Ask a car salesman anything...anything at all.
Discussion
Lazadude said:
My questions are around has your love of whatever cars been reduced by the job? does dealing with white goods cars (assumption) day in and out make you appreciate "fun" cars more? Also, being a "car person" does the ignorance of public on car matters wear thin?
I've ways liked cars; always like to keep on top of what's happening in the world of cars, like chatting to customers about their cars if they have something interesting, I work opposite a Shell garage in a very wealthy part of the UK so see anything from an old school classic mini to those big Brabus G-class things with classic Ferraris worth £millions and bang up to date Ferraris thrown in and I still get excited to see them and like to take photos and chat to the owners. However given various circumstances I've never had the opportunity to actually own anything myself apart from the odd mundane family car, I could probably afford to now but it would mean extra cost that I'd actually rather put elsewhere and I'd ever get any proper use out of it either.
But yes I do like cars and still find them very interesting and do still get excited when I see something different or expensive, the wife doesn't get it if we are out and I've disappeared to get a photo of "another car".
832ark said:
Do main dealers have specific rules set for approved used cars around tyre brandings? For example I’m looking at 3 year old Civic Type Rs at the moment and there seems to be a number with what look like new Chinese super ditchfinders fitted. On a car likely to bought by enthusiasts surely this is false economy? The first thing I’m going to say to them is that it needs 2/4 new tyres, I can’t be the only one.
No, it's a bit like when you are 12 and your mum gets you a new pair of trainers. But rather than getting the latest Adidas or Nike ( or Sergio Tacchini if you were an 80s boy ), she gets you a "perfectly good pair" off the market instead.What did she say when you complained? If she was like my mum then probably something like " Well if you want those you can buy them yourself"
Sales Manager at the Honda dealer will probably say the same thing. Maybe adding a "Sir" if you are lucky
832ark said:
Do main dealers have specific rules set for approved used cars around tyre brandings? For example I’m looking at 3 year old Civic Type Rs at the moment and there seems to be a number with what look like new Chinese super ditchfinders fitted. On a car likely to bought by enthusiasts surely this is false economy? The first thing I’m going to say to them is that it needs 2/4 new tyres, I can’t be the only one.
As a few of the earlier posts have suggested today, people are attracted to the price of a car. Set of 4 Linglong Ditchfinders could easily be £300-400 cheaper than Michellin Pilot Sports which would bump the price up to more than the other cars for sale on Auto Trader meaning the phone won't ring.And you're not the only one, but you're very much in the minority.
Wooda80 said:
832ark said:
Do main dealers have specific rules set for approved used cars around tyre brandings? For example I’m looking at 3 year old Civic Type Rs at the moment and there seems to be a number with what look like new Chinese super ditchfinders fitted. On a car likely to bought by enthusiasts surely this is false economy? The first thing I’m going to say to them is that it needs 2/4 new tyres, I can’t be the only one.
No, it's a bit like when you are 12 and your mum gets you a new pair of trainers. But rather than getting the latest Adidas or Nike ( or Sergio Tacchini if you were an 80s boy ), she gets you a "perfectly good pair" off the market instead.What did she say when you complained? If she was like my mum then probably something like " Well if you want those you can buy them yourself"
Sales Manager at the Honda dealer will probably say the same thing. Maybe adding a "Sir" if you are lucky
Approved used Mercedes used to have to have 3.5mm minimum (of course, bring it in 3 weeks later and the Service team will tell you they need replacing at 3mm
), but AMGs were 5mm as Approved Used - in turn that's why you have a greater gross margin across those than regular cars, higher prep costs to AUC standard. Wooda80 said:
832ark said:
Do main dealers have specific rules set for approved used cars around tyre brandings? For example I’m looking at 3 year old Civic Type Rs at the moment and there seems to be a number with what look like new Chinese super ditchfinders fitted. On a car likely to bought by enthusiasts surely this is false economy? The first thing I’m going to say to them is that it needs 2/4 new tyres, I can’t be the only one.
No, it's a bit like when you are 12 and your mum gets you a new pair of trainers. But rather than getting the latest Adidas or Nike ( or Sergio Tacchini if you were an 80s boy ), she gets you a "perfectly good pair" off the market instead.What did she say when you complained? If she was like my mum then probably something like " Well if you want those you can buy them yourself"
Sales Manager at the Honda dealer will probably say the same thing. Maybe adding a "Sir" if you are lucky
It just seems odd to effectively hobble a car known for its performance and handling which is likely to be bought by the sort of person who takes an interest in the tyres fitted. I mean if I went to see one and it was shod with Falkens for example I could accept that live with it but I’d walk from one with a set of no brand ditchfinders as I’m not prepared to pay a premium for a main dealer car and instantly have to spend £700 on a set of tyres.
832ark said:
Yeah, I get that it all comes down to cost but with your analogy it’s like the 12 year old is a competitive runner with a decent amount of talent.
