 platform. And FWIW, a 2007 MS3 will show a clean set of heels to a 2013 Focus ST. Or a COBB modded ST for that matter...

roadburner

The thing is, Audi, Lexus, Porsche, etc. offer models unrelated to their mass market stablemates. Lincoln, in contrast does not sell a single model that isn't a tarted up Ford.

nyccarguy

My Aunt & Uncle are on their 3rd or 4th ES. Over the summer they got an invitation to drive an MKZ for the weekend. Their reaction... They absolutely loved it! They loved everything from the style to the ride, the power, the handling, the gadgets, the interior... Then thy saw the $50K + sticker on the car they drove and decided to get another ES. Resale value is important to them as they trade cars every 30 - 35K miles. My uncle said: there is no way this Lincoln s going to be worth as much as an ES in 3 years or so.