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Thursday we had the dealership install a clear bra on our 2015 Outback using one of their vendors, which they price matched against a local vendor I had picked previously. I was initially planning to have the installation completed after the purchase and with Xpel Ultimate. After discussing my plans with the dealer, they agreed to price match and install the new 3M Scotchgard Pro film. We're taking a bit of a risk with a brand new self healing film, but I liked the idea of having the installation completed at the dealer with no risk of paint chips while driving to an outside vendor. Plus the warranty will be 7 years through the dealer.
While the film was being installed Thursday I corresponded with our sales representative to determine financing. We were prepared to pay the lump sum with a check, but wanted to see if rates were low enough to incentivize us to keep our funds in the market. Turns out they were. Subaru offered 1.9%.
We arranged a pickup for Friday afternoon when our daughter was out of school so she could participate in our family event. When we pulled into the lot we spotted our new arctic white Outback awaiting us out front with the clear bra installed. We conducted a quick inspection and while doing so were met by our sales representative. We saw two issues. One, the side mirror had a small wrinkle in the clear bra, and two, the bumper had been drilled for a license plate against my instructions.
The clear bra will be fixed next week, but the bumper is more complicated. We could reject the Outback and order a new one with about a 2.5 month wait, or accept it, and we chose to accept it given the long wait.
After discussing the bumper issue with our sales rep we went inside and filled out the credit app for finance. We waited about 15 minutes while the finance manager drew up the contract and other paperwork, and then worked with him in his office to close the deal.
I'm a stickler for details and noted some discrepancies in the paperwork. The finance manager sheepishly admitted a mistake that resulted in higher pricing on the contract than we agreed in August, and he immediately corrected the paperwork. He mentioned the Subaru warranty extensions, but never pushed them nor offered any other extras. We turned down the warranty extensions and signed the (many) docs.
Our final deal was $27,776 plus taxes, about 3% below invoice and way below the $30,800 MSRP. The clear bra was separate from the car purchase ($680 to cover the front bumper, partial hood, partial fenders, headlights, and side mirrors).
Our sales rep spent 20 minutes going over all the vehicle's functions, paying particular attention to the unique Eyesight functions and commands. When he finished up, my daughter jumped in the back seat and we drove home together in relatively heavy traffic due to the time of day. At one point I checked one of the Eyesight functions by intentionally drifting toward the center of a road, and just as I was about to cross over the line, the car beeped to let me know. Pretty cool.
Yesterday I spent the day applying two coats of Scotchgard to the fabric, washing and prepping the paint, and then applying a paint coating to the paint, plastic, glass, and painted aluminum wheels. The Outback has sat in the garage since then, allowing the paint coating to cure before we expose it to real life.
The next task is to sell the aging minivan. I need to haul some sheetrock over the next couple of weeks, and I'm thinking we'll keep the van until we finish the project.
Don't worry...no flag!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I had both a Celebrity and Lumina as rentals (one an insurance rental, the other on a vacation). They were perfectly fine cars. Didn't move the excite-o-meter at all but both were perfectly fine family haulers which is what we needed.
I see reviews telling me that Camry is trying to get sportier like an Accord and that Hyundai has moved the Sonata to be more like previous Camrys. Guess there will always be choices for any taste. Were I in the market for a new mid-size I'd test the Altima and Legacy as well as a few others but I'd bet I'd land in a Mazda 6. Can't get one like mine anymore and they've even eliminated the hatchback but in the year and a half I've owned it this car has made a big impression on me.
Went very well considering...except for the holes in the bumper...and I kind of thought that could go wrong. Anything out of normal procedure where one person has to stand over the other will probably get messed up.
Keep the windows open while that Scotchguard dries...but you probably know that. I checked on having seats treated by the dealer but all the information I found said doing it yourself with Scotchguard was just as good......but, don't drive it for a day once applied.
The car sounds beautiful and must look very attractive in white...my favorite color (or favourite colours for fellow Canadians).
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
@tyguy said:
"Got it!"
Tyguy, your outstanding compilation of the "play-by-play" activities as you acquired your new Outback was so good I actually thought I was there with you and your family to pick up the new family addition and was with you in the finance department when you found those price discrepancies (they tried to pull a fast one there, me thinks). You certainly know how to describe your experiences - and enjoyed reading about them.
My sincere congratulations to you and your family and I wish you the best of luck with it.
I was particularly upset over the fact that you specifically told them not to drill holes in the front bumper. At least it is plastic and won't rust. They should repair that for you - it's the salesman's fault for not seeing to your wishes. They should just REPLACE the front bumper. If they had done that to my car, I would have let them "eat" it. But as you said, you would have to wait several months. But I would certainly ask them to replace the front bumper.
Enjoy!
