Stories from the Sales Frontlines

lrguy44

Actually, the Freelander was a success in the rest of the world. Of course, they were diesel. It actually was the best selling small SUV in Europe more than once. The choice of the 6 cyl petrol engine and tranny for North America was a disaster. The engine was made by rover cars (disassociated from Land Rover many years ago) and has been a headache. We will still take them in trade but do not put much in them and wholesale them if possible.

isellhondas

One thing is worse. How about when they put those thick slipperly metal plates in the road? I watched a cop drop one once on a metal plate.

How do they stop anyway? Not good?

isellhondas

A few years ago when we didn't know any better, we bought a couple of these at fire sale prices at the auction. Our buyer was pretty proud of himself until they took forever to sell and caused no end of trouble.

I think we ended up taking one of them back to the auction where we lost a couple of grand.

lrguy44

Actually, it stops OK if you know how and don't lock it up or just use one brake (front and rear are separate controls). Now BMW, Honda and some Harleys have ABS and are even better. One thing I love about hogs is even though I am 65 I feel like a kid when I go into a dealer. It is just full of old guys.

lrguy44

What do you ride?

im_brentwood

Me? A Ducati

lrguy44

Great bikes - one of our customers has a 2009 Desmosedici - $75k worth of bike. What a screamer!

jayrider

had a red 84 honda magna 500. Took the safety course and drove for 3 years. No problems -- always anticpated worst case scenarios.
paid 1700 new and sold it for 1500 in perfect condition. Sold it just before my son's 16th birthday.

tifighter

Over here, I have a Honda ST1300 ABS. I think roadburner has Triumph Speed Triple. I used to have a Triumph Sprint ST, but wanted something that could handle a passenger. Like the bike!

lrguy44

I had a 02 Dyna Sport that I loved but my wife could only do 40 miles on the back and the vibration got to her. One day I was in for service and she came running into the service area crying stop the process - your new bike is up front. She drags me to this new 06 Ultra classic Electra Glide. I said I did not want all the crap hanging off the bike and maybe we should look at a Road King. She said NO, she wanted the throne of a rear seat. So I am still riding the 06 Ultra.
The moral of the story is women do buy most vehicles.

roadburner

What do you ride?

A 1996 Speed Triple fitted with seat cowl, a Triumph/Sebring 3-into-1 "off road" exhaust, and Triumph six-pot front calipers:



Some day I'd like to have an XR1200 and a BMW F 800 GS.

driver100

We have a column in the local paper called Q & A with Dennis O'Sullivans Auto Service. One thing that always amazes me is the person writing the complaint tells their story, then when you hear the garages story, they are really quite different. So, here is the question:

Q.Is it reasonable to expect that when you buy a used car that you do not have to put hundreds of dollars into it in the first year? I purchased a used car about 10 months ago froma used car lot in Toronto. Since purchasing the car, I have replaced the radiator, transmission, power steering rack and done the brakes. This has cost me more than $6000. I was told when I bought the car that it was a one owner and that the car had been looked after. This dealership should be exposed for selling this kind of junk. I hope you agree. Would appreciate your comments.

Sounds like a shady dealer.
I'll do the reply separate.......

driver100

Here is Dennis O'Sullivans reply;

A This car was leased and driven by a co-worker. When it came time to return the car after the lease expired, you agreed with the lesee that you wantede to buy the car and you informed the dealer that you wanted to buy the car at the agreed upon buy back price. The dealer agreed and even let you get your own safety on the car, something many dealers will not do for a good reason. The dealer basically wrote up the contract for you and paid out the agreed upon buy back price. I am sorry but I do not see where the dealer has done anything wrong other than not doing their own safety check on the car. I also checked with the dealer to see what the history was on the car. The car had never been back to the dealer since it was leased 3 years ago. I would be very interested to see what the service history was on this vehicle and only your co-worker would have that information.

I like the way he gets the otherside of the story.

mikefm58

LOL, nice story, I love it how so many details were left out of the original question, blaming the dealer for the vehicle issues.

