Buying or Leasing

[svaden]

I am a salesman at a Dearborn MI. Ford store. I have been selling Chrysler's for the past 12 years, but I converted from the dark side! I am still in the process of learning all the Ford product, but I will be happy to answer any questions you have.

 

I, like most salespeople need to sell cars to pay my bills. I am here to give everyone the view from the other side. I have seen over and over again posts on how to get the best pricing on a new car. Most salespeople are good honest people. We don't make a ton of money, we just need to pay our bills.

 

The most important thing is to be honest with the salesperson. Don't hide the facts! Let them know if you have a trade-in, tell them what you want, let them know your price range, tell them if you get a discount. This is not a game! We don't enjoy being lied to! I treat all my customer the same way I would like to be treated, and I expect the same from them.

 

Yes, there are some salespeople that will try to take advantage of a customer. If you don't feel everything is right don't go any further with the deal! Ask to talk to the manager or just walk out the door.

 

Look over your paper work before you sign. If they added anything in that you did not want, have them remove it ( warranty, insurance ). If it is good sign away.

[Grey]

Do your managers share enough information with you so you can provide realistic build and delivery estimates to your customers? Do you know what the monthly allocations are and how orders have been prioritized? Do you have access to FDealer, VinCent and C&I data?

 

I think I would have a hard time selling vehicles if I had to ask a manager everytime I needed to know these answers.

 

The management strategy in many of the Atlanta dealerships provides sales personnel much more access to the information than they had in the past. And while there are risks with putting too much info out on the table, it helps the sales personnel better advise their customers and builds long term relationships.

[svaden]

Do your managers share enough information with you so you can provide realistic build and delivery estimates to your customers? Do you know what the monthly allocations are and how orders have been prioritized? Do you have access to FDealer, VinCent and C&I data?

 

I think I would have a hard time selling vehicles if I had to ask a manager everytime I needed to know these answers.

 

The management strategy in many of the Atlanta dealerships provides sales personnel much more access to the information than they had in the past. And while there are risks with putting too much info out on the table, it helps the sales personnel better advise their customers and builds long term relationships.

 

 

Yes to all.

I work in Dearborn Michigan. Ford world H.Q. is 1/2 mile away. The only way for a dealership here to operate correctly is to allow all the sales reps. to have full access to all the tools.

[Grey]

Great to know. I have been in your dealership many times (years ago). Can you still get a good burger down the street?

 

By monitoring the forums, you will find out much about your product lines and you can correct misinformation that occurs occasionally.

 

Do you let your customers know that your service department can program daytime running lights on most new vehicles in a few minutes?

[Blizzard35]

Great to know. I have been in your dealership many times (years ago). Can you still get a good burger down the street?

 

By monitoring the forums, you will find out much about your product lines and you can correct misinformation that occurs occasionally.

 

Do you let your customers know that your service department can program daytime running lights on most new vehicles in a few minutes?

 

I'm from Ontario, Canada and for the life of me, I don't understand why DRL's (daytime running lights) are not mandatory in the United States. Since 1989 when automatic DRL's were made mandatory here in Canada, the # of collisions, accidents etc. have decreased dramatically. We get a lot of American visitors coming through my area here in Northern Ontario, Canada and it always amazes me when I see their vehicles with no DRL's.

[svaden]

I'm from Ontario, Canada and for the life of me, I don't understand why DRL's (daytime running lights) are not mandatory in the United States. Since 1989 when automatic DRL's were made mandatory here in Canada, the # of collisions, accidents etc. have decreased dramatically. We get a lot of American visitors coming through my area here in Northern Ontario, Canada and it always amazes me when I see their vehicles with no DRL's.

 

Some of our car have daytime running lights. This is the home of the Free! We have the choice here.

[akirby]

I'm from Ontario, Canada and for the life of me, I don't understand why DRL's (daytime running lights) are not mandatory in the United States. Since 1989 when automatic DRL's were made mandatory here in Canada, the # of collisions, accidents etc. have decreased dramatically. We get a lot of American visitors coming through my area here in Northern Ontario, Canada and it always amazes me when I see their vehicles with no DRL's.