2021 Genesis G90
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
The jury is still out on the MPG for 2015---until at least November. I am now 745 miles into the break-in period of 1,000 miles. It is suggested that I not rate the MPG until 2,000 to 3,000 miles. I began at 12.3 MPG and am now at 16.9 MPG for highway driving. The promise is 21 MPG Hwy. We'll see. I do admire Ford for taking the giant leap with an aluminum truck---probably the most daring endeavor of any car company in the history of automobiles.
As each new vehicle is "born", it is expected to be better than the model before it. While that is true most of the time, slip ups do happen. We have often mentioned here certain vehicles of the past that were bombers. Let's hope that the new truck proves to be the best yet. There is much weighing in the balance----Ford's excellent reputation, designer's future, assembly plant jobs, economic impact in this country, etc. Farmers and construction workers will be depending on the Ford Tough legacy. It is extremely important that these hard working Americans not be disappointed. For people like me, it's no big deal. I may find it convenient to haul a few small antiques or ride through the farm in Alabama. At the farm, I don't work; I just check the plots to make sure that the evil BIL hasn't ripped off my wife by selling a plot that he "forgot" to tell us about. Sixty percent of the farm plots have been sold to various industries. I cannot wait until the remaining 40% is sold. That means that we will never have to deal with evil relatives again. They're either all dead or off the map. O Happy days!
Richard
Richard
Mike: thank you for the kind words. The bumper situation was a difficult one for me. As a people and process manager in my professional life I'm accustomed to holding people to expectations, but I didn't want aftermarket paint, and I was worried about them loosening up all the clips and other fasteners if they were to replace the bumper. In the end, after a little consternation, I decided I would install a license plate frame that would use the holes they created. Today I found a nice powder coated steel one that will blend with the black plastic trim well. I'm trying to make lemonade out of the situation, and I keep reminding myself I scored a very good price given the demand for the new Outback.
I'll get some pictures posted soon.
Richard
I loved the Ford "world" ranger (world meaning everywhere but the US) when they featured it last year on Amazing race. i could see getting one of them. especially a diesel. Oh well.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I just checked the 2014 interior and to me, there is a bit of a difference, but I am not sure one looks much better than the other. I mean, both look very nice.
I agree with you about the front. I prefer the 2014 to the 2015. There may be allowances to have LED lights or something.
Not sure about the door being like Jello - hard to believe. I think the reviewer is using literary license to make a point, but a comparison should not be over the top.
I prefer a squared off roof to a rounded futuristic bubbly one anytime.
Sometimes cars do get uglier with each model change. The previous edition of the Explorer seemed that way to me. The new one is a fresh start, hopefully it won't go downhill. The 2nd version of the Taurus was ugly, whereas the first version - the jelly bean - was a ground breaking futuristic design.
Finally, is your BIL related to my SIL? They seem to have a similar modus operandi. Some people are sociopaths, don't care about anyone except themselves. The SIL paid about 90% of what he was supposed to pay for the business, and we gave up - however, we do get to claim it as a loss. Now, he is complaining because his accountant just told him - he has to pay taxes on half the amount he didn't pay. There's only one reason he would even mention this to me, but it is falling on deaf ears.
Seems that if the government is losing $X from us, they want it from him. He has the MBA but didn't see it coming. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
My concern about rusting has nothing to do with aluminum but with the thinner steel used in the vehicle frames. I do not know if high-strength steel is less prone to rusting than regular steel. But when I hear "thinner frame" I think of the downsized '78 GM intermediates, which did the same thing. Their rear frame rails rusted out so badly that GM actually cataloged a repair kit at one point to repair them.
I happened to be in a parking lot on Friday and when I returned I found a F-150 had parked next to me. It was like being docked next to a battleship. Backing out of the space was an adventure in blind backing as you could see nothing. Maybe we need segregated pickup parking sections to keep them away from the rest of us and improve safety.
With aluminum, I'll be anxious to see how it does in a crash test.
Richard
Richard
Richard
Speaking of surveys, I've received THREE! That's enough. I'm running out of Mr. Nice Guy.
Richard
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Different application, but I have a neighbor with a Taurus SHO with that EcoBoost motor. :Pretty nice ride, with a nice push when it's punched. But, that's different than putting it in a Pickup.
But here are the main reasons I bypassed the Ecoboost. 1 - it was an extra cost option at $1,095. 2 - per the EPA it only returns 1 mpg better on both the city and highway cycles. 3 - there are several reports from Ecoboost owners that there is a moisture issue with the turbo engine which creates situations where the engine just shuts down when it's raining outside. Granted, I don't have all the details on this but there is a lot of chatter about it on F-150 forums and apparently Ford is aware and has been working on a fix. I doubt this affects all Ecoboost engines but even the potential for losing power while cruising down the highway was enough for me to stay away. As for mileage, some say it's incredible and beats the EPA ratings while others say the engine does no better than a V8.
