Car Dealer Costs: Legitimate and Bogus

[NFS4]

I thought that this was pretty interesting:

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=5686&sid=185&n=157

 

[Phuz]

Yeah, my friend is a "Car Negotiator"... he used to be a car salesman, and now he has a private business snaking THEM instead of vice-versa.
He helps clients purcahse cars from dealers armed with a bit more knowledge than your average joe.

 

[ElFenix]

the nissan dealer in round rock wanted $800 for a pin stripe. they pay they guy that does that like $20 an hour and he can do 4 cars an hour easily. one of the cars had $800 for the pin stripe on there and there was no pin stripe.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
the nissan dealer in round rock wanted $800 for a pin stripe. they pay they guy that does that like $20 an hour and he can do 4 cars an hour easily. one of the cars had $800 for the pin stripe on there and there was no pin stripe.

Maybe they have a new "clear" pinstripe to go with the clear tail lights on the Altima

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: ElFenix
the nissan dealer in round rock wanted $800 for a pin stripe. they pay they guy that does that like $20 an hour and he can do 4 cars an hour easily. one of the cars had $800 for the pin stripe on there and there was no pin stripe.

Maybe they have a new "clear" pinstripe to go with the clear tail lights on the Altima

it was stealth to help evade highway patrol radar

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: Phuz
Yeah, my friend is a "Car Negotiator"... he used to be a car salesman, and now he has a private business snaking THEM instead of vice-versa.
He helps clients purcahse cars from dealers armed with a bit more knowledge than your average joe.

I plan on getting a ford vehicle via their "X-Plan. Is it possible to lower that price any further considering it's 4% above what ford employees pay? Can your friend, the "car negotiator" lower that price?

 

[SuperTool]

Is carfax available over wireless web? That would be an awesome feature if you are shopping for a car.
I have a acquaintance who takes me to dealer auctions, and charges $100 IF you buy a car. It would be cool to be able to check out the car over the phone on carfax.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
Is carfax available over wireless web? That would be an awesome feature if you are shopping for a car.
I have a acquaintance who takes me to dealer auctions, and charges $100 IF you buy a car. It would be cool to be able to check out the car over the phone on carfax.

I've recently started charging people in helping them purchase loss leader cars. If it's a friend or family member I'll do it for free of course, otherwise $100 for my time and minimal expertise.

 

[Dari]

while I'm here, what's the difference between AWD (all wheel drive) and 4WD? What's the advantage of AWD over 4WD?

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: SuperTool
Is carfax available over wireless web? That would be an awesome feature if you are shopping for a car.
I have a acquaintance who takes me to dealer auctions, and charges $100 IF you buy a car. It would be cool to be able to check out the car over the phone on carfax.

I've recently started charging people in helping them purchase loss leader cars. If it's a friend or family member I'll do it for free of course, otherwise $100 for my time and minimal expertise.

I bet the dealers there hate your guts now

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: Dari
while I'm here, what's the difference between AWD (all wheel drive) and 4WD? What's the advantage of AWD over 4WD?

Depends on the vehicle.

AWD is better for snow and 4WD is for off roading

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: tm37

Originally posted by: Dari
while I'm here, what's the difference between AWD (all wheel drive) and 4WD? What's the advantage of AWD over 4WD?

Depends on the vehicle.

AWD is better for snow and 4WD is for off roading

then it does a hell of a job for traction and turning, right? sharper turns?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: tm37

Originally posted by: Dari
while I'm here, what's the difference between AWD (all wheel drive) and 4WD? What's the advantage of AWD over 4WD?

Depends on the vehicle.

AWD is better for snow and 4WD is for off roading

then it does a hell of a job for traction and turning, right? sharper turns?

not really... AWD (and 4WD) has better traction than 2WD in the wet simply because its driving all 4 wheels. even if you lose some grip with a wheel you still have three driving. doesn't help skidpad or tossability though. you can do something cool called a 4 wheel drift, though.

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: tm37

Originally posted by: Dari
while I'm here, what's the difference between AWD (all wheel drive) and 4WD? What's the advantage of AWD over 4WD?

Depends on the vehicle.

AWD is better for snow and 4WD is for off roading

then it does a hell of a job for traction and turning, right? sharper turns?

not really... AWD (and 4WD) has better traction than 2WD in the wet simply because its driving all 4 wheels. even if you lose some grip with a wheel you still have three driving. doesn't help skidpad or tossability though. you can do something cool called a 4 wheel drift, though.

The new AWD system change the traction based on Slip. WHen A wheel slips the power is put to the other wheels. 4WD is just locked power 50/50 front back. Two wheel actually get the power.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Dari
while I'm here, what's the difference between AWD (all wheel drive) and 4WD? What's the advantage of AWD over 4WD?

