Stories from the Sales Frontlines

13373383403423432003

Comments

  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Have you considered participating in the How Do I Calculate Monthly Lease Payments? discussion?

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    We don't care. Didn't you post this exact diatribe in the sedans forum?
    :confuse:
    Mackabee
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    The kid with the pocket slide rule just dropped in.
    Mack ;)
  • delta737hdelta737h Member Posts: 626
    tidester,

    I'm not sure what you mean by "participating". Are you suggesting that the other forum would have been the more appropriate forum for my post? I already know how to calculate monthly payments. As I stated at the very beginning of my post, there are a large number of dealership personnel that participate in this forum. I'd be willing to bet that this forum receives much more car sales personnel traffic than does the How Do I Calculate Monthly Lease Payments forum and is the reason why I chose to post here instead. Besides, there have only been 58 posts in that forum since June 2001.

    John
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,973
    I must have driven right by you tonight. I left ORF at about 7:20 and took 64 to Chesapeake (hotel on Crossways), and I think there was a sign for VBB right by where 264 hits?

    If I had none you were sitting around doing nothing, I would have stopped for some test drives!

    Actually, that would have prevented me from sitting at the bar at Smokey Bones eating BBQ and drinking beer while watching the baseball game, and darned I was hungry!

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,973
    I almost never use cruise. Can't do it in normal local driving, and the NE corridor (NJ turnpike, Garden state parkway, etc.) are so crowded, it is rare that you can use it even on the highway.

    Once in a while, say early on Christmas morning, I can use it up in NY, but I am so used to keeping my foot on the gas I don't bother. The cruise makes me nervous, and I end up hovering my foot over the brake anyway, which is more tiring!

    Keyless remote, however, is a vital option. If I had to use my key in the lock all the time I would go insane. Even worse when you are leaving the car. I love my little fob (on the Accord, it is built into the key) so my car is open when I get to eat.

    Also nice is the remote window roll down feature, especially when it is real hot and you want to get some of the hot air out of the car.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • delta737hdelta737h Member Posts: 626
    Nope, don't have a pocket slide rule anymore. Sorry. And no, I did not "post this exact diatribe in the sedans forum". "We don't care"? Hmmm... that's presumptuous. Speak for yourself. If YOU don't care, then why bother responding? Afterall, my post was addressed to only those who care.

    You seem somewhat agitated or, perhaps, offended. Why? If I have upset you in some way, then please accept my apology.

    John
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Having that keypad would have helped. I had just bought the car and I called the dealer so see which window would be the cheapest to replace so I could break it and get the keys out. The salesman said he could get an extra key made and get down there in a few minutes. I couldn't wait that long as it stared raining and I needed to get the top up.

    You should have said this at the beginning of this discussion; I would have understood where you were coming from. No one wants there new car seats to get wet and when you have a convertible you always live with this fear but people who buy convertibles must make sure they never leave the show room without a least one extra set of keys. ;)

    Come to think of it, this must be why ‘bobst’ always goes for extra keys as part of his deals. He‘s never said it but he must be buying convertibles. Yep, I’ve just convinced myself of that. :D

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Are you suggesting that the other forum would have been the more appropriate forum for my post?

    I am suggesting that a discussion of the finer points of lease calculations is off topic in this Forum. This page is dedicated to "Stories from the sales frontlines." The other Forum is a suitable topic for your information.

    I already know how to calculate monthly payments.

    Of course you do. That's why you are a good candidate to help those in need of that specific information.

    As I stated at the very beginning of my post, there are a large number of dealership personnel that participate in this forum.

    Indeed there are but it's still off topic. And if there are any salespeople sufficiently interested the finer points of lease payments they will make their way in droves to How Do I Calculate Monthly Lease Payments?.

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Looks like our host took care of my response.
    Mack
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    You probably drove right by me on the way to Smokey Bones. I left around 8:30 after finding out my "customer" had just walked into my competing store to grind out a deal...will make for a good story later..
    Mack
  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    in 14 years in he business it has NEVER been an issue. This is true even when engineers check our software computation with their HPs. So I guess it comes under the heading of "who cares".
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,490
    "...If I have upset you in some way..."

    Don't worry, mackabee probably just thought you were a Ford employee. He lashed out at you from habit. ;)

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,616
    This is true even when engineers check our software computation with their HPs.

