![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-391618-100x100.png\")
What, so the second vehicle is in my name? So what happens if I default on the first one? Free car?
2 replies
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@nova3930: I wonder if you could send payment on just one of the vehicles, then, and let them repo the other.
What, so the second vehicle is in my name? So what happens if I default on the first one? Free car?
@nova3930: I wonder if you could send payment on just one of the vehicles, then, and let them repo the other.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
Second to last line of the fine print on the left hand side: \"Not responsible for typographical errors\".
I'm looking more at \"must finance through CFS with approved credit.\" You have to take out a loan and you have to get it through them.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-72607-100x100.png\")
@rugman11: CFS is Chrysler Financial Services, the way that you get those great 0% interest loans when you buy a Dodge. If your dealership was not on Chrysler's sh*tlist it used to be easy to get those loans with decent credit.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-113647-100x100.png\")
See, the sad thing is if they just had these aggressive prices to start alot more people would be buying American cars. But no. They have to price them just below honda and toyota despite the fact that they aren't nearly as desirable. If these sort of prices were around last time I was shopping for a car, I probably would have taken the savings and bought American.
@Geekybiker: @Geekybiker: That's what happened to AMC years ago .They were a\"AlMost a Car\"but they thought they were all that with little engineering behind there product, they priced there cars same as the big 3 and went out buiseness
@tc4b: Have you actually owned an american car? They're not that bad. Its not like imports are made with magical unicorn juice or something. Plus american cars are dead cheap to repair.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-547782-100x100.png\")
@Geekybiker: Actually, on both my Honda Civic and Toyota Tacoma, the third ingredient listed on the nutrition facts is indeed \"Magical Unicorn Juice\". The comes behind only \"The Blood, Sweat and Tears of 1,492 Asian Children\" and \"Love\".
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-210047-100x100.png\")
Wait. I think I just had a stroke.
They're making you take a loan for this? I thought the whole purpose behind a sale like that would be to liquidate, raising cash and lowering inventory. And they're stipulating all-debt instead of all-cash in a deteriorating credit environment? They realize that default risk is INcreasing, right? That you can't make profits on in-house credit because of the risk, because there's no market for debt securities?
Yeah. I'm pretty okay with letting this industry fail.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-68654-100x100.png\")
@ADismalScience: the dealer gets paid $$$ if you finance thru their bank, that's why the incentives are tied to financing. dealerships don't handle the risk associated with financing - that's the responsibility of (in this case) CFS, so they don't really care about default risk or profitability of debt portfolios.
all they care about is offering you a discount so long as someone else is willing to make up the difference.
Right, but the fact that the banks are still incentivizing the creation of debt securities over incentivizing liquidity is a deeply curious choice.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-52435-100x100.png\")
@ADismalScience: Well, if the car industry gets in the exact same loan trouble that the banking industry got into, then they're SURE to get some of that delicious delicious bail out money.
@ADismalScience: how else does a finance company like CFS make money besides peddling debt? it's all they do - consumer/dealer loans, leases & insurance.
they don't have the same need for liquidity as retail banking operations - what they need is asset growth to increase their income. liquidity would only hurt that.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-159178-100x100.png\")
My favorite trick is where they list the stock number in small type after some price several thousand below invoice. Then, when you call them up, of course that unit sold, but hey hey, come on down and they can show you similar cars.
Been there done that, when I was looking for a car for my exwife this happen to me. Only I had a weekend to kill. So I would go to the dealership and the person that told me yes that car is there and then it was not. I would take at most 2 cars for a test drive. I spent a good 2 or so hours at each place (some more). My though it they wasted my time, why not waste theirs.
Another bad part of the \"deal\": you have to buy the first truck at dealer list price. For the 2-door truck that is $25,290, but if you buy one they'll sell it to you for $10,998. Looks like they take their bulk pricing tips from Target.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-428486-100x100.png\")
I'd bet $100 that they don't fulfill that deal even once. Not one person will be able to get that deal. Not one. I guarantee it.
Very simply, they probably don't have any of the single cab models in stock to give away. They don't have to have any either. They can always claim that \"You just missed the last one!\"
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-78160-100x100.png\")
href=\"#c9051982\">techstar25:
My friend , you are right. And that is EXACTLY the kind of bullshit pricing/financing/rustproofing/floormat hustle that have ruined the big 3's relationship with their customers.And they wonder why thoughtful,informed buyers won't buy their cars and trucks.
BTW - it was nice to see the big 3 chieftans up there in Washington begging for money like homeless bums trying to score a ham sandwich.They are not humble,but they were humbled by having to go hat in hand to a skeptical congress. The only thing missing was the foldable cardboard sign :
Homeless-Hungry- need billions to cover up my mistakes.Please help. God Bless !
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-159929-100x100.png\")
Keep in mind that the big 3 have little control over their dealerships, and not by choice. Most states have laws on the books, thanks to the dealership lobby, that prohibit car companies from selling cars directly to consumers.