Ah, you see. That's the problem. The cars in the showroom aren't being sold for competitive use and the Type R doesn't confer any more or any less talent upon the driver than the 1.6 diesel version.Objectively, have a look at the tyre ratings here: https://www.asdatyres.co.uk/235-35-19?range=premiu... I doubt Asda test the tyres themselves but can't see that they would have an axe to grind in favour of one brand over another,
You would probably object to the £65 Mazzini tyre but it has just the same wet weather grip rating as the £147 Continental, the £134 Pirelli PZero and better than the £215 Michelin Pilot Cup Sport.
Some Pirellis seem to be better than others, but would you dismiss the car if it had the "wrong" Pirellis just so long as it had "some" Pirellis?
That's the crux of it, a bit like cars and trainers, having tyres with a premium brand perception will supposedly get you the respect of your peers, and if you have the wrong ones then they'll take the mickey out of you.
Of course, it's your money so if you don't like the tyres that are fitted or the brand of fuel in the tank then there are plenty of others to choose from.
Wooda80 said:
832ark said:
Yeah, I get that it all comes down to cost but with your analogy it’s like the 12 year old is a competitive runner with a decent amount of talent.
Ah, you see. That's the problem. The cars in the showroom aren't being sold for competitive use and the Type R doesn't confer any more or any less talent upon the driver than the 1.6 diesel version.Objectively, have a look at the tyre ratings here: https://www.asdatyres.co.uk/235-35-19?range=premiu... I doubt Asda test the tyres themselves but can't see that they would have an axe to grind in favour of one brand over another,
You would probably object to the £65 Mazzini tyre but it has just the same wet weather grip rating as the £147 Continental, the £134 Pirelli PZero and better than the £215 Michelin Pilot Cup Sport.
Some Pirellis seem to be better than others, but would you dismiss the car if it had the "wrong" Pirellis just so long as it had "some" Pirellis?
That's the crux of it, a bit like cars and trainers, having tyres with a premium brand perception will supposedly get you the respect of your peers, and if you have the wrong ones then they'll take the mickey out of you.
Of course, it's your money so if you don't like the tyres that are fitted or the brand of fuel in the tank then there are plenty of others to choose from.
As for your £65 Mazzinis they may well have the same wet rating as a Continental but I guarantee the difference will be night and day in the real world, just as I guarantee a 300bhp hot hatch will be horrible to drive in wet wearing a set of Aotelis.
832ark said:
It just seems odd to effectively hobble a car known for its performance and handling which is likely to be bought by the sort of person who takes an interest in the tyres fitted. I mean if I went to see one and it was shod with Falkens for example I could accept that live with it but I’d walk from one with a set of no brand ditchfinders as I’m not prepared to pay a premium for a main dealer car and instantly have to spend £700 on a set of tyres.
Tyres are my absolute sticking point on cars. I don't expect everyone to buy Pilot sports / contisports etc, I'd be happy with uniroyals or falkens, but I expect something better than a "Joy Road" on one corner, and then 3 different ditch finders on the other 3. In my mind , tyres tell alot about the owner of the car and how it was cared for. But as that means im either super picky or I have to buy new. I know 90% of people don't care more about the dirty black things on their car other than if they pass an MOT or not.
832ark said:
Wooda80 said:
832ark said:
Do main dealers have specific rules set for approved used cars around tyre brandings? For example I’m looking at 3 year old Civic Type Rs at the moment and there seems to be a number with what look like new Chinese super ditchfinders fitted. On a car likely to bought by enthusiasts surely this is false economy? The first thing I’m going to say to them is that it needs 2/4 new tyres, I can’t be the only one.
No, it's a bit like when you are 12 and your mum gets you a new pair of trainers. But rather than getting the latest Adidas or Nike ( or Sergio Tacchini if you were an 80s boy ), she gets you a "perfectly good pair" off the market instead.What did she say when you complained? If she was like my mum then probably something like " Well if you want those you can buy them yourself"
Sales Manager at the Honda dealer will probably say the same thing. Maybe adding a "Sir" if you are lucky
It just seems odd to effectively hobble a car known for its performance and handling which is likely to be bought by the sort of person who takes an interest in the tyres fitted. I mean if I went to see one and it was shod with Falkens for example I could accept that live with it but I’d walk from one with a set of no brand ditchfinders as I’m not prepared to pay a premium for a main dealer car and instantly have to spend £700 on a set of tyres.
Regarding tyres, it depends on the car.
If the car I was looking at was the exact one I was looking for, it had been a while to find it etc, then I would accept tyres that were not my preference as they can be easily changed. If the car was a hot hatch / performance car, say a Civic Type R or M3, then ditchfinder budget tyres would be an instant put off as they don't give me a good first impression that the rest of the car has been cared for. Been tight fisted with tyres, what else.
