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Why single ME out? You've explained it to me 5,000 times. Besides, they are as ugly as home made sin and have that terrible "feel of the road". Imagine paying that kind of money to feel like a ping pong ball and look like a water bug.
Richard
No, no, no! Look at it: "_red_"
"...but I believe the cars were parked out front."
If that's true, why is he looking THROUGH the windows to see the stickers on the car windows?
Thanks for the other two points. If I looked through the spokes, I wouldn't know a disk from a drum. Now I know what that is behind my alloy wheels on the SRX. I don't think that it is especially attractive to be able to see them.
Richard
That's what a camper once told me when I was staying at the Hilton. (Grin)
Richard
You wouldn't like my interest rates. (Grin)
Richard
And I need to go back and read his post to figure out what I am missing about red.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
and I clarified the windows question. "I stopped and peeked into the windows and looked at the stickers on the windows" So, he looked at the window stickers, and looked inside the cars too. this was also the 1st visit when he got out of the car.
I thing we now have this post resolved. time to move on.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Richard
That's what a camper once told me when I was staying at the Hilton.
And I would have told your friend, "It is better than sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber".
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
How about a post on "Texting and Tweeting, what does it all mean?"
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Good answer! I don't think you just start out with an "M", you have to work your way up to it. Might be a good idea for the Boss Mustang too, too much power all at once might be a bit much for most people to handle.
I remember looking for a car in 1984, and the Mustang was my first choice. I was trading in a 81 Cutlass. I went to a Ford dealer and took a test drive. What a disappointment. Looked good, but it was minimal everything, poor ride, no power, tinny, uncomfortable. I tried a Camaro and for not much more, it was a totally different car than the Mustang...at least there was some engineering and thought went into making it. Still not great compared to say an Olds, but about 1000X better than the Mustang.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
"That is the defining, or restrictive pronoun, which the nondefining or nonrestrictive."
"The lawn mower that is broken is in the garage (tells which one)"
"The lawn mower, which is broken, is in the garage (adds a fact about the only lawn mower in question)"
Strunk & White then offer this advice:
"The careful writer, watchful for small conveniences, goes which-hunting, removes the defining whiches, and by so doing improves his work."
(All quotes from The Elements of Style, Third Edition, by William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White. MacMillan Publishing Company.)
I don't think most normal people would find this car to be ugly! (Did you notice that great subtle arguing technique - if you don't agree you are not normal.)
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That which is defining, is not that which describes. (Wink)
You certainly make a valid argument; yours is the preferred structure. Still, it's not incorrect to use either---if the intent is to not distinguish between the restrictive and the nonrestrictive. Adding information is always parenthetical which requires commas. I'm sure that we both can agree upon that. (Grin)
Richard
That's good technique. Really confuse him so he has no idea what you just said.
Then leave something he can agree to.....so you haven't really lost.
You get A++ in how to not go down to defeat (ha ha wink wink)
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Seriously, if you test drive a Juke, would love to hear your impressions.
tidester....just curious.....if this isn't the most "posted" thread on a daily basis here at Edmunds, which thread can make that claim? Is this something Edmunds tracks?
Mustangs....if you can't light the tires, no sense in having one. And, if you're getting the V6, regardless of how good it might be, we will question your manliness.
Frankly, I think Ford has done a whale of a job during the "crisis". They have really good products, that are technologically advanced, perform as well as anything in their segment, and built as well as any other manufacturer's vehicles, regardless of source or market segment.
Granted, I only have limited exposure to their current line-up. But, I mentioned my friend's SHO, that's a really good car....I mean REALLY good (Kirstie...that would fit the bill of what you're looking for). Another friend (more like an acquaintance just bought a Fusion. As much as I like Honda/Acura products, I'd say the Fusion is the equal of it, if a little mushy in the handling dept. They don't have Mercury around to burden them. And, they're making money. What's not to like?
As for being "normal", I have never claimed that status. My friends and family can assure you that the label would never fit. Why do you think that I'm on this thread with you? (Grin)
Richard
Excellent question. I have wondered about that myself. This is the only car thread that I frequent, so I wouldn't know about the others.
Richard
I always found lot cruisers to be amusing. they would slowly cruise through the lot sometimes blocking traffic in the process. They wouldn't get out of their cars, just cruise by often going places that were off limits to anyone except the employees.
