Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Stories from the Sales Frontlines
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
"My local dealer group still has a nearly new Regal GS with three pedals for $24,000."
Wow, a standard shift Buick? That's a rarity. No wonder it's been sitting.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
and buick is discontinuing the stick shift Verano as well...
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and let us know! Post a pic of your new purchase or lease!
MODERATOR
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
c> @Michaell said:
While that was stated initially for MY2015, it appears from some sources that was internal confusion and that in fact it will still be offered with manual tranny.
Sounds like what you are really looking for is a Buick Grand National. Last made in 1987.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2012 Regal GS
Several GS owners have bought the Opel Insignia grille and emblems(even for the engine cover and airbag) so that there isn't a Buick emblem anywhere on the car. That's the first thing I'd do.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
A couple of friends have GNs. Nice enough, but still WAY too big and heavy- not to mention missing a third pedal.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Sounds great. Don't expect internet service to be as prevalent as it is in NA. And, when you find it, it tends to be slower and more expenive than here too. Still, it will be a great, certainly memorable trip.
Oh, it is used? 2012, 22K, no roof, in lousy color combo? Forget that for 24 large.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Here is what I have - a 2008 MB C350 with 38,000 miles and a 2008 Lexus RX 350 with 52,000 miles
Here is what I need in terms of new cars...nothing
Here is what I want - 2015 BMW X3 (335) and a 2015 MB C 400 (or 450 sport if rumors are true)
I think this fall I am doomed....
This recall is not for the same "that ignition problem." The first recall was for a switch unit that had detents on the rotation that weren't strong enough per GM's specifications. The recall included replacing the switch and also replacing the key cylinder with different keys. The new keys have a hole rather than a slot. The tenet is that the slot exacerbated the detent deficiency by allowing more torque to develop from weight of keys, cellphones, eyeglasses, purses, 40 other keys, and all kinds of things that some carry on the key ring.
The new recall has nothing to do with the switch contacts/detent mechanism. It will just eliminate the slotted keys which might also have enough hung on them and sit in a nonvertible position allowing enough torque on the cylinder with heavy things on the key and a jostle such as a rough railroad track to cause rotation back to ACC from the ON position.
They will insert fillers into the keys that have only a narrow hole/slot.
I see this recall as an overkill example. However, it's showing that Mary Barra was serious that they were fixing the recalls. While some see it as a negative, I see this as a positive for the company. They have put their engineering physics people onto analyzing the potential for problems and are fixing those they find.
In the Bloomberg graphs, the number of recalls were shown. However, the GM portion is wildly heightened due to the thoroughness with which Mary Barra is acting now. Hopefully this year will be a distant outlier and the trend will be less than other companies.
I would like to see the recalls shown as percents of a company's vehicles, maybe each annual production, rather than total numbers.
Also, I suspect if some knew the potential recalls kept just below the surface for some of the other companies, they wouldn't feel as confident about their own vehicles not having frequent recalls.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
"This recall is not for "that ignition problem." The first recall was for a switch unit that had detents on the rotation that weren't strong enough per GM's specifications."
I can understand and am aware that GM is serious about correcting problems and potential problems in order to "clean the slate". It is also good for public relations on order to instill lost faith in their products. The new CEO is doing everything she promised she would do.
All of this can be positive, but there are also negatives as well. One is the financial "hurt" they are sustaining and seriously reduced profits. Another is the "boomerang" effect. Many potential consumers (not all consumers, as shown by sales) are hesitant to purchase GM products. The new Buicks, Chevrolets and Cadillacs would have had even greater increases in sales.
I want to see GM succeed at the highest possible levels, worldwide. I want to see GM lead the pack once again like it used to. I used to buy nothing but GM cars from 1965-2000 (35 straight years as a loyal GM customer). I pray they can get out of this and manufacture cars and SUV's that I would again buy or lease.
I sincerely hop they don't have to recall any more vehicles this year.
Owners are dissatisfied that they have not been able to get their cars repaired since being recalled 5 months ago. The news media reports that only 15% of recalled cars have been repaired to date of the 15 million recalled. It's one thing to recall a vehicle and quite another to repair it.
My understanding is that there is a problem with supply of parts - understandable considering the millions and millions of parts needed.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
As we have all been made aware, the problems with jihadist terrorists committing untold acts of murder throughout the Middle East, the Malaysian Peninsula and North Africa are mounting to some serious levels.
