CARBIZ

I doubt any draconian laws are in the works, but I would be watching the horizon, if I were you boys. The reason Europe and other places "enjoy" driving small cars is because they are paying $8 to $10 a gallon for gasoline. Nobody has banned 8 cylinders anywhere that I am aware of. Even in Brazil, which I have spent a lot of time in, there are Grand Blazers (Tahoes) and Blazers to be found, but you'd have to be making 6 figures to afford them. They are paying $R2.36 a LITRE. Try that on for size. It costs them $100 in their currency to fill the tank of a Ka or Corsa. Can you imagine the Grand Blazer? Americans are very big on social Darwinism and I doubt any Congress would be so bold as to outright ban V-8s or high performance vehicles, but I predict that it will get to the point where the vehicles themselves and the fuel that runs them will be so outrageously expensive that only the rich will be able to afford to drive them. How does that grab you? I don't understand why some people on this board think that we in North America are somehow "entitled" to this or "entitled" to that. Since when? Why are we so special? We need to eliminate this feeling of smugness and superiority - that is the reason that so many people in the world hate us. We are just very damned fortunate that by isolation and geography we have never been ravaged by wars in almost 150 years on these shores, and that we are blessed with plentiful natural resources. What happens when those resources either run out or become so expensive that we can't afford them? I don't have kids, so I am the one who shouldn't give a $h!. I am not one of those eco-freaks that thinks oil is going to run out in 10 years or that we should all move to a commune; in fact, my dream is to own a '69 Chrysler 300 some day, but I have travelled a lot and as I get older I realize that perhaps OUR way is not the ONLY way.

Tommy is a must-see movie - even for those who aren't buzzed. I saw the movie at the theatre when I was about 14. Even though I am gay, I remember thinking, "Ann Margaret is so hot!" Tina Turner was so funky! As rock operas go, Tommy is one of the best ones made. I remember a Caddy convertible scene. I remember those cool old Zenith white TVs. Great movie.

The Trackers had bullet-proof power trains and were head of the class with their complete redesign in '99, but as the last poster said, GM let them rot. Plus, if anything, they were over-built for their class: true 4WD, BOF design, etc. We have had many of these people whose leases came up actually buy them out. I think part of the problem with the Tracker was that GM has too many contractual obligations to Suzuki and others. For example, we couldn't get either the V-6 or leather until the LAST year, but the Suzuki had it all along. There is a market for a decent 4 cylinder small-ute with off-road capability. As much as I like the Equinox, it has to cover too many bases. We need a more "athletic" looking vehicle to tackle the likes of the X-Terra and Sante Fe, which are doing very well up here. Although I am loathe to credit Honda or Toyota, the CR-V and Rav4 are actually decent vehicles, and the reason GM is losing market share in this segment is GM's fault, not the media's or the fickle public's. The Tracker owned the market 15 years ago and GM dropped the ball, preferring to concentrate on the more profitable big SUVs. Now, as gasoline transcends the $4 a gallon market, that decision is looking a little foolish.

Congrats! I admire your perseverence! If I could do life over, I would have finished my degree. It wouldn't help me to sell cars, but then perhaps I could go to Oshawa and shake a few trees!

The Nav system is an expensive, unecessary toy. What do 809% of the people do with their vehicles? Go to work. More and more people FLY for their vacations, then rent a car there. Everybody needs to take their enthusiast cap off and think like a Malibu/Camry buyer. Even if the Nav system was available, darn few people would take it. The only people who are drooling over Nav systems are business people who drive a lot or gadget freaks. Perhaps when the cost of the Nav systems come down a lot more, they will become standard, but not now and not in a sub $20k vehicle. I wonder how many Nav systems Honda is selling in the Civic...... The current Malibu/Impala are doing quite well. There has been some decent press recently. Even the National Post recently called the current Malibu the best kept used car secret, mentioning reliability, fuel mileage and price as major factors. Not bad. As both the Accord and Camry ascend into Buick territory for price, a lot of people will revisit the Chevy line up. The launch of the new Malibu has to be FLAWLESS. As to the Joys of Messing with the Salesguy, although I am amused at the spirit of some of you guys who haunt dealer lots and play 64 Questions with the hapless guy who has the misfortune of approaching you, remember that he/she is probably new, had little or no training (why bother with training when most dealer principle's think their 8 year old son or daughter could do a better job?) and maybe YOU are giving off a strong vibe that you are just farting around. Also, remember that you only have to remember what is important to you (horsepower, torque numbers, how many Hondas it can crush), but the salesguy has to cover 30+ models AND all the rates/programs that GM/GMAC and the banks change on us DAILY. Oh, yeah, and just for fun, there is the mid-season model changes, plus having to train the Manager of the Month. But most importantly, GM needs to find a key message with the Malibu and stick to it. Don't change it every other month, expecting the sales people, let alone the public, to play along with them.

