@engineerd thinks cannoli is deserving of a star: That task force is on top of it. There's already a big order in for Volts, but they're going to put Camaro bodies on them, then drive around like madmen, ramming and electrocuting the zombies. That ought to fix the problem.
@Jim K: I noticed that as well - I wanted to check back and see if there were any updates. I'm wondering if the dealership offered him a good deal in exchange for taking down the site.
I have worked for dealerships as a mechanic and I can confirm that all the stories are true - In my experience ALL dealerships are run by a bunch of greedy #@*&%! sociopaths who only care about squeezing the last nickle out of anyone who walks on to the lot. Am I banned now?
(IMHO) This is an excellent example of whats wrong with our economy. Dealers are MORE interested in selling financing than they are in selling cars. Yes, MSRP is just that, SUGGESTED retail price and the dealers are allowed to mark up to whatever they want. When I was a kid (I'm 36 now) there was no Best Buy/Circut City/Walmart/Office Depot/Gas Station/etc credit card. There was Visa, MC, Amex & Sears. Now every major retailor wants you to finance so they can increase their profit (and you go to the poor house paying interest on everything).
For so long; it has been more profitable for car dealers to stay as close to MSRP as possible and sell the financing instead that now, anyone who wants to pay cash for a car has a problem. The dealer wont make a profit and therefore doesn't want to deal with a cash buyer.
Even third party bank financing (I. E. I get the loan from my credit union) still creates kickbacks in the form of 'fees' for the dealers so they can continue to profit from the deal.
The US survives on a credit mentality. Thats what got us into trouble and no amount of TARP money will pull us away from that habit.
@justsomereportingguy: All this is BEFORE you even get into the pitch for the extended warranty, especially with the used cars. I know that sales reps at Carmax get the same commision for selling a warranty as they do for selling a car. Of course when I was there you got a flat comission per car, didn't matter if it was a $8k car or a $38k car. somewhat different than the usual OEM dealer model.
I had a similar situation happen to me a couple weeks ago, but it was Kia dealers. I tried to buy new '08 Sportage (don't ask) from four separate dealers for the price they advertised on TV and in the newspapers. Once they found out I was a cash buyer, I was barraged by reasons why the vehicles suddenly weren't available or the price was significantly higher. I buy an average of 10-12 old cars per year, generally sight unseen and for a lot more money than this Kia, and never have a problem. The new car dealers are their own worst enemies.
Chrysler can go to hell for all I care. I know the dealership operations are not controlled by the company, but other than the employees losing their jobs, I have no sympathy. Having the only redeeming quality being "Buy it because it's American" is not going to make me buy one.
@Bubs: Well, in this case you wouldn't buy it because it's American - I'm with you, that isn't enough to close the deal - but because it's a Jeep. Sure it's picked up a bad case of Car Clap from long association with assorted doomed builders, but really - Jeep rules. Nobody else is building a car that singularly defines a segment quite so completely. Think "Jeep" and the classic blunt, blocky profile is the first thing that pops to mind, but think "Toyota" and what do you get? Vanilla. It's not a shape - hell, it's barely a color.
Same goes for Honda, with the possible exception of the Civic. But that's come in so many shapes now, there isn't anything quintessential about it. And Chevy? Sweet Jesus, Chevy. Chevy looks like everything else and everything looks like Chevy.
So back to the Jeep - whaddaya get? Wheels. Engine. Tranny. Top (maybe - did you order one?). It's the original basic mover. After WWII other builders started building their own version, because the little bastard is so tough, so basic, so classically right, whatever you add can only detract. And it has.
Pry Jeep loose from Chrysler and let them build their own for a while. The buyers won't go anywhere. Unlike so many other builders, Jeep buyers are a pretty loyal bunch.
I've said this before. Cars are awesome. But all the companies and people associated with building, repairing, and for Pete's sake selling them, are self-rimming asshats who either don't give a shit about what you think, want, or are actually willing to pay for.
@Elhigh: Your mileage may vary of course. I say "all" but really mean the vast majority. I have a couple of mechanics I like and a whole boatload of mechanics I'd be perfectly happy to send to Iraq. Same with dealers, builders, insurers, etc.
Come to think of it, this list extends to include appliance dealers, computer programmers, drug pushers...
Well, anyways, I'd want to know what's missing here. Are we not factoring in taxes, as in, is he offering 25K on the road? 25-31 seems a big jump for the states.