My comments are NOT POLITICAL, but merely intended to determine what our future is going to be like and the futures of our children and grandchildren. It is obvious that the US and Europe are incapable of stopping this slaughter and terror.
I merely pray to The Lord that somehow the world can be at peace and the slaughter of human beings comes to a stop without a World Wide War. We have already suffered the deaths of 9/11 and Afghanistan and Iraq and Vietnam Nam and Benghazi and Korea and...!
Let us all here pray for a solution that does not involve even more deaths of people.
Please do not respond POLITICALLY to my comments. They are merely intended to express my inner feelings.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
That is a perfectly valid point. I would have expected it to have happened with all the negativity from some low ability writers and TV folks who equate all the recalls as one thing and who love to generalize the problems if it's GM. But I saw an article in the last couple weeks that indicated that the sales are actually improving for GM cars. To analyze that with my own limited ability, I would see two things. First, people perceive that the company is fronted by the very careful and intense Mary Barra as being serious about doing the right thing and fixing the problems anywhere and everywhere to make the cars safe and perhaps safer than many other companies. Second, I see people not sensing that the Cobalt and Peers' electrical ignition switch problem and key problem are as great as some of the media made it out to be. Subordinate as part of number two is that removing the weight from the keys is a very logical fix and completely explains some of the incidents where the key went to ACC. People have a good BS sense, better than some writers, TV folks, and Hollywood personalities who think because they are in the limelight they have all the Biblical knowledge about things to share with "those little people" out in the public; the explanation passes the BS test. I think people sense that all the explanations make sense about the recalls. To me, even the inserts to be placed in some of the newest recall cars makes sense. Not terribly expensive in parts, but expensive in time.
Yes. You are right. The financial hurt is a big problem. The company needs all the money it can get for improving interiors, included features, and redesigning more models like they've been doing. I'm watching now for a relative low point in the stock price for one of my rare individual stock purchases.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Other than that, congrats!
I checked the dealer's website, compared the VIN number and the Monroney sticker and they were identical to the car we purchased.
Well, the deal is finally done. We picked up the Encore last night and it feels upscale and substantial. The color is a rich looking Deep Espresso Brown Metallic. The cabin is quiet even with the 18" tires. The backup camera is very high resolution much more so than in my LaCrose.
Thanks all for your nice words on our purchase.
As to the story behind the story I will not bore you guys except to say that the sales experience was akin to giving birth. The entire process took about 5 hours and the finance manager, OnStar, XM/Sirius guys tried to milk every penny from us. I don't blame them but they felt like vultures.
Ironically, the recalls are boosting GM sales. According to a local Buick sales manager, consumers are using the recalls as an excuse to get big discounts, and they are succeeding. So while GM may be selling more cars it is doing so at thinner margins which translates into operating losses.
As to the story behind the story I will not bore you guys except to say that the sales experience was akin to giving birth. The entire process took about 5 hours and the finance manager, OnStar, XM/Sirius guys tried to milk every penny from us. I don't blame them but they felt like vultures.
Congrats on the new ride.
Little surprising the extra stuff was more difficult to get by. When I bought my latest vehicle 3 weeks ago it was about as painless as one could expect with no real push at all for the extras. Of course mine is just a Chevy and they knew I have one of the recalled ones. Maybe I got handled with kid gloves because of it , who knows.
Perhaps correct. However, I've never talked to any car dealer who ever said that business was bad....ever....regardless of the circumstances. This, purportedly because adimtting sales were down gives the buyer another "tool" to negotiate the price downward.
As Mike states, not wishing GM any ill. I hope that the new management team can focus more on dramatically changing this decades old "cut the corners" mentality that has plagued GM for far too long.
Although a bit before my time, I do hear people say all the time that in the 1950s and 1960s, GM made the best built cars in the world. They certainly seem a far ways removed from that now.
Hi Guys. A big hello from London England. I missed one day on sales frontlines and I had two pages of posts to scan through....this time I did scan. Only have 30 minutes for 1 pound. Wi-fi is hard to find here as mako noted.
Thanks for the good wishes and so far weather has been great...70 F and sunny. Walked for miles downtown. Amazing, the streets are packed with shoppers and traffic. I don't know why the cities in North America are suffering - with some exceptions - while people love to be downtown in Europe.
Keep up the good work...I'll catch up again at some point, especially if I can learn to use my new tablet..............