Okay, boys and girls, your mission is to drive a 4 cylinder Malibu (sans "beauty shroud, no "quiet steel") then drive the LS or LT Cobalt - same engine, but with the "beauty shroud" and "quiet steel" on the firewall. Big difference. Huge. Same engine, but more money was spent on the Cobalt to make it quieter. It works. It's real. I know I am pissing in against the wind here, but most people (I'd say, oh I don't know - 75%+) never open their hood, except to add washer fluid. They wouldn't know an engine shroud from a tire iron.

I've sat in the Liberty, and I suppose compared to a Bentley it is a little cheap. Guys, this is not the worst interior I've seen, not by a long shot. I will agree Chrysler has slipped - 6 0r 7 years ago I would have argued they had the BEST interiors of any of the mainstream makes, but they are still pretty decent. The trouble with a vehicle like the Liberty is the broad price spectrum it is expected to traverse. Perhaps there should only have been a luxury Liberty and a cheaper variant under the Dodge banner. Everything is decently laid out. The leather is plain, but then it isn't really leather, is it? Like stationwagons and hatchbacks, vinyl got a bad name 20 years ago and now is called leather. I think that is my beef with so-called "car critics:" they bitch and whine about the cheap interiors in a Liberty or Xterra or Cobalt, then drive home in their $75,000 BMW - well, I would guess so! Everything in proportion and everything in balance, I say.

Stupid, just f%$@ing stupid! I have seen worse things on All My Children (not that I watch that, mind you!) I watched Brokeback Mountain, breathlessly waiting for the two cowboys get it on and - what? An ass shot by the stream? A couple of kisses??? THAT'S IT?

...that may not be so far fetched now that Frank has suddenly teamed up with Russia. Interesting how he dropped interest in the Chrysler deal to build cars in Russia....hmm?

GM: BUILD THIS CAR NOW. Make it available with a "sport package" that includes tire/suspension upgrades and maybe a turbo. Give us something BEFORE gasoline hits $5 a gallon.

....My bad

There is an odd camaradarie amongst long-term survivors. Nothing makes a veteran laugh harder than when someone says, "I used to sell cars." I can explain that only because the veterans make a stink load of money, can sell vehicles with their eyes closed, generally have little or no education and work independently from their managers. They have seen hundreds of newbies come and go, plus have such a huge pool of customers to draw from that they don't worry about the market, economy, etc. Generally, they don't take customers off the floor ( or cherry pick like hell). They look at interlopers with deep disdain, which makes it quite difficult for newcomers to break into the business. I can think of no "shooter" (someone who would routinely sell 12+ cars a month) that I know of who is educated beyond community college or who even likes cars. They came from all walks of life before, fell into the car business and because they were a "natural" never left because the money was so easy and so good. Times have changed, to be sure, and selling Chevrolet in this market is quite a challenge; however, these old-timers are still making money (although with perhaps quite a few more strings attached than in the past). It's just that for someone new starting out, there is no mercy.

Porn is just scary on a 42" plasma................so I've been told.

"featureless flat bench rear seats that were designed without a center arm rest, excessively narrow cargo area" Looked at a 2007? Compared apples to apples? The '07 refresh upgraded the interior considerably, and its still cheaper than the CR-V. Having said that, the new CR-V is the first one Honda has had that I would even consider. I've always thought Honda's trucks were FUGLY as hell, but the new redesign is more balanced. I love their seats! Still, the Equinox is doing well in our market and when payments are worked out, is substantially less than the Honda. But the point is taken: we miss the Tracker. I hope GM has something amazing up their sleeves from GM-DAT for us soon.

GMAC financing at Chrysler!

That's a tough call because one is assuming the sales staff are trained enough and on the ball enough to battle point by point arguments. Import humpers are pretty entrenched. They will justify almost anything, including $1,300 trips to the dealer. It's tantamount to brainwashing, really. I have hand outs and pamphlets, pointing out the similarities and differences with the Malibu/Impala and the Camry/Accord. It works sometimes, but in most cases the dealer is just preaching to the choir. I had a customer on Saturday who has a '94 Century and a '00 Safari (370,000 km). He started the conversation by stating categoricaly that he was comparing the Cobalt with the Versa. Why? Because the Honda is "better." Why is that, I pressed. "Better built." After more prying, he admits the Safari has been great, no problems - he loves it. Why would Honda even be on the radar, then? I doubt many dealers will embrace this, but I am all for it. (Not that anyone listens to me!)

Two of the best lines I have heard in the car business: Heroes to zeroes. (As said above, you are only as good as your last month.) Goes triple for managers, who are the first to fall on the sword. Peed myself laughing when I heard this one 10 years ago, but it is so profound: When introduced to the new manager (du jour), shake their hand and say,"Of all the managers I have met, you are the most recent." Try and say it with a straight face!

