The view from 240

2011 Challenger Specs

2010-09-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Dodge Challenger will be adding a little more power to it's SRT8 model. Horsepower and torque are increasing to 475 hp and 460 lb-ft.

Here is a quick rundown of a few changes coming to the R/T and the SRT8.

INSANE Moped Stunt

2010-09-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

Big props to the guy for creating a moped on steriods, but I don't know how safe I would feel cruising that down the interstate. Well actually I do, and that would be not safe at all.

2010 Dodge Charger R/T: Ridelust.com Review

2010-05-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

2010 Dodge Charger R/T: RideLust Review

Thumbs Up: What’s not to like about a big American sedan with a Hemi V8, especially one with reasonable fuel economy?

Thumbs Down: Interior design hasn’t aged as well as the exterior.

Buy This Car If: You want a RWD American sedan and can find one; Charger R/Ts are now limited to existing dealer inventory and fleet sales until the new model is released.

There are things in life that, as a man, you just inherently understand. Maybe it’s how to use a torque wrench, or hunt with a bow and arrow, or properly grip a Colt Model 1911 to prevent hammer bite. Almost certainly, it’s that the combination of a big motor in a roomy American sedan makes for serious entertainment behind the wheel. While not ideal for strafing canyons or lapping a tight road course, the Charger just feels right when the light goes green and you drop the hammer, accompanied by the primordial growl of an angry Hemi V8. These are the among things that make civilized life worth living for those of us with a Y chromosome.
The current Dodge Charger has been around since 2005, and in a lot of positive ways it seems like even longer than that. Their design is classic, and has managed to stay contemporary when so many other sedans have begun to look dated. Chargers have become a staple of law enforcement and rental car fleets, so you tend to see them everywhere (and not always under the best of circumstances). Based on Chrylser’s LX platform (shared with the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Challenger), the new Charger replaced the utterly forgettable Dodge Intrepid in Chrysler’s lineup. It’s also a reminder of happier times with then-parent Daimler; the Charger uses suspension components borrowed from earlier Mercedes E and S class sedans, as well as a Mercedes sourced five speed automatic transmission. It’s available in a mind boggling array of versions, including four motor options and two drivetrain options. Let’s make things simple, though: the base and mid level Chargers, equipped with anemic motors producing 178 horsepower (from the 2.7 liter V6) and 250 horsepower (from the 3.5 liter V6), can be overlooked. If you’re shopping for a Charger, it comes down to this: do you want rear wheel drive or all wheel drive, and which Hemi motor do you want? If 368 horsepower in stock trim is good enough for you, then it’s the Charger R/T you need. If you require 425 ponies from your Hemi, then you’ll need to check the box by the Charger SRT8.

The tester I drove was painted in Dodge’s optional TorRed, which is as subtle as lighting your barbecue grill with a napalm-fueled airstrike. It’s bright, really bright, and guaranteed to draw attention to you and your car. In the case of the Charger R/T, this isn’t necessarily a good thing unless you can keep your foot from mashing the fun pedal with too much enthusiasm. The Charger R/T is an easy car to drive fast, especially in a straight line. My tester came with the Customer Preferred Package 29R, which included 20” wheels and tires, the upgraded stereo with Boston Acoustics speakers, R/T badging and trim, performance seating, performance steering and performance suspension. The Super Track Pack option added summer only performance tires, a 3.06 axle ratio, heavy duty four wheel disc brakes (with ABS, of course) and an even stiffer suspension. The tester also had the sunroof, HID headlights and nav system options, so it was very well equipped. The sticker price was five dollars shy of $40,000.

The Charger R/T surprised me in a few areas. First, the suspension was necessarily stiff, but not punishing. Make no mistake about it: you will feel it when you go over a set of railroad tracks or drive a particularly bumpy road. Still, the ride quality was never unpleasant, even after spending a few hours behind the wheel. I wouldn’t call the Charger R/T a good choice for track days (the steering is a bit vague and it’s got quite a bit of mass to accelerate, turn and stop), but it will suffer the occasional high performance driving event in a manner competitive with other cars of its size. Kudos to Dodge for a job well done on both ride comfort and handling, and lets hope the new Charger raises the bar even more (and improves steering feel).

