Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,618
    Plus which, you needed a place to store it. Storage capacity was at a premium, since the whole bubble was speculator-driven, not demand-driven. Once the storage capacity was used up, the bubble burst.

    And, here we are.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,778
    actually he was born in new haven, ct.
    subject to some debate :)
    once he retires from office do you think he will buy a tundra pickup, since they are manufactured in texas, when the factory is actually making them?
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,778
    i guess it was the chicken(demand) or the egg(supply) that broke the price.
    i will go with the chicken.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    You're no fun at all!

    Sorry, but as a numbers guy if you put numbers in front of me I will crunch them.

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

  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,618
    Yeah, you and me both.

    That's the pinhead part of my handle.
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Just saw an ad for Hyundai and they said you can bring the car back within one year if you lose your job during that time

    Ok you go to your friendly neighborhood Hyundai dealer buy that new car 6 months later you lose you job and bring the car back. So how are you now supposed to get around? I suspect that they don't keep your trade in to give back to you just in case.

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

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,778
    one of my kids took a bunch of AP math/science courses in high school and did pretty well, got some college credits.
    then they go to university, decide to go in a different direction and it isn't so great.
    we persuaded them to try a somewhat math oriented minor, but they decided to go for a double major(oh crap, they can barely scratch out a 3.0 in their major, but now want to do a double major).
    after starting their 2nd major courses, they are as happy as a clam.
    classes are small and profs seem great(u has a good rep in this school).
    anyways, we will be buying another car if they get a job for the summer.
    wife wants another one, but is no hurry to buy it and pass her current one on, if there is no reason to.
    otherwise the kids have to share our one real extra vehicle.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    If I bought the cop car off of ebay, I could also buy the outfit and really scare some people on the road.

    My cousin lives in Mexico City. Check out how he painted his beater car. He gets pulled over all the time, but apparently it's not illegal to impersonate a foreign police car. :)

    image
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    let me guess, it was speculators.
    the reason the bottom fell out of prices: you actually had to be able to take delivery of the oil.


    Yes, you are close and even more amazing...prices kept spiking while demand was way down. It could have been the oil speculaters that started the real recession, but I think the banks would have done that anyway. We need watchdogs to inspect everything - the system is too complicated and can be easily manipulated. Capitalist system is great, but needs some tweeking. :mad:

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • percussionistpercussionist Member Posts: 204
    We need watchdogs to inspect everything - the system is too complicated and can be easily manipulated.

    I think the watchdogs are the problem - they complicate the system to manipulate it for kickbacks. To quote Ronald Reagan, "Government is not the solution to our problems - government IS the problem"

    We might be in this recession anyway, but banks weren't lending to subprime borrowers before the government started doing it in the late 1990's - they just needed to compete.

    Tying the topics together, I helped the economy by purchasing a new car (did I mention that already?) :blush:
  • percussionistpercussionist Member Posts: 204
    prices kept spiking while demand was way down.

    This is my personal favorite! The electric company needed to raise rates when oil prices went up, to cover their "generation costs". (Call it what it is, "we want a slice of this pie")

    I notice the generation rate has not decreased since oil went down. In fact, they want to raise rates again, citing the following reason: "People are using less, so we need to charge more to keep profits up" :confuse: This is after telling us for years that we need to conserve to save money - I especially like the full color brochures they send every month telling me how to save money by conserving electricity and using energy efficient appliances. :mad:

    To stay on topic, the money I save by using less power (both gas and electric) is used to wash my cars more often.
  • percussionistpercussionist Member Posts: 204
    Ok you go to your friendly neighborhood Hyundai dealer buy that new car 6 months later you lose you job and bring the car back.

    Yes, you can - for any reason, actually. They send me invitations to repurchase my Elantra all the time. They will buy it for $17,000 (which is more than I paid for it new) minus 25 cents per mile driven That's right, $17,000 is what they will buy back my car for minus fees, and wear and tear charges, etc..

    So the grand total for my 07 Elantra Limited would be around $5K less than book value - sign me up!
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    Did anyone see the BYD (Build Your Dream) electric cars...being made in China.
    They look great and.....
    BYD E6 Electric Vehicle Specifications
    So far, all we know is that the E6 will be a 5 seater with an acceleration of 0 to 100 kph of around 10 seconds. Top speed should be top speed of 160 kph (100 mph), and the battery pack, which is located under the rear passenger seats, will be based on BYD's own lithium-ion iron phosphate technology. Range per charge is expected to be 300 km (186 miles).

