Stories from the Sales Frontlines

joel0622

Ya, my math was right but my typing skills were not but you see where I was coming from as to why we do not like to take CC's on big ticket cars.

joel0622

Let me know what the VIN is and I will pull up to see if there are any TSB's or recalls on it for recurring problems.

houdini1

In the Spring of 1980 I bought one of the first available 4-door Honda Accords. You could have any color you wanted as long as it was silver or red. Mine was red. It was a sweet little ride and a great car. I had to sell it about a year later when we were buying a new house. Couldn't afford both.

I guess in today's world I would have kept both and probably lost both! :sick:

stickguy

1fafp6639wk213638

joel0622

Here is the service history on the car. It only applies to what he had done in Ford Garages. Looks like all the work was done at Echelon Ford

VIN VEH LINE MKT DERIV BODY CAB VER SERIES DRIVE TYPE PLT CD TRS CD ENG CD PROD DATE WARR DATE SELLING DEALER SELL CNT TIS WCC CPSC_6 PREF BASE SUFF CCC CD DIST(Miles)
1FAFP6639WK213638 C/NB F C/FA * C/A AJ C/DJ C/EQ 04-NOV-1997 17-MAY-1999 116440 USA 5 * * * * * * * 4254
AWS Claim Key: 11227346 Trx Code: 99S14 Labor Hrs: 0.8
Dlr Cd-Sub Cd: 01266 - * Name: ECHELON FORD, INC. Ph: 856-6278400 St:NJ Ctry Cd: USA Reg Cd: NA Repr Date:17-SEP-1999 Doc #:08610101
Cust Comments: RECALL 99S14 CONNECTOR
Tech Comments: 1 REPLACE HEADLAMP SWITCH CONNECTOR AS NEEDED ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1FAFP6639WK213638 C/NB F C/FA * C/A AJ C/DJ C/EQ 04-NOV-1997 17-MAY-1999 116440 USA 5 5T01 * * * * * * 4254
AWS Claim Key: 11227345 Trx Code: 99S19 Labor Hrs: 0.4
Dlr Cd-Sub Cd: 01266 - * Name: ECHELON FORD, INC. Ph: 856-6278400 St:NJ Ctry Cd: USA Reg Cd: NA Repr Date:17-SEP-1999 Doc #:08610102
Cust Comments: PERFORM RECALL 99S19 ACCEL CABLE
Tech Comments: REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE AS NEEDED ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1FAFP6639WK213638 C/NB F C/FA * C/A AJ C/DJ C/EQ 04-NOV-1997 17-MAY-1999 116440 USA 5 5V02 060302 XS8Z 2001 CA N17 42 4254
AWS Claim Key: 11227344 Trx Code: 2 Labor Hrs: 0.5
Dlr Cd-Sub Cd: 01266 - * Name: ECHELON FORD, INC. Ph: 856-6278400 St:NJ Ctry Cd: USA Reg Cd: NA Repr Date:17-SEP-1999 Doc #:08610103
Cust Comments: CHECK NOISE FROM BRAKES
Tech Comments: CCC N17 CC 42 PART# 2001 DIAGNOSE AND REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS PER TSB, RECHECK OK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1FAFP6639WK213638 C/NB F C/FA * C/A AJ C/DJ C/EQ 04-NOV-1997 17-MAY-1999 116440 USA 5 6V01 * * * * * * 4254
AWS Claim Key: 11227343 Trx Code: 98B34 Labor Hrs: 0.3
Dlr Cd-Sub Cd: 01266 - * Name: ECHELON FORD, INC. Ph: 856-6278400 St:NJ Ctry Cd: USA Reg Cd: NA Repr Date:17-SEP-1999 Doc #:08610104
Cust Comments: 98B34 WINDSHIELD AS1 MARK
Tech Comments: 1 ENGRAVE WINDSHIELD AS NEEDED ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1FAFP6639WK213638 C/NB F C/FA * C/A AJ C/DJ C/EQ 04-NOV-1997 17-MAY-1999 116440 USA 5 * * * * * * * 4254
