2014 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study | J.D. Power

Mercedes-Benz and Minis

Perhaps you don't understand the market the way the sales leaders understand it. In today's tech savvy and tech driven marketplace, TECH RULES THE DAY. The more "techy" a vehicle is, the more "value" and "appeal" to the tech-heads (Generations X, Y and M, generations who GREW UP eating tech for breakfast, lunch and dinner) who are writing the checks.

Of course, there is a downside to all this technology. With more complexity comes less reliability which equates to higher and higher repair bills; the stealership's F&R (fix and repair) department rings the cash register like never before. You, OTH, as the customer, get a royal screwing like never before.

The auto manufacturers working hand in hand with the stealerships call this "a good business deal".

As I see it complexity with reliability is okay. Without the almost absolute reliability built in it can be a money pit. At least the market resale prices of vehicles reflect this to some extent.

The older you get the less sales hype works. Also a lot of the vehicle rating firms are a total joke. Too many people also suck up what they push. Little common sense when buying brand new vehicles out there.

That survey was only sales satisfaction. That's only a very small part of vehicle ownership.

My best sales satisfaction story:

I go to look at an old 240D for sale in the parking lot of a local bank. I realize it's the same one I looked at on a lemon lot a few months ago asking two grand and change. This time the asking price is $600. I call the seller and arrange for a test drive. The test drive goes ok and I decide I'm willing to pay the full asking price. Just about then the seller tells me he'll take $480 for the car. OK! We did the paperwork and just about then a carload of co-ops from my work showed up to use the ATM. I got one of them to follow me back to my place in my other car while I drove the 240.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.