Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    road and track has a long term lexus hybrid. after about 40k miles the maintenance bill(not repairs) was over $4500!

    There has to be more to that story than you have posted.
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "You must be in a really high crime area!"

    Speaking of crime, I checked the crime rate here last year before me moved. It was .01%! I couldn't believe it. I called the police station to see what incidents the .01% included. It included one bicycle "borrowed" which was later returned by a neighbor, and one husband who slapped his wife. We live in a village outside of Pinehurst. We have four police cars who cruise by our house at least five times a day. It's like a throw back to the '50's. Our neighbors never lock their doors, and you don't knock on the door when you visit. You just walk in and call out their name. My wife and I will never get used to that part. We keep our doors locked at all times. We moved here from a place of very high crime---where Michael Jordan's father was murdered, where bodies are dumped off of I-95 by NY drug dealers, etc. This new laid back retirement village built in the '60's really takes getting used to in many ways. I must say the people here are super friendly.

    To stay on topic: That's why I am a little surprised about the missing house key.

    Richard
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    What issue is that in? I am looking on Road and Tracks site and I can't find it.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,289
    "...and one husband who slapped his wife..."

    Did she give the key back after that?

    "...where bodies are dumped off of I-95 by NY drug dealers..."

    You must be seeing the work of drug dealers from other states. Our drug dealers throw them in the Hudson river or stick them under porches.

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

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,699
    > Our drug dealers throw them in the Hudson river or stick them under porches.

    Amazing. Druggies that clean up after themselves. Ours are so lazy they just leave the bodies where they are.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • mattandimattandi Member Posts: 588
    Trunks just aren't big enough any more.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,289
    "...Druggies that clean up..."

    Actually, this is on-topic. Most of our real bad drug dealers have come upstate from NYC. Many of them don't know how to drive like many NYC residents. They hire cabs for the night to make their deliveries.

    That's why I say it can't be our guys on I-95.

    Just think of the sales opportunity for the guys on this board. Teach them to drive, sell them a car. There won't be much for the F&I on a pure cash deal (in a brown paper bag) but maybe they can upsell the bullet-proof mop&glo. ;)

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

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] ColoradoPosts: 0
    but maybe they can upsell the bullet-proof mop&glo.

    ...don't you mean the bullet-proof DROP & GO!!!! ;)
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    Just think of the sales opportunity for the guys on this board. Teach them to drive, sell them a car. There won't be much for the F&I on a pure cash deal (in a brown paper bag) but maybe they can upsell the bullet-proof mop&glo.

    To keep this on topic many drug dealers do get the mop and glo....

    But to really stay on topic many drug dealers use "straw buyers"

    GP
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    Send me an email to the address in my profile ... got a couple of off-topic questions for you.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    All the drug dealers I know go for the "bling" and not the mop and glo.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    All the drug dealers I know go for the "bling" and not the mop and glo.

    You know more than one? :confuse:
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Right. You would not "feel" any difference between dino and synthetic.

    But remember this:
    I change oil 10,000 to 12,000 miles.
    If the dealership put regular dino instead of the synthetic, what should/would/can/will happen?
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    I get mine done at Wal*Mart.
    I stand in the alley when they change oil on ym car, not shopping, as they would like it.
    Honestly, Wal*Mart service is almost equal to Lexus. They
    - put a floor mat to prevent messing your carpet
    - put a plastic cover on the seat too
    - clean the windshields
    - top off the fluids
    - even check the AC cold test during summer
    - inform you if the tires need replacement, and provide a free quote for replacement as well
  • cotmccotmc Member Posts: 1,081
    But remember this: I change oil 10,000 to 12,000 miles.

    Is the oil filter designed to go 10K to 12K miles without replacement?
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    PureOil PureOne filters for the win!

    http://www.pureoil.com/smartlink/?partnum=PL24651

    image
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    I'd say yes. bitog for the info.
    I do 10-12K because the filter would need changing by then. Might as well get the oil changed too!!!
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,289
    "...You would not "feel" and difference between dino and synthetic..."

    Funny you should mention that. I got it done at the dealer this AM. Mobil 1 they said. $70! What a rip. Next time I go over to british rover's place. Funny thing, the car seemed quieter.

    Now Mitsu make a smooth running engine but this was so quiet that I had to check at a stop light to see if it had stalled. There was ZERO engine vibration.

    Maybe it was just the placebo effect but I swear I could feel the difference. Of course the dealer put a sticker in the window that said change the oil again after 3K miles. Yea, right.

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

  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,299
    Funny you should mention that. I got it done at the dealer this AM. Mobil 1 they said. $70! What a rip

    You mean you got jipped? Happens to me all the time. :sick:

    At $70 a pop you paid twice as much as a regular dino oil change. How long do you plan to go between Mobil 1 oil changes... about 10k? If you were a 3k mile dino guy, then anything over 6k miles using synthetic puts you in the black.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Mobil 1 and Amsoil also make filters that can go that long.

