Stories from the Sales Frontlines

dino001 · November 2007

Figurative speach. Means - I like paying my debt off sooner, especially when it is against depreciating asset that can be destroyed, damaged, or can break, instantly becoming liability. Don't like that kind of uncertainty, even without interest.

Exception would be if I actually had the money in the bank already and had a better idea how to invest it. However, if the family budget is already stretched, there is no money in the bank, no commission coming, 84-month loan, even at zero interest is simply an sign of desperation, or extremely poor judgment, not a financial savvy.

lrguy44 · November 2007

different strokes different folks - doesn't make them or you right or wrong.

jmonroe · November 2007

"Im not going to argue with you about who makes what for whom because I dont know. "

Who's arguing? I just stated a fact as I know it.

Im confused as to why youre talking to me about this. I was talking to otto8 in post 2204, when I said "Im not going to argue with you about who makes what for whom because I dont know." :confuse:

Lexus is made by Toyota, Acura by Honda, Infiniti by Nissan, The Geo/Prizm is a Toyota Corolla chassis and drivetrain, Matrix/Vibe you get the pictures.

I guess I dont get the pictures. Can you paint them a little more clearly? Since you know Toyota and Lexus would you say they are built to the same specs? I know they share some common parts but I never said they were equal.

jmonroe

jmonroe · November 2007

Thank you! I didn't want to start a pissing contest with jmonroe.

I didn't think we were in one. But since you brought it up when would you like to start one.

I must warn you, the only one I can't stay with is Mrs. jmonroe and since she ain't allowed to play here, you lose.

jmonroe

lemko · November 2007

Well, you got me there! It is less than what I'm paying on my new Caddy. Your situation is definately different from that of what most people who typically finance a vehicle that long! From what I calculate, your monthly payment is negligible and you can double, triple, or even quadruple the payments if you so wish. You're pretty much doing a more extreme version of what I do - taking out a longer term loan in case something like an illness or job loss occurs and you can still make the car payment, but paying it off faster while circumstances are favorable.

mrsjmonroe · November 2007

since she ain't allowed to play here

Care to explain why not? You just started a pissing contest with the WRONG person.

MrsJmonroe

Kirstie_H · November 2007

OK, I think this particular form of amusement has run its course.

mfletou1 · November 2007

Exactly!

Heck, if I had the means, I could pay it off tomorrow.

I'll do exactly what you say--some months, put more on it, some months, probably less--I do have one other loan that I'm paying off that's unrelated to autos that has a higher rate, so I may slap some more money on that one for a while...

I absolutely get that an 84 month loan is generally a bad idea, but there are exceptions to every rule...

Enjoy the new ride.

madmanmoo · November 2007

At least she's not spamming.

-Moo

chikoo · November 2007

u mean that if the van was totalled when in lien, he will owe the credit union the total of remainder principal + interest???

How much different is it than paying cash and then totalling it?

you are still in a hole, either way.

chikoo · November 2007

depreciating asset that can be destroyed, damaged, or can break, instantly becoming liability. at 0% how does it become any more of a liability? the insurance will cover for most of it anyhow.

joel0622 · November 2007

I would guess that unless you are buying $20 bills for $10 that statement is true about anything you buy.

greanpea68 · November 2007

I still think it is funny

I wish I could figure out her true identity :confuse:

I do have my suspitions

More than likely I am wrong

GP

lrguy44 · November 2007

He said that he put $$$$ down, so he will not need GAP. If it is wrecked, the pay of only includes interest due at the time of pay off, not the whole 84 months worth. Hey, if it works for him let it go.

mackabee · November 2007

Your post looked like it was directed at me. Toyota does build Lexus to a supposedly higher specs and tolerances. How true that is I don't know. The previous gen Corolla or current gen since the 09 is not out yet was supposedly built to Lexus standards according to the info that was put out to us. I haven't been in a Lexus lately but the 97-01 Camry and ES300 were virtually identical. Same door panels, same seats, only the front cupholders and stereo systems were different aside from the body. Plus you could only get the es300 in the Diamond white pearl and silver or gold two tone scheme.
My favorite.

Back in a minute with some pictures for you. Have to do a delivery.

snakeweasel · November 2007

Ive also heard there are just a few companies that make almost all of the appliances. The real question is, do they make them all to the same specifications?

Well that depends on who is making them. If you sell off name brand tires that are made by Goodyear You can bet that Goodyear is making the ones with their name on it a bit better.

