Interesting story: I had my CRD in to have a CEL problem diagnosed this past Saturday. I was dumbing around looking at cars in their lot while i waited, of course i was immediately pounced upon by the closest salesman. I killed about an hour getting the run-around with their not wanting to actually give me a price for a Subaru that i was merely curious about. Long story short; another salesman called me today practically falling over himself wanting my used CRD. Seems he has had a lot of requests for them. He even offered to put me in a new G.C with 0%financing and the same monthly payment. I told him no deal. Even with the problems I have had with the CRD, why would i trade something that gets 24 mpg in the city for something that gets 14? Final note: He actually asked me if I wasnt driving the CRD, what I would want to be driving. Just to mess with him, and partially truthfully, i told him a Jetta TDI wagon. He tried to claim that D.C. had some vehicles that came close in MPG. I just had to laugh at that one...

I'm hearing a lot more people say the kind of things you've said about a dealership wanting your CRD for a trade. The demand for CRDs is far greater than what most realize. I've drove through a few of the lots in my local area and within about a 50 mile range or so there are only two new CRDs, both of which are at an area dealer with a HORRIBLE reputation (most likely why they haven't sold yet).

I'm curious about a few things...

1. What kind of Subaru were you looking at? I actually own two major Subaru based websites

2. That seems like a high pressure dealership, I'm thinking the salesman you spoke with may have been very hard up to sell something. I don't doubt that he wanted your trade, but at the same time that seems like an overly agressive move to make a deal on a lesser (non-diesel) vehicle. Agree?

Local dealer has dealer traded Wranglers & GC's with several stand alone Jeep dealerships for CRD's and they are getting top dollar for the CRD's all they will discount is any factory incentive that is offered. They sell every diesel PU they get with in just a few days, that is saying something when you take in the price.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

The dealer that sold me my '05 was after me to trade it in on a new Dodge 2500 diesel. They wanted the CRD as they can get no more and have calls all the time about them. The salesman said I would only take a 5-10% hit on the salesprice of my CRD. However, I suspect they would also want me to buy the Dodge at sticker. You NEVER can win at a dealer, they are more slippery than synthetic oil. In any event, I did not want Dodge in '05 and don't want it now, so dealer will have to make profit on someone else.

Hmm, weird. My Liberty CRD had been sitting on the lot since September '05 until last week.

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Me - '17 KL Trailhawk 4x4, Rhino, P245/65R17 Destination A/Ts, Stock Skids, waiting for mods...
Sis - '18 Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4 - Black - Dents - Scratches - STOCK

Like most vehicles sales are strong in most areas, but some ares they are not. I seem to remember MI being a poor market for the CRD and Liberty in general just as this area is a poor sales point for convertable cars, English luxury cars, but MB are big here.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Hero,
I was looking at a '04 Subaru Forester. I was really just killing time while my CRD got looked at. The main thing that put me off completely was the salesman seemingly being coached to avoid telling me how much they wanted for it. We are still sticking with the CRD for now though. Even though it is in the shop again (2nd time in 1 week, this time getting the EGR done), we love our Jeep and are hoping they finally get all the kinks worked out of it. To tell you the truth, driving that Forester felt like I was sitting on the road after driving our CRD for the last year, not to mention the lack of that Oomph! when you hit the accellerator. We are driving from K.C. to Custer, SD on Friday to visit my brother. Wish me luck, I am hoping our CRD doesn't let us down in the middle of Nebraska somewhere. But hey, with a new Trans, EGR and lower ball joints in the last 2000 miles, I should be good to go, right?

Heck, there's nothing else to replace: you got a practically new one, now!

Drive carefully and have a great trip!

What do you define as "Winning at a dealership" then? After having been a salesman and manager at three dealerships myself, I kinda get ticked off by people with your opinion. Now I'm not saying that every dealership is good nor that I would stick up for them altogether, it seems that the common perception by the consumer is that the dealership can ALWAYS provide a better deal and should always do so.

Any customer has ever started any form of arguement with me aimed at pricing, I always ask, "Well what do you think we should sell it for?" If you are selling anything wouldn't you want to get the most for it? I would say that most dealerships will provide you with a deal that is fair to both parties, if its not good enough for you then try going to another dealership to try your chances. People have this idea of a "Best Deal" on a vehicle that supercedes any other deal anyone can get them, I say avoid pulling teeth over any vehicle deal and just accept anything you can honestly afford rather than trying to get "The Best Deal."

One instance I like to bring up, while working at a dealership in Central Illinois a customer was interested in a new 2005 Dodge Ram for about $32k. He claimed that some place in Alabama had a similiar truck with more options for only $25k and told me to get down to at least that price or he wouldn't deal. I told him directly, "Look we can't get anywhere near that price. If you really want that truck in Alabama then I suggest you drive to Alabama and buy it. We'll even give you some money and you can bring us back a few because we'd like to sell trucks that cheap too!" He actually ended up signing papers and driving our truck off the lot within an hour or so



I would guess that the dealership might have been "buried" in that Subaru. "Buried" is a term that car sales types use to describe a used vehicle that they have either gave to little for to trade, invested too much money into for repairs/etc., or whatever other reason that would lead to them either overpricing it or would not allow them to meet their margin of profit needed in any deal. If a salesman is reluctant to tell you the price is usually means that the vehicle is "buried" and you probably should not consider dealing on it

And yes, its a no brainer to choose a CRD over just about any Subaru Just don't tell any of my Subaru buddies I said that!

Its not my intention to start a thread about the business ethics of car salesman (and a very short thread it would be), but my experience with various dealers throughout the years reveals to me that listening to car salesmen tell you how honest they are is much like listening to prostitutes arguing about who is the most chaste, or (for those of you who will understand) seniority among second lieutenants.

Hahahahahaha!!! How true, how true, sure brings back some funny moments dealing with very jr 0's over the years.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

In the USAF my desk was just outside the office of our Cheif Master Sergeant. One of the best things I experienced was when a butter bars (2nd Lt) tried to give Cheif an "order"...

It was sweet.



Oh, yeah - and to stay on topic - People hate car dealers because car dealers suck. Stereotypes exist for a reason...

If you are a car dealership and people hating car dealers upsets you - then buck the trend. Stop the "let me see what my manager will do" 23 trips to the back room crap. Stop the low balling on trades - "Book Value" takes into account you are a dealer - don't take "trade-in value" and drop 20% for your "services". Stop adding the "Market Adjustments" to your cars - especially in the modern day of the internet... Stop shucking the "paint sealer" and whatnot, or if you do want to sell it be honest and not so high pressure. Don't treat me like an ( * ) because I know more about the cars you sell than you do. When I tell you what I want - IT IS WHAT I WANT, don't try to talk me out of it so you can make a higher margin. When I tell you what I can afford - thats what that means.

I could go on and on....

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http://www.pdxbiodiesel.org

valkraider have you seen where D/C is bring the MB Smart cars to the US for '07 and will be sold through the Penske owned (173) dealerships. They didn't mention which engine will be used, the gas or diesel, but I bet Penske will import both engines.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

I have. And if they bring the diesel there will be one in front of my house.

Preferably the Smart 3, as 2 would basically be the same as my motorcycle only with a roof and no helmet required...

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http://www.pdxbiodiesel.org

I think I would like the two seater model if I could fit, from what I read only 2 seater will be imported.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Since the thread has officailly wandered

I have been following the smart situation for awhile now. Was really bummed when they dropped the roadster. Hopefully it will be back with an MG badge on it.

It doesnt look like we will get the diesel just yet from what I have read. Here is one and I have read it elswhere previously. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/200 ... mart_x.htm

The ultimate for me would have been the roadster with a diesel in it. We will get the fourtwo and I cant wait to see them around and hope they do well enough to bring the diesel over also.

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It may be that your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others.

06 CRD Sport
Built 5/11/06
Jeep Green
Rocklizard diff cover
V6 Airbox

If not the diesel, I hope it is E85 compatible because I do have that available for $2.01 a gallon local.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

I'll admit it, I was a greasy butter bar at one time in the USAF

As a prior enlisted officer I already knew not to piss around with any senior NCO types. I had my balls busted enough by them in the Army and I honestly never met any E-7 and up NCO in the USAF I didn't like. All the Cheifs and other E-9s I knen in the USAF and other services treated me with respect and I always returned it.

When I first put on Captain bars we had a staff meeting where this truly dips*** 2LT was in a "discussion" with a Navy Master Chief, try to imagine the shock on my face when Master Cheif said, "Captain Miller, get your F****** Lieutenant out of my face!!!"



Look I can understand where you're coming from, with my experiences I can tell you that all the salesmen I ever knew where very honest and I say that with no reservation. Actually at 2 of the 3 dealerships I worked at, they had a standard policy that if you lied to a customer and it was discovered and proven... you would be fired immediately. Like I said previously, there are many bad dealerships and I can't and won't stick up for all of them.

Simply based on my experiences, all the people I've dealt with, and all the people I know still in the business abroad... it is my opinion that most salesmen types are far more honest than most would give them credit for. Truly I think the customer is generally more dishonest with a salesman than a salesman ever would be with them. I would say that I would hear 1000 lies from any customer before I would give them any kind of lie.

My favorites are the ones that tell you they have excellent credit and can afford at least $500 payments/month... and then come to find out they are unemployed and recently filed for bankruptcy. Things along these lines are VERY common

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! You can't spell "LOST" without "LT." I was only a Spec4 and I knew the rule about senior noncoms and officers. I'm suprised that Navy Senior Chieg only did what he did and didn't do more.

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2005 Unlimited (LJ) Rubicon w/ 5.5" of total lift
Flat Fenders made by http://www.jpfaboffroad.com/

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin, 1759

Found some interesting reading-- at least for me it was.


Penske says that DCX assures him of a diesel version in the U.S. at a later date, as well as a gas-electric hybrid. The smart that will arrive in the U.S. will be a gasoline-powered version of the redesigned fortwo, which will make its debut at
auto shows next year.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_Ne ... 10586.html

Seems DC will be pushing the diesel for the US.

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It may be that your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others.

06 CRD Sport
Built 5/11/06
Jeep Green
Rocklizard diff cover
V6 Airbox