They also are afraid of doing anything that would make the dealers sue - which is one of the reasons that car companies are reluctant to kill off some of their clone brands - I've read that Ford has kept Mercury because they figure it's cheaper to rebadge Escapes and Crown Vics than to deal with a bunch of franchise lawsuits.
@Snarkysnake: you have a point, but i read an inference that foreign car dealers are somehow better than the big 3 dealers & that's just not the case across the board.
Let me be clear on that : The \"foreign\" car dealers are not neccessarily better dealer for dealer,but they have a better business model to work with (fewer outlets mean that they make money on each sale,the product has a steady,predictable demand and they seem to care about their image) but,there are individual Hondatoyotanissan dealers out there that are shameful,to be sure. That's why some will ask you to bring your comment card to them instead of mailing it in. They usually offer a free tank of gas or suchlike.The bad ones never see the light of day.
My last experience was buying a Corolla in '07. The market was fairly hot then,but I felt like I got a fair deal. of course,I did my homework first and knew what to expect.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-437936-100x100.png\")
@Snarkysnake: My worst car shopping experience was at a Nissan dealer - complete with a hidden button/signal to bring in strong arm backup when I balked at the deal.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-2352-100x100.png\")
I Drive an Audi, and a few years ago, I had a Ford. I can tell you that the shopping experiences were night and day. The American car dealerships seem to be all about drawing you in with an attractive price and making sure you pay for every add-on and upgrade while following you around and making sure that you sign on the dotted line that day. European dealerships are much lower pressure and allow you to make a choice while being helpful and informative. I helped my sister by a VW last year and was shopping Porsches before our current downturn, and my experience was similar at all 3 places.
@Secret Agent Man:
I don't think this has to do with the car manufacturer, but the lot itself. I went to Honda and Mini dealerships and Honda was unbelievably pushy. Every trick in the book, today only, what can you put down now. They even refused to let me see the Hybrid, trying to push me towards the biggest guzzler in the lot. Mini wasn't quite as pushy, but not relaxed either.
@Secret Agent Man: well, my experience has been different. the vw dealership near me clogs my mailbox with these same types of fliers - they do those scammy liquidation sales at least once a month. the honda dealership down the road had horrid salespeople (as in, they pretty much refused to sell me a car). at that point, i walked to the toyota dealership next door & they tried to sell me a flood car. currently, my co-worker hasn't had her 4runner for almost a month due to a problem that originated in their service department.
the best experience i've ever had was at a ford/mazda dealership. i didn't end up buying a car there, but i wish i did - the salesman was awesome. he just didn't have anything on his lot that appealed to me.
it's the people that make a dealership experience positive or negative, not the brand name on the roadsign.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-306460-100x100.png\")
I remember a few years a Daewoo dealer was doing buy one get one free cars.
We all know how well Daewoo turned out... :o(
@downwithmonstercable:
GM bought what was left.
Daewoo Leganza = Suzuki Verona
Daewoo Nubira = Suzuki Forenza
Daewoo Lanos = Chevy Aveo
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-42681-100x100.png\")
@friendlynerd: GM didn't buy all of Daewoo; they specifically excluded Daewoo's U.S. subsidiary, which had franchise contracts with U.S. Daewoo dealers. GM didn't want those obligations (and I don't blame them).
Incidentally, GM is going to sell what little ownership interest in Suzuki it has left. (Their current joint projects will continue.)
Skimping on the quality of their lowest line of vehicles is one of the worst mistakes the American auto industry makes. First time new car buyers who bought things like Ford Focuses and Chevy Cavaliers and Dodge Neons... when those things go tits up just after the warranty expires, you think that buyer is going to buy another one of your products? No, he's going to learn his lesson and buy a Civic, then an Accord, and then an Acura or Lexus.
They committed infanticide on their customer base by selling junk entry level cars.
Am I off topic?
@failurate: I think you're on topic. I've driven a neon, and the things just stop running after about 115,000. Meanwhile, there's some diesel German sedans like the Mercedes 300ds and 240ds that run for a million miles.
That being said, there are good American cars. My family has had 5 Ford vehicles and they have all run great for forever, barring an accident. My truck is a 1991 Ranger, and while it looks ugly as sin, the engine starts up every cold morning and while it's definitely no-frills, everything works. It's going to need a new clutch soon, but I don't know what else to expect from a truck that has 150,000 miles on it.
We also used these early-90's Ford trucks at my summer job as fleet vehicles. They just keep running and running under the crappiest conditions.
I will never buy an american sedan. But used Ford trucks that have proven themselves are definitely worth it.
@failurate: You're by no means off topic. When I graduated college in 1995, I bought a Neon. Best waste of $12,000 I've ever done. I thought I was gonna go tits up when I traded the bastard in and was offered $1200 (yes, you read that right) on the trade-in value. Since then, I've never set foot on another Dodge lot. I own two imports now, and though not new, they are much sturdier than the two American cars that I used to own (the second being the now defunct Pontiac Grand Am). God, those sales guys must've seen me coming!
