Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Stories from the Sales Frontlines
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Offer them $650 OTD, real friends would grab it.
Let us know how you like it, we all know you're a sucker for a bargain. :shades:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I've only started it....not driven it. Although, I have ridden in the passenger seat with the current owner. I keep telling myself "how can you go wrong for $700 (or $650)?"
That said, I've heard horror stories about people restoring old cars. They think they've got a bargain, until they start tearing into it. They end up with a bunch of parts laying all around and no idea how to get out of it without taking a bath to get it back on the road.
i could always wander down to see this guy (i think my friend's dad might actually know him) and get his info so you can talk to him about restoring it - if its something you decide to do.
just some thoughts - im very bored at work, and it is friday and all!
-thene
I know these are pretty simple machines. I could probably do most of the work. I know me, though. I'd get half way into it and get bored or frustrated. And, it would sit.
It took me two years to build a home theater in my basement....a job that should have taken two months.
I'd probably ship out most of the work to someone who knows these cars better than I do, anyway.
Thanks!
You've said this quite a few times already. Sooooo, when are you going to get back in the car biz?
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Unless you have car restoration in your blood it's much cheaper, and far less stressful, to buy one that's already been restored.
Again, I don't know for sure whether any of this is correct, but that is what someone told me years ago.
I also understand you can buy parts fairly easily. Had a neighbor when I lived up in NJ 15 years ago restore one, and he was always getting parts delivered (fenders, bumpers, lights, chrome, etc).
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the air flow to the front was strickly based on pressure of air from the car's movement. When stopped at a light, no heat.
A niece and her husband had an early beetle and I drove it a test run. She went through the windshield in an accident in Ft. Wayne. They didn't buy another.
College roommate had a beetle, idiot that he was for other reasons. He drove back and forth from NW Indiana (da Region) and had to stop to adjust valves in middle of the trip.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
jmonroe - probably won't ever get back into the business - at least anytime soon. im still pushing on those t-shirts that i designed...the website should be up soon - just waiting for the next run of shirts to be done so we can photograph them and put them under the products page. once the site is up, i'll put the link on my carspace page (don't want to be blacklisted here for "soliciting"!!)
im just where i am now to pay bills...im not much for corporate america...im too artsy fartsy!
-thene
My Bus had the rare automatic transmission and felt like it had single digit hp !!! LOL! The heater was weak but did work ok. Seemed like I had to have the valves adjusted really often. Also, it would flood-out after driving long distances so I would let it sit for a while then off I'd go.
GG, that old VW sounds like a decent buy for $700. It would be nice to have it re-done.. it's a collector! In California, that car wouldn't last 5 seconds if it had a for sale sign on it!
Mark156
I'm going to drive it the weekend. If interested, I'll give my impressions.
My older sister has a '65 Mustang. It's not restored but in real good shape. All original, though...except for tires and battery (as well as belts). I know driving it, I felt like I had to stand on the brakes to get it to stop. Also felt like I had to use a crow bar on the steering wheel to get it to turn.
We've come a long way in how cars drive, steer and brake from about 30=35 years ago.
I'm really not in a knuckle busting mood these days. I'd probably have someone else get the thing in good working order (if it isn't already). If I pull the trigger, I'd have to be convinced that the mechanical maladies were only minor and that most of what needs to be done would only be cosmetic.
Sad, but I believe this would actually happen. Definitely don't get ahold of an old car dog though. He'll sniff out tire kickers quicker than you can say test drive. I've booted a number of folks sideways who are just screwing around.
-Moo
I have a feeling that if that were the case the price would be quite a bit higher.
Actually, as parts are readily available and cheap, and it's a relatively easy vehicle to work on, mechanical repairs should be the least of your worries. If you're paying to have stuff fixed I'd worry more about rust and paint issues.
He said "no I want to drive one and it was my job to let him" I left as though I was going to get a key, told the rest of the sales people to ignore him and I went home.
The guy went and complained to my MGR told him he was going to buy a truck but no one would help him so now he was going to buy a Chevrolet.
The next morning as the SM was waiting to chew me a new one I told him what happened. He then threw the guy's number in the trash. Apperantley the guy told my SM if he fired me he would come back.
People are funny sometimes.
