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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • tsgeiseltsgeisel Member Posts: 352
    When I picked up my car recently it was pretty simple:

    1) I spent a bit of time with the financing folks, who were able to get me a better deal than I got online (my credit is poor). Handed over a very large check, go the contract paperwork, and was told I'd need to have the insurance ready to go. Since the car was an '05, I also had them change the oil in it, since there's no telling how long the car had been just sitting (only 76 miles on it at pickup).

    2) From the dealership I went to my insurance broker, and got everything dealt with.

    3) Phone call later that day asking for a utility bill and a paycheck stub.

    4) Went in the next day with proof of insurance, utility bill and paycheck stub. Had to wait about 45 minutes while my salesman, who may have had the day off, came in, made sure to show me a few things, installed the external antenna for the radio, assured me the oil had been changed, and then I drove off.

    Actual downtime in the process was fairly minimal, especially since I wasn't going to drive anywhere without insurance, even if they might have let me otherwise.
  • au1994au1994 Member Posts: 3,701
    really only had one long drawn out purchasing experience and in every case but 1, took the vehicle home with me that day.

    1st new car, I had to come back next day while they set up financing and I provided some more info, pay stub, proof of college grad since I was getting a discount for that. This was in AL so insurance wise, just showed them my card.

    When we bought my wife's PT Cruiser we were put through every mind game in the book: high 1st pencil, waiting, waiting and more waiting. We waited so long that if we would have had a spare set of keys to the trade in, we'd have found it and left.

    Did one purchase (Accord) on-line. In and out the door in an hour or less.

    2 others (Explorer and 4Runner)I had been back and forth out of the dealer, but actual deal and delivery time was 2 hrs max.

    All 4 of the above were in TX and all I had to do was show my insurance card.

    Got my wife a Volvo last year, total time at the dealership 3.5hrs. We're in GA now and by the time I called my insurance on Monday to make the changes, the dealer had already added the new car.

    2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
    2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
    2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha

  • bigdveedubgirlbigdveedubgirl Member Posts: 402
    Thank You.... :blush:

    I will tell how it is that is one thing about me. I have been doing auto sales for almost 5 years, and being a woman in a mans world (yes it is still a mans world in the auto industry) I have have had to be thick skinned, (I have cried a few times) resilient, and not put up with the BS. (or at least just smile) I am fair, honest, professional and provide excellent customer service. I love meeting all walks of life. The only thing that bothers me is when its summertime and its 115 degrees outside and I am getting in black on black cars, and when we negotiate (if I have not fainted at this point) he starts the whole "oh you make more than that on the car, you get the holdback ect ect." First of all, try that noise at a BMW DEALER or a BENZ dealer. They will just stare at you in awe and say "If you want to drive a BMW this is what you are going to pay" People think because we are not Benz we are not LUxury marquee. I am so lucky that I can say "this is the price, other than this price we are done" and not get introuble for it. :P
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    Most of this can be done before you walk into the dealership.

    I'm in OH. If I'm financing, I've got arrangements already made with my S&L. If the dealership wants to beat their rate, they're welcome to try (and have, from time-to-time). We're required to carry proof of insurance in our state. So, I always have my insurance card with me at all times. That suffices on that front. I've only seen dealerships have me show it to them and they write down the policy number. Usually, when I call my insurance company to add the car, the dealership has already informed them, if it's during the week, during business hours. If not, it's done the first day the insurance company is available. THe last few transactions, the dealership has also required me to sign a pre-printed form stating that I do, indeed, have insurance.

    Most recently, the test drive and negotiation takes about 30 minutes. The paperwork part takes about 15-20 minutes. The post sale presentation and car/manual overview takes about 10-15 minutes. Then.....I'm down the road.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • tsgeiseltsgeisel Member Posts: 352
    Well, in my case I was also changing carriers. And dealing with my company over the phone for something like this was just not worth it.

    Anyway, I really wanted the oil change, so the extra day was no big deal. Paperwork on Friday morning, head to work, pickup on Saturday morning, with no problems.

    The important part is that the whole process fits into your schedule - you are, after all, paying many thousands of dollars to them.
  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,486
    Back when the new 7 series was introduced, the BMW dealership in Manhattan wanted to hire me as a 7 series delivery specialist to explain i-drive to their clients. They were afraid of its complications. I ended up not taking the job.

