Stupid Dealer stories
12-23-2002, 01:40 AM
#31
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This isn't *exactly* a stupid dealer story, but I didn't think it would merit its own thread.
"You'd think I would learn..." :
================================
Took my rear wheels & two new tires down to Discount Tire a couple of weeks ago to get the new rubber mounted. Came back & put them on the car.
Today, while flushing brakes/clutch, changing transmission oil, etc, decided to check my tire pressure. front: 30, hm, down a couple of pounds, let's check the rears: 44!
Man, it really takes some time to bleed off 10 pounds of air!
"You'd think I would learn..." :
================================
Took my rear wheels & two new tires down to Discount Tire a couple of weeks ago to get the new rubber mounted. Came back & put them on the car.
Today, while flushing brakes/clutch, changing transmission oil, etc, decided to check my tire pressure. front: 30, hm, down a couple of pounds, let's check the rears: 44!
Man, it really takes some time to bleed off 10 pounds of air!
12-23-2002, 10:36 AM
#32
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Robert,
Assuming you have 18" tires, I think the guys at Discount Tire were just following the guidelines from your owners manual. While everyone here agrees 44lbs is strange, the manual calls for that level. I'd be impressed they bothered to look it up.
Assuming you have 18" tires, I think the guys at Discount Tire were just following the guidelines from your owners manual. While everyone here agrees 44lbs is strange, the manual calls for that level. I'd be impressed they bothered to look it up.
12-23-2002, 11:28 AM
#33
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At first I was impressed (since they didn't have the door jamb label to read), then I reminded myself that they're 17" wheels, even Porsche says 36 on those.
Still, it does say *something* that they appear to have looked up a pressure, even if they got it wrong. I wonder if they just took a WAG on what year/model of car? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
Still, it does say *something* that they appear to have looked up a pressure, even if they got it wrong. I wonder if they just took a WAG on what year/model of car? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
12-23-2002, 11:51 AM
#34
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Here is my contribution. Two months ago the dealer had my car for a ride height, coner balance and alignment after installing the H&R coilovers from Gert. Keep in mind, I have a 964. I gave them the specs for the ride height and alignment straight from Bruce Andersons book (RS specs). When I called to check on it I was told: #1 the alignment numbers made no sense ("What does 15 min. mean?") and, #2 they could not get the ride height set as low as I wanted "without adjusting the torsion bars". The rep acted like he was doing me a favor that they did not do it right because he did not think I wanted to go through the expense associated with torsion bar adjustment because "it is a really big job". I can't believe they told me I had torsion bars. I will never return to that dealer again. Sad thing is, they have made thousands off me in the past. I will say he must have had some epiphany because the bill was much much lower than I thought it would be. I paid it, but will never return. To me it was not worth the effort because he knows he's full of crap and my pointing it out would not change a thing.
Needless to say, I still need the ride height set and an alignment.
Needless to say, I still need the ride height set and an alignment.
12-23-2002, 11:55 AM
#35
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Heard this story a while ago. A middle-aged Asian man, wearing a casual outfit, walked into a Bentley showroom. A senior manager took one look at him and probably decided it was a waste of time to deal with him, so he ordered a rookie salesman instead. To make the long story short, the guy bought three Bentley's on the spot.
12-23-2002, 04:34 PM
#36
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[quote]Originally posted by Robert Henriksen:
<strong>This isn't *exactly* a stupid dealer story, but I didn't think it would merit its own thread.
"You'd think I would learn..." :
================================
Took my rear wheels & two new tires down to Discount Tire a couple of weeks ago to get the new rubber mounted. Came back & put them on the car.
Today, while flushing brakes/clutch, changing transmission oil, etc, decided to check my tire pressure. front: 30, hm, down a couple of pounds, let's check the rears: 44!
Man, it really takes some time to bleed off 10 pounds of air! </strong><hr></blockquote>
I just went to my best local tyre place to avail myself of their wheel refurb service = very pleased until I checked the pressures = left 44 , right .......................55 !! Oh my !!
That would have upset the corner weighting somewhat ...........
Cheers, Maurice now = GT2 Evo brace, PSS9, M030 bars, FVD monoballs and a Merry Christmas !!
<strong>This isn't *exactly* a stupid dealer story, but I didn't think it would merit its own thread.
"You'd think I would learn..." :
================================
Took my rear wheels & two new tires down to Discount Tire a couple of weeks ago to get the new rubber mounted. Came back & put them on the car.
Today, while flushing brakes/clutch, changing transmission oil, etc, decided to check my tire pressure. front: 30, hm, down a couple of pounds, let's check the rears: 44!
Man, it really takes some time to bleed off 10 pounds of air!
</strong><hr></blockquote>I just went to my best local tyre place to avail myself of their wheel refurb service = very pleased until I checked the pressures = left 44 , right .......................55 !! Oh my !!