My next surprise was fuel mileage. I’m a “spirited” driver, who doesn’t hesitate to accelerate briskly when pulling on the highway or leaving a red light. In a reasonable mix of city and highway driving, the Charger R/T got 19.9 miles per gallon; while this isn’t going to garner any praise from the Greens, it did impress me, given how often the accelerator met the firewall. It’s not unreasonable to expect 22 mpg combined if you drive in a more sedate manner. How does the Charger achieve such reasonable mileage? Via Chrysler’s “Multi Displacement System”, which shuts off the fuel to four of eight cylinders when power isn’t needed. The system worked flawlessly, and you could only tell it was active by the “Eco” message on the Charger’s information system display.

The Charger R/T’s interior was comfortable enough, but it isn’t aging gracefully. There’s a huge expanse of plastic up front, due in part to the Charger’s steeply raked windshield. Dash materials that may have looked contemporary in 2005 now just look downscale, especially the hard plastic surrounding the instruments. Brushed aluminum trim helps to add visual appeal, but new materials for the dash and instruments will go a long way towards giving a more contemporary feel. The seats were comfortable and supportive (even for spirited driving), but I’d suggest that Dodge continue the suede inserts to the bottom edge of the seat. The current seat’s leather panel had a nasty tendency to stick to flesh if the driver or passenger was wearing shorts, a common occurrence in Florida. There’s a lot of glass in this car, so if you live in a hot climate, window tinting will be a necessity, not a luxury.

Dodge claims 0 to 60 times of just under 6 seconds for the variable valve timing equipped 5.7 liter Hemi motor, and I see no reason to disagree. Quiet at idle, the V8 emits a satisfying growl if you put your foot to the floorboard. All speed traction control comes standard, but can be disabled if the driver decides to shed some unwanted pounds of tread from the rear tires. You can’t own a car like this without doing the occasional burnout.

How would I spec out a Charger R/T if I was shopping for one? First, it would have to be black (at least until they invent a darker color), because you’d be amazed at how many drivers graciously yield the left lane when a black Charger tucks in behind them. It would have to have the 29R Option Package for the sport seats, steering and suspension alone, and the Super Track Pak option is another must-have for the upgraded brakes and buttoned-down suspension. I’d skip the sunroof, HID lights and nav system, which would put me out the door at a sticker price of $37,185.00, on par with the new Taurus SHO (which has AWD, but only comes in V6 EcoBoost flavor). Given the recent demise of the Pontiac G8, the Charger and Chrysler 300 soldier on as the last remaining full size, RWD American V8 sedan with sporting intentions. Sure, there’s the Cadillac STS, but you can buy two Chargers for the price of the Caddy. If Chrysler addresses the (minor) flaws in the current car, they’re sure to have another winner on their hands when the 2011 Charger hits the road. I can’t wait to drive it.

Impact: Women's Influence on the Future of the Market

2010-04-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

"Influence: How Women's Soaring Economic Power Will Change the World for the Better," is a book by Maddy Dychtwald that will hit shelves next month. In the book Dychtwald talks about women's economic emergence and effect they have on the current and future marketplace.

One chapter, that is of great interest to me, is on how women are shaping the automotive industry. Women purchase 52% of automobiles purchased in the United States and influence a staggering 85% of all sales. If that sounds like a huge number that's because it is. Those numbers place women in at least some if not all control over $80 billion dollars in spending on cars. Now that is buying power.

Unfortunately in a male dominated industry many dealers are missing the opportunity to connect with female buyers. Jody DeVere, president and CEO of Ask Patty, a site of women car experts that give automotive advice to other women, said "Men and women communicate differently and can misunderstand cues and signals," adding, "Men need to learn how to listen, and why. It makes women trust you and creates a relationship."

Until more women begin entering the industry, and some manufacturers are trying to promote it, the men need to start taking notice and making changes to how they take care of their female consumers.

With few dealerships and others in the industry slow to change Marti Barletta, president and CEO of The Trendsight Group, put it best, saying "When your starting at zero, doing even a little to appeal ao women in general can make a huge impact. The first 20 percent of your effort will get you 80 percent of your value. Most companies are not even in the beginning of the curve."