Very generously put. I would have worded it somewhat differently. :mad:
Make sure the transmission is in good shape. Listen for noises etc. Wind it out in each gear and take your foot off of the gas. If it pops out of gear, this is very bad. Worse than a worn out engine.
I wouldn't "restore" it. I would just do what it needs to make it a fun weekend driver.
Thats Funny.
$6 would get me to work and back, TWICE, in my accord. ;b
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Haha, oh mary, that would be the greatest sales story ever.
"And then after grinding me down to the last penny, he pulled the trade up to the new car, and got a siphoning hose out of the trunk..."
" I bring car, I bring hose, you suck hose?"
" No, YOU suck hose!"
" No...no...YOU suck hose!!"
My faith in humanity just dropped a little.
Ya but I can get in one trip to Lowes what it would take you 10 trips, so its a wash
Nothing like feeding the beast. Its been awhile since I have had a V-8 and I must say a smile came to my face the first time I got on the gas last night.
1 1/4" Hitch does wonders for turning anything into a utility vehicle. The open trailer is <$10 from uHaul or the local place and the Honda will take just about anything from Home Depot.
I could have sworn you said somewhere you were "cherry pickin" for a used pick-up. It looks like you got hot pants like your customers and changed your mind, huh?
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Actually you are half right. I did want a truck. I hate not having one and could not find what I wanted, so I toyed with a Lease yesterday and with my plan price and rebates I was able to prepay a 24 month lease on a 07 Supercab for $5900. Just a touch more then I usually spend on the disposable trucks I buy. In the past I spend $5k on one drive it 2-3 years and get another one. Plus it gave me a chance to get a Garmin and residulize it into the lease so I pay like $100 for a $500 Garmin.
OK...but after you buy it you have something of value, although not much after 2 or 3 years, right? With a lease you're now a payment buyer just like most of your customers.
Cmon, fess up, you fell for that shiny new piece of sheet metal didn't ya.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
No, How am I payment buyer when I prepaid it. I paid the whole amount up front so I don't have a payment. Also prepaid my maintanence for the 24 months so all I do now is put gas in it and drive it.
Cmon, fess up, you fell for that shiny new piece of sheet metal didn't ya.
Hell ya, who don't?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
First of all, it's stupid to worry about stuff like this when dealing for a new or used car from a dealer.
However, I find it amusing that a dealer will say that the relative fuel level in my trade makes no difference in regard to the trade allowance, but somehow the fuel level of the new car must be at some arbitrary level to keep costs down.
C'mon! If a salesperson hates being grinded for $100, don't send me off in a vehicle that will require a stop at the gas station before I even get home!
This isn't a jab at anyone, but thousands of dollars in fuel costs is being paid for by the consumer. Just fill up all of the cars, and price them to include the full tank.
Just my humble opinion.
>This isn't a jab at anyone, but thousands of dollars in >fuel costs is being paid for by the consumer. Just fill up > all of the cars, and price them to include the full tank.
Ahh, what is the difference? In both cases the customer pays for it.
Don't tell me that the amount of fuel in my trade-in has no value, but the amount of fuel in your new car does have value...
If the $30 in gas to fill up my new car matters, then add $30 to the bottom line price of the new one. If the full tank in my trade has no value, neither does the full tank in the new car you are selling me. Works both ways.
Third edit..
You: You can have this XYZ Mobile for $xx.xxx after your trade.
Me: That's a fair price, but I'll have to spend $30 to fill the tank on the way home! I am going to dealer X, because they have the same car at $ 75 dollars less! You jerk! I'm going to laugh at you the whole way because the other dealer is only 975 miles away!!
What a moron! you lost a sale over a measly $30!! What a moron!!
An exaggration to be sure, but I enjoy having fun.
So if I appraise your trade on Monday with a full tank but you don't trade till Friday when the tank is on empty it is OK to knock say $60 off your trade value :confuse: :confuse:
You are right it is nickel and dime stuff from a consumers point but where do you stop.
All consumers want a full tank of gas so add an average of $60 to all used car sales and fill them up
They all want Floor mats so lets add another $50 to all used car sales that don't have floor mats.
All consumers want two sets of keys when they buy a used car so with the PATS keys lets add $150 to all used cars with one key and add it to the price.