    But most impressive of all:

    "BYD projected the battery had a life of 2,000 cycles, for a lifetime range of about 600,000 km (373,000 miles)"

    Wow! Even if thats just half true, it's still pretty good.
    BYD

    Cars sell for about $22,000. Now, where does this leave the Volt at 40 miles.

    By the way, you just plug this little sucker into a standard wall outlet. The company made batteries for cell phones before. We'd be better off lending these guys a few billion $$$$$s ;)

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    That's right, $17,000 is what they will buy back my car for minus fees, and wear and tear charges, etc..

    Actually, that's not too bad. You are just paying for the mileage used which seems reasonable, if you need a car and are worried about your job. There were times when I needed a car, wasn't sure about my job, and this would have looked like a pretty good deal.....I would have to read the fine print carefully though!

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    I'm not following your math. let's say it's six months at 15K/yr is 7500 miles, at 25 cents, it's $1875, nowhere near 5 grand. To even get $5000, you would need 20 thousand miles. But your Elantra at that point would be worth less than $11K in excellent condition according to Mr. Kelley's book (as trade). And you would be lucky to find a dealer to actually pay you that much.

    Where is the $5K "below book"? What book? No, my friend, $17K-$5K=$12K would a great deal for returning your '07 Elantra with 20 thousand miles and no questions asked.

    Check your math again. ;)

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Wouldn't it matter how close you were to the bed and how soon after the leak sprung it was when you measured? :D
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,130
    driver...I saw the "60 Minute" piece. And, I agreed. It was hard for me to figure out how the "pundits" said that demand was driving up the price (citing China, India, etc). When, in fact, looking at world wide demand, it was decreasing, had been for awhile. We even debated that in these threads.

    The part that bothers me the most. none of the firms who were knee deep in bidding up the price of oil this past Spring/Summer, would comment. So, Billions of Dollars were bilked out of the public, worldwide. And, no one who was a participant, is willing to comment. Even OPEC said at the time that the run-up was the handiwork of financial institutions.

    Yet, no one is to blame....no one will take responsibility....no one knows who, or why it happened.

    Isn't it funny that the current drop in price coincides with a certain TX oil man leaving the White House.

    BTW, Richard.....I just spied a brand spanking new Black GM on the lot at my nearest LM dealer last night.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • percussionistpercussionist Member Posts: 204
    Check your math again.

    Sorry, I left out that this car has 46,000 miles on it - so the deduction for miles would be $11,500, leaving me with $5500. The Kelley Blue Book TRADE value is $7850, so my math was off, but it's still not a great deal.

    What I mean is, I could trade it in or even outright sell this car to a dealer and get more money than this offer. Just sharing the fine print.
  • golicgolic Member Posts: 714
    From what I read of the "fine print" Hyundai's offer covers up to $7,500 of negative equity. Which this figure was cited as the "typical" first year depreciation value.

    It appears when you bring back the car, they will value it, subtract what is due and if it is within $7,500 you can walk away. Not sure what happens if you are over that amount.

    So, obviously the amount of the down payment/trade-in and the loan terms will play a significant factor in this deal.

    However, I do commend Hyundai for this marketing campaign. They didn't bring out 0%, rebates, employee pricing, employee pricing Plus PLUS...its unique and plays to the concerns of many people who may have hesitated getting into the car market.

    Kudos to them.
  • percussionistpercussionist Member Posts: 204
    However, I do commend Hyundai for this marketing campaign.

    One thing I left out earlier, they are making great cars! Every time I receive the buyback offer in the mail, I laugh and throw it out because we love this car so much and do not ever wish to part with it. It will make us very sad someday when it is no longer ours. :cry:

    I hope the marketing campaign will earn them more business and they can sell more cars. I hope every other automaker will also sell more cars and our sales professionals here will get many great deals and wonderful customers!
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Thanks, but I'm not so desperate as to drive to Ohio to see it. :D

    Richard
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Of course, but your case is somewhat extreme - barely 2 year old car with 46 thousand miles. The offer is geared towards regular folks with regular mileage - and for those people it would actually be a decent deal.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,253
    "...Isn't it funny that the current drop in price coincides with a certain TX oil man leaving the White House..."

    While no fan of that oil man I'm not sure he's the whole story. The 60 minutes piece mentioned that the oil speculation started with Enron at the end of the reign of the man who felt your pain. Most of our political leaders are bought and paid for. The current mess is the result.