Four-door Fiat 500 to Round Out American 500 Family

2010-04-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Fiat is rumored to be working on a new four-door 500 sub-compact. The 500 Multipla will complete Fiat's offerings to the American market. European markets are schedule to get the four-door 500s in 2011. Of course in Europe the Multipla will be classified as a small minivan. I wonder if that would make it a mini-minivan?

Chrysler had recently placed a 500 in front of a Italian Boutique in one Detroit suburb. They then recorded some video as passers by clicked photos of the 500 and took the time to check it out. However the video has been recently removed for view by Chrysler.

The question that will remain unanswered for some time is the reception the 500 line-up will receive here in the states. Will the American public, use to having lager vehicles, embrace the smaller more fuel efficient 500s?

Queensland, Australia PD Plan foiled by Drivers

2010-04-20T13:33:00.000-07:00

A facebook group popped up earlier this month by the name, Police Cars, Gotta catch'em all. The Queensland, Australia police department were trying to take covert ops to the level by deploying hidden speed cameras and increasing the amount of unmarked police cruisers with automated enforcement devices.

One thing I found amusing was the fact that the police department or other officials in Queensland were referring to the unmarked cars as "Q-Cars". This is a reference to the the heavily armed merchant ships, "Q-Ships", that were used to lure German U-boats to the surface so they could be destroyed. So are the Q-Cars destroying the bad driving habits of local drivers Queensland?

Members of the facebook group have been taking photos of the unmarked cars as they see them and posting the pictures to the page along with the location they were found in. Police officers have also been spotted by members of the group driving vehicles with bumper stickers and student driver emblems. Law enforcement is getting sneaky.

Here's a link to some of the pictures that have been taken and posted thus far. Unmarked Cars

2010 Jeep Wrangler Sahara - Ridelust.com review

2010-04-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

2010 Jeep Wrangler Sahara: RideLust Review
Posted in: 4x4, Car Buying, Chrysler, General, Jeep, RideLust Review by Kurt · Leave a reply

Thumbs Up: You’ll run out of nerve before the 2010 Jeep Wrangler runs out of capability.

Thumbs Down: Optioned out, they can get expensive quickly.

Buy This Car If: You want to go off-roading top down, you appreciate a ride with personality and you want an SUV that can be uniquely your own.

At first, I just didn’t understand the 2010 Jeep Wrangler Sahara’s appeal. It had too many compromises for my practical sensibility: it’s got four seats, but getting into or out of the back with the hard top on requires some agility. Rear seat in place, you won’t be carrying much luggage in the rear hatch. The venerable 3.8 liter V6 motor is hardly state of the art, and fuel mileage isn’t great partially because it’s mated to a four speed automatic transmission. Supremely capable off-road, it’s on-road ride comfort isn’t what most drivers are used to. The icing on the cake for me was the window sticker; as equipped, this 2010 Sahara Edition Jeep Wrangler had a $31,190.00 price tag. Sure it’s got a good nav system and a decent stereo, but that’s a big check to be writing for a daily driver with more than a few quirks.

After a few days behind the wheel, I began to get it: very few people buy a Jeep Wrangler for its practicality, and most Wrangler buyers could care less about ride comfort. Like Harley Davidson motorcycles (another iconic brand), Jeep Wranglers are generally bought for entertainment, or in recognition of their astonishing heritage. If you need passenger and cargo room with go-anywhere capability, you buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee. If you want top down, off-road fun, you buy a Wrangler. In fact, the Jeep Wrangler is the last of the convertible SUVs, which should make your new car shopping list that much shorter.

It didn’t take long for the Wrangler to win me over, once I figured out the secret. Is it crude? Sure it is, but that’s part of the Wrangler’s personality, part of its appeal. You get the sense that, should something break on the Jeep, it could be fixed trail-side with a bit of JB Weld, some Gorilla Tape and a multitool. If you don’t like any one thing about the Wrangler, there’s an aftermarket company that sells just what you’re looking for to address it. In reality, the Jeep is a blank canvas, just waiting for an owner to personalize it. Besides, the Wrangler has more history behind the marque than any other vehicle still in production.