AWS Claim Key: 11227342 Trx Code: 98S26 Labor Hrs: 0.7
Dlr Cd-Sub Cd: 01266 - * Name: ECHELON FORD, INC. Ph: 856-6278400 St:NJ Ctry Cd: USA Reg Cd: NA Repr Date:17-SEP-1999 Doc #:08610105
Cust Comments: RECALL NEEDED 98S26 SHIFT BEZEL INSPECTION
Tech Comments: 1 REPLACE SHIFTER BEZEL AS NEEDED ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1FAFP6639WK213638 C/NB F C/FA * C/A AJ C/DJ C/EQ 04-NOV-1997 17-MAY-1999 116440 USA 14 * * * * * * * 10077
AWS Claim Key: 15909655 Trx Code: 00S03 Labor Hrs: 0.7
Dlr Cd-Sub Cd: 01266 - * Name: ECHELON FORD, INC. Ph: 856-6278400 St:NJ Ctry Cd: USA Reg Cd: NA Repr Date:23-JUN-2000 Doc #:10073501
Cust Comments: 00S03 ANTI LOCK BRAKE VALVES.
Tech Comments: 1 REPLACE REASR ANTI LOCK BRAKE VALVES. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1FAFP6639WK213638 C/NB F C/FA * C/A AJ C/DJ C/EQ 04-NOV-1997 17-MAY-1999 116440 USA 14 1G02 * * * * * * 10077
AWS Claim Key: 15909654 Trx Code: 99B23 Labor Hrs: 0.9
Dlr Cd-Sub Cd: 01266 - * Name: ECHELON FORD, INC. Ph: 856-6278400 St:NJ Ctry Cd: USA Reg Cd: NA Repr Date:23-JUN-2000 Doc #:10073502
Cust Comments: 99B23 WATER PUMP.
Tech Comments: PERFORMED RECALL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1FAFP6639WK213638 C/NB F C/FA * C/A AJ C/DJ C/EQ 04-NOV-1997 17-MAY-1999 116440 USA 14 * * * * * * * 10077
AWS Claim Key: 15909653 Trx Code: 99S23 Labor Hrs: 0.9
Dlr Cd-Sub Cd: 01266 - * Name: ECHELON FORD, INC. Ph: 856-6278400 St:NJ Ctry Cd: USA Reg Cd: NA Repr Date:23-JUN-2000 Doc #:10073503
Cust Comments: 99S23 CRASH SENSORS
Tech Comments: 1 REPLACE FRONT CRASH SENSORS.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1FAFP6639WK213638 C/NB F C/FA * C/A AJ C/DJ C/EQ 04-NOV-1997 17-MAY-1999 116440 USA 32 * * * * * * * 24577
AWS Claim Key: 21352307 Trx Code: 01S22 Labor Hrs: 0.4
Dlr Cd-Sub Cd: 01266 - * Name: ECHELON FORD, INC. Ph: 856-6278400 St:NJ Ctry Cd: USA Reg Cd: NA Repr Date:27-DEC-2001 Doc #:13286701
Cust Comments: RECALL NEEDED 01S22 HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR 01S22B .4 & ADMIN F7RZ 18591 AA & F5RZ 14A411 CA
Tech Comments: NO RENTALS PERFORMED RECALL 01S22 HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR & CONNECTOR
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1FAFP6639WK213638 C/NB F C/FA * C/A AJ C/DJ C/EQ 04-NOV-1997 17-MAY-1999 116440 USA 32 * * * * * * * 24577
AWS Claim Key: 21352306 Trx Code: 01S23 Labor Hrs: 0.7
Dlr Cd-Sub Cd: 01266 - * Name: ECHELON FORD, INC. Ph: 856-6278400 St:NJ Ctry Cd: USA Reg Cd: NA Repr Date:27-DEC-2001 Doc #:13286702
Cust Comments: RECALL NEEDED 01S23 FRONT SPRING SHIELDS 01S23B .7 & ADMIN F8RZ 5304 AA
Tech Comments: NO RENTALS PERFORMED RECALL 01S23 FRONT SPRING SHIELD AS NEEDED
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

gogiboy

"I remember in the early eighties you couldn't buy a Honda for less than MSRP or more...and yes, back then the a/c and stereo and other accessories were installed at the dealer."