One day a "lot cruiser" went into an area that was claarly signed EMPLOYEES ONLY. It's a tight area that is jammed with cars with no rear exit.
While the lot cruiser was up on that lot, someone blocked them in with a car not knowing they were up there.
The lot cruiser actually blew his horn for ten minutes before getting out and finding someone to get that car out of their way!
Good, at least not all has been lost....there is some hope!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The clue is in here:
"He walked up to the car and motioned for me to down the window as I backed up to turn and head for the lot exit ramp. He walked backwards and then he paced me for a while as I slowly left. I was waving him away the whole time."
Why would he be walking backwards if he was following you as you were reversing. And to pace you he would have to be watching you. And we know he was, cuz otherwise you wouldn't have wasted the effort to wave him away. I just can't see all this happening as he was walking backwards but keeping an eye on ya as he looked back over his shoulder.
Unless one of us is suppose to point out two consecutive paragraphs starting with "More recently"? That jumped out at me first because I find myself doing it occasionally. Due to the effort/pain typing I let stuff go, yet i am still compelled to edit cuz i see something stupid i did or missing a key word that changes the entire context of my post. And this always seems to happen immediately after hitting Post My Message.
But your not addressing his presence by not even rolling down the window, does support Richard's observation about you being very comfortable in your own skin. It takes a certain something to be able to be that....hmmm....unsociable? Maybe if you were sick as a dog and didn't want him to get breathed on, then you were doing him a favour. Or maybe he looked sick as a dog? Or maybe you had just indulged in a special smoke in the car and didn't want him to know? Or if the lot was in some rural places up here, maybe he had a cloud of mosquitoes around him and then you too would be on the menu...or?
I too sneak back. Things just don't come in on me if there is someone there trying to 'help'/sell me. In the past, I have had to drive back to the lot with an ultimatum for the salesman. Either get out and let me drive the car in peace or I'm going home. I said it diplomatically though so I don't think I hurt his feelings too badly but in the end, I'm spending some big bucks here, so deal with it.
This puts me in mind of a scenario that, to this day, I'm a little uncomfortable in not knowing the most acceptable way of dealing with it. Maybe you guys can offer up some advice. First let me say that I do not want to reward any salesman that has no clue what he or she is selling. But here's an example scene. I KNOW I am going to make a purchase. I know no one at the dealership. The first SM approaches me with aggression, yet doesn't have a clue about the vehicle I am interested in and while there he keeps asking one of the other guys for help.
Or maybe you called first on the phone and the one you get has invested a bit of time looking up some things (even basic things they should have known without having to look it up) and then when you get to the delaership you realize you simply don't want to buy from this guy, how do tell him that you wish to speak to someone else? Or how do you tell him that his BO is so bad you can't concentrate on the car cuz you're worried it's gonna transfer to your possible new wheels like a mutant virus...(ref'ing a Seinfeld episode) In big dealerships it's more doable than your small town joint that has room for only one car in the showroom and there are only two SM there and while you are working on your deal, the other rejected guy is sitting at his desk (only 6 feet away) eavesdropping on your every word as he gnaws into a donut and his coffee.
And other times you meet a SM that was great in every way, but simply doesn't have what you are looking for and you feel bad that you can't buy a car from him.
As for Driver vs driver, i didn't upper case his D on purpose tho. I tend to use whatever their screen name style is.
Some days, thoughts just flow and you can express them well. Other times you're (me) finishing sentences with prepositions all over the place and as awkward as a St Bernard in a china shop,
Maybe, they think we would have too many visitors, and too many posts.
We would probably get more new material if we were listed as many newcomers would want to talk about there car buying experience, but probably don't realize we exist.
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2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I'll definitely want to test drive the Juke, thought it might be awhile. I've pretty much settled on keeping my car for another 6 months or so to save up extra cash for a bigger downpayment.
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2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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I think it says something that there are so many lot cruisers. I see a lot of people looking at cars on a Sunday, when dealers are closed.
Maybe, people should be able to pick up a pin and be able to walk around without being hounded? I am sure most of us have wanted to browse around and just look and sit in cars without being chased around the showroom.
Retailers realized this sometime ago. In the 60s and 70s clothing store staff would pounce on you when you entered the store. For sometime now they offer a hello, and possibly...if you need help just ask. That is much more pleasant.
