Stories from the Sales Frontlines

jayrider

Driver-- leased a rav 4 last year in san fran and didn't care for it at all. Loved the roominess, but thought the handling was vague and the ride wavy. My 03 liberty is a blast to drive. With the bilsteins on it just brings a smile to my face. Fit and finish is top notch -- it just corners and brakes great. Zips in and out of traffic with precision. I made an effort to get antilock brakes which on an 03 was rare. Got head curtain airbags too. Even rarer. Don't care for the new ones so off the list. Have a steep driveway so it remains the bad weather ride and hocky game parking lot champ.

sterlingdog

You're a good father. Your plan shows that you take an interest in your son's future. I very much like the job and Honor Roll requirements. As for no ticket and no-fault accidents, be patient with him. As a teen, I honored the first two requirements but failed on the last two. My punishments---wash both family cars every Saturday; wax both cars once a month; refrain from weekend driving for six months; walk to and from school (4 miles rt) for three months. Exceptions: Dad would pick me up from my part-time job four nights a week. Mom would take me to the local library if I needed to go. She would read while I did my research.

My dad was the King of Tough Love. If he hadn't been, I wouldn't be here. I always had a wild hair and a smart [non-permissible content removed] attitude. He knew just how to deal with both of those. Good luck to both you and your son.

Richard

sterlingdog

"History doesn't repeat itself, historians do."

Snake, I looked in my copy of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations and then checked several websites. I've had no luck. The closest quote is from Mark Twain: "History doesn't repeat itself, but at best it rhymes."

Richard

sterlingdog

I live about 20 minutes from the parents of John Edwards. He grew up in Robbins, N.C. where he was anything but poor. We all know about good old "John Boy"!

The Toyota fiasco is right down his alley. He is probably writing his court briefs as we post. Give the devil his due. He is one excellent attorney. The joke around here is that, with his super ego, he will probably defend himself in his divorce case. Poor Elizabeth will definitely need a good "Philadelphia lawyer". We've heard that one or two have offered to take the case pro bono.

Richard

roadburner

I'll add, remove the cell phone during driving. Pull over to call person back and don't use it while driving. Another is no more than one other kid in the car.

That goes without saying; we really hammer the issue of distracted driving in the Street Survival course.

sterlingdog

I also like the word "petulant". It's so much better than saying "pissed off".

Richard

sterlingdog

I'm glad that those children had you as their bus driver. Your situation could have been a major tragedy.

Richard

sterlingdog

Thanks to all of you who gave your opinions about Toyota's ability to remain in business. Like so many other companies in similar situations, I believe that we all agree that Toyota will survive. As joel pointed out, it will take a long time for them to recover....about as long as it takes for the public to forget.

Richard

driver100

If your Toyota feels numb all aroudn your in good shape. It's behaving as designed. Unfortunately.

LOL
This and the Camry remind me of little robot cars. They do everything just as they should, but no emotion. The only sense of having enjoyment comes from the fact you are moving in a motorized vehicle, just as God intended. But, no enjoyment from the handling, or power, or great design etc. Designed by robots who don't really enjoy the driving experience.

driver100

I live about 20 minutes from the parents of John Edwards.

Did you see 20/20? Mr. Edwards wasted about a million dollars of donated money...to try to keep his affair quiet until after the elections.

Now, there are sex tapes!!!! Like the photographer told me, never have a picture taken with a drink in your hand...one day it could come back to bite you. Even worse, what dope would leave a sex tape around, with his mistress, when he is running for any political office, let alone president?

driver100

My 03 liberty is a blast to drive.

Chrysler usually gets the idea that driving should have an element of enjoyment to it. I wasn't too impressed with a Plymouth Breeze I rented in about 2004, but I have owned and rented Chryslers and over-all I find I enjoy them. I like the fact they usually have large windows too, which makes driving more pleasurable.

The only explanation for the popularity of the RAV4 is the dependability, and Toyotas reputation (up until a few weeks ago). I think MOST people just want dependable and cheap transportation, and they don't really know what "enjoying the driving experience" is all about.

sterlingdog

I didn't mean to ignore your post. I simply had to give it some thought. At first glance, I couldn't see the forest for the trees. I called a retired English professor who is a good friend of mine. We both had fun figuring out the problem. The problem is that we have lived in the South for too long.

You are correct. In the statement, "We've had right much ice.", the word "right" doesn't speak to the quantity of ice. Even if we use the word as an adjective, noun, or adverb, it won't work. Example: We've had right ice. Compare this to: We've had much ice. In the southeast, we are so bad about using the adjective "right" to reflect the quantity of something. Examples: It takes right much flour to make that cake. She spent right much money on that dress.