Mack--

I'm not sure when Honda ended its dealer installation of features like AC and radios, but when we bought our Civic in 94 the DX and LX could only be purchased with dealer-installed AC. If you wanted a stereo upgrade like a head unit with a CD, the dealership had a display with several models to choose from. After noticing that AC was a weak link in the Civics listed in CR at the time, we elected to go with the EX trim line, which featured factory installed air. Never had one bit of trouble with the AC in 13 years of ownership.

Isell likely knows why and when Honda ceased with the dealer installed AC. Funny how in the intervening 10 years or so even the lowest of the low-end cars have AC and power everything, a stereo with at least four speakers and an abundance of safety features. I think our Honda salesperson told us in 94 that the avg. price for a new car was in excess of $18K. I think I read that in 08 its over $28K. Small wonder given all the standard feature packed into most cars of today. Other than GP's orphaned Sentra has anyone even seen a new car with manual windows?

I, for one, would like to see the return of the High Beam light switch in the footwell. :P

Gogiboy

fezo

The guys must be selling like mad today. Really quiet in here.

I am tring to remember the last car I had with manual windows. It was probably the 85 Sentra I had until I drowned it in a Noreaster in 1992. Slow as molasses even with a stick but economical as all get out, easy to work on and it would go exactly two weeks after exposure to salt water in the engine.

fezo

Oh, and the last car with the high beam switch on teh floor would be an old 78 Nova....

oldfarmer50

"...would like to see the return of the high beam switch in the footwell..."

Careful, you're letting your age show. Most young people today wouldn't know what you're talking about.

Reminds me of an old retiree who came to drive the school bus. He must have been in his 70's. On his first day out he went to flash his high beams at another vehicle to signal them to proceed. He pressed the switch in the footwell just as he had done on many cars and trucks in his long driving career.

Trouble was, on these buses the switch in the footwell was to control the adjustable steering column. He thought the steering wheel had come off in his hands and slammed on the brakes skidding off the road. He quit the next day.

tlcruz

Other than GP's orphaned Sentra has anyone even seen a new car with manual windows?

There's a guy here @ my work by the name of Joe, whose about 19/20 and has 07 Cobalt LS with manual lock and manual windows.

I've never owned a vehicle that had anything manual! I've been a bit spoiled with automatic locks & windows

jkinzel

I am tring to remember the last car I had with manual windows.

The last car I had with manual windows was a 1980 Monte Carlo we purchased new. I don’t remember if it had the high beam switch on the floor or not. Remind me someone please.
My 1975 Chevy pick-up was the last vehicle I can remember with the high beam switch on the floor. When you opened the hood you could see the ground under the truck even with the 350 V8. :shades:
Open a hood now and all you see is Stuff. :confuse:

jmonroe

I, for one, would like to see the return of the High Beam light switch in the footwell.

I wouldn’t mind that either. When I think about all the things they have done to that little bitty stick it makes me wonder if it fell off would the car even move?

I remember my Father had a 51' or 52' Nash that had a foot switch above the footwell High Beam switch that when you stepped on it, that actuated a motor in the radio and the station was changed to the next preset station. No, I’m not kidding. Pretty advanced for an early 50’s car.

I’ll bet ‘isell’ knows what I’m talking about. Someone once told me that Cadillac and Buick had this but I never checked it out.

Since I brought up radio features, my 68’ Olds had a bar above the radio dial that did the same thing as the Nash when you pushed it. They called it “Wonder Bar”.

jmonroe

jmonroe

I've never owned a vehicle that had anything manual! I've been a bit spoiled with automatic locks & windows

And you probably don't remember fast food joints that didn't have "drive through". :surprise:

jmonroe

sterlingdog

"We had an Asian lady do that back in 1997."