I think dealerships should try to come up with a way so people can browse...browsers often become buyers.
On this topic, I was looking at Cadillacs a few years ago. I was chased around by a young lady and she asked a few times if I would like to talk to a "consultant". I said no, I was just checking the cars out on my own. Every 3 minutes she would ask if I needed help. She did point me to the washrooms if needed and the coffee machine. But, enough is enough.....I like to look around first before being assaulted by a salesman.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I answered my own post because I got this brilliant idea!
I am going to manufacture baseball caps and on the top it will say
"Just Looking
I'll ask you if I need Help"
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If I spotted a customer on the lot, I would watch their body language. If they turned away when they spotted me, I would walk up and ask them if they needed any help.
If they declined and told me they were just looking around, I would say.." If you give me an idea of what you are looking for, I'll point you in the right direction".
This usually opened things up but if not, I would hand them my card and tell them that if they had any questions about any of our cars to come and find me.
On the rare days we were closed we would have to use cars to block the lot otherwise the "lot cruisers" would be everywhere. Our lot was always packed with cars and we didn't need any damage.
This type of detail, embellishing a cars underpinnings and inner workings, adds a certain je ne se qua. Think of it like this. Your car is painted right? And trimmed out. Then you have your rims and unlike cars from decades past mfgrs use wheels to complement the entire look of a car. I'll bet the exhaust tip is chromed on the Caddy?Maybe you have a trailer hitch? Painted? Usually with a finishing plug. The idea being that anything that can be seen behind the scenes, usually looks better if it is detailed. It is similar to why antique car buffs open their hoods and show the detailing and chroming and fresh engine paint on cruise nights.
As for a disc (rotor) from a drum...of course you would know the difference. Just the two dif names are a great clue to someone as literate as yourself, Richard!
One looks like a disc or rotor, the other has a drum like look to it. Rear disc brakes cost more to maintain on a car than drums. But they are 'preferred' from a performance and 'safety' aspect since they are less grabby in humid conditions and are more suitable for ABS and ESC use. (stability control) They have inherent traits better suited on a race track, but the buying public are driven by what works on the track, must be good for the street and will pay for it.
Personally I hate rear disc brakes. The emergency brakes usually end up requiring a special disc that often incorporates both the rear brake rotor AND a builtin drum for the EB operation (big $) and a pain to adjust and often not a very effective parking brake. Or if those are not used, then some PITA mechanism that seizes up in the salty road conditions that grabs (poorly) the rotor (think Isuzu Troopers) and many others). Gotta quit here, can't move
here...impulse this..
i know i know, they just do as they're told. It gets old fast tho..
So you ignored that they didn't want to be approached? It likely cost you sales, isell.
It is called forcing yourself upon someone you even knew didn't want to chat at that time. See, I am one of those customers that that simple action alone on your part, would get us off to a bad start. You ignored their body language and hedged that by doing so, you get to hand off a card and maybe a sale in future. They knew where you would be later. Unless you had a twin working there too?
I didn't mean "turn away" in a rude fashion. If they did that, I was gone. I probably shouldn't have said "turned away". I probably should have said..." If they seemed apprensive".
I once watched as a crippled, elderly man got out of his car. Using a cane he slowly wobbled his way to our front door. I got up from my desk and opened the door for him. His response?
" Oh, so this is one of those places that POUNCE on their customers"
I responded by saying..." No sir, I was simply trying to help you by opening the door...Now, if you do need help you'll have to find someone else because it won't be me who helps you"
Sometimes you can't win.
isell, more than once I've thought that you wouldn't have such embittered recollections of your career, had you simply been selling in a different town. I've read many many of your stories, and you had some of the lowest of low people try to buy a Honda. Nasty people around those parts. I'd have picked up and moved I think. Some of your stories have just astounded me. I guess I would have made a terrible salesman, because I think I would have said to myself, job be damned, and hauled off and punched one of your more loathsome 'customers'.
That crippled guy takes the cake though. Not punch-worthy, but pitiful.
Now hand on heart, isell, did that really happen?
I am a Nissan fan. I have fond memories of my 4 cyl E model (E for economy, since power steering was even an option) 5 spd manual tranny 4x4 Pathfinder with manual locking/unlocking Aisin front hubs. What an incredible truck it was. I wish I had it to this day. I would have retrofitted some A/C into it and oiled it even more than i did to fend off rust, but what a great vehicle it was. Sure it had faults, but were easily overshadowed by strengths. One of the best vehicles I ever had.