How Bout Them Cowboys!

houdini1

How Bout Them Cowboys!

Richard would say that you should have said, "How about those Cowboys"! But he will probably let this one slide.

sterlingdog

"...that I couldn't have a Miata as I have more than one friend."

That was a perfect response!

I also have a good friend that has the Pontiac Solstice. It's just too small for me. You should see the trunk. It MIGHT hold one shoe box.

Richard

fezo

Swell. Leaves me with a game next week - Cowboys - Vikings that I want both teams to lose.

On the other hand the Jets advance. I'm a Giants fan but the Jets will do in a pinch.

You remind me. A buddy of mine is about to trade in his four year old Outback for a new one. I have to see what he might want for it. The 00 Accord is starting to hit he little repairs too often thing. Yesterday it was a power steering line which is more labor that I'd ever believe. At least it wasn't the pump.

sterlingdog

I won't correct Mike because he is using a colloquialism of celebration. I will correct you because you need to put Mike's exclamation point inside your quotation marks. It's his mark, not yours. Got cha! :P

Richard

sterlingdog

If you ride a motorcycle, I can understand your preference for smaller cars. As for me, you know how much I like those big floaters.

Richard

houdini1

NOOOOO !!!! I scream, raising both fists to the Heavens !!

driver100

NOOOOO !!!! I scream, raising both fists to the Heavens !!

Using too many exclamation marks!

jayrider

exclamation marks aren't the problem-----it's all those OOOOO's.

oldfarmer50

"...This has cost me more than $6000..."

Sounds like my van.

driver100

Sounds like my van.

Yeh, I was wondering how you were doing with your van.

Has anyone ever bought a descent used vehicle for under $1000? Under $3000? I think it would be like winning the lottery if someone did. The only reason for selling a car at that price is because it is costing a lot more than that to keep it on the road.

jipster

The car had never been back to the dealer since it was leased 3 years ago

I have replaced the radiator, transmission, power steering rack and done the brakes. This has cost me more than $6000.

Sounds bogus. These items usually don't need service, or repair, on cars only 3 or 4 years old. Even if you drove like a lunatic, it would seem unlikely. :sick:

Not changing the coolant wouldn't destroy the radiator so soon... transmission fluid was probably okay.

driver100

exclamation marks aren't the problem-----it's all those OOOOO's

and he doesn't need a capital on "Heavens".

3 major mistakes in one short sentence :P

driver100

Sounds bogus. These items usually don't need service, or repair, on cars only 3 or 4 years old. Even if you drove like a lunatic, it would seem unlikely.

I don't believe in conspiracy theories. I don't see why the guy would make this up when he is writing to a newspaper columnist looking for help. Obviously, they will check out the bills etc. Why would someone make up a story asking for help, when the facts are going to be all checked? And, the columnist did look into the matter. Unless he just makes up the letters that appear in his column.

He did say, he doesn't even know if the car was ever taken in for servicing, because it wasn't done by the dealer. I think it is possible a person could lease a car and not spend a penny on maintenance, and then just hand it in after 3 years.

houdini1

when the facts are going to be all checked

Talk about your major blunders in sentence structure! :shades:

houdini1

I am about to buy a 1999 Ford Contour for $1200. It has about 95,000 miles on it. I will let you guys know if it turns out to be a money pit.

jipster

I don't believe in conspiracy theories.

I bet somebody put you up to writing that. :surprise:

It just sounds unreasonable that someone would write in asking if it were "reasonable" to spend $6,000 on repairs on a car less than 4 years old. Duhhhh... no lady, it's normal that you would spend $10,000. You got a great deal. :lemon:

Like I said, very little maintenance, besides oil changes, need to be done on a car with so few years. She may have just gotten a hold of a lemon, but I doubt lack of maintence contributed to the repair bill.

mikefm58

Richard would say that you should have said, "How about those Cowboys"! But he will probably let this one slide.