Rear seat in place limits cargo room, but...

Folding the rear seat forward gives you more than 2x the space
So what about the motor? Jeep Wranglers now use a 3.8 liter V6 that’s been in the Chrysler parts bin for a while. In stock form, it makes 205 horsepower and 240 ft-lbs of torque, which is fine for most owners and good enough to get you from zero to sixty in under ten seconds. If you want more grunt from your Jeep, the Wrangler responds really well to intake and exhaust system upgrades, which won’t break the bank. Personally, I’d really like a diesel or turbo diesel motor option, such as the new 2.5 liter Delta motor from Fiat. Hint, hint, Chrysler.

Chrysler's 3.8 liter V6 replaced the old inline six in 2007
I put around two hundred miles on the Wrangler, and it was plenty comfortable for multi-hour driving. The hardtop sealed well and made highway driving more enjoyable; if you live in a cold climate, or regularly park your Jeep outside overnight, the $1,625.00 hard top is a must-have option. Driver and passenger seats are supportive, but would benefit from additional lumbar support and a little more side bolstering. I much prefer cloth seats over leather, especially in a truck that’s going to get dirty, and the Jeep’s were nicely finished in a two tone, stain resistant fabric. The in-dash nav system was fairly intuitive, and the seven speaker Infinity sound system was far better than I expected.

What impressed me the most was the overall improvement in build quality. I’ve driven pre-JK series Jeeps, and was always less than impressed with how well they were put together. Even new ones squeaked and rattled off a dealer’s lot like a chorus of chipmunks on speed. Not so with the new Wranglers; their build quality is rock solid, and the Sahara never had a squeak or rattle, even over rough pavement. The dash and surround is multi-textured hard plastic, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s easy to clean and visually more appealing than acres of solid plastic or cheesy faux woodgrain. Instruments are clear and well laid out, with the space between the speedometer and tach reserved for warning lights. The trip computer in this Sahara version gave me a readout on miles traveled, time elapsed, MPG since reset, direction traveled and outside temperature.

I averaged 20.6 miles per gallon in a mix of city, highway, 2wd and 4wd driving, far better than the EPA estimate of 17 mpg combined. As you would expect from a vehicle with a short wheelbase and a high center of gravity, it can feel twitchy over uneven pavement (or in crosswinds) until you get used to the handling. The ride certainly isn’t car-like, but it’s not unpleasant, either.

On sunny days when you want to drop the top and head for the beach or the trails, there is no substitute for a Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler will get you anywhere you need to go, limited only by your off-road driving skills and sense of self-preservation. It’s easy to drive in the loose stuff, and even the stock tires give a decent amount of grip in sand. Surprisingly, they weren’t noisy on the highway, either.

This is why people buy Wranglers. You won't get this view from a 911 GT3.
The 2010 Sahara is as luxurious as you can order a Wrangler, and features color matched fenders, two toned seats, height adjustable driver’s seat, power windows, power locks, remote keyless entry, an alarm system, a seven speaker sound system with subwoofer, Sirius satellite radio, traction control and 18” wheels. All Wranglers now get four wheel disc brakes with ABS, stability control with rollover sensor and hill start assist. They’ve earned a five star rating for frontal impact protection.

So in the end, I came to terms with the 2010 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. I’m not ready to go out and buy one just yet (although my wife is damn close), but I have to say I was more impressed with it than I expected to be. Personally, I’d opt for a less equipped model with the six speed transmission and the hard top, and I’d be ordering parts from the aftermarket as soon as I got back from the dealer (because I can’t stand a blank canvas). If Chrysler drops in a diesel motor, I’d be hard pressed to ignore the Wrangler much longer.

License Plate Vigilantes

2010-04-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

Websites are popping up that offer individuals money for reporting license plates of vehicles in their neighborhoods. Apparently some of the sites are suppose to make it easier for repo companies to locate vehicles when someone defaults on their loan.

Sounds like an easy way for those dealerships that like to tell their customers to just let their car go back to make a quick buck.

