Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    In case this has brought up a sudden hunger..... Atomic Fireballs.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    so far, i have yet to see a fusion hybrid on the road.

    So far I have yet to see a Genesis; on the road or in a parking lot. I am not kidding, not a single one. I think I bought a dud. :cry:

    jmonroe

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

  • cdnpinheadcdnpinhead Member Posts: 5,630
    I think I bought a dud.

    Not by a long shot. Take pleasure in driving something unique, unlike 3 series, all Hondas, C & E Mercs and many others.

    Enjoy! (as if. . .)
    '08 Acura TSX, '17 Subaru Forester
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,639
    not a single one. I think I bought a dud.

    Nah, you're just on the leading edge, others will follow.

    All the write up have been excellent, I think the Genesis does have to carve out a niche market.......luxury at a lower price, which won't be easy. Not very many ads too, that could help. It might not have been a good time to launch a luxury car too, and not too many people want to try something new and different, during tough times.

    Nothing wrong with the car, or the price.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,356
    That is because the guy that brings the paper drives a Ford !!

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    not a single one. I think I bought a dud.

    I've seen one here in my little town in Colorado ... driven, if you can believe it, by someone who looks 30-ish. Of course, he's replaced the stock wheels with custom rims (black, IIRC).

    Not sure if it's a V6 or the V8, though.
  • crkeehncrkeehn Member Posts: 513
    It makes me want to go to the Cracker Barrel, they have a nice supply of retro candies. It's fun to tell my sons about the candies that I used to eat as a child.

    I might add, I drove the family to the Cracker Barrel in my van, which I bought at a Saturn Dealer. I didn't feel like a clubbed seal after buying the van. ;)
  • tomcatt630tomcatt630 Member Posts: 124
    The Genesis looks like any other Hyundai/Kia, so it is hard to tell if I've seen any, other than the dealer a block away. ;)

    FWIW, the Fusion and current Taurus have evolved a lot quicker than the old Taurus, Contour, and Tempo did. Those hardly changed at all.
  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,356
    If you wax them too much they become invisible !!

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,965
    you bought an exclusive car. of course you won't see many.
    a new family moved in at the beginning of our street.
    they have an azera, but since they have red sox stuff plastered onto their cars, i won't stop and introduce myself and tell them i saw chipmunks chewing up their garage.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • jmonroejmonroe Member Posts: 8,989
    If you wax them too much they become invisible !!

    Then they oughta put a warning in the owners manual. :P

    jmonroe

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

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Good thing for me it's a pretty good drive to the nearest Cracker Barrel. The two youngest would want to eat there all the time.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,639
    Conan said GM has sold Saab to a company that just makes 12 cars a year. Just 12 cars a year. GM thinks this will be a good match, since GM expects to sell just 12 cars a year. :)

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    I'm in Mexico right now on vacation, and I saw a car I didn't recognize. Turns out it's a FAW. It's Chinese.

    The interesting thing is that there were building a plant in Mexico to open in 2010. However, it looks like they canceled the project. So who knows what will happen? :confuse:

    Their wikipedia entry:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Automobile_Works
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,421
    "...I'm in Mexico right now..."

    Have you seen the factory where Chrysler makes the PT Cruiser? Just wondering if they put beer cans in the door panels like in Detroit.

    Got the wife to test drive a PT today in the rain. She was so scared that she would crash it that she made herself sick. She still thinks that it's "cute" but she thinks the interior is cheap. I spoke to the salesman and he let us look at a Touring level trim that was in for service. She liked that better even though I couldn't see any difference.

    I'll probably have them do a dealer trade for a Touring if we can come to terms. Edmunds says TMV is 18K+ after rebates, There might be as much as 2K extra dealer cash hidden in the bushes but I can't tell.

    What do you guys suggest, maybe a low-ball at 16.5 to test the waters? I can't see paying much more than 17-17.5K for a car that's way obsolete and going out of production. I see 2009 models listed on Autotrader with under 1000 miles for less than 14K . Isell must be right that the re-sale value stinks.