    I try to resist becoming a "true believer" for either side.

    I just hope that our domestic auto industry can come out of the position that our leaders have put it in.

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

  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    Thanks, but I'm not so desperate as to drive to Ohio to see it.

    Talk nice to the guy. He has a drivers license and likes to drive. You could end up having a Grand Marquis delivered with some gently driven highway-broken-in-miles for just a bed and breakfast and a Greyhound ticket to get him home. :surprise:

    jmonroe

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Check your math again.

    I did the math on my Elantra, at $17K less 25 cents a mile I would owe them almost $23K. :surprise:

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

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Only for the first half second as water having a low viscosity spreads very quickly.

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

  • golicgolic Member Posts: 714
    How do you factor in the natural absorption materials, like carpeting and blankets? And what about the cat and dog drinking it??
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,690
    > I'm not so desperate as to drive to Ohio

    Are you suggesting there's something you don't like about Ohio? ;)
    (Imidazol97 says sitting looking at the indoor/outdoor thermometer reading 10.9 Fahrenheit on the ledge of the storage barn!!! and lower to come tonight and next two nights.)

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    says sitting looking at the indoor/outdoor thermometer reading 10.9 Fahrenheit

    Lucky you, it's one below here.

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

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    You're at 10.9 F and I just had the nerve to complain about 28.0 F? Shut my mouth! I complained because I can't put my top down when it is below freezing...or at least I don't try to do it.

    I love Ohio, especially the river. I had dinner several years ago on the river at a wonderful restaurant---on the West Virginia side. Can't remember the name of it.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    If GG would deliver that new GM to Pinehurst for $17k, he could have the B&B, a return plane ticket, and I would cook him some Bar-B-Qed spare ribs with corn bread and baked beans, Hell, I'll even get him a date with last year's Miss North Carolina. She is a former student of mine. She drives a navy blue BMW 3 Series. :D

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    One below?! It's a wonder that your calculators don't freeze up! :P

    The coldest day of my life was in your city on Christmas Eve, 1969. I was trying to get home from a business trip. I had the last ticket on the last flight out of Chicago before they closed the airport due to ice and snow. Why do I remember this so well? There are two reasons. My friend's Pontiac GTO died on the way to the terminal, and I nearly missed my flight. Secondly, we damaged the landing gear on take-off because we hit a block of ice and snow that the ground crew missed. It was repaired in-flight. I've never been so glad to get off of a plane in my life. I haven't returned to your city since then.

    Richard
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    She is a former student of mine. She drives a navy blue BMW 3 Series.

    Will she let GG drive her navy blue BMW too?

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    My friend's Pontiac GTO died on the way to the terminal, and I nearly missed my flight.

    Another D3 lemon.......what does he drive these days?

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "Will she let GG drive her navy blue BMW too?"

    Only if he wears white cotton gloves and hospital shoe covers. ;) She wanted a BMW since she was 13. The week before the competition, her father told her that if she won the state title he would buy her a BMW. He told me it was the most expensive bet that he ever made. I told him that he shouldn't have bet against a sure thing.

    Richard
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    You with your accountant's math again ;) That's why I'm an engineer - we use math, too but we also apply common sense to out problems, such as cutoffs, loops and conditional statements :P

    BTW, the offer is for new buys and is only for one year after purchase. While it is physically possible to drive 160K miles in one year, let's say it isn't likely. Even you needed a few years for that, haven't you?

    25 cent/mile clause is not unheard of, but it usually is used in $30K+ lux cars low-payment lease offers for overmileage penalty, not Hyundai-like class. I would say, it's obviously a gimmick that is not great, but may work for some people - especially considering (still) poor resale value of the car.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "...what does he drive these days?"

    Would you believe that 40 years later he drives a Pontiac Solstice and a Yukon XL? That boy has always loved Pontiacs.

    Richard
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    The coldest day of my life was in your city on Christmas Eve, 1969. I was trying to get home from a business trip. I had the last ticket on the last flight out of Chicago before they closed the airport due to ice and snow. Why do I remember this so well? There are two reasons. My friend's Pontiac GTO died on the way to the terminal, and I nearly missed my flight. Secondly, we damaged the landing gear on take-off because we hit a block of ice and snow that the ground crew missed. It was repaired in-flight. I've never been so glad to get off of a plane in my life. I haven't returned to your city since then.

    When I read that I instantly pictured you and John Candy driving down the rooad in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles :D
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    "...what does he drive these days?"
    Would you believe that 40 years later he drives a Pontiac Solstice


    Actually, my 84 Camaro broke down at a critical time. I was headed home on a 5 hour trip and I turned the car off to go into a bank, and when I came out it wouldn't start. Had to take it in to GM dealer and they fixed it in an hour...on a Friday afternoon - I was glad of that. Then when I got half way home I went through Barrie Ontario which had been hit by a tornado exactly one hour before. If my Camaro hadn't broken down I would have been driving through right when the tornado came...I guess GM should put me in one of their ads....breakdowns can be a good thing :sick:

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • otto8otto8 Member Posts: 116
    A local Watertown/Syracuse dealer groups problems continue to
    mount since the closing of their Ford dealer and the possible closure
    of their Chev./Buick store.
    Now a bank claims they have defaulted and want their $10 million
    because of problems with their Dodge and Import stores !

    http://www.newzjunky.com/court/090113hsbc.htm
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,130
    If GG would deliver that new GM to Pinehurst for $17k, he could have the B&B, a return plane ticket, and I would cook him some Bar-B-Qed spare ribs with corn bread and baked beans, Hell, I'll even get him a date with last year's Miss North Carolina.

    Tempting Richard (especially the BBQ part). But, unless you're willing to pay me for the optional "window etching", mop & glow, safety interlock, extended warranty, fabric guard, $500 conveyance fee (to get it to you), $1,000 doc fee....and of course, the $1,500 "black car fee", I'm afraid I'll have to decline....... :P

    But, about that date with Miss North Carolina....... :P

    I'm actually in the western part of the state (you were on the eastern side). We've got the same river here. Some good restaurants near the water, too.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,130
    imid....if it makes you feel any better, the heater went out on my Tahoe this a.m. on the way to meet with a prospective client in Columbus. A nearly 2 hour drive with NO HEAT and outside temp reading 13. My feet were numb. Thanks to heated seats, my butt kept warm.

    Meeting was a bust. My Tahoe is sitting at the local Chevy dealer. They have to pull out the entire electronic module. And, they don't have the parts. We'll see how Chevy's "trip interruption" warranty works. The dealership is waiting word from Chevy on whether they'll cover the cost of a rental car so I can return home. As it stands, I'm drinking their (stale) coffee, using their internet, awaiting my fate.

    Of all the times for a heater to go out...... :sick:
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,594
    My Tahoe is sitting at the local Chevy dealer. They have to pull out the entire electronic module. And, they don't have the parts.

    See my post #37951 above. It might be fate. Maybe you'll pick up a bigger client while you are waiting.

    I am feeling your angst GG....I have been in those situations myself. Hope it all works out and you make it home in warmth and comfort.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • cdn_tchcdn_tch Member Posts: 194
    (Imidazol97 says sitting looking at the indoor/outdoor thermometer reading 10.9 Fahrenheit on the ledge of the storage barn!!! and lower to come tonight and next two nights.)

    The feeling of cold is relative. Even -1F looks positively balmy right now as the outdoor temp here is -29F and with windchill is -49F. :(
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Where in heavens name do you live---near Santa's house? :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "...Planes, Trains, and Automobiles."

    LOL! I guess it did look like that.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "If my Camaro hadn't broken down..."

    They say that timing is everything in life. It was certainly true in your case.

    Richard
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,690
    Oh my god. I finished the hot chocolate I had on my desk and went and turned the thermostat up a degree. You're making me feel colder with those big numbers!

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • golicgolic Member Posts: 714
    Its a good day to go take a walk around the used car lot and get a quick deal!!

    I would always wait to hit the Christmas tree stand on the coldest day in December. You could always work a quick deal when the wind chill hit 30 below and you told the guy you would tie it to the car yourself.....
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,690
    >They have to pull out the entire electronic module.

    Sounds like one of the actuators (electric motors that moves the vanes to control the air flow) might have died. Or the piece of the arm on the vane broke.

    Possibly the controlling programmer that decides how much to move might have died, but could you adjust between floor and defrost, e.g.?

    Actuators should be available from another area dealer for them to "Rush" parcel service to their store for repair. If the unit is designed like Buick's parts are replaceable by owners with a rating of 1 out of 10 on the shadetree mechanic scale.
    It's sort of like people putting Windows 7 on their computer as a beta.

    image

    image

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

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