    You guys all provide great insight into the dealership world. I'm sure you deal with all types all the time.

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    People think because we are not Benz we are not LUxury marquee (sic).

    People are right. Volkswagen = people's car.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Well, she means Audi, not VW. Just because they also sell Chevy or Ford, you would not disqualify Cadillac or Lincoln as luxury brands.

    But people get discounts at Benz and BMW, too. It all depends on the market, person, and the dealer. So, it's not luxury itself that commands sticker price, it's the market demand that may or may not be there, depending on the vehicle and brand merrits. Audi still happens to be in "catching up" mode - one does not need to explain why they got a Benz or BMW. For Audi - it depends on the region. Here in SE - many people still do, hence on average better incentive programs than those from big two.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Most of this can be done before you walk into the dealership.

    I realize that much can be done beforehand but my credit union won't process a loan application without a VIN. So I can't do that in advance.

    My insurance agent won't add a vehicle until I have a buyer's order with a VIN. If I were buying a vehicle in the middle of day, no problem. But usually, I'm not.

    Registering a vehicle in MA isn't a walk in the park so I doubt it could be done in a day.

    Everyone's experiences are different. As I said, I've never heard of anyone in the Boston area leave the same day with a new vehicle.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    robr....agreed, every locality is different, as is every deal.

    If I'm financing, I've got a pretty good idea how much I'm going to need financed. I get a blanket loan amount from my S&L. They usually have a pre-printed form I show the dealership that they (the S&L) will cover the purchase amount. Either the dealership, or I, can call the S&L with the VIN # after the purchase.

    In OH, it's a simple phone call to my insurance agent's office. If it's after business hours when the deal is done, all I (or the dealership) has to do is leave them a message. My insrance covers ME on any car I'm driving, not the vehicle itself.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • bigdveedubgirlbigdveedubgirl Member Posts: 402
    I work for Audi because, I love Audi, the design, the fit and finish, the technology and of course Quattro. I love to sell, but let me tell you, selling Audis is hard work. Because you have to sell the passion, the heritage, the design and engineering, and get the customer off the prestige aspect. I know that the A4 is a better car, and a better value than a C-class Benz, but people will sell their kids for that star on the hood. Another thing with prospective Audi owners. Either they get "it" or they don't. It is hillarious. People who get "it", when I explain technology, they get excited and ask questions and want to try things out. Then, there are those who just stare with a glazed look and ask "is quattro like 4x4?"

    We may not have the incentives like Benz does, but they charge 295 for a split folding rear seat and for other things that are standard on the A4, is the incentive really a good deal?
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    Oops, sorry, my mistake. I thought you sold VW. I agree that Audi is a luxury brand.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Oh, I agree - for me Audi has always the top "value" pick in the class, perhaps until recently, their pricing and optioning practice reduced "value gap" to BMW somewhat IMHO (but this is a different discussion).

    However, the thing is that people there don't buy "value" alone in luxury segment. Name, recognition, etc. are also important. You and I may know their cars are either better period, or (at least) better for the money, many people still do not. That's why I said that Audi is still catching up and cannot command the same prices (that value may be there exactly because Audi knows people would not pay as much as for Benz).

    Moreover, in many markets their dealers need to discount their prices even further, exactly to create stronger appeal to "value" buyers. So, it is nice to compare yourself to "them", but reality is even if you or I know they are equal, market still thinks they are not.

    It takes long time to move in the chain and takes more than just a better product. VW and Subaru just tasted that - both declared their will to move "upscale" and both end up putting quickly large incentives on their high-end products, cause market simply rejected their pricing and pretenses (at least - for now). Audi is in better shape, but you'll experience what you just described for more than you think, deserved or undeserved. Just a fact of life.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • rlenfesteyrlenfestey Member Posts: 13
    Our Tech got that cruise, too! Midwest region.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Very cool. Year our foreman is really psyched this will be his first real vacation in a long time and his wife is kind of freaking out on where to put all of their kids for the week.
  • larryallen707larryallen707 Member Posts: 174
    Some people just want to "beat" you. For them it's a game - they get kicks knowing that your commission was just $50. Only then they feel like they provide for their family.

