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Smart Shopper Stories from the Sales Frontlines
47837 messages, Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 4:31 AM
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Replying to: jimbres (Jan 03, 2009 5:13 am) That is a very good point. On the one hand, it is a lot of car for the money and it is like going back to a 1960 or 70 car experience. However, those safety features are absolutely necessary today and stability control is becoming so important it will become mandatory. Richard, I hope you consider jimbres comments.
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Replying to: driver100 (Jan 03, 2009 6:49 am) Instead of stability control it has traction control which along with the 4 wheel ABS the car handles just fine.
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Just wanted to share... I can't remember last time I purchased a car from a domestic dealer, and should have known better. I happened to come across a used low mile 2005 X5 V8 with all the toys at a GMC store. Stopped over to find it sitting on the back lot, filthy from being traded in the day before (the works, kids' toys still in the back seat, covered in Cheerios, etc.). Figured it was actually a good thing, I got to see how the previous owner treated it. I was immediately approached by a salesman who seemed eager to deal with me not to attend their sales meeting. Test drove the car, all was well except it seemed like it would need tires soon. Mentioned that to the sales guy, they threw a number at me on my trade in (that actually seemed decent), I told them I'd get back to them -- after the 'meet my sales manager and would you buy the car today' bit. I called back in the morning, told him I'm interested in the car, and would be securing my own financing. He (the sales guy) kept asking for a credit app, I had the loan preapproved same day, and agreed on a OTD price (+tax) over the phone. He kept on pushing me to take the car home that night, basically trying to spot me right then and there. He was getting the car detailed that day (Tuesday before Thanksgiving) for me to take delivery the following day, So... I call Wednesday morning, my sales guy is out sick, and the sales manager is not in. I'm patched through to another highly trained sales professional who always answered his phone in Spanish... After making the 30 mile drive to the dealership, now they don't have a working fax machine for my credit union to fax the loan paperwork. Two hours later... Finally we can start signing away, All of a sudden we now have a $599 doc fee. And they yet again are insisting on me filling out their own credit app. I refused on both counts... We then had to argue over sales tax figure -- I'm licensing the car out of state and was not going to pay tax at the time of purchase. Five hours later -- day before Thanksgiving, trying to leave town -- I'm finally out of there. The fun is now just beginning... The same night, at 11:30pm my original (out sick that day) salesman drunk dials me from his cellphone. Twice. Their wonderful detail guy had thrown the floormats on top of the still wet shampooed carpets that pretty much got moldy due to the car sitting on their lot for two days afterward with the windows closed. The following Monday I get a call from my credit union wondering if I decided to withdraw my application, as they are yet to hear anything back from the dealership and the loan is not funded. To make a long story short, it took them over 30 days to send the payoff for my trade in after repeated lies about when it was sent, being unable to find tracking numbers, etc. I left fourteen (14) messages for the finance manager that went unreturned (I actually kept track of this) -- the one and only time I was able to get this sh1thead on the phone was after sittingon hold for 15 minutes for the GM or owner of the place... Anyhow, I AM happy with the car and ultimately the deal I was able to get. However, this was by far the most debilitating car buying experience I've had thus far (having purchased 15+ vehicles in the past). It's absolutely astonishing to me (also in sales) that this is the way they conduct business. Sorry about the long rant, happy New Year! 
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Replying to: joel0622 (Jan 03, 2009 7:01 am) Thanks Joel....5 star rating all around....it gets the Driver stamp of approval, go for it Richard. Airbags, abs, traction control are necessities today. |
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Replying to: richard64 (Jan 03, 2009 1:12 am) Regarding those Gr Marquis, even the '96 I sold for my Mother handled fine....12 year old car, based on an old (but updated) platform. In my brief time driving the GM, I began to appreciate what it is those cars can do. You're not going to win any autox events with them. You aren't going to win any stop light wars with them either (unless you're up against a hybrid). What they do, they do well. That is, driving in comfort, with easy power, and just enough handling to keep you out of trouble. They drive "EASY", if that makes any sense. That '96 would crack 22 MPG, so the new ones should be able to do better than that. RWD handling (which is a good thing), anti-lock (another good thing). Ford's been making them long enough that build quality is very good. As good as my Tahoe is in the open road, the Merc was just as capable. I would have kept the '96, if I had a couple fewer cars in the GG stable. |
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Replying to: bismarck (Jan 03, 2009 7:23 am) Thanks for sharing your story bis...it was fascinating. You made a gutsy move by buying the car before it was detailed....although as you say, it might be better to see it that way. Also, you probably got a better price on it since it didn't sit around too long. Would this have happened at a non B3 store?......I seem to doubt it. Sounds like a dealer that is really struggling to stick around. |
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Replying to: bismarck (Jan 03, 2009 7:23 am)
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Replying to: joel0622 (Jan 03, 2009 7:56 am) |
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Replying to: driver100 (Jan 03, 2009 7:25 am) Most stability control systems also include traction control. I believe that this is true of Ford's AdvanceTrac system. Some experts have called stability control the most significant automotive safety development since the seat belt. Federal regs will mandate it in all new cars sold in the U.S. beginning in 2012. I wouldn't consider a car that lacked it.
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Replying to: jimbres (Jan 03, 2009 8:32 am) Maybe it's because I've driven some cars with nothing more than a steering wheel, gas pedal and a brake pedal to control the car (on less than sterling tires), but there are few cars that I couldn't control in the wet stuff. I'll make special exemptions for some sports cars with sport treads on them. Even the 12 year old Merc GM was relatively easy to control in what's amounted to about the only real snow we've had in SW OH (so far). Maybe it's because I've had experience driving these beasts. But, I certainly wouldn't fret driving a Gr Marquis at all (particularly a new one) in inclement weather, regardless of stability control.
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