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Are the margins thinner at GM or the dealer? Also keep in mind, it pretty much is the end of the model year and the dead summer sales months are coming up. Big discounts at this time are not out of the ordinary.
A good friend has a 2012 Regal GS with the manual transmission - the only way you could order them initially. It sat on the dealer's lot for a few months before he finally bought it, so I presume he got a good deal. It is "Black Granite Metallic", a highly-metallic black paint that to my eye always looks dusty, and not a color I would choose. But it does look nice. Combined with the black interior which is the only choice on the GS it is not my cup of tea. He only drives it in the good-weather months and he says he loves it. I know it is quick and handles like it is on rails.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
The GS is a nice car, but I think that the current GS should be badged and priced as the "Turbo" semi-performance car and the Regal GS should be something at least close to fast(low 5s 0-60, under 14s in the 1/4 mile).
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
This sales story is posted to simply try to keep Houdini1 amused, the only automotive involvement was driving to/from the store (or should I have posted this on the CCBA board, forgot which one he chided us to keep posting...):
Back in March, I was fortunate enough (as were all my cowokers) to receive an annual bonus based upon 2013 performance. WooHoo! Of course, it had already been spent on '13 taxes and my Feb. ski vacation with my son, but I decided to treat myself just a touch.
I'd been admiring a leather jacket at Jos A. Bank for a couple of years and, as it was approaching the end of the season, I caught it on sale for 80% off. Plus, I had a gift card I used, so my out of pocket on this very expensive MSRP jacket was only about 11% of that mythical MSRP. My road to sharp-dressed man transformation begins...
Shotly thereafter, I received a thank you note from Joe Bank, with a $20 gift card enclosed. So, back I went, straight to the clearance racks and picked up two (again, mythical pricey MSRP) nice button down shirts, total out of pocket: $9.
Shortly thereafter, I received a thank you note from Joe B, with a $30 gift card (for a $9 net purchase! Suuuweeet!). So, again mounting my trusty steed, off I went to Joe's house. Picked up a swanky sportcoat (I never wear them, but my last purchase of such an item was from a clothier that closed shop in the '80s or '90s. Maybe some day I'll do something grown up which requires gentleman to wear jackets...) and another nice button down shirt. Out of pocket, a slightly more painful $23. But, the Unicorn-ish MSRP for these two items was over $500.
So, now I await/hope for another thank you and gift card from Jos A. If the sartorial gravy train has stopped, thank you for the good times. Now, if only I could meet a fine woman who, in the words of the poet, ZZ Top, is crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I never shop at Jos Bank unless there is a sale. Personally I like the "buy one pair of socks, get 7 suits, 19 shirts and 37 ties ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!" sale.
Aye, Rob. And one doesn't have to wait too long for such a sale! SNL did a funny spoof of their commercials...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Jos A Bank is buying Mens Warehouse, or vice versa .... less competition = higher prices.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and let us know! Post a pic of your new purchase or lease!
MODERATOR
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Men's Wearhouse is buying Jos A Bank. The latter had originally made an offer to buy the former. There will still be plenty of competition from the mall stores, Nordstrom Rack, and local guys like Milton's here in Boston.. My last suit bought in January was a Ralph Lauren from Lord & Taylor that was originally $800 that I picked up for $200 on sale.
Having been a former model many years ago, I do know a little about the "rag" business. First, Joseph A. Bank has never had a single business day without promoting some kind of sale---some sales are just more "dramatic" than others. Though you can get some good deals, prices are always marked up 500% to 1,000% to give the customer the feeling of getting a bargain. Secondly, be careful with these bargains. Some of the clothes are not well made, especially some of the shirts and sweaters. They begin to unravel at the seams, drop buttons, and fade quickly. The sweaters can be a real problem, especially the cashmere---they become bumpy and piffering after a few wears. The cotton sweaters draw up badly---better to dry clean than machine wash. If you purchase a sports coat or a suit, tell them that you wish to change the coat buttons and ask to see their button selection. They put the cheap buttons on the coat and keep the nicer buttons for customers who know better. The new set of buttons will run you about $15 but will look much nicer and more expensive. Also, have them to put the buttons on for you as a condition of buying the coat or suit.
