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Comments
Costco has pretty competitive prices for tires. Now the skill of the techs I will not comment on.
Doesn't that drive you nuts? I have an air compressor now. Saves the hassle and I can inflate when tires are cold in my garage.
In my burg when the true gas stations went the way of the get gas/convenience foods, I also bought an air compressor for this reason and for pneumatic air tools. So, I thank them for pushing me to get something I meant to buy for years.
Those nail guns are great.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
But isn't it a real PITA to drive around all the people picketing the air machine claiming that it releases air into the air accelerating the green house effect and global warning.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Once I actually got done with my shopping earlier and came back as they were finishing my car. When the tech finished, the supervisor came by with a torque wrench and checked all the lugs. I've never seen Sears or anywhere else do that. In fact at Sears I had to tell the service writer they never changed my valve stems even though I had paid for new ones. They took that charge off without blinking (makes you wonder).
Also, we ran over a nail about a month after getting new tires and went back to get the tire fixed. Damaged the sidewall so we got a new tire at no charge (and Free Nitrogen too!)
Peeter
This is a rare time I accept CR and their analysis. The show a trivial smaller diffusion of N2 molecules compared to 78% N2 and 21% O2. Since most of the air is N2 anyhow there is NO advantage for auto tires. Diffusion of air through the inner layers depends on the quality of the inner layers the tire manufacturer chooses.
All tires should be checked monthly for proper tire pressure. So the CR test showed 2.2 pounds in one year instead of 3.5 pounds loss in one year for air. Most drivers would have refilled presssures at season temperature drops, like now in Ohio, and the N2 use is moot.
"Put "Nitrogen in Tires" with the simple touch of your finger and generate an "Average Profit Margin" of 1000% to 3000% on each service!" This is the real story. The website shows how much profit is to be made buying your own generator. Nitrogen profit machine "..., it's like having a money tree in the back of the shop!"
The sites also mention 95% purity of N2; that means there is still 5% O2 and other trivial gases in the mix. The only way to actually get true benefit (if it's real for consumer tires to begin with) is to use commercially-supplied tanks of N2. Doing it yourself is like spraying on 3M seat protector and charging $100 for spot/stain protection. Silly.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
It's been over 15 years since I did any real engineering, so maybe JM can help me here, but I would think that any difference in pressure change with temperature difference would be negligible. The variation in must people's 4 tires is probably larger.
I missed this one. Didn’t realize you were talking to me.
What ‘greanpea’ said is correct, at least this is what I’ve heard and read from tire engineers. It’s way too difficult to prove these values without a lab. So, since it makes sense, given what I know about the laws of physics, I believe this.
Under inflation is the major cause of tire failure and blowouts. This is because the sidewalls of a tire flex considerably more than a properly inflated tire, which in turn creates tremendous heat leading to a blowout. However, unless you are already approaching serious under inflation (around 25/30 %, again from these same articles) and will be doing sustained high speed interstate driving this decrease in pressure due to a temperature drop will most likely not be any cause for concern regarding safety, given the tire is not otherwise compromised. It will, depending on the car, and the way you drive, cause drastic tire wear compared to a properly inflated tire driven under the same conditions.
Like you said in a previous post, it’s always best to check tire pressure when they are at ambient temperature. For most of us this would be the fist thing in the morning after the car has sat overnight.
Class over. I hope you guys are paying attention because I’ll probably give a pop
quizpost before you go home today and to make it even more interesting, 'richard' is going to check your spelling/grammar/punctuation.jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Not surprising. The obnoxious salesman at the local dealership told me the $600 charge on the sticker for the Scion was for "unwrapping the car." I looked at him to see if he was just stupid or zonked out on something for thinking a normal person would believe that.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Reminds me of a joke
One time back in the 40's these two Alabama Red Necks went to to buy a new car. They had $300 to spend and needed something they could hall feed and what not in and still carry kids.
So they pull up to a used car lot and there sits a 1936 Ford Woody style station wagon for $300 and they said, "we will take it"
Well they got it home tore all the wood off the side of it, looked at each other and said, "The damn thing looked a hell of allot better before we took it out of the box".
Sooooooo...it's going to be another Friday like this.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I've been chased while rolling slowly in my car through the used car lot rows by a salesman. I've been amazed by how quickly a salesman can get to my car; often before I close my door to look at the inside and window sticker of a used car. Who says customer service is dead.