If someone paid real cash today---say in $10's and $20's, would they have to fill out the loan application that has been discussed here so much?

Richard

fezo

We had a 57 Ford that had that bar on top of the radio. Cute gimmick.

joel0622

We would have to figure out some way to get her SSN because she is getting reported to the IRS.

sterlingdog

"Has anyone been able to charge more?"

Back in 1996, I bought a white Buick station wagon with wood trim, blue velvet seats, and all of the bells and whistles. It was one beautiful tank. It was late on a Saturday afternoon. I charged $16,000 on my MC and paid it off when the bill came. Today, of course, I guess you can't charge that much on a card to buy a car. I still have that MC. It has a $55,000 limit on it. If I ever maxed it out, you would have to put me in the hospital! :surprise:

Richard

imidazol97

I couldn't recall having seen a Wonderbar variation in the 57 Fords. So I did some digging. They had a split bar above the radio where one part tuned stations that were stronger and was called Town, and the other part tuned weaker stations too and that was called Country.

Just a little trip down history lane there.

sterlingdog

My father's '56 Crown Victoria had the Town and Country radio bar. It glowed green at night---really neat. And yes, I remember fast food places with no drive through. They had car hops. I should know. I WAS one. Also, the hamburgers, French fries, and milk shakes were made from scratch. It amazes me when I think about it. You didn't actually have to wait too long for your order. My salary was .50 per hour plus tips and all the free food I wanted. This fast food place made the best egg custard pie I have ever eaten. I ate more pies than I did hamburgers.

Richard

fezo

Town and Country radio! That was it!

Yeah, years later I briefly (one summer or so) had a 56 Crown Vic (with a Thunderbird V8 - quick car!) and the same Town and Country radio.

benzserviceguy

Hey guys, here's a STORY for you (and If I can I will not "Mackabee" you with a TO BE CONTINUED .... )

Get a call from my brother in law's wife's mother (Is everybody still with me?)
She wants a new car, is looking to lease and has an 01 Mitsubishi Galant LS with 56K to "trade in".
I ask her what she is looking for (ie; what brand & model) - she says she REALLY likes the 08 ACCORD (ISELL .. you listenin?)
I say "great car" but have you looked at the Camry (Macabee, pay attention now)
She says 'yeah but it looks like an old lady car"
I ask " what about an Altima (GP, pay attention)
she says: "looks FUGLY" fron the rear
I say: "OK , how bout a Benz:
She says: "Even with YOUR discount, I can't afford it"

So, she settles on an 08 EX-L V6 in dark silver with light grey leather interior.

She goes to a delaership in "The valley" where she gets majorly jerked around. Now, she does have "a gentelman" with her and she still gets treated like CRAP.
They kept playing games, switching car, giving her payments for a 4 cyl when she wanted a 6 and "assuring" her that it was a 6!
One of the 'salesmen" (if you can use that term) we preferred slithering snakes (snake, no offense) had the balls to say "What does the purchase price matter, you're leasing" - Purchase price doesn't matter when you lease ..

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS CRAP?

OK, now, I will break my promise (sorry) as I gotta go pick up my NON - DRIVING yet 16 y/o daughter.

TO BE CONTINUED ....

oldfarmer50

"...They had car hops...I WAS one..."

Did you have to work wearing roller skates?

explorerx4

i remember the day my dad came home with a black '56 fairlane with the tbird engine. do you know what the cid was?
on a couple of recent related topics, i rented an '07 kia 4 door that had manual windows and door locks. by far the maual door locks were the biggest pain.
also, i bought a 'lot queen' last month. built in 12-06, purchased 03-08 with 34 miles on it. the car dealer had 3 of the exact same car on the lot, plus another that was identical, other than the exterior color. :confuse:
i liked it, so i bought it. they were very happy to sell it. :shades:

oldfarmer50

"...built in 12-06..."