That would have upset the corner weighting somewhat ...........
Cheers, Maurice now = GT2 Evo brace, PSS9, M030 bars, FVD monoballs and a Merry Christmas !!
12-23-2002, 05:49 PM
#37
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[quote]Originally posted by John H:
<strong>Here is my contribution. Two months ago the dealer had my car for a ride height, coner balance and alignment after installing <snip>
Needless to say, I still need the ride height set and an alignment. </strong><hr></blockquote>
John,
Do you mind saying who the dealer was?
I take my car to a shop in Cincy and have referred several rennlisters to Performance Alignment in Cincy and they have all had good results (from my understanding). There are some really good mechanics in Cincy but you won't find them in the yellow pages. Let me know if you need any help.
<strong>Here is my contribution. Two months ago the dealer had my car for a ride height, coner balance and alignment after installing <snip>
Needless to say, I still need the ride height set and an alignment.
</strong><hr></blockquote>John,
Do you mind saying who the dealer was?
I take my car to a shop in Cincy and have referred several rennlisters to Performance Alignment in Cincy and they have all had good results (from my understanding). There are some really good mechanics in Cincy but you won't find them in the yellow pages. Let me know if you need any help.
01-03-2003, 04:48 PM
#38
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I have a nice mix of stories:
I look much younger than I am - I get accused of looking in my teens (in jest, I hope) - I'm early 30's. I've always liked test drives, but had to be creative to get them. Not only because I look young, but because I always drove beaters, too. I don't go around telling lies, but need a good reason to get my foot in the door. Before going to college, when the new 300ZX Turbo came out, I spent a few months trying to get a network marketing scheme to work. I thought I was going to be rich, and wouldn't need college. I went into the dealership and actually thought I was going to be able to buy one of those things in about a year if all went well. A female salesperson took me seriously, and let me drive one. She even pointed out that we needed to remove the T-tops. It was a memorable drive. A few months later, I was glad I didn't lose much money in that scheme. Off to college I went.
A few years after the Supra TT was released, I was ready to buy a year old 1995 model. I had 2 cars to trade in. I laughed at what they offered me for the RX-7 Turbo, but $2K for the 626 was acceptable. A 3rd party owned the Supra and wanted a new A4, but wasn't happy with the trade offer. I was going to give him more than the trade, and he would buy the A4 if I bought the Supra. So it was a 3-way deal. I went to meet him at his work to test drive the car. I drove it back to my apartment and took pictures, drove around for a bit, then returned it within a half hour. I was curious why he was out pacing the parking lot entrance when I returned. Only to find out that he expected me to take the car to the end of the block and back. I had a handful of reservations about the deal, but decided you only live once, and was going to take the plunge. The straw that broke the camel's back is they changed their story and only offered me $1200 for the trade. I felt like they thought I just HAD to have that car, so they could take advantage of this punk. I walked out on the deal. A buddy is now in the market for a Supra just like the one I would have bought, and he is laughing at me. From what I understand, assuming it was still in good shape, I could get close to what I would have paid for it, if not more, if I still had it. Instead I bought a different car for $24K and was lucky to sell it for $5900 last year. In fact, I was amazed at how empty the license bureau was as I was signing the title over - the place was empty. Only to realize it was September 15, the first Saturday after 9/11/01.
My brother's friend drove away from Midas after an alignment, and looked to see his front wheel passing him as he turned out onto the road. They didn't tighten the lugs.
Our A4 needed a new driveshaft. The dealer wanted $1900 to replace it. After lots of exhaustive research, I rebuilt it myself for $220. Another testiment to DIY's, because I know dealerships aren't in the rebuilding business (mostly for liability issues, I'm sure) and their price for the drive shaft was no cheaper at my discount sources.
My first drive in a 911, which happened to be my 993, was completely unexpected. I bought the A4 the month prior, so the salesman (much younger than me!) at least knew me. I asked to drive a 964 Cab, since it was the oldest 911 on the lot. I really wanted something from the 80's. Without any indication, we walked out to the lot, right past the 911, and right up to the 993. A week later, I bought it. We've been friends ever since, and now he's the VW service manager at a different dealership.
One more and I'll shut up - stupid buyer: this same salesman/eventual friend let us take the A4 home for the night. We already sold my wife's Mustang, so we were borrowing a friend's Astro Van that had 250K mi. My wife left it at the dealership - I was on nightshift. After work, I took the car out for a spin at 3am. Of course, it still had the sticker on the side window. I remember going sideways and got into a tank slapper on a sharp turn. I was impressed with the progressive and neutral handling. I stopped for gas, and could not figure out how to get the gas door open. I had the trunk open, looking for an internal latch, and the attendant even came out. I thought for sure he was going to accuse me of stealing the car. Neither of us could figure it out, and I had to leave without gas and call the dealer in the morning! Turns out, the pivot is inboard of the door edge by about an inch, so all you have to do is push on the outside edge of the door and it will come open. When the doors are locked, it locks. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" /> The next day, the van wouldn't start, and it was raining so hard that they didn't want to go out and jump it. My wife got to keep the car a 2nd night.