    Others want to get better deal than their neighbors, or at least want to believe that.

    There are some who honestly believe that fair profit is only when they profit, i.e. YOUR fair profit is only when it's negative. Anything more is just outrageus for them.

    Some others have already been taken for a ride couple of times so the'll never trust again. Or they know someone who was.


    I realize this thread is from a week or two ago but I find it very interesting. I am expanding the topic and am sincerely interested in what salespeople think. There have had similar posts by an unhappy salesman on the Acura MDX Prices Paid forum. To me, a customer, the #1 thing is I want to keep money in MY POCKET and NOT in your pocket. Doesn't matter if you are a car salesman, a doctor, whatever. I work hard for my money and want to keep as much as possible so I can keep buying new cars, fancy trips, etc.... The salseman who posted on the MDX forum suggested, essentially, that a customer should be happy to pay the 8% profit so the salesman makes a comfortable living and doesn't have to be reduced to "making $5 an hour" selling cars. To me the bottom line is you choose your career and you know how cars are bought and sold in this country. If you don't like it get another job. Do car salesmen not negotiate as good a deal as possible when they buy a car?
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    To me, a customer, the #1 thing is I want to keep money in MY POCKET and NOT in your pocket

    Small disclaimer - not a salesman of any kind (engineer). I was writing was an attempt to state things as they are from from a point of view of an impartial observer rather than either side of the process.

    I definitely agree with you about the lowest price being a general goal of a customer. I always go for low price unless I am convinced I get something for extra buck. This may be:

    1. Time; while it is great to get lowest price in the world, there is a point of diminishing result, i.e. each additional $50 off costs too much of effort. Everybody determines that point by themselves.
    2. General satisfaction/good mood/trust, etc, which could be lumped in "customer service", or "purchasing process satisfaction". IMHO they may be treated as a separate product itself from the vehicle and priced accordingly. While the Honda one buys may be the same, the paper signing process, post-sale follow up, the showroom, etc. may differ significantly. This means I may accept higher price from a guy I like and/or trust rather than lower from a guy I don't. Again, depending on the personality of the customer, it may be worth different amount for different people. I simply choose not to do business with a person I know is a [non-permissible content removed], even if they offer me the lowest price. Simple reason being that I never know if they don't pull some eleventh hour crap and I will have to do it again. I may also choose to refuse to buy in a place that has dirty restrooms or rude people.
    3. Convenience - if I lived in a small town, I may have to accept higher price if I don't want to drive two hours to save some money.
    4. There are more reasons, depending on the person's situation.

    I personally don't care how much a salesman (or the store owner) will make on the deal. If I think that the market price for the product is below the acquisition cost, tough for them - nobody forces anybody to sell anything. His option is not to sell it to me for the price I think is market, my option is not to by fot the price he wants. ADPs stuck on the window don't bother me a bit, they can be funny at times when not reflecting the market (like Mazda dealer in Tallahassee wanting extra 2 grand for 626 in its last year of production) - if they do, it means there are enough suckers to pay for that Solstice. I just ask the dealers not to bring their kids to the table when they try to sell Taurus.

    When I wrote that, I was simply trying to explain motivation of some people who would chase the last dollar, or who are simply unreasonable in their expectations (whether to what is market value for the product or what is the proper expectation of profit), or who simply see it as a game with a jackpot to win. Some of it (even most perhaps) is obviously coming as a response to behavior of many salespeople doing exactly the same in reverse.

    Ultimate thing - if two sides are informed and can agree on the price of the product, the price is fair, whatever the amount. If one side is ill-informed and loses - tough, the other side has no obligation to inform them. When one side tries illegal tactics of coersion or similar - that's a case for a state attorney.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • philliplcphilliplc Member Posts: 136
    i just "took delivery" in about 35 minutes including all of 6 minutes with F&I guy (internet sale, paying cash for an accord :) )
  • grabowskygrabowsky Member Posts: 74
    I think that Audi is generally considered to be a second tier luxury brand.Some car magazines use the term"near luxury". I think Acura falls into this category too.
    I'm curious as to what technology you are explaining that gets people so excited.
    And when all is said and done most Audi models are really re-bodied volkswagons. Not that VW is the only company that does it. :)
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    "Near luxury" is term used towards a segment, not brands. It's often used interchangeably with entry level luxury and usual suspects are 3-series, C class, and A4, ES/IS, CTS as opposed to "regular" luxury of E-class, 5 series and A6, GS, STS/DTS and their larger counterparts.