    I have no idea what my old shop charges for synthetic oil changes now as I haven't run it in three years now. I am sure they are charging closer to 70 dollars by now.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Does your owner's manual specify the OCI (oil change interval)?

    And does it take into consideration that you're now using or supposedly using 100% synthetic?

    Just wondering what Mitsubishi specifies as personally I don't anyone who owns one.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    All the drug dealers I know go for the "bling" and not the mop and glo.

    That begs the question of how many do you know and how do you know them?

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

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,289
    "...Does your owner's manual specify the OCI?..."

    Yes, 7500 for "normal" service and 3750 for "severe" service. I changed mine at 1500. How's that for obsessive? I figure with the synthetic I'll let it go to 5000 instead of my usual 3000.

    The manual says nothing about what type of oil only that it meet ILSAC or API standards.

    Last night I looked at the dip stick to see if I could find all those "metal particles" you hear about floating in the oil. The oil was still a golden brown...no dirt or crud at all. Makes me wonder if I wasted the $70. :cry:

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

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I sent you the email.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "Did she give the key back after that?"

    LOL

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    The service manager at the dealership called this afternoon. They found the key in the back driveway just outside the service department. It has been a week now. I may be paranoid, but I'm going ahead and rekey the house locks. How can I be sure that a copy of the key wasn't made? If it was, the key could have then been thrown into the driveway to look like an accident. It seems funny that no other keys fell of the ring. The ring is designed in a way that you would have to actually take the key off. It wouldn't just fall off by accident.

    My total bill for the car service just went up from $781.00 to probably another $150.00 to get the house locks keyed. :sick:

    Moral of this story: Never, ever give the service department anything but one car key. :cry:

    As to the drug dealers from NY, they are like their cars. They wear Mop&Glow on their hair, pin stripes on their suits, tread on their wingtips, and Rust&Dust on their Panama hats. :P

    Richard
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Drug dealers?

    Had three working our company. Funny thing I was always wondering why they carried so much cash, drove then brand new 320i with BBS rims. Not one but all three. Thought that rather odd but in those days Al Pacino was a legend after making that movie Scarface. We didn't have any type of drug testing program back in the dark ages.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,289
    In my paper today: "A Glenmont woman was charged with failing to pay $47000 in sales tax owed on vehicles bought and sold while running a used car dealership. She is currently free on bail from a previous grand larceny arrest alleging the theft of money from customers who purchased vehicles at the dealership."

    Gives new meaning to the term "Stealership" :cry:

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

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    What would happen?

    Oh, probably nothing unless this happened often.

    Personally, I think 10-12,000 miles is too long no matter what kind of oil you are using.
  • kmurpkmurp Member Posts: 21
    Perhaps this question is impossible to answer but... I am looking for a used car and I bought an online Galves subscription. I have an idea then, of what the dealer may have paid for the car. My question is, how much do dealers markup their used cars over Galves in the northeast? I am talking about a car like a used Elantra or perhaps a used civic or accord. Could I expect to have an offer of $1000 over the Galves "market ready" number be something that might be accepted?
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Personally, I think 10-12,000 miles is too long no matter what kind of oil you are using.

    Me to. Waaaay toooo long.

    jmonroe

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

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    I am talking about a car like a used Elantra or perhaps a used civic or accord. Could I expect to have an offer of $1000 over the Galves "market ready" number be something that might be accepted?

    I don't mean to rain on your parade (I have two Hyundais and am very satisfied with both) but from what we've been told here, "the Korean makes go for way back of book" so be careful what you offer for one of those.

    As for the Honda stuff, well, the sky is the limit.

    From what we've been taught so far..."If you don't ask you don't get", and remember what I said about Hyundais.

    jmonroe

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

  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    While that is kind of true for Hyundais Galves is such a tough book that it takes a really bad car to go behind it. With gas prices the way they are now only SUVs and big trucks are well behind Galves on a regular basis.

    Most clean smallish cars are going to be right around galves but maybe a Hyundai or worse a Kia will be a little behind book.

    A thousand ahead of market ready price on Galves would probably be alright if the car is straight and clean with no issues. They probably wouldn't take that offer right away but if you stick to your guns they will.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,289
    "...how much do dealers mark up their used cars over Galves in the northeast?..."

    I asked about a car I was looking at on "Real World Trade-In Values" and was told that said car was worth $6500 as a trade. The dealer was asking almost $8500.
    That's a 30% mark-up.

    Oh, and CarFax said it was a former rental with accident history. Imagine if it had been a cream puff. :cry:

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

  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    After hanging around the forums I would've guessed that you understood dealers made more on used than new as many have said it. So an average of $3-$4K markup is not unheard of on used vehicles.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Personally, I think 10-12,000 miles is too long no matter what kind of oil you are using.

    Me to. Waaaay toooo long.