I've had dumb looks from used salesmen when they ask what kind of car I'm looking for and I say a car with 4 wheels. They look like I'm totally insane.
I explain I can buy a new one, recent used, older used, and I'm just looking at what's around. I've had a few salespeople who directly talk about what I'm looking at instead of trying to sell me everything else on the lot.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
For mackabee and ALL of the sales folks here...
Why sell a popular car at such a big loss???? I don't understand. Please explain.
Mackabee's only explanation was "to get [the deal] over with." But it's supposedly a popular car, so why not just wait and sell it for a profit to someone else?
The Prius was a negative deal, and not a small one at that, a big $1100 loser. The idea of any business is to make money, so the people running your dealership are (by definition) a bunch of IDIOTS!
If the owners/managers do this on a regular basis, the dealership isn't going to be around much longer, and Mackabee better start looking for a new job!
Salespeople...
This is a prefect example of why us consumers come to you with such lowball offers! We would be stupid NOT to demand/expect to purchase a car for less than dealer cost.
If a large Toyota dealer is willing to take an $1100 loss on a popular vehicle, then most consumers should be able to find a dealer to do the same for their car of choice.
I read a lot about how salespeople hate customers who make ridiculously low offers and insist on buying cars below cost. We're thought of as stupid/ignorant for thinking we could possibly by a car for that price.
But this post proves that we are pefectly justified in expecting a loser deal, because the dealerships are dumb enough to sell cars for a loss.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Because they wanted to.
We sell 1800-2200 units a year. Some we hit out of the park, some we strike out looking. There are times when we sell prime merchandise at a loss and there are times when we sell cold metal for a huge profit. Maybe the MGR on Mack's deal needed one more to hit a spiff that day, or needed one more to keep his job, maybe Toyota works the same way Ford does now and works on a turn and earn basis, the more you sell of a particular product the more we are going to supply you with. If I have a product that I average $2000 a copy on and I can sell all I can get I will gladly let one lose at the end of the week if that means the manufacture is going to plus me 5 more on next weeks allocation.
But the fact of that matter is that Mack does not need to justify why his place of business made the business decision they did. They decided it was the best course of action and the only person who really knows why is the guy penciling the deal.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
I couldn’t agree more. I’ve said this before but since we are slow on sales tales and this subject has come up again, I’ll repeat again my buying tale.
We’ve all heard timing is everything and I got lucky once (bought either the 28th or 29th of April 2005) but only because the dealer wasn’t able to make the delivery like he said he could. That was not my fault, it was his and it cost him.
For those who want to know what I’m talking about, go to:
“Purchasing Strategies – Questions & Success Stories” post 2599 (and some subsequent posts. Like I said it’s slow here, right?)
Sometimes you’re the bug and sometimes you’re the windshield.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
They do operate that way. My GMs first auto sales job was with a Toyota Dealer many years ago.
Now guess what happens when you take half the staff of a Toyota Dealer and transplant them into a Land Rover store.
Total disaster. A new Rover store that opened up about a year ago out of our state but in our region is run entirely by former Toyota dealership staff. They are just making stupid deals out there and screwing the whole market up. They are selling a whole lot of cars but there are still two other dealers selling more vehicles and holding more gross. In less then a year they have succeeded in bringing the average gross for this whole market down by almost 1,000 dollars.
I missed this one. Didn’t realize you were talking to me.
What ‘greanpea’ said is correct, at least this is what I’ve heard and read from tire engineers. It’s way too difficult to prove these values without a lab. So, since it makes sense, given what I know about the laws of physics, I believe this.
Sorry, I realized my post was not clear. I meant to say that the difference in pressure change and with temperature change would be negligible between nitrogen and air. Of course there will be pressure change with temp with the simplest formula, PV=nRT. I have forgetten all of the more complicated thermodynamic formulae.
Gee, I also did not realize the N2 was only 95% that some shops provide. Thst's what's generally referred to as "waste nitrogen" from the plants. The pure stuff 99.9x%is pulled off the top of a distillation column in liquid form.
I can understand why you don't like this but I'm sure buyers like it.
I for one like the free enterprise system.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Mack
I agree with this statement as well. In fact, my first post asking Mack about this $1100 loss, I said...
"My guess is that it's not really a loss. I'm sure once everything factored in (holdback, incentives, ect.), it was not nearly a $1000 loser."