What's really interesting about this motor is that Ford dealers stock way more of them than they do the V8, and at least the dealers I frequented were pushing it really hard. They have had a lot of folks bought into a turbo V6 since it came out in 2011, but I wonder how many would make the same decision again.
2024 Ram 1500 Longhorn, 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2019 Ford Mustang GT Premium, 2016 Kia Optima SX, 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
Congrats on your new ride. I would be POed if someone drilled holes in my bumper against my specific request. No front plates required in your state?
I might have missed it but what color is your interior? I have heard that Scotchgard can cause some colors to run.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Richard
Thanks, GG. I've been surprised at the luxury and comfort---as good as our Caddy SRX. I'm really having fun and so many people tell me that is very pretty.
Richard
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
The Duratech is great on admittedly a much smaller vehicle.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Congrats on your new Outback. 1 week in and I'm still loving my 2015 Legacy. What is the 3M Scotchguard? Do I buy it online or at the local auto parts store? How does it work? (Spray and wipe, or spay and let it soak in so to speak)
This is a big part of what I wrote for CCBA, so for those of you who have read it already, sorry:
A few things I'm starting to notice (good and not so good) since the Legacy has become my daily driver a little more than a week ago:
The Legacy has proved itself to be a great commuter. It soaks up bumps and road imperfections nicely. The ride is smooth, but not floaty at all. This AM, it was 42 degrees when I left so the seat heaters proved their worth even on the lowest setting. I really like the small, leather wrapped steering wheel. The Bluetooth and Voice Recognition work fantastic.
I got 482.8 miles on my 1st tank of gas. The car took 17.069 gallons (18.5 Gallon Tank) of 87 octane ($3.559) for an average of 28.29 mpg. So I should be able to easily achieve 500 mile tanks.
The 3 things I've noticed so far that bug me are:
The placement of the clock. I've got to take my eyes off the road and look down to see what time it is.
No lever on the inside of the trunk. I'm used to having a small handle on the inside of the trunk to close it. Now I've got to put my hands on the car's dirty trunk to close it.
Distance to Empty: This AM I get into the car and it says my DTE is 40 miles. Plenty for me to get to work, then up to Costco this afternoon on my way home. I jump on 95 (3.5 miles from my house and now the DTE is down to 30 miles. Ok, fine, it will stay steady or go back up. I'm still fine with my original plan. The whole trip down 95, it reads 30 miles. All of the sudden, I look down and it goes from 30 to - - - -. So I stop for gas when I get off the highway. No big deal. I'm just used to my BMW and my wife's Pilot which let you run the car all the way down:) Now I know for the future.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Ty might get back to you about the Scotchguard....I did buy my can but never used it before. Basically, test a small area first because there is a small chance it could alter the color. Use it on seats and carpet, all cloth areas. Leave the windows open for a day, and don't use the car. If you do have a spill it will protect the fabric, the spilled liquid will bubble up and you can soak it up. One of the worst stains is from new jeans on light colored seats...the dye can come right off and it is hard to remove. This should help....grape juice, coffee, should all wipe off.
Detailers or dealers will charge over $100 to put on this protection....they use the same stuff you can do it yourself for less than $10 a can
I haven't had a problem with stains....a bit on the bmw before this, caused by new jeans....but, for the small cost and extra protection I will apply it to the new E.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I thought duel was two, as in a gun fight duel. I forgot about dual, meaning two...I suppose as in dual exhaust pipes. I was actually a good speller in public school....but, I guess I acquired so much knowledge since then spelling has taken a (to use a car term) backseat.
The tale of two spellings tells us the difference between two words, that can be exchanged each other. When two words are similar, people are often faced with a dilemma (or as some of us say, dilemna :@ -which would be incorrect as well), a duel with the spelling and another duel with themselves. The importance of correct spelling is very important. Every word is forged to define a precise concept. A misspelled word doesn't give the right connotation to the thought, that it is supposed to represent.
What Does the Word Duel Mean?
The word duel is a noun. It describes a fight between two people. It is an old practice, used to solve a quarrel, typically about a point of honor. In modern times, the word is used less formally to describe every kind of contention between two people.
What Does the Word Dual Mean?
The word dual is an adjective. It refers to a couple of people or objects. It can be dual anything that is composed of two elements, a pair, a couple, or it can describe a double aspect of the same thing.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I just had a thought. I'll email some to Imid and he can post them.
Richard
My obsession with Mustangs ebbs and flows and in one of my manic stages I was dumb enough to actually contact a dealer in NJ through Edmunds. They had a 2015 GT on their site at unbelievable price. Too good to be true actually.