Anyway... Nissan and their questionable CVT trannys. Fine while under wty I guess.
No...come to think of it, not fine, cuz even the oil changes are prohibitively expensive. And if you don't do them on time, that's their out on a wty claim. Some things in life are actually more important than fuel mileage.. :rolling eyes at Nissan:
The boring stories I can tell won't entertain anyone and I suppose, perhaps I've painted too bleak of a picture of my car selling years.
There were more "highs" than "lows" or I wouldn't have stayed as long as I did.
I worked for a family owned store that was managed by great people who cared about their employees and customers.
I had a whole lot more "good" customers than bad ones and I met people along they way that I consder as friends. I had a large group of very nice and very loyal customers.
I sold thousands of both new and used cars and I can probably think of maybe ten peoplle who I hope I never see again. They may feel the same way about me for all I know.
I saw people at their best and at their worst.
Most lots have few if any and if they do, simply ask for mauve. They can't sell what they don't have.
I'm almost done with the first tank of gas and still like the Escape.
Programmed the fob I just bought for the Explorer to work on the Escape by reading the owners manual. Also put my own code into the drivers door combination lock. 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-0.
Ford may have won back a customer from the Japanese car makers...
especially if the Yellow V-6 A/T Mustang materializes.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
Yes. The Forums front page does give daily rankings. The decision was made at some point to not include this topic in the front page listing of "top discussions" because it was too dominant!
Actually, I had written my own program a long time ago to extract information from the database that (which?) would rank the topics according to number of postings. Unfortunately, the database structure changed since then and my program no longer works. I haven't gotten around to fixing it so I can't give you the latest numbers.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
If only they would have offered a FWD 6-spd model for $18k. Oh well.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I'm surprised you get that much snow since you are only 4.5 hours north of me. Then again. you probably get more of the prevailing weather patterns coming out of the Rockies and across the Kansas plains. After 20 years of living in north central OK I can say that we have had many winters with no snow or barely a dusting or two. The bigger problem here is ice and 4-wheel drive, while helpful, isn't a cure-all; Look for pickup drivin' Bubbas in the ditch after every ice storm.
When I lived in MI and WI snow was a much more constant obstacle. Those yankee states do tend to do a better job than us southerners keeping main roads plowed, but tight state budgets have had a negative impact.
Gogiboy
I was think of Richard as the grammar doctor and the rest of us as his patients. He probably comes to this site wondering what butchery of the written word has been perpetrated in his absence. Thus, R. utters to himself as he logs on "First do no harm"--directed at his fellow posters. When that doesn't happen he offers prescriptions and sage advice like, "you've got a serious case of dangling participles", or in my case, "overuse of parentheticals".
Gogiboy
RB--
A sensible person might say that 100 less hp saved them on gas, on insurance, on the total cost of the car (and resultant loan). They might also say that the state and local police pay less attention to them as they drive.
Just look at those pesky young drivers who pile on the extra HP with every aftermarket add-on. And because that isn't sufficiently "noticeable" they add the decals announcing the extras and stick on the loudest exhaust possible. Why don't they just install a neon sign in their rear window that says, "Pull me over".
Gogiboy
Does that make Kirstie our dominatrix? :surprise:
Sorry. I'm sick today and my brain is doing strange things....
Fezo, take the rest of the week off. PLEASE! :P
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Find me at kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
2015 Kia Soul, 2021 Subaru Forester (kirstie_h), 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 (mr. kirstie_h)
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One bad winter can really spur the sale of 4WD cars and snow tires.
Our elderly Explorer sat in our side yard all last winter with it's studded snow tires mounted up. Never snowed a bit!
" Oh, so this is one of those places that POUNCE on their customers"
LOL. Maybe you opened the door too quickly? The imagery of that scene would be great for one of those Hollywood car dealership movies.
One way to ensure it will be a really bad winter is to keep your present car. And of course, the corollary of this rule is, one way to make sure it won't snow at all is to buy a 4X4 with snow tires.
*For you grammar aficionados, do you know the difference between ensure and insure without looking it up?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
tidester, host
I'm taking your advice.
I pointed this out a long time ago... Post 51502
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart