Letter from a Dodge Dealer

[dealmaker]

You do not have to sell German or Japanese cars to be a successful automobile dealer, for many years the most successful dealer in America was Bob Tasca selling thousands of cars with only 6 or 7 sales people and Lincoln/Mercury dealer to boot. It all has to do with stable management, well trained sales people and good processes.
Of-course part of the reason GM and Chrysler are going bankrupt is bad dealers. Bad processes and low standards by OEMs result in bad dealers, just walk into a domestic dealer then go to an import dealer and you will visibly see the difference ( exceptions do not break the rule).

 

[Optionspoet]

Quote from aegis:

LOL @ all these dumbass twenty somethings saying that the Big 3 don't know how to make good cars.

How the fuck would they know? They haven't driven an American car since they borrowed their daddy's Buick when they were 16.

The quality of American cars has improved substantially since the late 1990s. They're easily on par with the crap put out by Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubitchy.

My brother in law bought a Ford F150 a couple years back. Shortly after buying it, he had to take it into the dealer for an issue with his ignition system. The dealer moaned and groaned but promised to cover it. No biggie right?

My uncle had a 90's era F150 and remembered having the same problem. Except the dealer wouldn't acknowledge the problem and he had to foot the bill.

So 10 years go by and Ford still has not rectified the ignition issue that came up in the 90's F150.

You say American cars have gotten better over the years. Instead of a complete lemon, it's only a half-lemon.

I wish this weren't the case...but it is. Mechanics are employed thanks to american cars.

 

[Optionspoet]

Quote from vhehn:

on that model of caddy they put the starter inside the engine under the intake manifold. pure idiocy.

Cadillac Deville No? Or is it everything with a NorthStar?

Yeah...completely moronic for complicating such a simple procedure. I could understand if it's a part that lasts 200K miles, but a starter is good for only a limited time.

More revenues for the dealers maybe?

 

[bozwood]

Quote from jprad:

That is entirely my point here and was backed up by Chrysler's CFO this morning who went on record that all of their dealerships will close if the bankruptcy court does not approve of the merger with Fiat.

Funny how everyone here is carping about the franchise contract this guy signed. How is that any different from a legal perspective then established bankruptcy laws regarding the seniority of bondholders over employees and shareholders?

Bottom line is that Chrysler should be put through a standard bankruptcy where all of the dealers are wiped out, but will at least be able to salvage the sale of their remaining inventory in the process since they'd all be on equal footing.

maybe he is just a little ticked that the unions are getting so much. obviously you are only stating one side of the issue. you can't have it both ways. if the company really went bankrupt, then the unions wouldn't be getting much either (along with the dealer). but, the unions are getting so much.

you are really the one missing the point.

 

[Renegen]

It's difficult to make tough calls, I respect him.

Of course, it's also been said that if the majority disagree violently with you, you're 100% right! So people shouldn't go overboard if someone disagrees with you.

 

[ByLoSellHi]

Quote from dealmaker:

You do not have to sell German or Japanese cars to be a successful automobile dealer..

Dealers getting terminated are thanking the heavens if they also sell Hyundai/Kia right now. We're in a Hyundai/Kia economy.

 

[daveb351]

Quote from ByLoSellHi:

Dealers getting terminated are thanking the heavens if they also sell Hyundai/Kia right now. We're in a Hyundai/Kia economy.

Today, while our Jeep Cherokee is in the shop again, my wife's driving a KIA Rondo rental. Guess we're shopping for a KIA this weekend. I tried to be patriotic, and suggested a Ford...no sale. Our last 3 cars have been Chrysler products, until this Jeep they'd been trouble free.

 

[clacy]

Quote from GTG:

What I read into the story is what others have noticed. This isn't so much an article about the economy or the Chrysler bankruptcy...its a warning about buying franchises. Stories like this where the franchisee gets completely screwed are common.

Depends on the franchise. I would rather own a couple of McDonalds franchises than a Chrysler franchise any day.

Not all franchises are the same.

 

[powerfade]

Quote from Optionspoet:
More revenues for the dealers maybe?

Not maybe - for sure. Anyone who knows anything about the business knows that dealerships make skinny margins on selling new cars. Their money is made in the shop.

This kind of thing is the reason the American majors are failing.

 

[powerfade]

Quote from gigsup:

I agree, the last great Mercedes, although the one after was a good one too. Bought a 1985 yellow 300D and sold it a year later, then bought a 1987 blue 300D.

The one thing Mercedes has over the Asians is heft in the body structure.......rigidity. Another was emergency handling. The last Benz I owned was in 1995, so Lexus may be very comparable. I now drive a 2003 Nissan 350Z and still love it.

Judging by this, I'm betting you've never owned a car in your (probably 19 - 21 years of) life.

http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?threadid=164663


Sorry, just my take on things