We did an email dance for awhile with me asking to confirm the price and them responding "come on down". I finally got tired of the dance and told them I was no longer interested. That was two weeks ago.
Today I got a phone message from these guys saying they will "work with me" and to "come on down". You'd think that when I asked them not to email me any more they would get the message. I mean I wasn't asking for a "best price" to go shop, I just wanted to confirm that the posted price wasn't a typo. When the wouldn't give me a straight answer I terminated contact.
I'm the last guy you want to try the hard sell with.
I wonder, do dealers have a generic high pressure marketing plan that they just plug in for all leads regardless of what need the customer requests? I know some of our sales people have commented on how frustrating internet leads are to them and the low percentage that convert to actual sales.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Richard
@oldfarmer50 said:
"I wonder, do dealers have a generic high pressure marketing plan that they just plug in for all leads regardless of what need the customer requests?"
OF, I believe it is up to the Internet sales manager, not necessarily the dealerships. Each dealership is different and dealership management is, of course, unique to the dealership environment. Let me explain further.
At the dealership I helped manage, the Internet department was under the supervision of a separate manager who reported directly to the General Manager. His marching orders were to get customers into the dealership, no matter what it took to accomplish that. Once in the dealership, the manager assigned one of my salesmen to that customer. I had no involvement in those deals because the Internet manager "desked" his own deals.
I refused to take that job when I first started there because all those deals were near or at invoice - so there was little or no chance to make a decent salary, both for the manager or the salesmen. I did not like that department because it operated much like a "sweat shop" with most of the contact with customers was in the form of emails and phone calls.
That line "come on down" or similar words was always used. Our internet department did 10% of our monthly sales - but their CSI (customer satisfaction index) was awful and brought the entire dealership down.
Like I said, I didn't like that department because it was cut throat and more like a carnival barker trying to get patrons inside the "tent!"
2021 Genesis G90
I met my friend for coffee today and I was surprised he was driving his Audi A4 R/S car and not his Maserati. He said the weather forecast called for rain, and he has no traction in rain in the Mas....it just hydroplanes.
Meanwhile, the A4 does it all, carries 4 people comfortably, has a lot of power, fun to drive, looks great.......if it was me, I would say the Maserati is more trouble than it is worth.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
In other news, Edmunds.com's Lot Buddy app is now live. It's "the first car-shopping tool to offer locked-in pricing without requiring a buyer's personal information."
Just what you need when you are shopping Mustangs.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I love the red on your truck and I personally find the Ford red the best match to my preferences. The Subaru red is just a bit too dark, but the Ford red is stunning. I'm genuinely glad the truck has worked out so well for you.
Driver explained the Scotchgard for fabric in perfect detail and I couldn't possibly explain it any better. I've been using Scotchgard for roughly 30 years, starting with water proofing my ski clothing back in the days before Gore Tex. Scotchgard is readily available in car parts stores and places like Wal-Mart. Good stuff.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
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Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-2021 Sahara 4xe-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
FOLLOW-UP
I have always purchased my MB vehicles from a dealer that is about 18 miles north of where I live. There is a dealer about 2 miles from me which is owned by the same corporation. I have tried unsuccessfully to buy a car at my local dealer, but to no avail.
This past April, I was introduced to the GM of the local dealership through a mutual friend of ours. He asked me why I travel so far to buy my cars when his dealership is in my neighborhood. I told him why and he assured me he would meet or beat the price of my current dealership. So I told him I would give him a shot on my next car.
About two months ago, I called him and I went in and met with one of his top salesmen. After about 10 minutes, I asked if he had any info on the new MB E400. He said he didn't, but that he would call me as soon as he had the ordering info.
That next week is when my dealer asked me to give him the specs on a new E400 and he gave me a copy of his ordering guide. To make a long story shorter, I called this other guy at my local dealership and he said he still had no info. That's when I decided I would continue doing business with my current dealership.
That salesman never called me back even though he knew his GM wanted me to buy from his dealership. So I ordered the car.
This morning I was in my local dealer for a car wash (all the MB dealerships owned by AutoNation wash all Mercedes cars, no matter which dealership it was bought from). I saw the salesman as I was talking with a manager there. The salesman said he still had no info on the 2015 E400. I laughed out loud at him and told him my new E400 was at the port awaiting transportation to my regular dealer and that I had ordered it 2 months ago.
The guy was obviously a loser - he never checked with his GM for info on ordering. That is how so many salesmen lose business for a dealership - they either never follow-up or they follow-up so much they turn their potential buyers off!
2021 Genesis G90
I suppose I could "come on down" to NJ when things slow down in a couple of weeks.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-2021 Sahara 4xe-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2020 Ascent Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport