Stories from the Sales Frontlines

sterlingdog

The jokes are very similar to the ones told on "The Golden Girls" television program. That series was hilarious, but it also had a valuable lesson in each episode.

Richard

sterlingdog

"Most would say rap..."

Most should say "rap". My only reason may have been that I needed to "wrap" my wife's Valentine's Day gift. I refuse to pay $5 for store gift wrap.

I know. Any excuse will do, right? As my students used to say, "He ain't wrapped too tight." :P

Richard

driver100

. While he gave me a ticket, he followed up by trying to tell me the best way to beat the wrap.

Thanks for explaining. I thought you had one of those sandwiches on your dash board and he told you how to open the package.

(By the way, is the term dasboard used any more? Instrument panel just doesn't seem right, since it has become so much more these days, than a holder of instruments, but dash board must have come from the horse and buggy era)

driver100

I can't imagine how you would have a Norwegian joke!
So Olaf walks into a bar.....

LOL....nicely done

How about the one where Olaf drives up to the farm, but has to sleep with the farmers 2 daughters.............

cdnpinhead

I know. Any excuse will do, right?

Good to know we're both on the same page.

Hope your wife enjoyed the gift.

houdini1

I don't know if it is true or not but I once read that the term "dash board" came about early on in the car industry because that is where people had their brains dashed out in an accident. :sick:

oldfarmer50

"...stop referring to Valentines Day as VD..."

If you asked most young people today what VD stood for they would have no idea. The school health classes refer to VD as STDs. You are revealing your age there Pops. :P

On Topic: Many kids drive their own cars to school these days and refer to the school bus as "The Loser Crusier". :sick:

sterlingdog

You are correct. The dashboard originated from the horse and buggy era. A wooden or leather board was placed at the front of the carriage. It protected the passengers from the mud that was kicked up by the horses. Though the term is still acceptable, IP (instrument panel) is the preferred choice.

Automobile manufacturers would like to move all things on the IP to the center console. The concept has its critics. It will be a gradual transition.

Richard

lrguy44

Manufactures are slowly getting away from CD players/changers. They take up a tremendous amount of room and are being replaced by USB/Ipod docking stations. That will change the way they can configure the inside of the vehicle. The 2010 Range Rover no longer has gauges - a 12" Visteon TFT screen displays Speedo/Odo etc with LEDs.

sterlingdog

You are so right. "The Loser Cruiser" is a very real perception among teens. The rite of car ownership is a top priority with students. I once had a student named Joe who lived across the street from the high school where I taught. One day he was late to school. I asked him how he could be late considering that he lived across the street. He said that his car wouldn't start! :surprise: He had to call his father to leave work and pick him up! :mad: When I asked him why he didn't just walk across the street, he said---are you ready for this? He said, "My friends might have seen me walking." :sick: I was more disgusted with the father for leaving work to bring Joe to school.

Joe was a smart guy academically and a good athlete. He was just spoiled rotten. When he was in college (300 miles from where I lived), his mother called me one Friday evening. Joe needed help with a college research paper. She offered to pay me to drive the 300 miles to help Joe with the project on Saturday! You really don't want to know how I responded.

Joe graduated from college in 1990 with a degree in business. I had a Christmas card from him last year. He lives in California and drives a Budweiser truck. He said that he had never married because he couldn't find a girl like his mother. I don't doubt that one bit! :P

Richard

sterlingdog

That is fascinating that the Range Rover has taken this leap in technology. The older generation will have to sharpen their skills. If they don't, they may not be able to operate a car.

Richard

isellhondas

Some of these "leaps" can cause huge and expensive electricval problems down the road especially when we are talking about a British car!

oldfarmer50

"...Joe graduated from college in 1990 with a degree in business..."

Joe should have gone into car sales. Anyone who could talk his father into coming home from work to drive him across the street would be hitting four pounders on every sale. A natural sales pro.

graphicguy

lr....IIRC, GM and Chrysler tried to do that same exact thing in the '80s with some of their cars. But, instead of an LCD screen, they tried some LED dot matrix gauges. I do remember that fad came and went pretty quickly, though.