    HP's? What wimps, I use a 10 key adding machine to do it.

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

  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    This is true even when engineers check our software computation with their HPs.

    Hey, I resemble that remark.

    I'm not sure what delta737h's point is because I checked his calculation (with my HP) and found it to be correct and that same program agrees with the typical manufacturers calculation.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Hey, I resemble that remark.

    Resemble means "being similar to something". You obviously meant resent. So do I - but I use Texas Instruments :P (not rpn).

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    dino001, check this out. I couldn't go back to a non-RPN calculator now.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    I see, now it looks I need cultural lessons :blush: . But I can always trump it with the immigrant card :shades:

    My bosses use RPN machines, so I can guess your age ;) Before RPNs had definitely advantages in speed and efficiency. Newer graphing calcs that allow entire formula to be input, seen and modified, got the better of classic RPN just about 5-10 years ago or so. Now I could say they'll be all but extinct in half generation.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • peetertpeetert Member Posts: 124
    ... just not cool

    Well, our keypad in on a Windstar. Cool went out the window on that purchase, it was all practicality. Now, if the car makers can figure out how to put sliding doors and/or easy access to a 3rd row into something that doesn't look like a big box, I'm there!

    To add a twist to the keypad discussion, alot of laptops now have the bio-metric scanners. Have car companies thought about adding this feature in place of a keypad?

    Peeter
  • editor2editor2 Member Posts: 64
    "resemble that remark": That is an old comedy line, usually attributed to Groucho Marx, but more likely to be classic comic humor based on malapropism. Never heard that?
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    No I do... It was before my time in this country.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I checked with my CPA. Even though I am retired, due to my consulting business and other factors I won't go into here, I do need all possible deductions. At this point, the small mortgage is an advantage. We move every three years after renovating a home, so all of that detail is tied into my tax situation. Thanks for your response.
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    If a thief really wants your car it makes no difference they are going to get it.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,804
    I'm simply amazed at the number of people in the car sales business that can't compute payments; especially in those cases where the first is capitalized.

    Seriously??

    I mean, I am as perplexed as the next guy when the kid at the buger king window can't calculate my change when I give him a penny after he's already punched it into the register, but we're not talking about simple math here.

    I'm in the number crunching business, they're not.

    EXACTLY! So maybe you shouldn't be so shocked when people don't find something you had to write a whole paper on as easy as brushing their teeth.

    But, hey, more power to you. After all, someone has to worry about these things.

    '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

  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    "resemble that remark"
    I thought it was Curly of the Three Stooges. However, Duck Soup will live on forever.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Thought I would tell you guys what happened. I'm the one who had the payoff problem on the purchase of the new convertible. The dealer had promised another car deal with the profit taken out as you may remember. Well, I have called three times to make an appointment and left messages. He has never called back. I guess it was all fluff just to get rid of me. Though some of you are honest and have integrity, I guess the bad apples still give you guys a bad rep. I hadn't planned on naming the dealership but I will tell you that it is in Pinehurst, NC. Don't think I can recommend them now. Thanks "mackabee" for checking your inventory. Guess I won't purchase a car for a while. The experience has taken the zest out of my wings. Thanks to all of you for your input.
  • mattgg1mattgg1 Member Posts: 191
    snakeweasel -

    I should have added one caveat to my post...

    If you live in an area with no elevation change & the interstates are as flat as a pancake AND you encounter very little traffic while driving, then cruise is indeed the most efficient option.

    However, I would venture to guess that most people do not regularly drive in the situations described above. If you live in an area with even moderate elevation change (i.e. hills/mountains/ect.) OR encounter moderate traffic, then leaving cruise off will save you gas.

    I'm not sure where you live, but in your example, I would encounter many grade changes and traffic on the interstate during an 85 mile drive. Cruise control can not see what is coming up and is not able to anticipate changes in terrain or traffic.

    Keeping cruise control off in these situations will yield increased fuel economy. Easing on the gas before getting to the hill, letting the car slow to your original speed going up the hill, and easing off the gas as you approach the crest/backside of the hill will save gas versus cruise.