    Maybe I should just fly down to Florida, pay the $599 doc fee and drive home.

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

  • nortsr1nortsr1 Member Posts: 1,060
    The Pt is "NOT OUT of Production". It has been extended to include 2010 modelsYou cah get some excellent deals on a new PT...go for the top of the line model...better interior...better tires,etc.......PT's do not get good gas mileage...trust me!!!!
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,639
    They were interviewing a GM dealer who was cut last month. He is in a small town and was in business selling Pontiac, Buick and GMC for 54 years.....this was the son and the father staqrted the business. He was upset for a few reasons;
    * he built a loyal following of customers who bought 300 to 700 new cars a year from them
    *in 2003 he spent $3.5 million to upgrade his facsilities as GM insisted
    *He was tolde he was being cut in a terse email he received 2 hours later than expected
    *There is a Chev dealer in town that didn't get cut, but no explanation was given as to why he was cut
    *The nearest Pon-Buick-GMC dealer is about 25 miles away.
    He doesn't see how this could benefit GM. Some of his loyal customers will go to the other GM dealer, but most will probably buy another type of car. GM is offering about $500,000 to close, but he owes a lot more for the $3.5 reconstruction. He has 45 employees that he feels responsible for.
    Guess that is the new GM! :sick:

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,639
    I'm in Mexico right now on vacation, and I saw a car I didn't recognize. Turns out it's a FAW. It's Chinese.

    I read the wikapedia link, very interesting. I wonder what will happen when all these Chinese companies really get going. Labor is so cheap in China, we were on a small cruise ship on the Yangze R. with about 100 passengers, and 120 crew members. More crew than passengers, it is mind boggling.

    How are things in Mexico? Are you in a resort area or in the real Mexico?

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,196
    driver....I think that's a sentiment that's being shared by a lot of the dealers who got the notice that they're being axed. Not quite sure where I fall on the whole ideal of axing dealers. From what I've read, they cost GM/Chrysler nothing. Don't know if I believe that. It has to cost GM and Chrysler something. They offer incentives on most models. So, there's that cost. I would imagine there's a certain amount of dollars it costs them to support those dealers, too. I would imagine it's much less expensive to support 1/3 less dealers.

    Still, I'm of the mind that if the dealers can't be profitable, they'll eventually fall by the way side, anyway.

    If I had a large investment in a dealership, and they said I could no longer have it, I'd be more than a little perturbed, to be sure.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,421
    "...The Pt is "NOT OUT of Production"..."

    I thought for sure that I read that 2009 would be the last year for it along with the Pacifica and the Crossfire (I think). Maybe I'm wrong.

    What do you think of an offer of 16.5K for a Touring trim? Too high? Too low? Just right? If they have 2K dealer cash it might be doable.

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

  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    Without going into details, pretty much everybody knows this country has too much retail (stores, car dealers, apparel mfrs. etc.), but nobody wants to go. Everybody involved thinks it should be the other guy.

    The whole thing about painful decisions is there is pain to be experienced. Also by those who may not deserve it. I don't know if this guy deserved to be cut. Maybe not. But just like Clint Eastwood said before he killed Gene Hackman "Deserve ain't got nothing to do with it" ;):(

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,639
    I would imagine there's a certain amount of dollars it costs them to support those dealers, too.

    This dealer says it doesn't cost GM anything to have him as a dealer. He is in a small town that covers a wide rural area. I get the feeling he is in an area where people would be very loyal to a dealer who has been there for 54 years, and probably loyal to a company like GM too, and they probably buy a lot of trucks in an area like that - the town is surrounded by farms.

    The only cost savings to GM by cutting dealers is it makes the dealers remaining stronger, in theory it should keep the selling price of their cars higher with less competition, and if dealers make more profit they can build better dealerships. I think a dealership like this one is more beneficial to GM than not having it. This is the type of dealership you would want to keep.