So after all of the variables are factored in(holdback/incentives/bonuses/spiffs/ect.), I didn't feel it was such a loser.
However, according to Mack, it was truely a loser. I'm just going by what he said.
Not to borrow trouble, but what happens if his trade car isn't as described? Did the buyer have to offer some assurances or money down to protect your dealership from putting 500 miles on a new Cayenne if the buyer suddenly gets cold feet? Does an IHOP become the F & I Office?
I hope it all works out.
Gogiboy
Keep you eye on the price. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
Its just typical big mass market store stupidity.
Years ago I bought a Toyota and after jacking up the price $500 over his initial quote the salesman told me "You probably won't believe this but we're losing $750 on this deal".
He was right,I didn't. :mad:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
It may vary by financial institution, but the 3 month period seemed to be the norm.
I also thought of this. Then I reasoned (hopefully not incorrectly, for him) that he had this all figured out and it was worth the risk. The post showed up here on November 1st but I’m sure the plan was to count this sale for the month of October. I’ve heard and I can believe this happens all the time.
Now, the real question is; would he have done this on October 15th ? The answer could be “yes” if it was a “whale”, otherwise I think not.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
90 days is the norm.
But this post proves that we are perfectly justified in expecting a loser deal, because the dealerships are dumb enough to sell cars for a loss.
Good point. You're sure not going to get below invoice unless you ask... macabee's post shows if you're in the right spot at the right time, and are willing to negotiate hard, then a killer deal may be yours for the taking... even on "popular" cars.
To me $1,500 below invoice would have been a ridiculous lowball offer on the Prius. Heck, even Hyundai's (jmonroe/snake) aren't discounted that much without incentives. I always thought holdback minus $400 would be a good starting point for most $20k makes and models.
So, we consumers learned a valuable lesson today. Even though demand may be high on a popular vehicle, there still is a chance of getting a super low price. Thanks mac!
Believe it or not it was not whale...Less than 500 gross. But a 120 day old unit. Today was my day off and a road trip was what I needed to clear the cobwebs of October. He had sent several pics inside and out of the trade and we appraised it with this in mind. As far as driving, I took a 2004 Porsche Cayenne and brought back a 2006 Lincoln MK LT 4X4. The Porsche in my opinjon was a superior vehicle. One of the easiest transactions I have ever completed. He hadnt even sat in the drivers seat before we did paperwork and exchanged check.
Except for getting up at the butt crack of dawn, it was smooth sailing.
Except for getting up at the butt crack of dawn, it was smooth sailing.
Congratulations.
However my question was, were you willing to make this deal now because it was the end of the month (and did it count for October even though you did the sale in November) vs. doing this same deal in the middle of October?
I realize that either way you made a sale, just curious as to what month it was posted against.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
RIght place, right time, right circumstance, who knows what they will/won't accept. Throw it out there and see if it sticks. Certainly, from the car sales side, they do that all the time.
FWIW, I'm the one that deleted posts 20544 and 20545 trying to post this.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
LOL... looks all too familiar.
I'm going to have to "edumacate" myself on how to post those emotioncons one of these days, you guys are having to much fun.
Surely you meant "haul"
You're right, now I am.
Blame Mack, he found this for me.
(My apologies Mack, I should have thanked you a few posts back but better late than never.)
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I get off the phone and get a call from another salesperson about the Blue Prius. "Hey Mack, where's the keys to the blue prius in the showroom." "Showroom, what the heck is the car doing in the showroom.?" I ask. "They told me the customer backed out so they put it inside since it's nice and shiny." he says. "See Jason before you do anything with the car. They are talking her back into the deal." I tell him. Rich calls me back about an hour later to tell me she has taken delivery of the vehicle. "Dude,what a strange lady! She's finally gone." he says, "She's no stranger than you. She just wanted someone who would listen and understand her. Remember she was just in a car accident and had a head injury. You just have to be patient." I tell him and ask "did she buy the Lo-Jack or paint?" "Nope. She may do it later." he replies. "Alright, I'll see you on Saturday." I'll have the rest of the story tomorrow.
STAY TUNED.......
Mackabee
Mackabee
Mackabee
Mackabee
I just can't believe that the car business is so short sighted that you can only get a good deal at the end of the month. If this was the case why wouldn't every customer wait until the last day of the month and mob the place?
How about if you order a car and have to wait two months for delivery? Would that be better done at the end of the month? Would you get the whale or the mini treatment?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible