Kenophobia at the Car Dealer

[P.C.]

Is it me, or are inventory lots at new car dealerships looking a little desolate these days? Good luck finding heavy-duty pickups if you need one!

[merc lover]

Actually, I feel sorry for new or used car dealerships. With the advent of the internet, they now have thousands of competitors competing for your buying dollars. that said, I've personally experienced some very rude, inept sales people at new car dealerships! 99% of the time THEY ARE MEN. Where have the female new car sales people gone? I'm told women have walked out of the business due to sexual harassment and cut-throat commissions.

That leaves us with idiotic, moronic men who say things like, "I don't own or drive a mercedes benz now but some day when I can afford it I will buy one" to prospects. (actual quote from a mercedes benz sales rep). One of the more memorable times involved my conversation with a local Chevrolet truck product "expert". I had been reading online about new Chevrolet trucks that are dual fuel, i.e. they can run on both gasoline and CNG.

I asked the Chevrolet sales rep if he knew anything about them or if he might have a brochure or sales sheet available. As he handed me his business card, he replied, "No, i don't know anything about that particular truck but when you find out more information, please call me and tell me what you find out".

BTW, the information is readily available online:

CNG Bi-Fuel Ford and Chevy Pickups - Dual Fuel Duel

[INSIDIOUS]

Originally Posted by P.C.

Is it me, or are inventory lots at new car dealerships looking a little desolate these days? Good luck finding heavy-duty pickups if you need one!

Got Chips?

[Capt. Mike]

Inventories are down all over. Because, as Sid says, the chip shortage.

I have been buying cars (I always buy new) for about 50 years now. I used to subscribe to Road and Track, and read other car magazines at the library. It used to be a lot harder to research cars before the internet, for sure. Having said that, I cannot remember the last time a car salesman knew as much about the car I was looking at as I did.

I stopped expecting them to know anything at all about the car. I began expecting them to be able to get me the keys, and to try to blather during the drive.

[sloride]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS

Got Chips?

I saw something on the news that Ford is unable to build as many F150s as the plant is capable of doing due to that shortage. Ford unable to build their best sell model. What ever happened to JIT," just in time delivery"? Way to many efficiency experts out there.

[speednjay]

In my area the trucks on the lot keep getting their catalytic converters, wheels, and tailgates stolen. I can understand if they want their inventory low

[Capt. Mike]

Originally Posted by sloride

I saw something on the news that Ford is unable to build as many F150s as the plant is capable of doing due to that shortage. Ford unable to build their best sell model. What ever happened to JIT," just in time delivery"? Way to many efficiency experts out there.

I want to replace my wife’s 2014 Accord with a 2021 Accord Touring. She likes Accords, and has been driving them since the mid ‘80s. We have always bought them from the dealer near where our house was. They always had everything in every color, and more than one. Typically, they had well over 100 Accords in their lots.

They now have somewhere in the 20s, only two of which are Tourings, and I don’t like either color. Which is OK, since my wife does not want to replace her car.

But a huge Honda dealership with only 2 top trim Accords?

[P.C.]

Originally Posted by Capt. Mike

I want to replace my wife’s 2014 Accord with a 2021 Accord Touring. She likes Accords, and has been driving them since the mid ‘80s. We have always bought them from the dealer near where our house was. They always had everything in every color, and more than one. Typically, they had well over 100 Accords in their lots.

They now have somewhere in the 20s, only two of which are Tourings, and I don’t like either color. Which is OK, since my wife does not want to replace her car.

But a huge Honda dealership with only 2 top trim Accords?

With so many people leasing these days, I think that Honda dealers prefer to stock trim levels which are the subject of regular lease deal promotions by Honda Financial. Usually, LX, EX and EX-L trims are popular in this regard. The highest trim levels usually have crappy residual percentages compared to lower level models, so they are not often the subject of lease promotions.

[Capt. Mike]

There are 25 Accords, 3 E-XL and 2 Tourings. Usually there are over a hundred.

When we bought our EX-L in 2014, they had every color combo, and more than one of each.

She likes to walk the lot and pick the color that suits her fancy. They had every one that Honda sold. And a few multiples. Now? No.

[Autoputzer]

BMW's having trouble getting parts for the variable lumbar supports in seats. They're giving credits to cars that just have them on the driver's side. Good seats is one of the big reasons I buy BMW's. Luckily, I don't need a new car for two or three more years.

[merc lover]

i really like the BMW V12 engine powered cars. Remove the american chip with a genuine german chip and you just got yourself a land based missile.