In the 70's, my dad had a Ferrari 330 Spyder and a 275 GTB. He used to like to drive up to full service stations and let them walk around once, looking for the gas tank, before he got out and opened the trunk. The filler was inside the trunk. The cars burned up in a fire while dad was doing a DIY (which seems to be the subject of a product description in Griot's Garage!) in 1979. Last year he bought his first sports car since - M Roadster.
I look much younger than I am - I get accused of looking in my teens (in jest, I hope) - I'm early 30's. I've always liked test drives, but had to be creative to get them. Not only because I look young, but because I always drove beaters, too. I don't go around telling lies, but need a good reason to get my foot in the door. Before going to college, when the new 300ZX Turbo came out, I spent a few months trying to get a network marketing scheme to work. I thought I was going to be rich, and wouldn't need college. I went into the dealership and actually thought I was going to be able to buy one of those things in about a year if all went well. A female salesperson took me seriously, and let me drive one. She even pointed out that we needed to remove the T-tops. It was a memorable drive. A few months later, I was glad I didn't lose much money in that scheme. Off to college I went.
A few years after the Supra TT was released, I was ready to buy a year old 1995 model. I had 2 cars to trade in. I laughed at what they offered me for the RX-7 Turbo, but $2K for the 626 was acceptable. A 3rd party owned the Supra and wanted a new A4, but wasn't happy with the trade offer. I was going to give him more than the trade, and he would buy the A4 if I bought the Supra. So it was a 3-way deal. I went to meet him at his work to test drive the car. I drove it back to my apartment and took pictures, drove around for a bit, then returned it within a half hour. I was curious why he was out pacing the parking lot entrance when I returned. Only to find out that he expected me to take the car to the end of the block and back. I had a handful of reservations about the deal, but decided you only live once, and was going to take the plunge. The straw that broke the camel's back is they changed their story and only offered me $1200 for the trade. I felt like they thought I just HAD to have that car, so they could take advantage of this punk. I walked out on the deal. A buddy is now in the market for a Supra just like the one I would have bought, and he is laughing at me. From what I understand, assuming it was still in good shape, I could get close to what I would have paid for it, if not more, if I still had it. Instead I bought a different car for $24K and was lucky to sell it for $5900 last year. In fact, I was amazed at how empty the license bureau was as I was signing the title over - the place was empty. Only to realize it was September 15, the first Saturday after 9/11/01.
My brother's friend drove away from Midas after an alignment, and looked to see his front wheel passing him as he turned out onto the road. They didn't tighten the lugs.
Our A4 needed a new driveshaft. The dealer wanted $1900 to replace it. After lots of exhaustive research, I rebuilt it myself for $220. Another testiment to DIY's, because I know dealerships aren't in the rebuilding business (mostly for liability issues, I'm sure) and their price for the drive shaft was no cheaper at my discount sources.
My first drive in a 911, which happened to be my 993, was completely unexpected. I bought the A4 the month prior, so the salesman (much younger than me!) at least knew me. I asked to drive a 964 Cab, since it was the oldest 911 on the lot. I really wanted something from the 80's. Without any indication, we walked out to the lot, right past the 911, and right up to the 993. A week later, I bought it. We've been friends ever since, and now he's the VW service manager at a different dealership.
One more and I'll shut up - stupid buyer: this same salesman/eventual friend let us take the A4 home for the night. We already sold my wife's Mustang, so we were borrowing a friend's Astro Van that had 250K mi. My wife left it at the dealership - I was on nightshift. After work, I took the car out for a spin at 3am. Of course, it still had the sticker on the side window. I remember going sideways and got into a tank slapper on a sharp turn. I was impressed with the progressive and neutral handling. I stopped for gas, and could not figure out how to get the gas door open. I had the trunk open, looking for an internal latch, and the attendant even came out. I thought for sure he was going to accuse me of stealing the car. Neither of us could figure it out, and I had to leave without gas and call the dealer in the morning! Turns out, the pivot is inboard of the door edge by about an inch, so all you have to do is push on the outside edge of the door and it will come open. When the doors are locked, it locks. <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" /> The next day, the van wouldn't start, and it was raining so hard that they didn't want to go out and jump it. My wife got to keep the car a 2nd night.
In the 70's, my dad had a Ferrari 330 Spyder and a 275 GTB. He used to like to drive up to full service stations and let them walk around once, looking for the gas tank, before he got out and opened the trunk. The filler was inside the trunk. The cars burned up in a fire while dad was doing a DIY (which seems to be the subject of a product description in Griot's Garage!) in 1979. Last year he bought his first sports car since - M Roadster.