Other sites however say that the license plate number collecting will help police officers locate vehicles when Amber Alerts are issued. How ever I'm sure that law enforcement groups would be using this information for other purposes as well.

The latter does sound like a good reason for collecting the information. After all, who wouldn't want to help a child be found that was kidnapped or gone missing? You would think there would be a better way of going about getting the informaiton collected though.

"Hey honey, you take one side of the street and I'll take the other. Just tell Fred we're checking to see if anyone's license plate numbers are being used on stolen cars or something."

Sounds kinda crazy. The Better Business Bureau has decided it sounds crazy as well and is beginning to take a look at many of the sites.

Fun, or not so fun, Speeding Ticket Facts

2010-04-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

Cash for Clunkers Impacts Pre-Owned Market

2010-04-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

Over the past year pre-owned car prices have shot up at an alarming rate. A vehicle that could be purchased for $5,000 a year ago now cost around $8,000. Thats a 60% increase in just a year! Not only are the prices increasing but the availability of quality pre owned vehicles is on the decline and many dealers are pointing to Cash for Clunkers as the culprit.

Cash for Clunkers took about 700,000 trade-ins from the market. These potential trade-ins could have led to more pre owned sales for the industry. Many of the trade ins that I saw first hand were vehicles in very good condition. The lack of trade ins are also linked to the slow down in new car sales as well.

The only places currently benefitting from the purchasing slow down are repair shops. With consumers saving money by not purchasing new cars thy're spending more money to repair their old ones. Owners can easily put a thousand dollars into fixing their old car and get by for a year or two with the repaired vehicle.

The lack of trade ins has virtually eliminated the $4000 to $7000 pre owned vehicle range. They've become increasingly hard to find, and even harder to find ones in good condition. Paul Taylor, an NADA economist, said, "There are aproximately eight million cars that didn't come into the marketplace in 2008 and 2009." Obviously the 2009 number was hurt in large part from the Cash for Clunkers program.

So once again we're forced to re-evaluate the true benefits of the Cash for Clunkers program. It did help many people get into new vehicles as well as increase business for auto dealers at the time the program was running, but was that couple month increase worth the slow down in sales that has now been seen? Since the program ended, and I would have to look into all the going ons in the industry to be sure, I would bet that there has been many dealership closings, manufacturing facility closings, and employee lay-offs. The negatives on the economy would probably out weigh the positives once the numbers were crunched.

Many experts are predicting an increase in new vehicle sales for 2010 so pre-owned stocks should start to be replenished with fresh good condition vehicles.

Two States with New Driving Laws

2010-03-25T12:12:00.001-07:00

New Jersey and Georgia are trying to pass some new legislation that could eventually impact some driving laws in other states.

New Jersey is enacting a law that requires drivers under the age of 21 to addendum there license plates with a red sticker letting other drivers be aware that they're following a vehicle driven by someone under the age of 21. The law is being called Kyleigh's Law in memory of a young driver that was killed by another young driver, and will go into effect beginning in May.

Though some are against the law because they believe that the red stickers will make the younger drivers targets of sex offenders or criminals, the state insist that the stickers will help police officers identify drivers that are out past the 11 o'clock curfew and other laws specific to restricted license drivers.

Moving down south to Georgia, the state is in the process of passing Bill 1047 that is aimed at stopping slow drivers from driving in the left hand lane. The bill was already passed in the house after a short debate 129 - 29, and is awaiting the vote in the senate.

The marking cars driven by drivers under the age of 21 I don't see as being that important. Sure they may be more likely to be talking on their phone, texting, tweeting, and updating their facebook all at the same time while driving their car, but it's becoming more common for drivers of all ages.

However I'm all for pulling people over that are taking a Sunday drive in the left lane on Wednesday morning when I'm trying to get to work. Is it really necessary to get in the passing lane and drive 5 mph under the speed limit. High five to Georgia. I can only hope that this bill is passed and goes well that way other states, Oklahoma, step up and pass something similar.

What Mattered to Me This Past Week

2010-03-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

Big news from Chrysler was the 2012 production of the Fiat 500EV, an all electric vehicle, in the United States. The power plant that will be making this car go will consist of three major components: an advanced lithium-ion, high-power electric powertrain module and an EV control unit to manage overall power flow.