Not saying it won't be successful. It might. He knew push button start would make a comeback from 60+ years ago?

jayrider

Heard toyota may be extending warranties and including maintenance to fight their way back. Hope it starts a war for the best consumer package. We all win on new cars.

lrguy44

Isell, do not live so much in the past. JD Powers is even trying to revamp thier IQS as first to last represents 1 fault per 1000 cars. at our small dealership warranty income is down over $1,000,000 over the last 2 years and Jaguar assembly plants have won JD Power quality awards. We will never be a Honda - but then again a Honda will never be a Rover.

tjc78

But, instead of an LCD screen, they tried some LED dot matrix gauges

I loved these things as a kid, I still do. I know people think they are old looking, but if they had it as an option I would take a digital dash in a minute.

Dash

isellhondas

Only time will tell.

I guess getting burned time and time again on certain brands of used cars has made me cynical.

JD Power rates INITAL quality. They should, instead look at cars with 100,000 miles.

I don't doubt things haven't improved.

sterlingdog

In that case, technology will be the cause of future recalls in America. I suppose that we all pay a price for progress, right?

Richard

grandtotal

Google is the answer. Just enter LS430 or G37 or whatever and you'll be able to identify any car from the alphabet soup.

deltheking

JD Powers is the biggest joke in auto industry!! A broken cup holder is given the same rating as an engine failure..CR is a much better analysis ! And whatever you might say-LR is one of the least reliable cars in the US and it is acknowledged universally ! :P

oldfarmer50

I've been called by both Mitsubishi and Chrysler for CSIs on minor service visits. I of course give them all 10s but I wonder why I've never been contacted about the sale. Do car makers still pay a CSI bonus to the sales people or just the service department now?

lrguy44

CS is without a doubt the most bias organization in the world. They also deal in the past, not in the present. At one time we were very British and deserved the reputation. In fact, we were able to carry a very high owner loyalty rating even then because of the unique nature of the vehicle. But, every year since 1999 and especially from 2005 on, we have become more reliable. One of our problems are percieved faults as we have discussed earlier. The old days of Lucas are long gone.

driver100

I loved these things as a kid, I still do. I know people think they are old looking, but if they had it as an option I would take a digital dash in a minute.

You probably would have loved the voice in the Chryslers that told you to put on your seat belt etc. The voice I got in a rental car sounded like a school marm....like she was annoyed with me. I always thought they should offer different types of voice like, "Hi y'all big boy, how about snuggling up by putting on your seat belt, just before you turn me on".

Much better than the lady scolding me until I put on my seatbelt.

oregonboy

CS is without a doubt the most bias organization in the world.

Perhaps you are a small bit biased yourself.

It doesn't help your argument to start with a statement that is clearly untrue. I think most here would agree that the American [non-permissible content removed] Party is more biased than Consumer Reports. :P

lrguy44

I do admit I made a strong overstatement and that I am bias. I do love these cars and so do my owners - many of whom are repeat buyers and some own more than one. Consumer Reports has never liked Euro imports, particularly the British. I did say that at one time we richly deserved the reputation. I even owned a Austin Healy in the 60's - the most unreliable and yet the most fun car I have ever owned. Also, many authoritative automotive publications have spoken to not only the unique capability and other attributes of the car, but to the improved reliability.

verdugo

wow :sick: If I had heard this story as "a friend of a friend," I'd thougth they were pulling my leg.

exb0

Consumer Reports has never liked Euro imports, particularly the British.

That's what people used to say about American cars. Now Ford Fusion has the highest reliability rating of any midsize sedan; higher than Accord, Camry and even Sonata.

I take CR reliability survey every year, it is just a bunch of "yes" or "no" question. Have you had this problem last year or not? Very little room for bias.

exb0

but I wonder why I've never been contacted about the sale.

That's because you are a grinder! :P Seriously, as some of the pros have noted here, people who get best deals give worst surveys. I think dealers know that and suppress surveys by filing incorrect contact information with manufactures.

You should be proud of yourself oldfarmer.

driver100

A wooden or leather board was placed at the front of the carriage. It protected the passengers from the mud that was kicked up by the horses

Thank you for a very knowledgeable answer...I actually learned something today.
Dash board sounded like an old fashioned term, but instrument panel isn't very imaginative. How about "the driving command centre", sounds more dramatic and like we are in the 2000s.

sterlingdog

That is great advice! Thanks so much.

Richard

snakeweasel

Personally from my past experiences if CR says the sky is blue I would look outside and check to make sure.

deltheking

Absolutely, CR is a reliability rating- not whether a car is fun to drive or agile.. LR was British in name but it had lots of Ford parts and cheap interior parts compared to other luxury brands..Now LR can be renamed Tata America..
CR absolutely trashed the Taurus but the Fusion was tops..Sorry,no bias here.. Hyundai was trashed initially till the newer 05+ models came...Camry was tops till 07 and Tundra also had just average rating...Honda Insight and Element are not recommended whereas the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura are ... So where is the bias?? :confuse:
These are the real world facts.! :shades:

sterlingdog

I have other stories worse than that one. I would have to publish them under "fiction" because no one would believe them.

Richard

verdugo

I take CR reliability survey every year, it is just a bunch of "yes" or "no" question. Have you had this problem last year or not? Very little room for bias.

Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they are not biased. However, I see a couple of problems.

The sample size is not representative of the entire population. Second it's a self-reporting sample from that sample. And I do think that they use to have a pro-japanese bias. That's why I canceled my subscription. I don't know about now.

verdugo

I'd buy that book. Driver can hook me up.

tjc78

You probably would have loved the voice in the Chryslers that told you to put on your seat belt etc

My stepdad had an 83 Chrysler E-class that talked. That was annoying to say the least.

driver100

I'd buy that book. Driver can hook me up.

It would make an interesting book...a kind of where are they now. It is a great story. It's like the jocks getting the girls in high school, then when they grow up, they are mowing the lawn at the nerds big mansion.

oldfarmer50

"...Hyundai was trashed initially till the newer 05+ models..."

I'm glad you mentioned that. I've been wondering at what point Hyundai changed from a junky type car to a higher quality vehicle. Do you think the post-2005 models mark that change? Is that for all models? Some of you other Hyundai owners/experts feel free to comment also.

Because of their past reputation Hyundai seems to be a good buy as a used car but I wouldn't want to get stuck with one that deserved it's bad reputation. :lemon:

oldfarmer50

"...I have other stories worse than that one..."

I would guess that anyone who works with teens would have stories that would turn your hair white.

Some of my best tales could not be told here without violating Edmunds TOS. :surprise:

graphicguy

oldfarmer...my son has an '03 Elantra. It was bought new (via Bank of Dad). He's put over 100K miles on it. Aside from routine maintenance (and he wasn't always vigilant in doing even that), it's been a very reliable, well built car. Aside from 7 years of some neglect, and 7 years of wear and tear, I wouldn't hesitate to jump in it right now and drive it across the country.

deltheking

OF,
Pretty much all Hyundai models were redesigned for 2007.So any 07 and up model is a very good choice. And now the Sonata and Tuscon are redesigned for 2011 and pretty much all others will be redesigned for 2012 and 2013. I think Hyundai is introducing about about 8 redesigned cars in the next 2 years. :shades:

Also I would not buy a new one as they depreciate badly.But a used 1 or 2 yr old Hyundai can be a screaming bargain.. Infact I am looking for a used Genesis in a couple of years!

And Electronic stability is standard on all Hyundais except Accent..So I would avoid that !! Hope this helps..

tifighter

Genesis prices will be fun to watch over the next few years. Might be a great deal. Or not. Used Azeras aren't a screaming deal here in SF, but the sample size is probably too small to know if it means anything.

snakeweasel

I am not sure that 2005 is an accurate date. I bought a Hyundai in 2000 based partially on many accolades of increased quality and reliability.

sterlingdog

"...I wouldn't hesitate to jump in it right now and drive it across the country."

Yes, but would you get back? :P

Richard

exb0

According to CR, Elantra has average reliability from 2000 to 2006 (except for 01, which was below average); and above average for 08, and much above average for 07 and 09). 01 and 07 were complete redesigns.

Sonata has average reliability from 02 to 05, and above average 06 to 09. 06 was a complete redesign.

isellhondas

I'll bet the 2001's are exactly the same as the 2000's and the 2002's yet CR gives them below average.

This would be typical for them.

driver100

Yes, but would you get back?

Sure, it only costs about $300 to send it back by rail. :P :P

fushigi

You'd lose that bet. The 01 Elantra was a new design and was the first new vehicle that emphasized Hyundai's quality movement.

isellhondas

Well, if that's the case, it sounds like they went backwards with their emphasis!