    I'm curious as to what technology you are explaining that gets people so excited.. And when all is said and done most Audi models are really re-bodied volkswagons.

    It's probably most unfair description of Audi I have heard in quite some time. I don't own one, I may or may not buy one eventually, as their competition may have better/more appealing entries, but saying that Audi has no technology to get excited about and is just a reskinned Volkswagen is close to outrageous.

    If anything, most tech on US-sold Audis flows from Audi to VW, not the other way around. A6 has no VW counterpart, A8 was long before Phaeton was ever conceived and will be after Phateon dies, A4 used to be somewhat closely related to Passat, but no more (different chassis, different powertrain other than 4-cylined engine). The only vehicle somewhat fitting VW spell is A3. Even TT would be a stretch to call it VW, as there is nothing like that there (please don't say Beetle).

    Now lets talk technology: heave you heard of All Wheel Drive? Or perhaps you missed that now everybody has to have one. Audi practically invented its use in modern mass-production vehicles. Of course there were developments prior, but really 5000 was the first regular-driver driveable vehicle that used AWD in higher-speed on-road application. Have you seen 5000 and A6 20 years later driving upwards the ski jump hill? Real stuff, no tricks. I suppose not.

    Have you heard of FSI? CVT? DSG? One may discuss their origin, as really "everything was", but Audi was first to put successfully those inventions in mass-production vehicles.

    How about a diesel-powered LeMans winner? Has that been done by anybody before? Oh, I forgot that the gas-powered won it, too just a year before...

    Audi is no minor player. Surely, they have problems and they are still smaller than Benz and BWM. But the gap is closing with each generation, also in price which is not that great, as I always thought they were catering to those value-conscious customer, but [non-permissible content removed] appears they sort f gave them up for "legacy" money.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • larryallen707larryallen707 Member Posts: 174
    I am sure you are more educated than I so I hear what you are saying but to me Audi will always be a souped up V-dub! I understand the A-8 is a really nice car... but I just look at it as an overpriced V-dub. I think Toyota and Nissan, in particular, have done better at separating their luxury brands from their base brands. Just my op.
  • sbell4sbell4 Member Posts: 446
    As a successful sales person I do have a unique perspective of all sides of the car buying experience.

    1) the customer can do whatever they want to do. The sales person needs to adjust to the customer and not let their ego get in the way.

    2) Management has a responsibility to sell a car and do it the right way to maximize profits but also to make sure they do not miss any business trying to hold too much gross profit.

    3) the sales person needs to not worry about commission and to go out and be of service to the customer and the money will come. There will be big grosses and mini deals but in the end it will all work out.

    I like to look at the end of the year and calculate all commission, bonuses, pull checks, etc. and divide it by the number of cars I sold that year. That number always ends up being a number that is worth my time and effort.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    I see no words, arguments, fact sheets or even test drives will change it. It's your opinion, your money and your choice - free country, we all have a right to ignore reality as long as it is harmless to others.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • grabowskygrabowsky Member Posts: 74
    My sincere apologies for bruising your ego. You've made me realize what an ignorant a** I am and it's obvious that I know nothing about cars. Please continue to teach us about reality.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    It has nothing to do with my ego. I don't even own Audi - can't afford one and even if could I might find myself spending it on something else anyway for the competition there is fierce and worthy, too. Just plainly disagree with your blanket dismissal on bogus grounds, that's all.

    Sort of like saying that LS430 is a Camry with ventilated memory seats and 8 cylinder engine, Caddy DTS is an Impala with better seats, little more legroom and 8-cylinder engine, or G35 is an Altima with rear wheel drive.

    You effectively say "I don't really know that much, but I don't care, all I know is ... and no amount of anybody's words or cited facts can really change my view". I can deal with that. Everybody is entitled to their beliefs. Once you proclaimed them so plainly there is really no point in discussing it any further. Nothing to do with an ego...