Luv my 42" Hitachi plasma that we bought in October. No problems. (Touch wood.) Color is amazing. Friends are blown away with how vibrant the picture is. Some shows (like Vegas) are absolutely spectacular in HD. The only downside is my cable bill, that is now well over $100 a month, including the personal recorder (which is also way-cool), HD and full digital. A little peeved that the TV is now $400 less than I paid for it, but that is to be expected. We looked and waited for about a year. And, yes, it is Japanese, but try finding something electronic that isn't these days.

1) Do not think selling cars will be easy or fun. 2) Do not think you will get a new car every month. 3) Do not think you will make $60k your first year. 4) Divorce your wife right now and save the suspense because you will rarely be home or on time. 5) Start thickening your skin now. (Suggestions might be going into a biker bar and telling them you are gay, or going into a club and only hitting on the hottest women - practice getting turned down and rejected a lot.) 6) Practice getting lied to. (Suggestion might be to look in the mirror and say "I am the coolest/handsomest/smartest guy around.") 7) Doesn't matter if you know anything about cars; in fact, it is probably better if you don't. Don't wanna confuse customers with facts. Doesn't matter if you like cars; in fact, probably better if you don't because you will only get angry/insulted when customers tell you how bad yours are. 9) Don't bother learning the newbie's name (including the manager's) for at least 3 months. It's a waste of time. (Oh, wait - you are the newbie.) 10) Remember: they aren't paying you so expect to work double shifts, holidays and long weekends at no notice. 11) Customers think you are at the dealership 24/7 so expect to haunt the place in case someone you spent 2 hours with just shows up. (See #10) 12) Remember the adage, Nice guys finish last? A sales manager thought that one up. 13) The dealership thinks your cherry is popped when you write your first deal. Wrong. Your cherry is popped when your first 70 year old woman tells you she loves the car, you and the dealership but has to "think it over," then buys the car up the street for $50 less after you spent the afternoon with her. Still interested? My biggest advice is: don't think of it as a part time job. Managers will sniff that out in a second. If you are committed to the job, you may have a chance of selling. You don't need to sell you soul, but you will have to learn to stand out. And be good with your money. Oh, get friendly with a bankruptcy trustee, too. Just in case.

Don't ya just love it when some import humper comes along, whining and mewling that "I-deserve," I am entitled to..." What, exactly? You just said that you liked the Saab, so go negotiate your best deal. Either you like the car, or you don't. Threatening that you won't buy it because you are not entitled to employee pricing is too bad. That is something the boys and girls at the UAW/CAW negotiated with their employer and costs their employer money. Why should you be entitled to that deal? Does GM owe you? You are EXACTLY what is wrong with both our countries, my friend. I would have some respect for you if you at least liked A3 better, but to NOT buy a GM car because you can't get some discount that isn't yours anyway is like a 4 year old refusing to eat any ice cream because his mother can't get him chocolate.

Well, I hope you respect your friend enough to have her mother look into the "crackdown" before she helps you out. It could mean her job. BTW: I love your attitude. I've had this discussion before with people who feel they are ENTITLED to a deal and are doing GM a favor. Good grief! Either you want the car or you don't...Blackmail is just childish.

Well, boys and girls, I may only be a Canadian, but let me tell you how it works up here: an employee must giver his/her badge number, which we then have to call Oshawa to get an authorization #. If the person is a family member, then the "employee" has to sign the form, stating the relationship to the person being sponsored. At the beginning of last month, GM sent down a new edict, stating that any dealer getting caught messing with the program would have the deal charged back to the dealer. This includes messing with the price. The employee or eligible sponsored person are entitled to their employee price and NOTHING LESS. Ah, but now, we are being told NOTHING MORE, either. It would seem that "employees" have been shopping dealer prices and badgering dealers into giving up part of the 5.1% that the dealer is rebated back for providing said vehicle. This has pitted dealer against dealer, and undoubtedly created friction in the buying process. Any "employee" getting caught messing with the employee price will be penalized, right up to dismissal. Pretty harsh words, by the sound of it. GM employees have been getting a pretty bad reputation around here. Even though they are paying dealer cost, they shop and shop and shop. Horrible waste of time on their part and the dealer's. I am not sure why the crack down. Did it come from the dealer body? Did the CAW get complaints because someone got a G6 for $5 less than someone else on the line? Don't know, but I do welcome the crackdown. The entire idea of an "employee price" is fairness across the board and an incentive to drive what you build. If any of you remember the "employee pricing" deal two summers ago, many consumers were shocked at how little discount they were getting because the dealers aren't making a ton of money on the deal any more.

Don't hold back: tell us how you really feel!

Well, it would SEEM that the government supports Detroit :AH-HA_wink:

Business must be good, though. The other night while I was walking my dog, I saw a 6' black babe, wearing clothes at least two sizes too small, singing and prancing to herself. I guess ya gotta do whatever ya gotta do to prevent on the job boredom, eh?