Men's Warehouse? I'm not a bit surprised at that merger. Men's Warehouse is worse than Joseph A. Bank ever intended to be. They are true to their name---warehouse is exactly right. The clothes have been stored in the warehouse for several years. Much of the clothing couldn't be sold when it was new----stayed in the stores too long and began to show a "shop worn" appearance. Much of the styling in some garments is outdated. Be especially careful if buying at a Men's Warehouse. I hate to see this merger. It will only bring down Joseph A. Bank to a lower level.
On a more positive note, I'll make you feel better. Leather goods, jackets and belts, at Joseph A. Bank are actually the nicest items that they sell. They deal with some pretty good leather manufacturers and have been successful in acquiring some of the nicer garments. If your leather jacket has a few stress marks (cows rubbing against the wire fences), that's even better. It's a sign of true nature and less human hands in the making of it. Some people not in the know call them flaws; I call them quality.
Robr2 made a good purchase. Ralph Lauren suits drape well, hang well, and fit well. Also, Daniel Cremieux suits do the same. I purchased one of his in February---$900 suit for $250. If you're looking for the "Prince of Cloth", Hickey Freeman is my favorite and has been for over 70 years. Get measured by a tailor, select your fabric, and order it. You'll never feel anything better on your body in terms of clothing.
Just my two cents,
Richard
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
"Black Granite Metallic", a highly-metallic black paint that to my eye always looks dusty, and not a color I would choose. "
A woman at work has a Chrysler 300 with a similar paint job. Looks weird close up. As you say "dusty". Wouldn't want it on a car of mine.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
You made an interesting point. If we saw the percentages of recalls vs. actual numbers when compared to total production figures, I believe that we would have a much different perception of the quality of production. I see many new GM products on the road and in the parking lots, so it doesn't appear that the recalls have frightened too many consumers.
Richard
It does have a dull, dusty look. That color certainly wouldn't be my choice. I have enough trouble keeping my black, shiny SRX from looking dusty or dirty.
Richard
I parked next to a 300 with the speckled paint by Chrysler you mentioned. It's different than the Black Granite by GM.
I happen to have the Black Granite on my Malibu. It's the only black available. I think it looks good. I see what people mean by a
dusty look because of the granite speckles.
They went to the higher cost paint because solid black paint would show spots from the shipping on railcars or highway transports. And even after sitting on a lot for a time. Nothing is prettier than a solid black car all shined up. But it sure is hard to care for. I had an 80 Cutlass Supreme in black.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
My wife's Escape is Tuxedo Black. It has gold metal flake in it and looks great when clean.
It's much nicer than the solid black her previous 2 Escapes are.
The thing is, the car wasn't intended to be a Buick; it was going to be a Saturn until GM killed that division- and it WAS an Opel to begin with. And I think that seeing that Buick emblem in the airbag cover would age me every time I got behind the wheel...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Buicks need love too.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Men's Warehouse has changed a lot over the past few years. Last year they bought the Joseph Abboud brand and hired Joseph Abboud himself to be creative design director. He lost control of his company and name years ago. The suits with the Joseph Abboud name are made in America from Italian fabrics and they go for $500 - $700.
I was very happy with the suit. Being a little round in the middle now, I was afraid the modern fit wouldn't look good. But the closer cut jacket and flat front trousers with narrow legs combined with the thinner ties I bought make me look as fashionable as I did in the late 80's with my double breasted suits, braces and paisley ties.
Hey now! That is an old and backwards way of thinking. Like saying Hyundais and Kias are for the Walmart shopper and BMWs are for the shallow price-of-everything, value-of-nothing type. Stereotypes!!
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
As a wide-body, the "modern fit" is a disaster for me. I was in my wheelhouse back in the late 80s/early 90s with the previous look you described. I loved those baggy-fit all-cotton dress shirts!
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
That's an old stereotype. If anything, it's more applicable to toyota/avalon/lexus than to Buick. For a time a few of the older folks bought Civics and Accords. But you'd see them looking irritated at the bumps they had to endure in stiff-riding Hondas.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Sibling Rivalry?
Last night I heard a commotion in the garage. To my amazement it was a fight between the Baby Buick (Encore) and his bigger brother the LaCrosse. The LaCrosse was pissed off because his baby brother was getting all the attention like: Oh the leather is so soft, and look at those baby blue eyes.
Funny, but the Encore is one cute little SUV and my wife has been grinning ear to ear since we brought it home on Monday night. So far, the AC is very powerful and cools the car down very quickly. The Intellilink system looks complicated but that is mitigated by the very intuitive voice recognition system.