Though not always grammatically correct, these colloquialisms give a certain flavor and color to our language. For you, of all people, to point this out is a milestone on this thread! Be careful. I'm beginning to rub off on you. Thanks for the interesting challenge. I had fun learning my lesson.

Richard

isellhondas

I forgot you are from the south. Y'all talk different!

We don't have grits on restaurant menus either.

I am glad I gave you a challenge.

lrguy44

But are you right glad? :shades:

sterlingdog

If you ever come to the South, try the grits. Be sure to add salt to them at the table, along with butter or cheese. I can't eat a full breakfast without my grits.

Richard

sterlingdog

LOL! Yes, I am. I am also right happy.

Richard

boomchek

We'd probably try to hold out to get as much money as we can. It's a bit early to tell how Toyota values will be affected, but you can count on it that there will be some sort of a market adjustment. Not sure how much though.

boomchek

Here in BC we have a graduated licensing program where you start off as a New Driver and have to have a N tag displayed on the car. You're restricted to carrying one passenger, except immediate family member, more if you're with an an adult who's 25 year old or more. As a new driver you're also not allowed to use any cell phones even hands free, and you're not allowed to have any blood alcohol content at all. If you do you lose your N license for 6 months or a year on the spot I think.

fezo

Hmmmm...

I'm right embarrassed to note that in my last post i used your when I meant "you're." I also misspelled around but that was because my finers slipped...

Fortunately richard let me off the hook.

joel0622

It depends on the customer in front of you. If they are like allot of people who have been on the Toyota band wagon for years and there ego won't let them admit there is a problem then it won't be a problem. If it is an opposite I will just let there emotion be there guide and if the Toyota scares them I will offer to sell them a Ford so they can see what they have been missing

lrguy44

Richard, After living in Pensacola and Louisville (that is Lu-a-vull) I had a chance to aquire a taste for grits. However, I rightly prefer the Jack Daniels.

driver100

It's a bit early to tell how Toyota values will be affected,

I guess all the Toyotas that were real gems on the used car lot are going to go down in value. People who traded in just before the disaster are lucky...but there are dealers will get hit with a loss.

jayrider

Next time you cook up some grits, substitute JD for the water and enjoy the best of both worlds.

driver100

If you ever come to the South, try the grits. Be sure to add salt to them at the table, along with butter

Even though I am from Canada, I acquired a taste for grits because we had a lot of sales meetings in Atlanta or in Florida, when I was with the book publishing company. Lots of salt and butter though. If given a choice though, I kinda like oatmeal more...with salt, butter and milk.

driver100

The latest lawsuit in the U.S. – where Toyota already faces court action for deaths associated with accelerators that became stuck in car floor mats – is a federal class action filed in Corpus Christi, Tex.

Lawyers from law firm Hillard Munoz Gerra LLP said they are representing a Texas family after an accident last month that allegedly saw a 2008 Toyota Avalon unexpectedly accelerate through a stop sign. The suit blames what it says is Toyota's faulty electronic throttle control system.

Toyota has long known about the defect with their throttle control, and has done too little, too late to correct it,” lawyer Robert Hilliard said in a statement. “Much like their cars, this problem is speeding out of control and Toyota is having a hard time slamming on the brakes.”

lrguy44

It sounds like a waste of good JD to me - kinda like when it is unrightly mixed with coke.- cola that is.

joel0622

This won't help matters for them either.

Toyota

jipster

Richard, After living in Pensacola and Louisville (that is Lu-a-vull) I had a chance to aquire a taste for grits. However, I rightly prefer the Jack Daniels.

...or Louie-ville. Grits really aren't that popular around here. Something that looked like it came out of a jar of baby food never appealed to me. blahh :sick:

lrguy44

Jip - I did say I had a chance to aquire a taste. Never did though. hash browns or American fries are much better.

michaellno

Louisville (that is Lu-a-vull)

...or Louie-ville.

Both of you are wrong! :P

Here in Colorado - and lrguy can back me up on this - we pronounce it "lou-us-ville".

Darn French! Why don't they ever pronounce all the letters in their words?

Can you imagine the pain if this spread to the rest of the language?

Geaux on, think about it!

joel0622

It is pronounced the same way as the Baseball Bat. Looee-ville

driver100

This won't help matters for them either

Interesting!

Have you had anyone trading in a Toyota in the last few days?

I guess if I owned one, I would wait until the part was fixed, then prices will probably go back to normal.

Unfortunately, many companies would rather try to cover up the problem than report it. But, you have to ask yourself, wouldn't it catch up to them some day?
Maybe, all corporations worry about is the bottom line each quarter, and try to get better numbers, rather than face the music.