    Cruise is reactionary and will aggressively accelerate only once you are going up the hill, does not allow you to slow slightly, and does not anticipate the crest of the hill, so it gets off the gas too late & abruptly.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    You might want to drop by the Dealer Ratings & Reviews page to share your experience. It will help others in your area.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Did you ever get your Solara convertible?
    Mack
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Never mind. I see by the above post you probably did. I was scanning the posts.
    Mack
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I spoke too soon! check my profile and e-mail me or go to my www.carspace.com/mackabee
    Mackabee
  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    Cruise control keeps me from getting into a speeding situation as a long straight trip will have me going 90 after a while.

    Sunroofs, on the other hand are of no use to me even though the last three vehicles I bought all had them. My wife's Denali had no options as all were included. Solara made it mandatory with the SLE package and 4Runner had to have sunroof to get the hood scoop thing that I liked. I opened it once on each vehicle. Never again. I guess I held the close button a little too long and it went into rear vent open mode after I had closed the screen. Went shopping and came out to essentially a not rainproof car. It didn't rain, but if it had the leather may have been ruined. Wife and I agreed to never use it again. Even thought of making it sealed forever.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • madmanmoomadmanmoo Member Posts: 2,039
    Sweet boredom Batman!!! We've got a lookieloo on our hands!

    -Moo
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    In 14 years i have never had that issue presented to me. If some one was to call me and present it to me I would not know what to tell them. All I do know is when it comes to taxes you do not play. We get audited 3 times a year, once internal on our own, once by Ford and once by the State and it has never come up.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    I don't think it ruins the look of the vehicle at all

    Yeah, "ruins" was probably the wrong choice of words to use... "impedes" the artistic flow and vehicular lines may be more appropriate. :surprise:

    My brother has a 2006 Ford F-150 with the keypad. He seems to really like it.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • tayl0rdtayl0rd Member Posts: 1,926
    ... I guess I held the close button a little too long and it went into rear vent open mode after I had closed the screen. Went shopping and came out to essentially a not rainproof car. It didn't rain, but if it had the leather may have been ruined. ..

    Not likely. I've had it rain heavily on my car a few times when I left the sunroof in the vent position. The worst that ever happened was a small few raindrops on the seats. I'm talking, maybe, 10 raindrops. No chance at all of ruining the interior. Your seats get more moisture than that just from your own sweat.
  • threeifbyairthreeifbyair Member Posts: 5
    Not that I'm a salesman, but... have you looked at the new GM platform? The Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook (all essentially the same car) have a second-row seat that slides sideways and allows third-row passengers much easier access.

    If I could afford one of those I'd be buying it now -- but instead I'm getting a lightly-used Terraza, where third-row passengers can squeeze past the second row and into the third row from the middle. But I needed third-row access without folding the second-row seats, and I needed AWD, so an AWD Terraza it was. (And those are darned hard to find -- I think only about 3,000 were ever built!)
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    What the heck is a Terraza? Never heard of it. That Buick is a fine looking SUV. The other two are nice too. I'm getting customers who are cross shopping against the Highlander and they are complaing about the second row seat tracks. Seems like small items like legos, pennies, and french fries fall in there and jam the tracks. Other than that I think it's a great looking vehicle.
    :)
    Mackabee
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    I like Ford employees. I wish Ford weren't closing all these plants and putting people out of work. Competition is good for this business. We had our truck plant closed here in Norfolk and there are a lot of folks looking for jobs. I like to mess with Joel since I had a couple of sales managers here a few years ago that came from a Ford store. We had to retrain them to do it the Toyota way. They were always saying "well at Ford we did it this way". ;) Now we have some VW folks and have to train those guys too! I wish we'd get our old Toyota mgt and things would run a lot smoother. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a Chinese fire drill. ;)
    Mack
  • wlbrown9wlbrown9 Member Posts: 867
    We had the first year Nissan Quest with a keypad. The wife still misses that. I think it was very useful, never lock yourself out unless you forgot the code (5 digits :-)). I don't think it had a separate remote, but that has been over 15 years so I really don't remember completely.

    I did read about the keyless proximity keys. Someone had used valet parking. The attendant laid the proximity key on the wipers. Owner gets in and drives away. Proximity key gets lost on the drive. Something like $800 to replace that. If that is indeed the case....I don't want it.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Just posted some new albums on my carspace. www.carspace.com/mackabee
    Check them out!
  • tayl0rdtayl0rd Member Posts: 1,926
    What the heck is a Terraza? ...