    You guys need to catch up with the rest of the gearheads in the 21st century.

    With synthetic oils and oil analysis labs like Blackstone, there is a scientific methodology to extended oil change intervals. I used to be a firm believer that even with synthetic I would not allow the OCI to exceed 6K miles.

    After several samples to Blackstone labs I found that at 10K miles the oil contained enough additives and not enough wear to warrant an oil change. However, for fear of the oil filter self welding itself to the motor I don't exceed 10K OCI.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,817
    i knew it was about 10 cents per mile, but i thought they had 45k on it, not 40k.
    here it is, may '08:

    lexus gs450h
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    A thousand ahead of market ready price on Galves would probably be alright if the car is straight and clean with no issues. They probably wouldn't take that offer right away but if you stick to your guns they will.

    I was thinking that $1000 over galves might be to low but you never know. I think it might be to low because of works and checks and packs. You might be better suited at 2 g's over

    gP
  • greanpea68greanpea68 Member Posts: 1,996
    I asked about a car I was looking at on "Real World Trade-In Values" and was told that said car was worth $6500 as a trade. The dealer was asking almost $8500.

    $2000 profit on a used car is a about average front end profit on regular cars mid size sedans. But most used cars try to be 4-6000 over for profit :D

    GP
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    You guys need to catch up with the rest of the gearheads in the 21st century.

    I know synthetic oil is very good and has a great track record. I remember in the mid 70’s when Mobil 1 was introduced I had a few friends that started to use it and liked it but eventually they went back to petro oil because they just couldn’t buy into the oil filter being good for 10K miles. I’m sure the filters are better today so that probably isn’t the same concern.

    I change petro oil at the 3000 miles / 3 month interval and always replace the filter at that time too. The only way I would be convinced that synthetics are better than that is if I would see consistent test results from a couple reputable testing labs that synthetic oil with 6000 miles and 9000 miles of use is as good as or better than petro oil with 3000 miles.

    I’m not against synthetics, I just don’t use it. I don’t use Zaino car polish nor do I knock it but I think the same people who use synthetics are the same type of people who are inclined to use Zaino.

    That’s why they make chocolate and vanilla. FWIW I take chocolate.

    jmonroe

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

  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,216
    I use dino oil. I use Zaino. What type am I? :confuse:

    And, chocolate is the nectar of the gods...

    '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...)

  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Changing oil at 3K miles is fine, however with unleaded fuel I think you could stretch it to 5K with no problems and help the environment at the same time. Being semi-retired I can also understand doing it at 3 month intervals as looking forward to doing something constructive with your spare time.

    What I don't understand is 3K intervals on an admitted disposable car. :shades:

    FWIW I use Zaino because I'm lazy and not a fanatic. It gives the best shine for the lease amount of effort. ;)

    One thing about the lab reports. It's designed to be read by an engineer. Course their website will have samples of good and bad reports but I forwarded my reports to a friend who's a biochemical engineer at Chevron. He was impressed by the results and asked how he could get the same testing. After I told him about the $20 fee he said he would check if they could do it for him for free at his workplace.
  • bolivarbolivar Member Posts: 2,316
    I agree with obyone.

    You guys need to read some of the oil tests, ones done by just 'ordinary' guys (ok, someone doing long-term oil tests isn't ordinary). I don't have a link, but google would probably turn up some.

    The results show that at about 12,000 miles, synthetic oils are just starting to show some decreased protection. But still within specs to give good protection. If the car was using a quart every 4,000 miles or so and synthetic was being added, the protection was even higher.

    These days, changing oil at 3,000 miles, regular or synthetic, is just a waste of money.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    OK, I'm old fashioned I guess.

    I don't want to send oil samples to some lab somewhere and I don't want to use synthics ether. I usually have my oil changed every six months or around 4000 miles.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Funny you should mention that. I got it done at the dealer this AM. Mobil 1 they said. $70! What a rip. Next time I go over to british rover's place. Funny thing, the car seemed quieter.

    so did the dino make the engine quiter or synthetic mobil-1? I am confused :confuse:

    In person, I feel regular dino to make the engine run quieter, probably because it is not as thin as synthetic and maybe dino has more NVH absorption capabilities.

    Next time try Wal*Mart for synthetic oil change. Last time I got Mobil-1 it cost me $49.99
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Mobil 1 and Amsoil also make filters that can go that long.

    Correct. But I prefer PureOil because it their bread and butter. Not outsourced items.
    Both Mobil-1 and AMSOIL filters are not their design. They source it from Champion, iirc.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Wal Mart?

    Sorry. Not me. I can't stand to walk into one of their tacky stores.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Personally, I think 10-12,000 miles is too long no matter what kind of oil you are using.

    I thought u were from Europe......guess not.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    I do synthetic for the last 7 years.
    Never did Zaino.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    good for me.

    I never judge a product by it's box.
This discussion has been closed.

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