More news and the alternative fuel front for Chrysler is the building of 140 Ram plug-in hybrids. Chrysler is receiving up to $48 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for this undertaking. The plug-in trucks will be used in a three-year demonstration project that will help in expediting the development of vehicle electrification technology.

In the world of legal issues we have Toyota and Kia.

Kia is in the middle of a lawsuit involving there Superbowl commercial which featured Muno, the large sock monkey, from Yo Gabba Gabba. The lawsuit is coming from the use of The Heavy's song "How You Like Me Now". Apparently the Heavys sampled the music from a different song, "Let a woman Be a Women" by Dyke and the Blazers. Now since the Heavy's song was released on their album "The House That Dirt Built" in 2009 one would think that all the samples that were contained in the album had already been settled. Even if it wasn't The Heavys should be the ones facing the lawsuit and not Kia. Obviously the big money for the recording label holding the rights though is to get Kia involved with the lawsuit. We'll have to see how this one plays out.

As far as Toyota goes they made their own mistake by not registering "Prius" as a worldwide trademark. Who knew an automotive company in India named Prius Auto Industries was going to spring up and nab the rights to "Prius". A court in New Delhi told Toyota sorry no exclusive rights. Toyota has deep enough pockets they could persuade the other company to change its name, but how many Prius' actually sell in India?

This story from Austin, Texas. Twenty year old Omar Ramos-Lopez apparently was not very happy about losing his job at Texas Auto Center so he decided to release some frustration on the dealerships unknowing customers. Omar, who probably had passwords into the computer programs for this, activated the GPS immobilizer systems on customers vehicles to disable them. Owners missed work, had horns repeatably honking and many paid for towing and repair. On top of that he changed customers names and information to keep the dealership from being able to make since of what was taking place. Unfortunately Omar's luck ran out and now he faces between 4 months and 2 years in state prison should he be found guilty. Word of advice to business owners. You may want to disable ex-employees passwords and logins to all company programs when you part ways. There is reason why some companies escort former employees from company property when they are fired.

Glenn E Thomas CJD Steps Up

2010-03-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

I just want to go ahead and give Big Props to Glenn E Thomas Chrysler Jeep Dodge. They made the mistake on E-bay auctioning their 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 for the mere amount of $21,900. Alex noticed the change in reserve when Glenn E Thomas was trying to lower there buy-it-now price and jumped on a great deal. Obviously the dealer didn't want to take that large of a hit on the car and originally said that they didn't make the error and that it was a glitch with E-bay, but it appears they changed their tune.

Alex updated his post on Challengertalk.com with a picture of the keys to his new Challenger and this to say,

First of all, "Thank You" to everyone for cheering me on and helping me move
forward in a positive way. A lot of message boards picked up this thread
and have to thank everyone for passing the word around too. There you have
it. Visual of the keys in my possession of the SRT8 deal that Glenn E.
Thomas Dodge honored for $29.1K plus tax and license fees of course.
Both parties had plenty to talk about that day but in the end of it all, things worked out for everyone. So there is praise to be made to both sides, especially the
dealer who did honor the auction. Would encourage everyone to send them
praise and not attack anyone in that establishment as this was not the point of
the thread.

Glenn E Thomas stepped up and made the right decision to honor the auction. I bashed them when this story came out originally but they proved me wrong and I'll be the first to say my bad. Dealers like Glenn E. Thomas are a great example of integrity and customer service. I know it wasn't an immediate choice to sell the car, but taking a loss like that on a vehicle like a SRT8 Challenger is a little hard to do in a split second.

For the record, they not only honored the winning bid amount, they sold him a 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 instead of the 2009. Glenn E Thomas not only seems like a good place to do business but a good place to work for anyone in the automotive industry.

Dealer Ebay Blunder. Again.

