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Smart Shopper Stories from the Sales Frontlines
48044 messages, Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 7:19 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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Replying to: madmanmoo (Jan 02, 2009 6:03 am) "This person is no danger of buying a vehicle today" One of my favorite things to say to management after I qualify someone in 3 minutes  Hope everyone had a great new year..... Myself I stayed off the sauce and performed the duties of Designated GP |
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Replying to: jmonroe (Jan 02, 2009 7:54 am) I caught that JM.....  GP |
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Replying to: richard64 (Jan 03, 2009 1:12 am) You are ready to fly the nest richard, I've taught you everything I know, which some (isell) will tell you is substantial.  Remember, use the "Jipst Method" and you will soar like an eagle... then swoop down to club them like a baby seal. I know you will make "Team Jipster" proud, all 2 or 3 of us... what with the economy, membership dues and all. Good luck. 
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A local mega dealer has had another setback and is about to lose its Chevy/Buick franchise. Dealmaker auto group aka Seaway Chev./Buick in northern NY is in default with GMAC. http://www.newzjunky.com/court/1224dealmaker.htm A few months ago they closed their Ford store in suburban Syracuse NY. Funny that all the used cars are gone but the lot is loaded with new Ford cars and trucks as well as a KR and Cobra stangs buried in the snow out front. This is the 6th Ford dealer to either go broke or take a buyout from Ford in the Syracuse area. http://www.syracuse.com/business/index.ssf?/base/business-14/122605180193340.xml- &coll=1 A local longtime (1948) single prop. family Linc/Merc. dealer in another upscale Syr. burb. of Manlius took a FoMoCo buy out and sold their prime location for a strip mall/drug store instead of building a new building/service dept. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-187744842.html
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Replying to: otto8 (Jan 03, 2009 10:45 am)
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So my financially strapped brother is in need of a replacement vehicle. He will be 40 years old next month and has never had a car loan. I was pretty sure his credit was completely in the crapper, so we brought our mother along with us as a co-signer (as much as I try to help my brother, I will not co-sign anything for him). I had done some research and dug up a few candidates near home that I believed we could finance for 2-3 years within his target of $150/mo with about $1k down and some that we could arrange a cash deal on. First stop was to see a Chevy minivan at a megachain dealer. Well, to make a long story shorter, it became apparent that not everyone has heard of the credit crunch. We showed up to try on a $3500 minivan (they "just sold") and wound up entertaining a numbers pitch on a $10k PT Cruiser. Geee... 75 month loan on a 3-year-old car? Where do I sign?! After wasting about 3 hours at that place, I took him to a couple of private lots to browse the goods before ultimately ending up at the type of store I saved till last ... the dreaded Buy Here Pay Here lot. I gotta be honest, this particular owner has completely changed my view of the BHPH business. He was very up front about everything. Basically took my brother by the hand and led him through his first [dealer] car buying experience. He even sat down at the computer with my brother, pulled up his credit score and report, and went through it with him! I was really amazed. Even more amazing was the fact that his score came back MUCH higher than any of us anticipated. He was actually kind of sort of financible .... welll.... he WOULD have been financible a year ago, anyway. Not so much these days. But the man tried anyway. He explained that there is no way my brother should be looking to finance very long. He said 2 years is really where you want to be. Now, of course, this wasn't news to me ... hence the $3500 minivan at the top of my list ... but it was so nice to hear it coming from the mouth of a salesman! Anyhoo... we wound up driving and choosing a '99 Subaru Legacy Wagon. Very clean and well kept for the year. BUT ... unfortunately, my brother is in dire need of wheels pronto and the seller is not able to arrange financing so quickly. My father has now intervened with a checkbook. *sigh* So much for my 40-year-old brother finally financing his first car and getting on the road back to credit recovery. But I guess at least he's back on the asphalt road. In the end, I believe the Subaru was the type of vehicle the seller doesn't typically deal with. Just about everything else there was an overpriced, high-mile, late-model vehicle. Pretty much what you expect at BHPH. And I believe he let it go for a relatively small profit. I just hope it holds up to my brother's abuse until he can pay back my parents.
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Replying to: jimbres (Jan 03, 2009 8:32 am) Thank you for reminding me of the difference. I remember the salesman taking us on a test drive in a BMW in 1999. He got it up to 70 mph and then put 2 wheels onto the gravel - headed for a telephone pole. By the way, he was steering with 2 fingers. There was no sliding, no swerving, no crashing into the pole......he just turned the wheel and got it back on the road like nothing happened. So I agree that stability control is an absolute necessity. Car makers should respect their customers enough that it should be on every model produced. |
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Replying to: graphicguy (Jan 03, 2009 10:04 am) GG - see above. It might not save you but might save a less skilled family member. Even the best driver can misjudge, temporarily lose control, or have to go off the road to avoid an accident. Stability control is a must....on todays roads you need all the extra protection you can get. |
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Smart Shopper Stories from the Sales Frontlines
