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Smart Shopper Stories from the Sales Frontlines
47966 messages, Last post on Nov 29, 2009 at 9:28 AM
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Jan 09, 2009 12:08 pm) I suspect that many people with 4wd/awd vehicles don't realize how much extra traction they get when they are accelerating and therefore they don't know how bad the grip really is and allow for it appropriately. We're victims of our past experiences, as we use them to judge current conditions. Many years ago we bought an Explorer which had Auto 4wd (it would engage the front axle if the rear started to lose grip). I would normally add a bit more gas than necessary on our street when leaving in the morning to see what the road grip was. I did that with the Explorer and made the assumption on how it just moved forward that the road was fine. Then as I approached a corner where I was going to turn, I wanted to slow down and the ABS tried valiantly to slow us down but with limited success. It was an eye opener at how much more get up and go the 4wd gave without being noticed. |
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| No amount of electronic nannies can defeat physics... Stability control can help a lot though, especially on SUVs, etc. if one is not paying all the attention they should be, abrupt maneuvers, etc. I would never buy a car without it. | |
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Replying to: murphydog (Jan 08, 2009 7:32 pm) 
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Replying to: driver100 (Jan 09, 2009 4:39 am) it probably was a driver with a lot of track time, maybe at that track but not in that car. the left rear passenger was wearing a helmet, so they were somewhat prepared for the worst.  the main point was for the video to be viewed and hopefully enjoyed.
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Replying to: cdn_tch (Jan 09, 2009 9:19 am) My Eclipse has TC but you can turn it off. With TC on, the tires will spin for a short time and then the TC will activate ruining all your fun. With the TC off you will shred the tires and the torque steer will put you in the bushes if you don't bounce off the rev limiter first. Much more fun. 
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I was reading some reviews for new car dealerships in my area. The one below reminded me of my experience with the Kia Stores in the Louisville area. Previously I was curious as to what a dealer paid for these "ignition immobilizers". I'm guessing if they paid $140 per unit, then it probably took them two hours to install. So, maybe a total cost to dealership of $400.... and the Kia Stores put it as an dealer add-on for $2,600. WOW! That's crazy. My niece almost fell for it. Luckily she had the old jipster around to set her straight. The dealership waived this fee during negotiations for her without batting a lash. These dealerships pre-install, as part of their "dealer prep", a "Security and Pin Stripe package", and it is mandatory and inescapable on every Kia they sell. Period. It consists of an RFID ignition immobilizer that is ugly as sin installed low on your dash near your knees, with two key-fob antenna units. Units like it sell on E-Bay for $35 and many can be found on the internet for up to $120. This dealership puts a price of $2600 (Clarksville, IN). OF course, if you ask them, they'll tell you it can't be taken off, is a standard Kia item, reduces your insurance, and they can't take it off now because your car won't run without it. (Yet it has a defeat function if you don't want to use it!)
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Replying to: chikoo (Jan 09, 2009 10:04 am) Nick, I'm surprised at you. I'm going to spend all of that time negotiating for a car, finally tell him the color, only to find out that he doesn't have that color? Why waste his time or mine? I know. I will negotiate for the car; order the car, but tell him that I want a colorless car.  Wonder what they send me? Don't fear for me...and I know what you mean. If I were in your country, I would never do it. It is different here. You are a kind soul. Richard |
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Replying to: jipster (Jan 09, 2009 3:50 pm) Haha, funny. That's really an outrageous price to charge for an immobilizer. But you know what they say...they'll charge whatever the market will bear. If enough people will walk away from deals due to this add on then maybe they''ll start charging less or reconsider this whole package. I remember the Honda dealer I worked at made us push VIN etching into every deal. It was $299 iirc. If you didn't sell it then they'd put it on the car anyways but deduct $299 from your gross, and pay you a $30 spiff (reduced from $50 they paid before). Everyone was choked because it wasn't our job to upsell stuff for the b/o and we were getting penalized for it. Commissions were low to begin with and then this stuff came down as we were getting pencilled left and right at that store. 
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Replying to: oldfarmer50 (Jan 09, 2009 3:40 pm) But for fun wouldn't it be better to have RWD?
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Replying to: boomchek (Jan 09, 2009 4:54 pm) WOW, they were screwing your brains out. Least they could have done is cut you a deal and charge $199 or something. Cost on etch back when we did it 4 or 5 years ago was $12. The F&I guy was getting fat on you though. |
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