    There is a fantastic opportunity for some car maker to come along and pick up a network of good dealers.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,639
    everybody knows this country has too much retail (stores, car dealers, apparel mfrs.

    True, but this was a dealer with 54 years and with loyal customers and the type who buy GM....rural people in a small town who stay with the known, and incidentally buy trucks, which is mainly what GM is selling these days.

    I am sure many dealers had to go...there were too many to support the sales. But, I think the experts cut and slashed to make it look like they were doing something, but the experts don't analyze the real story. They are experts who have to justify their jobs by showing they are taking strategic steps to make GM work, but they don't study every situation.

    I have seen the experts in action, and they often don't have a clue what they are doing, but they have to appear to do something so they can get a pay check.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    It's sort of funny that while Chrysler originally designed the PT with 20-somethings in mind - to hook them on Chrysler products early in their car-buying lives - most of the people who actually buy them are (ahem) "mature" men with screen names like "oldfarmer50".

    Has anyone spotted a PT with someone under the age of 45 at the wheel?
  • vtdogvtdog Member Posts: 163
    Normally I would not comment here as I am not in the car business, but having had the PT cruiser as a rental literally dozens of times I feel that I know enough about the car to offer a learned opinion.

    Once you get past lousy gas mileage, terrible breaking, poor a/c, and awful handling it is a fine car.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,639
    Has anyone spotted a PT with someone under the age of 45 at the wheel?

    Lady at work here is just under 40 and she loves her PT. It is a an 03 and has almost 150,000 miles on it, though I am sure the repairs she has had would have bought her a brand new car by now.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,639
    Once you get past lousy gas mileage, terrible breaking, poor a/c, and awful handling it is a fine car.

    lol, that is kinda funny review. Is there any good news?

    Maybe, the sitting up high and the trunk space?

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • lrguy44lrguy44 Member Posts: 2,197
    After all, it is a Neon in sheep's clothing
  • 1932highboy1932highboy Member Posts: 1
    I have owned a PT since 2001. I have over 100k on it with no issues. As far as gas mileage, braking, A/C and handling its fine in all areas I have seen many "kids" driving them also. If you don't own one don't put them down.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    We've got a 19 year old kid here at work who drives a PT Cruiser but I'd bet anything her over 45 parents actually bought the car.

    My brother has one. He's 60.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,356
    I remember when they first came out and I kinda liked them. Took a closer look and sat in one and that was enough for me. It may be a fine car but I found the interior cramped and claustrophobic so I crossed it off my list. Probably unfair of me, but hey, what's unfair got to do with it? :)

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    The few times I've been in one I thought they were fine. I like some of the retro touches and they hold a ton of stuff for their size.

    I think from a marketing standpoint the problem was there's no way to do a follow up act. Well, unless they want to do a small 57 DeSoto....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • speterson1speterson1 Member Posts: 228
    My father-in-law wanted one of those when they came out, and we got the chance to sit in one. I'm 6'4" and I can't even fit in them. It was a little cramped for him too.

    I don't think I've ever seen anyone under 40 driving one either. My retired neighbor across the street has a cute little orange one that I think he likes pretty well.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    I sold a PT to a 20 something year old guy. He was very happy with it!

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • nortsr1nortsr1 Member Posts: 1,060
    All I can tell you is that in Florida, all the dealers sell for "below invoice" and then subtract the incentives besides. Check the invoice price here at edmunds with exactly what options are included. There is a lot of "mfg. to dealer incenitive" and consumer rebate availabe on the PT and YES they will still do 2010 year model.
  • verdugoverdugo Member Posts: 2,288
    How are things in Mexico? Are you in a resort area or in the real Mexico?