And one thing I failed to mention in my original post is that the sales manager showed me their invoice. However, that invoice revealed three values: a gross invoice with holdback and advertising, etc.; a net invoice--not sure what that was, but it was lower than the gross invoice. And finally, the wholesale price, which was about $1,500 lower than net invoice. The sales manager said the wholesale price was sacrosanct and he had made a mistake of showing it to me.
So here is my question, is invoice the wholesale price or something even lower?
bwia....hate to be a skeptic, but I'm always a little taken aback when a sales person/manager shows me some sort of invoice numbers and then state they shouldn't have shown them to me. Really? I mean, really? You're in the biz to sell cars and you "accidentally" show me what you paid for the actual car? Best Buy certainly wouldn't make that mistake when you're buying a big screen.
I kind of view it as another tactic to sell cars. Used to be there was no way to tell what the car would cost. Then, all we had was the window sticker to go by. Then, the NADA books came out, and banks had loan values we could use. Then, sites like Edmunds started publishing alleged "invoice" amounts. Soon after, we all found out about hold back, trunk money, rebates, X plan, Y plan, supplier discount, etc, etc, etc.
It's been a jong journey. Some sales tactics still apply. I.E....throwing a bunch of numbers at a customer in order to justify the actual selling price the dealer wants (which is what you experienced). To me, this is just another forom of number juggling.
Long and short of this, our "buy" price is what it is. The only people who know what the true cost of a car are the manufacturer who sold it, and the dealer who bought it. Anything above that is what you and I pay.
I know some of the sales pros here state they wouldn't be in business long if they showed one price. But, there have been a spattering of dealers who have been successful doing just that. MINI has been doing it for years. TESLA is doing it, too. I can't imagine walking into a Ferrari dealership and having a 4 square shoved in my face.
IMID...I've seen that metal flake black on the Malibu. Pretty darn sharp, IMHO.
For reasons I can't explain, I probably like black better than any other car color out there. Not because I prefer black (although shined up, nothing looks better), but because the rest of car colors that manufacturers' use bore me to tears. How many shades of silver can a car company possibly come up with? Same with white (although I do believe those matalic white colors are pretty sharp).
Best paint job I saw on any car, at any price point was on the now defunct RX8s. Mine was blue metallic. It literally glowed, was hard as diamonds, and had the least amount of "orange peel" effect I've seen on any car. It was smooth as glass.
The other RX8 color I really liked was red with gold metal flake. Stunning!
Pretty amazing considering the RX8 was a mid-level sports car, not meant to have a lux car paint job.
Audi has a few shades of silver:
@robr2 - LOL at "Des Lynam."
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
HEADS UP:
Here it is, your early notice.
We've surpassed the 100k post mark, thanks to some prolific posting in recent weeks. Thanks, guys! There are some legitimate concerns that the sheer bulk of this discussion is slowing down page loading times for all of our discussions, so as previously noted, we are going to be closing this discussion and re-starting.
I've already opened the new discussion, so if you can start transitioning now, that will make it easier: http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/18576/general/x/buying-and-selling-cars-post-your-experiences?new=1
and thanks to @imidazol97 for the title. There were a bunch of great suggestions, and this one seems to be pretty search-engine friendly and inviting for buyers and sellers alike.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
Review your vehicle
Thanks, Richard. Interesting info. The leather jacket is as you describe, appears to be good quality and natural markings. Smells good, too! Hopefully, the shirts/jacket I bought will serve well. I paid so little that at worst I donate 'em at some point!
I, too, am a model. A model of inconsistency...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I understand that totally LD. I feel the same.
BTW....my older sister, the one with the old Jag S-Type, keeps looking at Mercs (E) and Audis (6). She still says she likes the Jags better. Not certain the one she's looking at. But, I'm guessing an XF.
All fine choices, GG. Personal preferences, but A6 and XF were the two contenders for me. Ultimately, overall experience, including price and "uniqueness" of the XF won out. Not a regret, so far.
Going to Jag dealer tonight for presentation of the F-Type coupe and RR Sport. F-Type coupe being my cup of tea.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
there are huge incentives that aren't reflected in the "invoice " price you got. But the deal is done -- be happy and don't second guess yourself on the deal.
Your leather jacket sounds really nice and, yes, they do smell so good. Just a suggestion: Don't ever put a bag over it when hanging it in the closet. It needs to breathe. That goes for any fur garments as well. Hope you enjoy wearing your jacket for many years.
Richard