I can tell you're not a REAL Cowboy fan. "How Bout Them Cowboys" are the exact words Jimmie Johnson said after they won a big playoff game in one of their super bowl runs in the mid-90s.

Anything but "How Bout Them Cowboys" is incorrect.

houdini1

Yeah, I know. I was just pulling your chain. I do like the Cowboys and it was great to see them win.

I don't know how often you post here but we are always kidding Richard about correcting our grammar. He is a retired English Professor from Harvard and really keeps us on our toes.

imidazol97

>How Bout Them Cowboys

How 'bout them Cowboys.

8sparkplugs

I bought a 2000 Ford Contour about 4 yrs ago with 120k miles for $2000. I sold it 35k miles and 2 yrs later for $1750. Other than oil changes the only money I spent on it was 2 tires, about $135. It can be done.

oldfarmer50

"...it is possible a person could lease a car and not spend a penny on maintence..."

More than possible. It has been stated on these boards that the dealer doesn't care if you ever did any maintence on a leased car. I found that incredible but it was reinforced by several posters. All they seem to care about it how the car looks.

Even though I read it in black and white I still find it hard to believe. It just seems that would generate a ton of angry used car customers. Why wouldn't a lease contract at least require oil changes?

houdini1

I hope my luck is that good. My son has actually been driving this car all winter in the absolutely horrible weather we have had and saving his G37 coupe.

The car belongs to his girl friend's mother but she never drives it so they have it at their house. The mother could not find the title and we are waiting on a duplicate title so we can complete the sale.

I have driven the car a couple of times and the darn thing drives and handles really good. I plan on it being my golf mobile come Spring.

explorerx4

left thursday noon time for oxford ohio, and got back today about 4pm.
reminds me that good heat and defrost, plus windshield washers are very important features in my next vehicle.
0 to 60 not so high on the list.

driver100

reminds me that good heat and defrost, plus windshield washers are very important features in my next vehicle.

Does the Exlorer not have those?

sterlingdog

Harvard? Don't I wish. I do have a good friend who got his PhD in English from there. He taught at N.C. State for years. He made much more money than I did.

To stay on topic: Some people have golf carts. You'll be using a Ford Contour? That will certainly put you in a class "above par".

Richard

oldcem

I actuallyl did once. I had a neighbor that bought a 10 year old Accord for his son to drive - out of an estate sale. The son hated the car, and , the father offered it to me for $700. The car was showing 27K miles, and, when I looked it over - it still had the original tires on it, the pedals weren't worn, and, though the paint was badly faded, it was in really decent shape. I jumped on it, and, called the dealer it originally came from. You guessed it - only 27K original miles. My son and I replaced the perishable stuff, put another 100K on it and sold it for $900.

Sometimes you get lucky:
Oldengineer

driver100

I had a neighbor that bought a 10 year old Accord for his son to drive - out of an estate sale.

As you said sometimes you get lucky, and I did forget about estate sales when I made my challenge.. It seems that a person might get an extraordinary deal from an estate sale, buying from a friend or relative, or possibly a co-worker. But, now I would like to hear about a great $3000 car (or less) that ran well, that was bought from a dealer or from an ad.

driver100

Some people have golf carts. You'll be using a Ford Contour? That will certainly put you in a class "above par".

It might be best if you remove the doors first so you can get in and out of it all the time. You should be able to play 18 holes in record time.

dtezla

If I remember correctly, the Smart car was never supposed to be a huge deal in terms of fuel economy. When it was originally being designed, its main selling point was that it was small & maneuverable - Something that would be of great interest for people living in crowded cities. However, when they brought it to the states, people saw that it was small & started assuming that it was built for fuel economy.

driver100

the Smart car was never supposed to be a huge deal in terms of fuel economy

the smart fortwo delivers 33 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, according to 2008 EPA standards. For the benefit of those not used to the EPA's revised standards for 2008, smart representatives are quick to point out that the smart would have achieved 40/45 mpg under the 2007 provisions. In any case, those are good numbers, if perhaps not as high as some might expect for such a phenomenally small car.