    Was in Mexico City for a few days, and I'm in beautiful Huatulco now (beach resort where about 85% of tourists are Mexican). So I am in the real Mexico in this global world :)

    To bring post OT: There are more car brands available in Mexico than in the US. I drove by a FIAT delership, but haven't seen many on the road. There are a lot of Jeep Liberty and Patriots here. I guess all the ones they couldn't sell in the US ;)
  • crkeehncrkeehn Member Posts: 513
    I had two PT Cruisers, both 2002. They were fine cars, no problem with braking or handling. Gas mileage for the automatic was okay, for the 5 speed was good.

    When I broke my ankle, I really appreciated the high seating of the PT, it made it very easy to get in and out of.

    When we moved to NC from MD, my last trip was in the PT Cruiser. I had all my remaining household goods packed in the car, I was amazed how much I was able to squeeze in. Unfortunately, with two teenage sons, the car was getting a bit too small for longer trips and we had to go for something bigger.

    I will admit that the interiors of the newer cars aren't as nice, Chrysler has done quite a bit of downgrading in the past 7 years.
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,421
    "...the people who actually buy them are "mature" men..."

    Actually, the car would be for Mrs. farmer who would get a laugh out of you calling me "mature" as she has always considered me pretty immature. ;)

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

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,965
    i grew up near what used to be a SAC base. i figured i would climb up on the roof and watch it all happen if it was time.
    The way this week has been going, I wouldn't dare buy a new car, I would have a warranty claim as soon as I drove it off the lot.
    Sunday, went to wathc the sart of the 24 hour of lemans, tv is dead.
    Monday I drove my mother's car. I was going to use it to pick her up from the airport on Tuesday after she was away for a month. Tuesday, car won't start.
    Thursday, my favorite home computer is dead.
    Wife told me not to touch anything else in the house, but I am sneaking some time in on a laptop we never use.
    Oh,oh, she's home.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,493
    Actually, the car would be for Mrs. farmer who would get a laugh out of you calling me "mature" as she has always considered me pretty immature.

    My wife says that I'll never go through a second childhood because I've never outgrown my first childhood... :P

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,593
    Has anyone spotted a PT with someone under the age of 45 at the wheel?

    Quite often. FWIW the vast majority of their ragtops I see are driven by 20 something women.

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

  • jimbresjimbres Member Posts: 2,025
    FWIW the vast majority of their ragtops I see are driven by 20 something women.

    Must be the difference between Chicago & New York. Around here, most PT drivers are middle-aged guys with really bad comb overs. You'll almost never see a young woman driving a domestic brand.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    I don't know your week sounds like teh old Rodney Dangerfield joke -

    " Its been a rough day. I got up this morning ... put on a shirt and a button fell off.
    I picked up my briefcase and the handle came off.
    I'm afraid to go to the bathroom."
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,639
    most PT drivers are middle-aged guys with really bad comb overs.

    lol But I find that is true too....I don't think there is an absolute demographic. I don't see too many convertible PTs around though, but they are kind of cute.

    There was a review in the newspaper for a VW beetle convertible. He said he liked the car a lot, but it would be too much of a chick car for him to consider buying one. Guess, some cars are more for males and some more females.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,493
    There was a review in the newspaper for a VW beetle convertible. He said he liked the car a lot, but it would be too much of a chick car for him to consider buying one. Guess, some cars are more for males and some more females.

    I believe that there used to be a Federal law that prohibited heterosexual males from owning or driving Golf/Rabbit cabriolets.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • KCRamKCRam Member Posts: 3,516
    [Names changed to protect the innocent]

    I get a call last night (Friday 6/19) from my friend Alice in Kansas. Her hubby Jim was in their old beater of a Toyota and got in a crash (not worth doing anything with, junkyard gave them $200 less the tow fee), so they had been car shopping. They were at first going to get a small pickup like a Colorado, but kept their minds open about a car as well. After making some calls, they went to a large multi-line GM dealer and the salesman they spoke to on the phone was with a customer, so he passed them to a colleague. He asked what their budget was and what they were looking for, and among other vehicles they looked over, they examined and test drove a 2006 Pontiac G6. Very clean, only 37K on the odo. Price was right at just $9800. They decided to pull the trigger on the G6. Salesguy calls and sends it for prep, and the original salesguy also pops in to help out. Alice and Jim both said it was a no-pressure deal, they both liked the car, and everything was fine.