OK now we are at $260. The problem is it is easy for everyone to just say add it to the price the problem is in the real world the consumer does not want to pay for it, they just want it. 80% of the time stuff like this does not come up till the negotiations are done and they are sitting in my office to sign the papers. Or the papers are already signed and they are taking delivery and they start asking for the extra key, the floor mats, and the full tank of gas. Are you going to write a check for $260 to cover it all?
Its no different then when a major corporation that builds doo hickeys goes out and changes vendors for the screws to build them. The difference is only .02 cents and there are 5 screws per doo hickey. It only changes the price per doo hickey .10, but when you produce 50,000 a month it adds up and if they don't pass the cost along to the consumer it lowers there profits $60,000 a year because of a .02 cent screw.
Sure joel... and while we're at it, all consumers want a new engine and transmission, so add in another $9,000 to the total.
@ more than selling a used car with the fuel gaguge needle in the vicinity of "E".
So, put 5 gallons in the tank, add the cost to your bottom line, and forget about how major corporations conduct their business. It's like apples to coconuts.
Hmm, my mistake I thought Ford was a major corporation with there product sold by franchises all over the world, and for there coporation to survive so must there franchises.
I don't have a problem with the whole gas issue. I agree it is bad business. My point of contention here is all of the people saying to just add it to the price and the consumer won't care. These are the same people who will waste $100 worth of gas to save $50 on a car deal.
Besides home sales, it is about the only industry where haggling for a better price is a common practice.
I believe the vast majority of people would say, "add it to the price", they don't care... and won't be the kind who will waste $100 worth of gas to save $50 on a car deal. As of now we're only talking about $17 of gas... don't even think that would be worth it to the grinders.
That said, I drove it this a.m. It fired right up on the first twist of the key. It runs good. Slow compared to today's vehicles, but no evidence of any engine toubles. I'd still like to do a compression check. Tranny and clutch seem to be OK. Brakes stop the car, but I'm not used to drum brakes after all of these years of driving cars with disks. Just got to leave a little more distance to stop.
Exhaust system looks like it was replaced at some point.
Will these things run on unleaded gas?
Top definitely needs replacement. It looks terrible when you put it up...stains, rips, etc. Radio is there but it doesn't work.
Some rust through around the wheel wells on one of the rear panels. I'll assume it's easier to replace the sheet metal than it would be to sand and bondo it.
Tires are good. The little hub caps all are dented and need to be replaced.
To sum up, it needs paint, maybe some electrical work. 1 panel in the rear.....a top...some cosmetic parts. I figure a couple grand should cover it.
Told the couple I'll let them know tomorrow if I want it. I need to sleep on it.
Thanks for the advice.
OK well if you buy the Service Contract and the GAP I will throw in the $17 worth of gas
LOL... there you go!
May not work with someone named the jipster, but I'm sure there are many out there that would see the word "free" and ignore what follows. I always get a chuckle when dealerships/banks etc would advertise a "Free" 20" television with side toaster oven, with the purchase of any new vehicle/loan. "Well, I may have spent 38k on that new Lincoln I didn't need, but I got a $200 t.v for FREE" :surprise:
I would be more concerned about rust. did you lift up the rear seat and look under where the battery sits? Here on the west coast, we dont' know what rust is but I know that is a problem area for those.
That convertable top is going to be very expensive is you do it right. Know that.
Also. there are a lot of inferior reproduction parts out there so be careful.
Still, for 700.00, don't lose this car!
Oh and he wanted the Special Tent that bolts to the back of the LR3 for free.
I pull him to the side and tell him, "Just agree to all of what he just asked and tell him you can have the car for free but the tent is forty Grand. You have to totaly deadpan it and look completly serious though or it won't work."
He goes back in, or maybe he had to call him back up I can't remember, the guy laughs and says ok fine you have a deal.
If the guy said "OK, but I don't need the tent" would you have given him the car for free?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Dang and we were that close to being back on topic telling sales stories
I want to prepay a lease the next time I change cars, but everybody I have discussed it with in the past (including "leasing consultants" at the dealership) says it is a bad idea. When I press them for reasons it all gets a bit vague. I think it is a good idea (for me) and you obviously do too or you wouldn't have done it and you're in the finance office. So, does that mean it is a good idea, and if not why not?