2010-03-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

So this story comes out about Glenn E Thomas Chrysler Jeep Dodge making a mistake in an Ebay listing on a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8. To make a long story short, the dealer apparently was changing the price of the vehicle and erased the reserve price on it. A savvy buyer realized the listing changed and won the vehicle for $29,100, or about $13,000 less than the value of the car. Obviously this cause concern with Glenn E Thomas and they have chosen not to honor the auction. Instead Glenn E Thomas says that there was a glitch in the listing ad that they never changed or removed the reserve price, and that they only lowered the buy-it-now to the reserve amount. The bad thing about this coming out is that a similar thing occurred not too long ago with a Hyundai Dealer on Ebay.

Thanks to all the dealers that need to read "Ebay for Dummies", which they can pick up for about $10 from Amazon.com, we're all going to look like dishonest car dealers who can't use the Internet.

I can understand the money situation for Glenn E Thomas. Who wants to take that big of a loss on a vehicle, but if you made the mistake just step up and do the deal. You may be receiving some positive press out in the world of the Internet instead of all the negative stories out there right now. You can just write the $12 to 13,000 your losing as going to your advertising budget. I'm sure it's only a fraction of what you actually spend.

John Davis, the GM at Glenn E Thomas, released a statement saying, "Glenn E Thomas is looking for a happy medium and willing to take a reasonable loss" followed by "Our philosophy is to make our customers happy." I would suggest you take your loss and start making your customers happy. I hate to break it to you but there was probably human error involved in the listing mistake. Ebay is a large enough company that they have really smart people making sure that there site doesn't make mistakes like erasing some one's reserve price.

Chrysler SRT vehicles recieving new Hemi

2010-03-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

"Who wants to go fast?"

Chrysler SRT models are about to get a face lift under the hood. The current 6.1L Hemi v8 that resides in this space is rumoured to be evicted for the new 6.4L version of the same engine. If the 425 horsepower 420 lb/ft. of torque has left anyone longing for more the new engine promises to offer more.

Unfortunately for all the Heavy Duty truck owners who were hoping to see the engine replace the 5.7L Hemi now offered in the trucks it looks like you'll still be waiting for a larger as engine. Ram Truck execs said that there still may be a new engine in the works but it will be a modified version of the 6.4L. Currently the engine is built for high performance and not the work load Ram owners need out of their engines.

As more information on the engine is released we'll keep you posted.

Good Today Only..

2010-02-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I took the time to really give an opinion on some of the happenings in the car business, but I heard something today that really irritates me. When is the last time yo heard this one,

"That price is good today only..."

From a customer stand point that seems so ridiculous to me that someone would tell me that. I understand the need to sell something today but really? The price I can purchase something for today will be different if I wait until tomorrow? When I hear that I feel no need to continue along with the purchase process or to do business with that person or business at all ever.

The flip side of that would be the business stand point. Now as a dealer if there is some kind of incentive tied to the price of a vehicle that I know, and any dealer does because it's made clear by the manufacturer that is offering the incentive, will be ending on the last day of the month and it happens to be the last day then yes I would tell someone that. I would tell them that with the reason why so they didn't think I was just trying to get them to purchase my vehicle, and that they realized I was trying to keep their best interest in mind, and no, manufacturers do not tell dealers ahead of time what the incentive will be changing to tomorrow.

Incentives are generally tied to New Vehicles or on certified Pre-Owned Vehicles on occasion, so if I am calling about just a regular Pre-Owned Vehicle and am told that the price I'm being given is good only today it's ridiculous.

I prefer to tell customers this is what we have and this is the price. If they then choose to think about it or wait around then the price will still be the price. I want my customers to be happy and enjoy they're experience and return along with others. I'm here to sell vehicles, but I'm also here to help my customers have a great buying experience and meet all there expectations as far as their buying experience,

Welcome Home: Chrysler buys back plant from itself for $20M — Autoblog

2010-02-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome Home: Chrysler buys back plant from itself for $20M — Autoblog

If this is any indication it looks like Chrysler is beginning to get back on track after the bankruptcy. Chrysler was able to purchase back a plant from Shell and insure that the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring are still in line to recieve there make over for 2011. The plant was purchased for a minor sales price of $20 mil. Generally plants can run close to $1 bil. dollars, but seeing Chrysler being able to spend the $20 mil. is still a welcome sight.