Usually, AWD is found on cars, wagons and crossover vehicles. It normally runs at all times powering the wheels in a percentage split front and rear (i.e 50/50, 60/40, etc). "Most" vehicles that have a FWD layout primarily (and have an AWD option) channel a majority of the power to the front wheels and then distribute power to the rear wheels only if they lose traction. I think Subarus however always have a 50/50 split in normaly day to day operations.

Most 4WD systems are RWD normally and can be shifted into 4WD either by a lever or a pushbutton on the dash. The hardcore 4WD have low-range and all that jazz for low-speed rock crawling and puddle treadin'

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: tm37

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: tm37

Originally posted by: Dari
while I'm here, what's the difference between AWD (all wheel drive) and 4WD? What's the advantage of AWD over 4WD?

Depends on the vehicle.

AWD is better for snow and 4WD is for off roading

then it does a hell of a job for traction and turning, right? sharper turns?

not really... AWD (and 4WD) has better traction than 2WD in the wet simply because its driving all 4 wheels. even if you lose some grip with a wheel you still have three driving. doesn't help skidpad or tossability though. you can do something cool called a 4 wheel drift, though.

The new AWD system change the traction based on Slip. WHen A wheel slips the power is put to the other wheels. 4WD is just locked power 50/50 front back. Two wheel actually get the power.

huh?

 

[Evadman]

Generaly speaking, all wheel drive cars are full time all wheel drive. you can not switch between 4 and 2 wheel. in most AWD vehicles, the front wheels get 100% of the torque during normal driving. Then, if they start to slip, power is tranfered through a clutch to the rear wheels. The problem is it takes wheel spin to activate, so there is a lag time.

in 4WD vehicles there is a big lever (or if you are in a wussy GM you may have a button on the dash) on the floor that you physicly have to move to put it in 4 wheel drive. This is a true 50/50 torque split where each axle gets 50% of the torque at all times. Also, to technicly be a 4WD vehicle, there needs to be a 4 wheel low selction that custs the final gear down for extra torque multiplication for even more traction. (this has been debated, but I am sticking with it. )

Here, extreamly simple breakdown; If all 4 wheels can get power then:

Car = AWD
Truck = 4WD.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Phuz
Yeah, my friend is a "Car Negotiator"... he used to be a car salesman, and now he has a private business snaking THEM instead of vice-versa.
He helps clients purcahse cars from dealers armed with a bit more knowledge than your average joe.

I plan on getting a ford vehicle via their "X-Plan. Is it possible to lower that price any further considering it's 4% above what ford employees pay? Can your friend, the "car negotiator" lower that price?

That's really no big deal. I tuned my old man into it and it he looked at it and ran some numbers. He could do better negotiating than using the X thing.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Phuz
Yeah, my friend is a "Car Negotiator"... he used to be a car salesman, and now he has a private business snaking THEM instead of vice-versa.
He helps clients purcahse cars from dealers armed with a bit more knowledge than your average joe.

I plan on getting a ford vehicle via their "X-Plan. Is it possible to lower that price any further considering it's 4% above what ford employees pay? Can your friend, the "car negotiator" lower that price?

X-Plan and A-Plan (employee discount) are non-negotiable.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: bunker

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Phuz
Yeah, my friend is a "Car Negotiator"... he used to be a car salesman, and now he has a private business snaking THEM instead of vice-versa.
He helps clients purcahse cars from dealers armed with a bit more knowledge than your average joe.

I plan on getting a ford vehicle via their "X-Plan. Is it possible to lower that price any further considering it's 4% above what ford employees pay? Can your friend, the "car negotiator" lower that price?

X-Plan and A-Plan (employee discount) are non-negotiable.

Interesting. So then it's better to negotiate without the X-plan and use it as a back-up option?

 

[Evadman]

Interesting. So then it's better to negotiate without the X-plan and use it as a back-up option?

Sounds smart to me.

 

[Dari]

another question: which is a better choice: the ford explorer limited or the mercury mountaineer?

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: Dari
another question: which is a better choice: the ford explorer limited or the mercury mountaineer?

The only reason I'd go with the Mercury is because you generally get treated better by the dealership (service dept) at a Lincoln/Mercury dealer. They are essentially identical vehicles.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: SuperTool
Is carfax available over wireless web? That would be an awesome feature if you are shopping for a car.
I have a acquaintance who takes me to dealer auctions, and charges $100 IF you buy a car. It would be cool to be able to check out the car over the phone on carfax.

I've recently started charging people in helping them purchase loss leader cars. If it's a friend or family member I'll do it for free of course, otherwise $100 for my time and minimal expertise.

I bet the dealers there hate your guts now

They are beginning to notice me whenever I go to a dealership. Since I have only done this a few times I'm only now starting to build a reputation.

Since most of the deals are towards the end of the year I'll probably only do this during the third quarter of every year.