I know someone who bought one, but he is an ecological nut. Even he says his Smart Car doesn't feel too safe on the highway. I don't get trying to save the planet when your own safety is in jeopardy. Those mileage numbers aren't that great....I would rather get fewer mpg, but have more steel around me.....and some extra seats and trunk space.

This fellow, who is a professional and makes a lot of money (it's probably easier for him to buy a Smart car and feel he is helping to save the planet) is going to start up an organic farm to help save the planet. I pointed out that if all we have is organic farming, we will all starve because the farmers will never grow enough to feed us all, and we will be paying $4 for a bunch of carrots that won't be better nutritionally than the 50 cents a bunch carrots.

He says all we have to do is grow our own crops. If everyone made a little garden we could grow our own food. I don't want to compete with oldfarmer, and if I had to grow my own food I would starve to death - I don't have a green thumb.

I don't know if sane people buy Smart Cars in North America?

graphicguy

dt.....I think small, light, small engine, might be reasonable to assume that the SMART would get great MPG. That said, I remember when the concept first came about and "Swatch" (the watch company) was involved with it. I got the impression it was supposed to be some sort of fashion statement. Then, Daimler was involved, right at the time when their ship just started to sink. I just think it was ill-designed, ill-conceived, and fell far short of the mark, regardless if its intended purpose. People actually might like a decent, economical driving experience., which SMART doesn't give. Somebody in some marketing dept should be fired for presenting their case for it.

I see a short lived life for SMART in this country.

driver100

. Somebody in some marketing dept should be fired for presenting their case for it.

Well, in Europe it does make sense. Smaller streets, more traffic, shorter drives, weather isn't usually a problem, cars and fuel are very expensive.

In North America, it just doesn't make sense. But it will if oil goes back to $140 a barrel, people will panic, trade in their large cars for small ones, then find they just aren't that good to drive.

I remember in 74 when people would buy a Mustang II which was a Pinto, a Cadillac Cimmarron which was a Firenza, and even AMC Pacers that looked small but had so much heavy glass they weighed as much as a regular car. People panic and do stupid things, so the Smart car might just catch on one day.

houdini1

Some people have golf carts. You'll be using a Ford Contour?

LOL!

I heard a comedian say the other day that if you are feeling particularly good about yourself and thinking that you pretty much have it all together.....just post something, could be an opinion or just a thought, on the internet.....and within minutes you would be ripped to shreds !

I'm sure glad that never happens here !

boomchek

I had a similiar story where a customer bought a used vehicle from us that apparently his buddy owned previously. Good thing he bought extended warranty though because the vehicle developed issues shortly after. He wasn't happy with us saying our inspection wasn't good enough even though the vehicle had no issues at time of sale.

If that were true (that the vehicle was not inspected properly) I wonder if he showed the same displeasure to his "buddy" who knowingly traded in a problematic vehicle without disclosing it.

Another similar story. A customer bought a used VW :lemon: :sick: (I hate selling used VWs). They didn't want extended warranty saying their whole family drives VWs and knows VWs inside out. Of course when I called to follow up a few months later the customer was not happy claiming we sold them a "lemon" Well if they knew VWs inside out, then they should have known that they all require warranty forever because most turn out to be lemons :lemon:

sterlingdog

"...and within minutes you would be ripped to shreds!"

At least when we get ripped to shreds on this site, the posters do it with such grace, style, and good taste. :P

Richard

wlbrown9

The 'real' saying is "How Bout Them Hogs" . Jimmie Johnson said that alot back in the '60 when he (and Jerry Jones) were RAZOBRACKS. We had a great rivalry with the Longhorns way back then. I alway thought it was kind of funny that an old Razorback was able to buy the Cowboys :-)

I can tell you're not a REAL Cowboy fan. "How Bout Them Cowboys" are the exact words Jimmie Johnson said after they won a big playoff game in one of their super bowl runs in the mid-90s.

Anything but "How Bout Them Cowboys" is incorrect.