This may be a basic question but how did you know that? Is there something in the vin # or the window sticker? :confuse: I've often wondered.

fezo

Don't remember what the cid was. Was a fun car at the time I'll tell ya. It was about 12 years old at the time but in nice chape except the paint had faded quite a bit so it was more a pink and gray than red and black....

So what was this 12/06 car you bought in 3/08?

imidazol97

If it was a "Thunderbird" engine, it was 292 cu. in. and 193 horsepower or the V8 272 cu in, at 162 horsepower.

joel0622

This may be a basic question but how did you know that? Is there something in the vin # or the window sticker?

Look at the VIN sticker inside the door. It will tell you.

explorerx4

2 different cars. we had the '56 until 65 when it was traded it for a '64 dodge dart.
i bought my '07 fusion. built in 12-06, on 03-15-08.
the only reasons i can think that it could not sell is that it is awd (epa a couple of mpg lower than a fwd), or the 'camel' interior color (very light color).

fordfool

> I remember my Father had a 51' or 52' Nash that had a foot switch above the footwell High Beam switch that when you stepped on it, that actuated a motor in the radio and the station was changed to the next preset station. No, I’m not kidding. Pretty advanced for an early 50’s car.

The 1953 Oldsmobile 98 Fiesta convertible that I drove from 1960-62 through high school had four switches in the left foot well. The first turned the automatic light dimmer on and off. (The low-high beams would freak out cruising Main Street if the auto-dimmer was left on.) The second switch controlled the high-low beams in manual mode. The third turned on the radio and the fourth changed stations.

link title

I bought it for $250, rebuilt the engine, painted it, and replaced the rag top, doing all the work myself except for the actual spray painting. Sold it for $500.

The local hangout was called the Flying Saucer. And yes, the waitresses wore roller skates. Right out of "Happy Days."

80srockgod

Can someone please tell me the DCX employee discount?

Some people have told me it's a dollar amount under invoice.. some people said it's 3% under invoice... some 6% under invoice...

Is the reason I've heard differeng stories is because it changes with time? Changes depending on make//model?

The last person I believed said it was 6% below invoice across the board for any chrysler product....

What is right?

Thanks!

fezo

292! You jogged my memory. Funny that my minivan had a load more horsepower...

That's something on that Fusion. Must have been a heck of a deal. I like the look of the Fusion. I've yet to drive one. I had shied away from light interiors but some of them look really nice. Usually i go for gray interiors just because they hid dirt.

That said my 00 Accord has an ivory interior that has put up with everything we could throw at it and it doesn't look bad.

mackabee

No, but anything above 10k has to be reported to the IRS. This supposedly keeps track of money launderers.
Mack

jmonroe

The 1953 Oldsmobile 98 Fiesta convertible that I drove from 1960-62 through high school had four switches in the left foot well. The first turned the automatic light dimmer on and off. (The low-high beams would freak out cruising Main Street if the auto-dimmer was left on.) The second switch controlled the high-low beams in manual mode. The third turned on the radio and the fourth changed stations.

Man...that's a lotta switches. :confuse:

How long did it take you to get your degree in the use of those switches till you became proficient enough with their use so you got it right the first time? It sounds like a wrong push or two and you'd find yourself driving at night with no lights except for the radio dial light. :surprise:

I hope there was a lot of reinforcement under that floor board.

jmonroe

mackabee

Did they make you wear shorts or a short skirt with tights and roller skates?
Mack

mackabee

Did they throw in a new set of tires? They tend to go out of round when they sit on one place for a while. Hopefully they rotated their stock frequently.
Mack

mackabee

I don't think we have anyone that works at a Chrysler store in this forum. Sorry.
Mack

imidazol97

>This supposedly keeps track of money launderers.

:shades: And the government is doing a great job of keep track of all that drug money, laundered money, and illegals in the country. :mad: :confuse: :sick:

isellhondas

WHY. would you want the high beam button on the floor?

Just curious.

isellhondas

Of course I know what you are talking about.

My parents had a 1951 Buick Roadmaster that had a "wonder bar" radio with that feature.

I didn't know you could get that on a "bathtub" Nash.