Up here in Canuckistan, only a few cars are selling over MSRP, like the GTR. An EVO MR (which is in pretty short supply) can be got for MSRP, as can a 370Z.
You guys point out that dealers are independent from the automakers, but this kind of crap is part of the problem with the OEMs.
When the customer experience in purchasing and maintaining your product is mediated by a bunch of incompetent douchebags with your logo on their building, it doesn't reflect well on you.
Having worked for a dealership back in 1990 or so, when I was hard-up for a job to pay for my finance degree, I saw what was done. It was truly painful to see how people get taken, and they haven't clue one.
If a dealership doesn't get a sale, I'm a happy person, regardless of the reason.
In fact, about 18 months back, I was looking at Grand Cherokee 5.9's from the late-90's. Found one advertised online for price X. Went to the dealer, found price X was a "moving sale" price, and the new price was three grand more. I made my offer of $6200 on a car which had a retail BB value of about $6800. They came back with $9700, down from $9999. I said, "I know how this works, my counter is now $5800". He came back from the 'magic room' with, "if price is a problem, we have this other car...".
Hey, dumbfuck...if I wanted that car, that's what I'd be shopping for. See the paid-for RX300 we pulled up in? The only money problem there is, is you people trying to screw me out of more than need be.
@paid-for cars are good cars: I would've gone up half as much as they went down each time, and refused to budge over seven. Then I would've happily walked away when they refused a good deal for them as well as me.
03/10/09
And lovely brains they are, too.
03/11/09
03/10/09
03/10/09
Someone should let the Presidential Task Force know.
03/10/09
03/10/09
03/10/09
03/10/09
03/03/09
03/03/09
03/02/09
03/03/09
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03/02/09
For so long; it has been more profitable for car dealers to stay as close to MSRP as possible and sell the financing instead that now, anyone who wants to pay cash for a car has a problem. The dealer wont make a profit and therefore doesn't want to deal with a cash buyer.
Even third party bank financing (I. E. I get the loan from my credit union) still creates kickbacks in the form of 'fees' for the dealers so they can continue to profit from the deal.
The US survives on a credit mentality. Thats what got us into trouble and no amount of TARP money will pull us away from that habit.
03/02/09
03/02/09
03/02/09
03/02/09
Same goes for Honda, with the possible exception of the Civic. But that's come in so many shapes now, there isn't anything quintessential about it. And Chevy? Sweet Jesus, Chevy. Chevy looks like everything else and everything looks like Chevy.
So back to the Jeep - whaddaya get? Wheels. Engine. Tranny. Top (maybe - did you order one?). It's the original basic mover. After WWII other builders started building their own version, because the little bastard is so tough, so basic, so classically right, whatever you add can only detract. And it has.
Pry Jeep loose from Chrysler and let them build their own for a while. The buyers won't go anywhere. Unlike so many other builders, Jeep buyers are a pretty loyal bunch.
03/02/09
03/02/09
Come to think of it, this list extends to include appliance dealers, computer programmers, drug pushers...
03/02/09
Hey, who threw that rock?
"She did!"
What?
*lower voice* "He Did."
Well, anyways, I'd want to know what's missing here. Are we not factoring in taxes, as in, is he offering 25K on the road? 25-31 seems a big jump for the states.
Up here in Canuckistan, only a few cars are selling over MSRP, like the GTR. An EVO MR (which is in pretty short supply) can be got for MSRP, as can a 370Z.
03/02/09
When the customer experience in purchasing and maintaining your product is mediated by a bunch of incompetent douchebags with your logo on their building, it doesn't reflect well on you.
03/02/09
If a dealership doesn't get a sale, I'm a happy person, regardless of the reason.
In fact, about 18 months back, I was looking at Grand Cherokee 5.9's from the late-90's. Found one advertised online for price X. Went to the dealer, found price X was a "moving sale" price, and the new price was three grand more. I made my offer of $6200 on a car which had a retail BB value of about $6800. They came back with $9700, down from $9999. I said, "I know how this works, my counter is now $5800". He came back from the 'magic room' with, "if price is a problem, we have this other car...".
Hey, dumbfuck...if I wanted that car, that's what I'd be shopping for. See the paid-for RX300 we pulled up in? The only money problem there is, is you people trying to screw me out of more than need be.
I hope that truck is still on their damned lot.
Morons.
03/02/09