If I owned a Toyota (and that ain't gonna happen) I would keep it until it was fixed, and it probably will be. If I was in the market for a car, there is a lot to choose from, without having to worry about a major problem, that Toyota tried to hide - which makes me lose a lot of confidence in them. However, I think I would say the same about Ford a few years ago, and now I think they have learned their lesson.
I would consider a Ford today, especially a Fusion inthat price range, a Taurus if I needed a big gigantic car, and a Mustang for fun.

lrguy44

Louis-ville in Colorado, Lou-a-vull in KY - Car-mel in Cali, Carml in Indiana.

oldfarmer50

I was listening to a report about Toyota today on CBS. What a love fest.

According to CBS Toyota is: "Stepping up and doing the right thing"..."Coming clean with customers"..."has everything in hand" etc. etc. etc.

To listen to them you'd never know there was a problem at all. Made me sick to listen to it. Toyota must have promised a ton of ads in the future. :sick:

oldfarmer50

I was listening to a report about Toyota today on CBS. What a love fest.

According to CBS Toyota is: "Stepping up and doing the right thing"..."Coming clean with customers"..."has everything in hand" etc. etc. etc.

To listen to them you'd never know there was a problem at all. Made me sick to listen to it. Toyota must have promised a ton of ads in the future. :sick:

isellhondas

Ah, no thanks. I've been to the South and I've tried your grits.

I've also sampled your humidity and biting flies and bugs.

And I've met some down to earth good people in the process.

isellhondas

Well, what do you expect them to say?

Should they grovel and roll over?

fezo

Grits are OK. You do have to put stuff on them - butter, salt - heck, maple syrup works. Plain grits kind of tastes like postage stamps.

cdnpinhead

. . .what dope would leave a sex tape around, with his mistress, when he is running for any political office, let alone president?

Well, you laid it up there, soft & easy, so here's your answer: a Democrat.

Hey, one's private life has no effect on professional performance, right?

Isn't that the mantra?

explorerx4

I think 'Farm was referring to CBS.
Maybe looking for some additional revenue from ads during the Super Bowl, or just in general? Not the worst idea ever.

snakeweasel

We don't have grits on restaurant menus either.

And for that we are eternally grateful.

explorerx4

I am the one with the experience. 'Show me the money' and your wheels.

tidester

Does it take true grit to make a career on the sales frontlines with all the grinders and overbearing management?

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

imidazol97

>To listen to them you'd never know there was a problem at all. Made me sick to listen to it. Toyota must have promised a ton of ads in the future.

Couric has been doing that since this started. Here's a more journalistic report. ABC has been investigative in style through this whole thing.

Text of ABC Nightly News-- note Nicole Nason, past NHSTA, response

Video of ABC News interview--watch the eyes and body language

Video of ABC News interview--watch the eyes and body language

explorerx4

nope. (Lu-a-vull) but you also have to say it with marbles in your mouth.
we left close to ESPN and we watch games featuring Lu-a-vull, which is in the Big East, all the time.
As a matter of fact. Lu-a-vull is playing UConn in b'ball right now.
We have the pronunciation down!
At 8pm we are switching ti the Bean Pot.

driver100

Well, you laid it up there, soft & easy, so here's your answer: a Democrat.

It happens to Republicans too. This kind of thing cuts across party lines. For example Mark Sandford is a Republican. It has to do more with the incredible ego of most politicians.

How come we Canadians are more concerned with this than our American friends?

imidazol97

> (Lu-a-vull) but you also have to say it with marbles in your mouth.

You are right about it being hard to pronounce the way some of the locals do. I listen to WHAS radio for talk (until Francene passed away last week) and I cannot emulate the smooth roll that they give the name Louisville. It's beautiful.

graphicguy

Y'ALL are wrong. It's "Lew-ah vllll".

And, true grits are made with milk, not water or JD.

isell....I know how you feel about this whole Toyota fiasco. but a little grovelling on their part, some humility, might help soothe some of the owner's fears, and certainly wouldn't hurt.

driver100

Good report by ABC News. After reassuring everyone he is confident Toyota has solved the gas pedal problem, Lenz gets into what looks like a black Lexus. It would have been a riot if the car took off and hit a wall (no one injured of course).

Another interview shows the Toyota president in Switzerland saying he is very sorry. He leaves the meeting in a black Audi. What does that mean.

On NBC Matt Lauer asked several times how long has Lenz and Toyota really known about the problem. Lenz says since October, but that is hard to believe.

Lauer actually said maybe the Toyota culture didn't allow workers to report the problem, out of fear for their jobs. Lenz denied this, but it is hard to believe Toyota only found out about this in October, when there's been reports and accidents for a few years now.

fezo

Another interview shows the Toyota president in Switzerland saying he is very sorry. He leaves the meeting in a black Audi. What does that mean.

He may be sorry but he's not crazy!