Cadillac and Oldsmobile had this as an option too.

jkinzel

WHY. would you want the high beam button on the floor?

Because even today, after all these year, I still have fleeting moments (flash backs) of looking for the switch on the floor.

Another reason, there is so much crap hung all over the steering wheel and column.

And last: I drive an automatic and my left leg is totally unemployed.

jmonroe

I didn't know you could get that on a "bathtub" Nash.

They were stylish devils weren't they. :P

IIRC, Broderick Crawford drove a Nash on the old Highway Patrol series. There were quite a few police departments back then that had Nash's as their squad cars. We used to have an officer of the law that hung out here, maybe he drove one. :surprise:

Even with all that popularity they went out of business.

My Father always said they were nice riding cars. I'm sure he was right but the looks could kill ya.

jmonroe

snakeweasel

Even with all that popularity they went out of business.

Actually they didn't. Nash merged with the Hudson Motor Car Co. and became the American Motor Company (AMC) in 1954. In 1970 AMC bought Jeep, in 1987 AMC was bought out by Chrysler.

To keep this on topic, I have a friend that lives downstate, Across the street from his parents lives a guy whos father owned the local Nash dealership (He has a few Nashes in the barn).

houdini1

ALL the dimmer switches were on the floor back in those days. Japanese cars changed all that.

fezo

Well, European cars changed it and the Japanese followed them. My 69 Volvo had the high beams on the stalk.

explorerx4

i will have to post some pics on my carspace, at some point.

greanpea68

They tend to go out of round when they sit on one place for a while. Hopefully they rotated their stock frequently.

We call that "scalloped"... Meaning when the tire has a flat spot from sitting to long. I believe you were saying the same thing Mack.

I was just curious if anyone else uses that expression?

GP

obyone

So who's responsible at your dealership for filling out that IRS form?

I wonder about that cause the IRS ran a sting here with 9 out of 10 dealerships failing to report the cash.

greanpea68

Yesterday I had a customer that was interesting. I up him and right away he goes into the car is for my daughter who is not here. ( great the buyer is not here so this will be a deal that happens at another time)

He tells me she has done her research and she wants a huyndai elentra, Malibu, or a civic for $8000 -$10000.... ( great the most economical car I have is $12,000 this is going nowhere fast)

He was reasonable in his pricing for model years but wanted to know what we had in our inventory. We ussualy don't carry anything less than $10,000 because it is ussualy high milage. He wasn't interested in leasing or anything because he wanted to pay cash. SO I take a shot with our 2006 Nissan Sentra with 18k on it. We are selling it for $12,000.

At this time he is telling me that he wants something reliable...

I proceed to tell him that Nissan is one of the most reliable cars out there today along side Toyota and honda....

He stops me dead in my speach and begins to ask me to not BS him because he is a educated buyer and does a lot of research online. And with the research he has done on line doesn't say anything about Nissans being reliable and that they don't in his opinion compare with ( and I quote in order) the elantra, malibu, or the civic.... :confuse:

I say OK everyone has a right to their opinion. And he goes yeah that's my opinion!

SO he doesn't care for Nissan but stops at a Nissan store. He than says he has to go ( which I was happy to hear) but he insisted on giving me his comtact info just in case. We exchaged info and that was that.

What I had learned was apperantly "Nissan isn't a superior import"

Hope everyone has a great day!

GP

jmonroe

We call that "scalloped"... Meaning when the tire has a flat spot from sitting to long. I believe you were saying the same thing Mack.

I was just curious if anyone else uses that expression?

HUH? I always thought “scalloped” was when the tire had rubber worn away on the edges because of incorrect balancing/front end problems and exists at several places around the tire and not just in one place because of the car sitting in one spot for an extended period of time.

Is this a New England misunderstanding or do I detect this is the “sauce” at work again? :confuse:

jmonroe

jkinzel

We call that "scalloped"... Meaning when the tire has a flat spot from sitting to long. I believe you were saying the same thing Mack.

Why am I suddenly hungry for potatoes?