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    VWAG does platform sharing better than anyone else in the business, bar none.

    Sure, a New Beetle and an Audi TT share DNA, but you'd never know if you sat in both back to back.

    They should be praised for this, not chastised.

    -juice
  • larryallen707larryallen707 Member Posts: 174
    I always like meeting people who can enlighten me to the truths of the world. I call them "known facts" and it's great that you are full of such. I am familiar with plateform sharing and I happen to love my Altimate with the 298 hp. Now back to Audi. I seriously considered the A4 and the TT before I bought my G35 but the date out there showed me the G35 was a much better choice. It's my opinion, based on friends who have driven Audi's, as well as national studies (i.e. consumers reports, JD powers, etc...) that Audi's are NOT very reliable cars. In fact, they are right at the bottom with... VW. Big surprise!? My cousin bought a brand new A6 two weeks ago. It was a complete lemon. MULTIPLE issues within 48 hours of driving off the lot. Dealership finally gave him a new one as they could not fix the issues within one week. Sad to pay that much for a car and have it to be so awful. :lemon:
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Positive to say they stepped right up and swapped out the car without a lemon law process.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    I agree, VAG vehicles are at bottom of almost every survery in terms of reliability and no charms or spells can change it. Your cousing was lucky - I bet if he had bought Passat, he would have likely been stuck with it, as they have a consistent record of not raising to the task on their "people" brand.

    Reliability is one of the reasons that despite my big proclaimed admiration to their tech know-how, I may be very hesitant of getting and Audi. At least it looks their customer service and post-sale follow-ups are first class (or so it seems), but in my view a car stops being a car when it's inoperable.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    the more you pay for a car the more likely that it will have issues.

    Belive me paying more money for a car does not mean it will be issue free. More money means more technology and gadgets which mean greater chance of funny things breaking. Many of the gadgets might be on the ragged edge of technology that a dealer will have a hard time fixing.

    Most people don't understand that.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    But that's what is exacly wrong with the industry - one pays big bucks not to become a "test pilot" on the new tech, but to enjoy it. If you can't do it, don't install it or don't charge for it as you could.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    People want the new gizmos and no matter how much testing you do someone will always find a way to break something. Even if you find all of the possible inherant tech faults with a device and enact their solutions there is always the "nut behind the wheel" and they will find a way to break it.

    Of course not all problems with technology are user related but many of them are.

    The Range Rover has 36 something seperate computers in it. Imagine taking 36 laptops in your car putting some of them in freezing cold conditions then heating them up to 150 or so degrees then running over a bunch of rocks then drivign up a 45 degree incline into over 2 feet of standing water.

    After all of that drive on the highway for 300 miles at 100 mph.

    Now stop and see if all the computer still work.

    I am amazed that vehicle can do what it can do without crashing every other day.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Was it necessary to put 36 computers in it?
    Is it honest to advertise the vehicle suggesting that you can actually climb Tibet and go on Sahara if you know those computers will not withstand those conditions undamaged?
    Promises are made, implied or actual - they are not delivered on. Change the promise or deliver - that's my point here. Other than that is just a lame excuse of extracting money from suckers who actually believe in the legend put there by the marketing team.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    Promises are made, implied or actual - they are not delivered on. Change the promise or deliver - that's my point here.

    Surely every vehicle is marketed with the implied promise that it will improve your quality of life in various ways. They always have been and I'd guess they always will be. Much as I roll my eyes and make disparaging remarks about it to my wife, I think that life would lose a little of its luster if advertising was regulated to being purely factual.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Not only that but with more gadgets the more it will cost to fix when things do go wrong. Gone are the days where a backyard mechanic could sit in his/her driveway and tinker with the engine.

    Thats one of the reasons I tend to stay a generation or two behind when it comes to gizmos. Let someone else have the latest troublesome gadget, I will get one where the bugs are worked out.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • hummer13hummer13 Member Posts: 4
    We had a customer get her hair stuck in her CD player, which thereafter burned said hair off. She wanted to return the car to us because it was Obviously Defective, and threatened to go Lemon Law on us. Just an example of no matter how perfect a car is, there's a person out there that will find a way to break something.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    My first impression is to not believe that, but since we are a nation of high school graduates who cannot make change without a machine telling them what to do I will believe that story.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • bobstbobst Member Posts: 1,776
    When I used to read Road & Track, they would do these owner surveys to see, among other things, if the car was reliable and if the owner would buy another car of the same make.