However if there is a third party making a product, say a toaster, and selling them to two different companies the main difference just might be the outer shell.

nthe · November 2007

I have a customer walk in and look at a used 02 accord. Its the EX with leather, V6, everything. We give her a price of 11,300 +++, and she tells me someone is loaning her the money, but insists its not a bank. She calls me back a little while later and says whoever is giving her the money will only lend 11,400 (out the door and we were 12,200). If we sell her the car for what we have in it its 11,800 and she says "sorry i'll just have to keep looking." I then try to let her know that if it is a CU the number they came up with is probably 80% of book value, and because they want 20% down thats how they can give here the interest rate they got, yet they aren't telling her this, its just the bad ole dealership trying to make a fortune off her. 10,972 before taxes for this car is an outright steal, yet she is just going to continue to look for a car, but won't find one cause if a dealer was in that cheap on a car, no way would they let her have it for nothing.

nthe · November 2007

"Seriously, though...with the way that car will depreciate (slowly)"

keep telling yourself that, but hondas, as well as toyotas do depreciate. Just cause carmax is making a killing (or trying to) doesn't mean they would buy your car for 4000 more than book value.

chikoo · November 2007

I am not arguing against the 84 months. I know it works for him.
Even I have 0% on my car and see no reason to payoff early even when I have the ability to do so.

mfletou1 · November 2007

Of course it depreciates. Just not at the same rate as some other makes, like the Malibu I just traded. And even on that, like I said, CarMax gave me 9k for an 04 Malibu--granted, low miles (30k), but not THAT clean, especially outside. You know the car's not worth that.

With $9k down, I'm confident that I'll never be upside down on this car. When its 3 years old I'll owe $8k on it, if I never pay above the minimum.

jmonroe · November 2007

Your post looked like it was directed at me.

Next time look before you leap.

I haven't been in a Lexus lately but the 97-01 Camry and ES300 were virtually identical. Same door panels, same seats, only the front cupholders and stereo systems were different aside from the body.

Are you saying the quality of the leather in the Lexus was not any better than in the Camry?

My cousin just bought an Avalon about a month ago. He looked at the Lexus but didnt think it was worth the price difference. He was in my 05 XG 350 and was amazed at what you get for the price. When my oldest son asked him why he didnt buy the 07Azera since he seemed to like my XG 350 so much, he said he wanted to get an 08 not an 07 but then admitted his wife couldnt say Hyundai without gagging but she has no problem saying Mitsubishi (her ride). :surprise: I hope there are a lot more like her to help hold down the price for me.

FWIW, the leather in his Avalon is softer than my XG 350 but not by much. I dont know if you have ever been in an 07Grand Marguis (had one as a rental this past summer while on vacation) and the leather in that machine puts my car, the Avalon and the BMWs I looked at while on vacation (just to see what they offered) to shame. I was very impressed with the feel and comfort of those leather seats.

jmonroe

isellhondas · November 2007

Selling ANY CRV, much less a NAVI for under invoice makes NO sense at all! There is currently a shortage of them especially the NAVI's.

We are the ;largest volume Honda dealer in nine states and we will be receiving exactly TWO of these in December and both of them have been pre-sold.

I mean, WHY???

mackabee · November 2007

The leather in the Camry 97-01 was the same as used on the Lexus LS400.

I would like to see the leather and feel it on the Grand Marquis. You know they use American cows for the Grand Marquis, and Japanese cows for the Lexus/Toyota, German cows for Bimmers.
That could be the difference especially with mid west corn fed cows.

venture · November 2007

The leather in my BMW looks like it's elephant hide. I like it, but it's not for everyone.

When I looked at the Lexi, the leather looked too "girly" (not to mention the goofy wood on the steering wheels). I would have to give up my jeans, get ban-lon shirts (If they even still make them), and get white loafers. I would probably have to get all new friends too.

I'm not ready for all that.

jmonroe · November 2007

I would like to see the leather and feel it on the Grand Marquis.

Well, since your in the biz, that shouldn't be all that tough, right?

jmonroe

smokin98ss · December 2007

Man I love November! especially after a crappy month like Oct. (16 units) Nov. has been the best month I've had in a while. (27 cars) also had 4 three pounders and 1 four pounder this month. I love this time of year. :shades:

epiney · December 2007

A couple of weeks ago carmax put 47,000 dollars on a BMW 335i hard top convertiable. The most I could get out of anyone was 40,000 dollars.

It's not really stupid money they throw around. They seem to get it back. I sold my 02 MDX to them two months ago for $16.5. No dealer would touch that. I watched it on their site. It was listed a week later and sold for $23 in two days :confuse:

Now the stupid money is the person who bought it. It was is great shape, but I only paid $35 when I bought it new. I was certainly happy with the depreciation during my ownership especially since I didn't spend a dime outside of routine maintenance.

epiney · December 2007

Nov. has been the best month I've had in a while. (27 cars) also had 4 three pounders and 1 four pounder this month. I love this time of year.