 

Dramatically? Even the best studies show a reduction of 10% or less and I'm willing to bet almost all of those happened at dawn or dusk when people should have their lights on anyway. Automatic headlamps take care of that now on a lot of cars. It's also impossible to really tell whether the reduction in accidents was due to the DRLs or not - too many variables.

 

The best case scenario is a car turning left and not seeing an oncoming car or pulling out in front of another car at an intersection. In at least some of those cases the driver at fault just forgets to look and DRLs won't help that at all. And in broad daylight I just can't imagine not seeing a 4000 lb vehicle coming at you (whereas you would see them with DRLs).

 

It's possible there is a slight benefit but I don't think it's "dramatic".

[Blue Oval]

When DRL's first started to become popular I had mixed feelings about them. While the intention was a good one, unfortunately many manufacturers set their models up so that only the headlights come on and many even do so on reduced light output. We have all seen cars with DRL's riding down the highway or dark roads at night with only those lights on...wondering why the driver never turned his headlight switch on so that the tail lights were illuminated as well. Drivers often fail to realize that the DRL's are only meant to provide daytime protection. They mistakenly fail to realize that their tail, license plate and side marker lamps are not lit until the headlight switch is turned to activate them.

 

Similarly, driver's who rely on automatic headlights to activate at dusk often don't realize that the lights do not automatically activate during rain and snow fall or just as importantly, under foggy conditions. While DRL's and automatic headlight controls are helpful, we would all be better off driving with our lights on all the time. Just remember to turn them off along with the ignition!

Edited September 10, 2010 by Blue Oval

[Grey]

Back to leasing. One big advantage is that after 24,36 or 39 months, you no longer want the vehicle, you can turn it in and get something you do want. And, if you love it, you can pay the residual price and keep it. There are situations where it can be cheaper to lease than buy (on a monthly basis). IE. when residuals are high, lease interest rates are low, or there are special incentives for leases.

 

It often doesn't work for people that don'e realize that the agreed to price is negotiable, that anticipating the number of miles they will drive affects the cost or that start out with negative equity in their trade.

[candy_red_fusion]

Yes to all.

I work in Dearborn Michigan. Ford world H.Q. is 1/2 mile away. The only way for a dealership here to operate correctly is to allow all the sales reps. to have full access to all the tools.

 

 

I just bought a 2010 Fusion from your dealership. I had been buying my Ford cars from there since 1995 from the sales person and he was wonderful! This time was I had to go with another sales person due to my sale person retired due to medical reasons. I have to tell you I was not happy on how long this process took. I have never had to wait a week to get my new car with the exception of my 03 cobra which I had ordered. I could not get any fiance rates or monthly payments until the day before I picked up the car. In years past I got every thing the day I went in and told him what car I wanted. As far as getting the best price on a car If you have A-plan that usually is the best price your going to get.

[svaden]

I don't know why your deal took so long. As far as rates and payments information, again I don't know why your sales person was unable to give you that information. I don't want to list names but I am here to help. If you would like I can look into you deal and give you some answers as to why it too so long.

[candy_red_fusion]

Well thanks for your help, but i'm guessing that because it was about 2 weeks until month end is to why it took so long. As far as the payment info they said it was due to not having the car on their lot and having the vin. They had to trade for the car. Just wish i had autostart put on befor i picked up the car.

[CometFlash]

While DRL's and automatic headlight controls are helpful, we would all be better off driving with our lights on all the time. Just remember to turn them off along with the ignition!

 

Do they even make vehicles that don't turn off all the accessory's that use battery power anymore if you forget to shut them off???

 

I'm fairly certain even my 1997 F-150 (purchased early 1996) did this. As far back as that truck, I'm quite certain that all of my Ford trucks from that point and forward, would automatically shut off any accessory's you mistakenly left on after shutting off the vehicle. Just the other day I left a map light on in my '09 F-150, and it shut off by itself after I left the vehicle.

 

Just saying that you can leave your headlights to the ON position for 100% life of your vehicle, and not worry about forgetting to turn them off as they will do it by themselves anyways. No battery worries from any of that stuff.