Fiat's Jeep contribution: 2011 Jeep Phoenix

2010-02-16T14:00:00.000-08:00

Fiat first entrant into the popular Jeep market will create a while new segment for Jeep. With it's 1.3L engine and ability to get 50 mpg plus, the 2011 Jeep Phoenix will definitely be a change from the norm.

This mini 4x4 will have it's doubters but some rave reviews of the Fiat Panda Cross 4x4, which the Phoenix is based on, points to the Jeep Phoenix becoming accepted as a capable off road vehicle.

When helping someone out goes wrong...

2010-02-05T10:41:00.000-08:00

I don't believe anyone was hurt when this took place, but have you ever felt like you were helping someone out and doing something good and it just turned out bad. I have a feeling that's what the guys that had the bright idea of putting the truck back on its wheels with the bulldozer thought too. Maybe they should have checked to make sure the emergency brake was engaged or that the semi wasn't in neutral or whatever caused what you are about to see.

As long as everyone was safe I found this to be humorous.

Dodge and Cummins reach multi-year contract extension — Autoblog

2010-02-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Dodge and Cummins reach multi-year contract extension — Autoblog

Chrysler and Cummins have been joined together since 1989, and if you recently read Chrysler's blog then you know that they will continue their partnership for years to come. This agreement will help extend Chrysler and Cummins longest lasting partnership between one of the big three and their diesel manufacturer.

Cummins currently builds the 350 horsepower, 650 pound-feet of torque 6.7-liter diesel, which is used in the Dodge Ram 2500 thru 5500. Cummins is the only big deisel in the US currently without a selective catalytic reduction system that requires the owner to add deisel exhaust fluid. The Cummins 6.7L has been able to pass the 2010 EPA emissions standards since its 2007 introduction.

Million Mile Dodge

2010-02-01T14:12:00.001-08:00

It's not often you here about a million mile vehicle let alone see one, but a salesperson who recently began working with me has one. In fact he has owned two in his life but only has the 98' Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins Diesel.

Mr Jim Nett has also written a short book and put up a website all about his million mile Ram. The truck actually has over 1.5 million documented miles and I believe is up around the 1.75 million mile mark for the total mileage.

Visit Jim's website at: http://millionmiledodge.com

How a Challenger is made

2010-01-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

From Brampton Assemply Plant in Ontario get a real look at what goes into producing the Dodge Challenger.

TomTom data reveals U.S. drivers' average speed, fastest highway — Autoblog

2010-01-26T08:41:00.000-08:00

TomTom data reveals U.S. drivers' average speed, fastest highway — Autoblog

Big brother is everywhere! Kind of interesting though to see average speeds from around the country. There's some roads I drive on that I would guess the average speed to be upper 70s the way people drive on it. Maybe, they should share that information with people other than fleet drivers so everyone could determine the fastest route to their destination. Of course it may longer be the fastest route if they were telling everyone.

It's on like Donkey Kong: Jilted Hyundai Genesis Coupe buyer jilted again, lawyers up — Autoblog

2010-01-25T17:54:00.000-08:00

It's on like Donkey Kong: Jilted Hyundai Genesis Coupe buyer jilted again, lawyers up — Autoblog

This blows my mind. Does Glenn Hyundai of Lexington not realize they're just getting blasted everywhere on the internet. Every Hour that goes by with them doing nothing and not rectifying the situation their reputation is getting destroyed.

As a dealer it's others like this that make everyone in the industry look bad. The loss they may take on the car is nothing compared to the loss of respect they're getting from current and future customers. You made a mistake in your listing. Just step up, admit it and sell the vehicle for what it was won for in the auction.

Petty Garage Dodge Challenger sells at Barrett-Jackson

2010-01-25T08:32:00.000-08:00

http://http//www.autoblog.com/2010/01/23/barrett-jackson-2010-pettys-garage-dodge-challenger-srt8/

I get to see Dodge Challengers on the regular, but this is definitely not an everyday Challenger. This beautiful 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 was built at the Richard Petty garage and painted in the famous Petty Blue. It was recently sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction for $130,000 that goes to charity.