If the car I was looking at was the exact one I was looking for, it had been a while to find it etc, then I would accept tyres that were not my preference as they can be easily changed. If the car was a hot hatch / performance car, say a Civic Type R or M3, then ditchfinder budget tyres would be an instant put off as they don't give me a good first impression that the rest of the car has been cared for. Been tight fisted with tyres, what else.
thebigmacmoomin said:
Regarding tyres, it depends on the car.
If the car I was looking at was the exact one I was looking for, it had been a while to find it etc, then I would accept tyres that were not my preference as they can be easily changed. If the car was a hot hatch / performance car, say a Civic Type R or M3, then ditchfinder budget tyres would be an instant put off as they don't give me a good first impression that the rest of the car has been cared for. Been tight fisted with tyres, what else.
Absolutely agreed on the type of car and the type of buyer. If you’re retailing basic clios/foci/civics then it’s a pretty good assumption that most buyers won’t particularly care about anything other than the tyres being new but I’d have thought that buyers of performance stuff actually do look at these kinds of things. Maybe my assumption is wrong, maybe buyers aren’t enthusiasts but then surely they’re surprised that their ‘new’ car drives like sIf the car I was looking at was the exact one I was looking for, it had been a while to find it etc, then I would accept tyres that were not my preference as they can be easily changed. If the car was a hot hatch / performance car, say a Civic Type R or M3, then ditchfinder budget tyres would be an instant put off as they don't give me a good first impression that the rest of the car has been cared for. Been tight fisted with tyres, what else.
t? thebigmacmoomin said:
If the car was a hot hatch / performance car, say a Civic Type R or M3, then ditchfinder budget tyres would be an instant put off as they don't give me a good first impression that the rest of the car has been cared for. Been tight fisted with tyres, what else.
Could have been a fastidious owner who PX'd it in with tyres needing replaced. Dealer knocks the PX value by £1k for a set, then fits a set of £400 cheapies. Or a fastidious owner chopping it in on new cheapies as the dealer won't chip them as above at full whack for needing a set of expensive ones... Doesn't necessarily make the car a bad buy. Likewise a private seller wanting to sell, but realising it won't with a worn out set of boots, but also isn't going to invest more than the minimum needed, so as to maximise their return.
I always found that if you wanted to sell a certain car it would need the right tyres. M135i's needed the pilot sports, everyone asked what tyre's they had fitted. The same for AMG mercs, they needed to have the MO rated tyre's. I guess that's why I left the sales side, I wanted to do things right, have them prepped well, take away any potential sticking points, that mean't proper tyre's with legal tread, no dents serviced and ready to go.
lord trumpton said:
Do any of you sales chaps use the 'Dealer Auction' site to dispose of trade cars or do you still favour a live auction?
We’ve bought and sold a few bits on there. I’ve bought a couple of bits myself off there too. Not a bad little site really.We haven’t sent a car to auction in years.
Butter Face said:
lord trumpton said:
Do any of you sales chaps use the 'Dealer Auction' site to dispose of trade cars or do you still favour a live auction?
We’ve bought and sold a few bits on there. I’ve bought a couple of bits myself off there too. Not a bad little site really.We haven’t sent a car to auction in years.
Wooda80 said:
Almost everyone looks forward to picking up their new or new-to-them car, even non-car people taking delivery of a "white goods" car, and it's one of the pleasures in the job to see and share their enthusiasm for it.
The overly precious types on the other hand....
Out of interest, what are the defining features of an 'overly precious type'?The overly precious types on the other hand....
Edited by Gulf7 on Wednesday 7th August 11:02
Edited by Gulf7 on Wednesday 7th August 11:07
832ark said:
It just seems odd to effectively hobble a car known for its performance and handling which is likely to be bought by the sort of person who takes an interest in the tyres fitted. I mean if I went to see one and it was shod with Falkens for example I could accept that live with it but I’d walk from one with a set of no brand ditchfinders as I’m not prepared to pay a premium for a main dealer car and instantly have to spend £700 on a set of tyres.
Would you pay £400 more for a car because it had pilot sports or continentals though? I put brand new budget tyres on stuff. I don't personally like them, I don't personally use them on my own car but its better than a part worn and they are safe and compliant. If I had the margin in it and people would pay more for a car with premium tyres then it would be great but 99% of people just do not care.
Gulf7 said:
Out of interest, what are the defining features of an 'overly precious type'?
People that moan like mad about a few little stone chips. An example we have just sold an RS3 nardo grey between 40/50k 4 1/2 years old. Alloys unmarked, bodywork unmarked, no previous paint, premium tyres with 6mm+ tread all round, interior spotless lots of spec and upgrades and the buyer has been back in touch asking what we can do about the stone chips as he is finding it hard to live with it. Honestly, and accurately describing the car its a 9 or even a 9.5 out of 10.
Its frustrating to be on the end of at times and saying well f
k off and buy a new one then doesn't go down well 
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