    The car with the worst reliability had the highest percentage of buyers who would buy another. It was a Lotus Elan.

    Maybe Audis are so much fun to drive it more than compensates for their poor reliability.
  • grabowskygrabowsky Member Posts: 74
    I know an LS430 isn't a Camry,but the ES350 is.
    And I "effectivly say"?Are you really so brilliant that you put words into a persons' mouth?You're a teenager,aren't you?And a blanket dismissal...can you read?
    Anyway since Audi and VW rank near the bottom I think an intelligent buyer would have a hard time being impressed with them. Regardless of :shades: AWD history or racing diesels or all of the other things you cite. As if any of those things matter. But hey,as you so like to say:"I can deal with that".
  • steine13steine13 Member Posts: 2,825
    ...can you read?

    Nice.

    "Member since 27 May 2006"

    Let me be the first to say, Welcome Aboard.

    -Mathias
  • grabowskygrabowsky Member Posts: 74
    Thank you. :)
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    My.....my.....my...hair stuck in the CD player? That begs the obvious quesion, how did that happen?

    I've got a pretty vivid imagination, but I can't see how this could happen unless someone FORCED their hair into the slot.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Well CD's have a hole in the center of them and the hair could have been pulled in by that hole when the CD was inserted. But it still boggles the mind that that could happen.

    I have to ask was the lady who did that a blond?

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    I suppose one could say that all Caddys are just fancy Chevies.

    All Lincolns are just fancy Fords.

    All Infinitis are just fancy Nissans.

    While there's obvious parts/platform sharing going on since manufacturers try to spread the cost of the parts/platform across as many different brands and models as possible.

    Still, there also has to be enough differentiation between brands that share parts/platforms that the buyer is willing to spend more to get that same differentiation.

    Just one data point, I've noticed that the HVAC outlets for most Ford vehicles these days are the same ones found on such disparate vehicles as Mustangs all the way up to Land Rovers. EVen the revered Corvette shares its engine with at least one Pontiac and it's platform with one Caddy. Just a few examples of part/platform sharing.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Ding Ding Ding

    Bob we have a winner.

    I see this all the time with Range Rovers. The Mark III's not so much since those vehicles are much more reliable then the previous generatioins. Even the Mark III's do stupid stupid things sometimes.

    The Range Rovers just do dumb things and people say, "Yeah I have had this problem and that problem and it spent two weeks in the shop having that fixed. Can you show me that new one there and how much will it lease out at."

    They know there is a good chance of something breaking but they buy another one anyway. Then they buy another one after that. I would say close to half of my Range Rover customers are on their second, third or even fourth Range Rover.

    Just had this happen yesterday. Had a woman come in who currently owns a 1994 Classic LWB Range Rover. From a complexity to problem stand point that is probably the worst Rover to own. The air suspension system completly baffels the majority of people to the point that they just do a coil spring conversion on them.

    Before that she had a 1989 Classic Range Rover. Here she is looking at a 2002 CPO Range we had for sale that also happend to be one of the limited edition Westminsters. She knows how troublesome Rovers can be but she buys them anyway.
  • jmurman42jmurman42 Member Posts: 675
    We had a lady who came into the dealership the other week. This young woman was at a local Volvo dealership and targeted her questions towards a "female perspective" of the Civic. She made the comment that women need to have more of a say in designing vehicles...she continued with "Volvo even has a pony-tali holder in their seats."

    Our salesman was dumfounded at her statement.

    We then figured out that the other salesman at the Volvo dealership told her that the upper shoulder harness holder was a "pony tail holder."
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    WOW

    All I can say.
  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    Whether you agree with him or not, you can't say the Volvo guy wasn't trying for the sale!
  • jmurman42jmurman42 Member Posts: 675
    she probably did buy the Volvo as we were rolling on the floor laughing.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Volvo is supposed to be the most female friendly brand.
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