    I'm glad you asked that because that was the first thing that came to my mind, too! :confuse: But I think it's the vehicle that was usurped by the Enclave.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    The Terraza is Buick's version of the unlamented GM bottle-nosed minivan. Thank God, the Enclave replaced it. I remember a co-worker bought an Enclave and I couldn't stop walking around it and checking it out. I really don't care for cross-overs or SUVs, but the Enclave really is a sharp vehicle. Looks like the Lexus RX finally has some competition!
  • delta737hdelta737h Member Posts: 626
    grandtotal,

    Were you able to duplicate my calculations or just verify them? There is a difference.

    To verify, all one would need to do is use the money factor formula...

    Payment = MF x (AC + RV) + (AC - RV)/T

    and plug in the appropriate values to confirm the payment.

    However, to duplicate, consider that the first payment is part of the adjusted cap. To illustrate, suppose I had provided only the following info; would you and your HP be able to fill in the blanks??? Remember, this is for an Ohio lease where tax is based on the sum of the taxable payments.

    2007 Acura TSX
    Retail Pricing Information

    Base MSRP 2007Acura TSX 5 Speed Automatic (CL9687JW)……………………………… 28,090.00
    Premium Pearl White……………………………….………………………………………….… 0.00
    Destination Charge…………………………………………………………….…………….…… 670.00
    MSRP……………………………………………………………………..…………….…...…… 28,760.00

    Agreed Upon Value……………………………………………………………………….……… 26,700.00

    Amounts Financed

    1st Month’s Payment……………………………………………………………………………… _______
    Security Deposit………………………………………………………………………………….. _______
    Acquisition Fee…………………………………………………………………………………… 595.00
    Sales Tax 6.00% ……………………………………………….………....……….. _______

    Capitalized Costs

    Gross Capitalized Cost………………………………………………………………….……… _____
    Capitalized Cost Reduction…………………………………………………………….………. 0.00
    Adjusted Capitalized Cost……………………………………………………………………… _____

    Residual Data

    Residual Factor………………………………………………..…………………….…………. 0.62
    Residual Value (Residual Factor × MSRP)………………………..……………….…….….… 17,831.20

    Cost of Money/Term

    Money Factor…………………………………………….……………………….……….…… 0.00127
    Term (months)……………………………………………………………………….………… 36

    Lease Payment Itemization

    Monthly Lease Payment including Sales Tax…………………..……….…………….…….… ______
    Monthly Lease Payment excluding Sales Tax………………………………………..……….. _____
    Taxable Monthly Lease Payment……………………………………………………………… ____

    Charges Payable at Lease Origination

    License, Title, Registration Fees (estimated)…….……………….……………….….………. 120.00
    Amount Due at Lease Signing…………………………………………………………....…. 120.00

    GAP Coverage Included
    Annual Mileage Allowance: 10,000
    Disposition Fee: None
    Excess Mileage $0.15 per mile
    Reg. M Disclosure: NA

    John
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    The salesman said he could get an extra key made and get down there in a few minutes. I couldn't wait that long as it stared raining and I needed to get the top up.

    Why would you need to break the window of a convertible with it's top down? Just jump into the car :P
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Exactly! I was wondering if I was the only one that picked up on that! Must be a Ford thing, we Toyota guys wouldn't understand.
    :)
    Mackabee
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Payment = MF x (AC + RV) + (AC - RV)/T

    and plug in the appropriate values to confirm the payment.

    However, to duplicate, consider...


    Has anyone else fallen asleep in this class or am I the o n l y ZZZZZZZZZ. :blush:

    jmonroe

    '15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    I don't know if the who cares lease calc, Ford ez door punch in the code entry, steering wheel mounted cruise control and gas mileage or Toyota vs. Ford is the most boring. I think the answer is E, all of the above.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Boring? Toyota vs Ford? Boring?
    I'll show you boring: How many buttons on the LR2 OR LR3 remote? oh this does this this does that, blah, blah, blah, that is boring. You and BR should get a room.
    :(
    Mack
  • jescuejescue Member Posts: 521
    Boring is work right now. Excitement would be selling a car, with or without door buttons. Even a Toyota would be good! :P
This discussion has been closed.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.