The best drivel to come out of a dealers mouth.

The best drivel to come out of a dealers mouth.

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ThatHalfWelshBloke

Original Poster:

11 posts

96 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
After my dad finally decided on a new car (a Honda for simplicity) I took him to view one he liked the look of.

We arrived, car was in pristine condition and it had all the bells and whistles that he wanted as well as some creature comforts such as leather on suede seats etc.

Sales rep comes tottering over. Conversation goes as follows:

'Have you found a car you like the look of sir?'
'Well yes, we saw this one online and have just come to view it...'
'Ah yes, this particular model is red. It also has the VTEC engine so it runs at half capacity until you rev it and the rest of the engine comes alive...'

Needless to say I had tremors the entire journey home whilst I processed what i'd heard.

Anyone else had some 'memorable' encounters with the people who are supposed to be experts on what they're selling?

AlexRS2782

8,023 posts

212 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
ThatHalfWelshBloke said:
'It also has the VTEC engine so it runs at half capacity until you rev it and the rest of the engine comes alive...'
Well, if all the Memes are to be believed, he's not wrong hehe


ThatHalfWelshBloke

Original Poster:

11 posts

96 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
AlexRS2782 said:
ThatHalfWelshBloke said:
'It also has the VTEC engine so it runs at half capacity until you rev it and the rest of the engine comes alive...'
Well, if all the Memes are to be believed, he's not wrong hehe

Missing the 'yo'

laugh

TheLuke

2,218 posts

140 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
Thats not that far from the truth, I suspect he was dumbing it down for you.

He clearly has some idea of what VTEC is, because other than "capacity" that explanation is sound.

ThatHalfWelshBloke

Original Poster:

11 posts

96 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
TheLuke said:
Thats not that far from the truth, I suspect he was dumbing it down for you.

He clearly has some idea of what VTEC is, because other than "capacity" that explanation is sound.
Variable valve timing activated by an oil pressure sensitive solenoid, which controls locking pins that activates an extended cam-lobe causing the valves to stay open for longer. I didn't need it dumbing down and the lack of technical confidence completely shook our buying experience. In person it sounded as though he was trying to sell us a car with cylinder-deactivation. If it was a turbo-diesel he probably would of told us how quickly it accelerates because of its torque.

I completely take your point though, it was just the primary school delivery of the statement that made it funny / worrying.

Deerfoot

4,897 posts

183 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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So, did he buy it?

Baryonyx

17,990 posts

158 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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Listening to a salesman trying to explain a CVT is funny enough.

TheLuke

2,218 posts

140 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
ThatHalfWelshBloke said:
Variable valve timing activated by an oil pressure sensitive solenoid, which controls locking pins that activates an extended cam-lobe causing the valves to stay open for longer. I didn't need it dumbing down and the lack of technical confidence completely shook our buying experience. In person it sounded as though he was trying to sell us a car with cylinder-deactivation. If it was a turbo-diesel he probably would of told us how quickly it accelerates because of its torque.

I completely take your point though, it was just the primary school delivery of the statement that made it funny / worrying.
From what you are saying you wanted to be sold this car by an engineer not a salesman.

A salesman doesnt know your background or what techincal knowledge you have, he is selling a car to the average person, which isn't you. The average person doesnt know what a cam lobe is, or even cares to be honest.

What were you expecting? To be given and intricate explanation of the benefits of a high lift cams and why Honda VTEC changed DOHC engines forever?

Starfighter

4,908 posts

177 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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Had a guy try to explain common rail diesel injection to me. I let him get totally lost before I told him I am on a design team for this technology.

I also had a guy tell me that ABS worked every time you use the brakes and it shortens stopping distances in any conditions. He wouldn't believe me when I tried to tell him it does neither.

ChasW

2,135 posts

201 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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Normally it's all the reasons your car is worth so little as a trade-in.

In their defence, about 10 years ago, I visited my local Subaru dealer when I was driving an A4 Quattro and looking to change. The manager gave me a perfectly pitched explanation, using a scale model, why their 4WD system was superior to Audi's. I would have gone for the Legacy had I been able to convince the OH who was going to be the main driver.

Wills2

22,660 posts

174 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
ThatHalfWelshBloke said:
After my dad finally decided on a new car (a Honda for simplicity) I took him to view one he liked the look of.

We arrived, car was in pristine condition and it had all the bells and whistles that he wanted as well as some creature comforts such as leather on suede seats etc.

Sales rep comes tottering over. Conversation goes as follows:

'Have you found a car you like the look of sir?'
'Well yes, we saw this one online and have just come to view it...'
'Ah yes, this particular model is red. It also has the VTEC engine so it runs at half capacity until you rev it and the rest of the engine comes alive...'

Needless to say I had tremors the entire journey home whilst I processed what i'd heard.

Anyone else had some 'memorable' encounters with the people who are supposed to be experts on what they're selling?
If that's true you need to get some help.

Car enthusiast in I know more than the salesman shocker!

I know more about the cars I buy than my salesman, we joke about it, it's not really an issue is it?

Stedman

7,212 posts

191 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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A mate test drove a CTR FN2 a few years ago, saleschap said VTEC was when the turbo kicked in. Not drivel, but a bit embarrassing considering VTEC is a USP of Honda's

AmitG

3,272 posts

159 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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I remember being in a Kia showroom and the dealer telling me that the Magentis (their large saloon) was actually a reskinned Mercedes S-Class.

I knew so little about cars at that time that I actually believed it for a while!


Howard-

4,950 posts

201 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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A few years ago I went to look at a mk3 Mondeo for sale at a Ford dealer for a friend. Bless him, the young salesman tried his hardest to sell the car to us, without realising I am a Mondeo geek.

"This is the top of the range model sir"
Nope, Edge trim with a couple of options fitted.

"Dual zone climate control, not just single zone"
Nope, single zone actually.

"Bi-xenon headlights"
Nope, just the dipped beam actually.

"Front and rear parking sensors"
Nope, just rear.

In fairness it was an immaculate example and one of the last (07 plate), and very fairly priced, so it got bought. But if you're a salesman you should really know the basic facts about what you're selling!

whoami

13,151 posts

239 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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Howard- said:
Bless him, the young salesman tried his hardest to sell the car to us, without realising I am a Mondeo geek.
He really should have been able to determine this upfront.

Thorburn

2,398 posts

192 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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Test drove a Fiesta ST (Mk6, circa 2008) and the salesman couldn't tell me the insurance group or the price of the car, but he did tell me it had a 2.5 Turbo engine.
When I asked if he was sure about that he said he was absolutely certain it was the same engine as the Focus ST, just in a slightly lower state of tune.

In his defense he might have been confused - as it was the same 2.0l engine as the old Focus ST170, detuned to 150bhp - but he was insistent it was the 5-cylinder turbo from the current model.

Mercky

642 posts

134 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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Was it or was it not red?

P1ato

339 posts

127 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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Bought a Fiesta for Mrs P when we first got together. It was 3 years old with very low miles and ex-motobility scheme.

The dealer said disabled people were "lucky" to get free cars, and could only used them to go to the shops.
When I said it was for the Mrs because she didn't like my large car, he said "women can't drive big cars...".

I told my wife to expect some politically incorrect comments when she took it for a test drive later, but he was on his best behaviour with her - even telling her what a great driver she was!

Ray Luxury-Yacht

8,910 posts

215 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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Mercky said:
Was it or was it not red?
hehe


Meridius

1,608 posts

151 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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Dont some of the smaller Honda engines use economy VTEC that keeps some valves closed until higher up the rev range? If it was one of those engines then he is almost right.