Good show! I did my dealer a favor yesterday. After flying in from overseas from a 9 hour flight, I dragged my jet lagged [non-permissible content removed] into the dealer to pick up my new car. They appreciated the gesture to book a unit in Nov and I saved a couple hours of my Saturday morning. I cut the demo short since I was so tired, so now I need to read the owners manual.

obyone · December 2007

If you've ever had Kobe beef from Japan that sells for $300 a pound you would never compare American beef to Japanese.....

epiney · December 2007

Hmmm, I don't know, I think the American, German and Japanese vinyl they put on the backs and sides of some seats is pretty similar

tjc78 · December 2007

"I would like to see the leather and feel it on the Grand Marquis"

The leather in a Grand Marquis is very nice. Surprisingly so. My Grandfather's '04 Ultimate beats my Avalon in that department hands down. Not saying its a better car... just the leather.

epiney · December 2007

I haven't been in a Lexus lately but the 97-01 Camry and ES300 were virtually identical.

I have been in both and I always felt Lexus did the most to badge differentiate then Honda/Acura or Nissan/Infiniti. Sure they are the same platform and very similar. As far as I recall, the ES300 has frameless glass in the doors and was much better insulated for noise. Real wood in the ES and HID lights were other things as well.

jmonroe · December 2007

The leather in a Grand Marquis is very nice. Surprisingly so. My Grandfather's '04 Ultimate beats my Avalon in that department hands down. Not saying its a better car... just the leather.

Thanks, I've heard that myself.

Now, if you are a really nice poster, you'll tell Mack where your Grandfather lives so he can be taken for a ride.

jmonroe

otto8 · December 2007

Heres a old list of who makes what..............
http://www.fixitnow.com/appliantology/whomadeit.htm

snakeweasel · December 2007

If you've ever had Kobe beef from Japan that sells for $300 a pound

I have had it once, while really good dollar for dollar its not nearly as good as American beef.

snakeweasel · December 2007

Just remember that cows are not the only source of leather.

obyone · December 2007

They now breed the same cow in the midwest that sells for $100 a pound. Is that what you had or was it the original?

obyone · December 2007

Since you remembered Broderick Crawford I assume you remember Buddy Ebsen and perhaps even Jack Lord. Do you remember the car enthusiast that said, "Live hard...die young...and leave a good looking corpse"?

joel0622 · December 2007

The Fonz?

lrguy44 · December 2007

Just remember that cows are not the only source of leather

Is yours Anaconda or Bull?

isellhondas · December 2007

That line actually came from an old movie.." Knock on any door".

I forget the name of the guy who said it, some mobster.

tjc78 · December 2007

"Thanks, I've heard that myself"

Just proving your point of course....

I'm too far from Mack (South Jersey near Philly). However, I thought everyone has driven a full size Ford at least once. They haven't changed in years! My first ride was actually an 89 Grand Marq. Couldn't kill that thing (although I tried).

mackabee · December 2007

We don't get many of those as trade ins. Once in a while an older couple will trade one in on an Avalon. I'll keep an eye out for one and give you my impressions.
Mackabee

We did have a Mercury Marauder which is a souped up version of the car. Sold quickly.

mackabee · December 2007

What did you buy? Lexus? I'm still waiting for my IS350.

We had one here a few nights ago, beautiful, my GM had the keys and wouldn't let me drive it!

He said "Pony up 34k and the car is yours." we sold it to the local Lexus dealer.
:shades:

obyone · December 2007

Very close. Actually Arthur Fonzirelli from Happy Days was a re-enactment of the original character. Even to the duck tail hair style.

joel0622 · December 2007

James Dean

snakeweasel · December 2007

It was the original.

It was good but not $300 a pound good.

snakeweasel · December 2007

Pardon?

imidazol97 · December 2007

That chart is out-of-date. Whirlpool owns Maytag so I assume they own that whole column. I looked at Frigidaire's website (used to be GM plant in Moraine, Ohio) and it is an Electrolux company. Didn't they make vacuum sweepers long ago?

laurasdada · December 2007

Ya just beat me to it, Joel! "Too fast to live, too young to die..."

Went to the Boston Auto Show yesterday. Some beautiful models (and cars, of course). Ford/Lincoln/Mercury is offering a $75 gift card if you just take a test drive before the new year... I didn't sign up which is rather unusual for me. The cheapest man on earth...!

Not impressed with the exterior of the new MKS, very derivative. Will, however, sell assorted vital organs for a Maserati Gran Turismo!

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