    Since this will be Jim's car, he took the first drive and they stop by his parents' house nearby to show it off. Then he lets Alice drive the 90 minute ride home while he drives her Grand Vitara. Alice notices on the drive home that the car has XM radio and it's activated. She asked me if that was possible on a used car, and I said if the previous owner had paid ahead and then decide to leave it on, sure.

    Phone rings this morning (Saturday) and it's Alice again.

    A: You're not gonna believe this... they gave us the wrong car!
    K: Say what?
    A: They sent us home in an 09, not an 06!
    K: You gotta be kidding me!

    Same color, same trim level. Jim was going through the glove compartment and notice that the manual was a 2009. Alice thought maybe they couldn't find an 06 manual and tossed that in there since most of the controls were the same. Digging further, they found the 2009 window sticker neatly folded. They looked at the VIN on the sticker and the car and they matched. So Alice calls the dealer and asks for the salesguy, and the receptionist says everyone is in the sales meeting and could she take a message, or was this something she needed to pull him for.

    A: Well, I don't know how serious you feel this is... you gave us the wrong car.
    Recept: Are you serious?
    A: Yeah, we bought an 06, and this is definitely an 09.
    R: You're serious?
    [Alice then gives her the VIN and the stock number and the receptionist looks it up]
    R: Oh my God! (starts laughing) In my 5 years here, that has NEVER happened before!
    A [amused at it all]: Is someone gonna get in trouble for this?
    R: No, not as far as job loss, but someone will have to take responsibility for it.

    The original salesguy calls back a few minutes later. (Apparently he left his name on the deal and did a split commission with the other guy.) He said he didn't want to point fingers but he thinks he knows what happened and implicated the lot jockey. He checked and made sure the 06 was still physically there and arranged to make the swap, after jokingly asking, "wanna trade up the 06 for that 09? Some great rebates on it!" He said regardless, everyone involved in the deal and the mixup would probably get harassed about it for a good 6 months. When Alice asked when the dealership would have spotted it on their own, he replied they would have noticed when moving cars on the lot.

    So of course, I ask the obvious question...

    K: Neither of you checked the odometer until this morning??
    A [sheepish laugh]: Nope. but when we did, we both said 250 miles is way less than 37,000!

    The two G6s were otherwise identical, and to the casual-glancer, were easily mistaken for each other. After they discovered the mistake, Alice said, "you know, I didn't think the car we test-drove had an XM antenna..."

    Yeah, a few employees of that dealership are in for a thorough chew-out today.

    kcram - Pickups/Wagons Host
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,639
    They sent us home in an 09, not an 06!

    Good story..........why not keep the 09?

    Actually $9800 for an 06 with 37k sounds like a good deal too. Who wrote up the paperwork, wouldn't you know what you were doing when they had to put in the year and everything? Did this take place in a little town where everyone is married to their own relatives?

    I never heard of anything like that, but I suppose they will take the car back, get the whole thing fixed up, and the dealer will give a few oil changes at least to make up for all the inconvenience.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Apparently he left his name on the deal and did a split commission with the other guy.

    I wonder what the commission would be on a $9,800 '09 G6? ;)

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Or they may owe the dealer a few bucks for letting them drive the upgrade :D

    I must say I have never seen anything like that happen beofre either. We have billed out the wrong car before but never delivered the wrong one.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    That's a funny story. I can see how it might have gotten mixed up.

    The salesperson says to a lot guy: "get that gold G6 cleaned up for delivery". Lot guy gets the wrong car cleaned up and gives the keys to the salesperson who delivers the car. The saleperson should have noticed though that the stock numbers are different for new and used (we use different stock number format and different colored key tags for new and used).

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

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