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-455434-100x100.png\")
@fashionista: That's about what they're gonna offer me for my 6 year old Intrepid. $1200. Good thing I know how to make a car salesman squirm. But it's pretty obvious Chrysler has been in a crunch for many years now. I wouldn't take one of their products now if someone paid me to. The \"spare parts\" comment in the article was on the mark!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-74749-100x100.png\")
@carlogesualdo: ''Spare parts'' : that was a joke about communist-built cars in Russia =P.
Who knows how's Lada doing these days?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-397120-100x100.png\")
@failurate: I owned a 1988 Chevy Beretta GT, approaching 200k miles and still going strong aside from a bit of throttle hesitation, which was remedied by spraying out the throttle body every couple weeks.
That being said, the 1994 Beretta base I bought after I totaled the first one ran for about 2 years, and stopped shifting out of 1st before it hit 80k.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-131723-100x100.png\")
@nsv: That sounds like my ex, who never properly maintained his cars, and he wondered why they would drop dead after only 2-3 years.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-371684-100x100.png\")
@failurate: Nope, you're right on target.
I had an ex who was a bit older than me (yes, dumb, I know,) and he and his two sons would have nothing but Ford trucks. The ex had to fix his truck constantly.
In many other ways he wasn't too bright, thus the \"ex\" status.
For the two sons it was understandable. They crashed badly on a regular basis, so they totaled trucks before they had a chance to break down.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-529488-100x100.png\")
@failurate: One of my friends had a Cavalier, after a few years driving between home and college it started to make a weird CLUNK noise whenever they turned.
Turns out the engine mounting bolts SHEARED OFF and the only thing holding the engine in place was the transmission. After hearing that (whilst considering a Cavalier) I bought an Elantra.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-2467-100x100.png\")
The trick here is that the first Ram is being sold at the full list price, which almost nobody (except the terminally naive) pays.
In many dealerships, between factory/dealer incentives and salesman desperation, you can buy a full-sized turd like a Dodge Ram for over 50% off the list price.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-91598-100x100.png\")
@Pete Gaines: Yeah, that's pretty much what the ad fine-print implies: to get the second truck free you'd have to pay double the discounted sale price of the first one, and you have to choose from the 2008 dregs in stock.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-568700-100x100.png\")
@Pete Gaines: lulz... I wonder if you could resell the freebie and make back what you would've saved had you just haggled the original truck's price down.
@downwithmonstercable: Doubtful. Even with 10 miles on the odometer, the depreciation as soon as you drive it off the lot is enormous.
Bottom left:
Prices & discounts include all consumer rebates & incentives. Prices plus tax and license. Offers available on select models. Some offers may require financing through Chrysler Financial with approved credit. Offers valid on the day of publication only and cannot be combined. Due to early publication deadlines, factory programs and incentives may change without notice. Not responsible for typographical errors. Pictures are for illustrative purposes only.
Bottom right:
Prices plus tax, tag, title and dealer installed options and include all factory rebates & incentives, including Lease Loyalty. List price = M.S.R.P. + dealer installed equipment. Must finance thru CFS with approved credit. Offers valid on the day of publication only. Advertised offers cannot be combined and are not available for [report?], Not responsible for typographical errors. Due to early publication deadlines, factory programs and incentives may change without notice. Must present this ad upon arrival at University Dodge to receive advertised offers. Pictures are for illustrative purposes only.
that's certainly a lot of wiggle room. i especially like the whole \"only valid on date of publication\". gotta remember that one.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-114659-100x100.png\")
@mac-phisto: Not to mention the \"List Price = MSRP + Dealer installed equipment\". Nobody pays MSRP price, but now your adding the $200 floor mats, $500 fog lights, $1000 underbody coating, etc
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-370205-100x100.png\")
Okay, so I know that EVERYONE loves a BOGO, but seriously! Who really needs 2 vehicles? That means that:
1) As stated above, you have to take out a loan through them to pay for it. Okay, that sucks, but doable. Just take out a second loan through someone else and pay of their loan in full the first month a payment is due.
2) You now have 2 vechiles to insure! Now, with the rising default rate, and how consumers are skimping, who is seriously going to buy 1 car, then be happy to get a 2nd one (which MOST consumers don't need) in which they now have to pay for even more insurance on? WOO HOO for 2 trucks with < 20MPG Highway!!!
Sounds like they are trying to give away a 2nd vehicle free so that consumers are flooded with brand new single cab vehicles in which is at their expense to try and sell if they don't want (which I doubt many will).
Wouldn't they just be better off dropping the price on the vehicles by like 15% (Quad) and 30% (Single) and hopefully sell them at that? They'd make more money than by giving one away, and they could still require a loan through them...
wow, what a coincidence. I'm a consumerist reader and my agency actually did that ad and University Dodge is our client.
Thanks for the cool post. And yoou all should go out and get these trucks while gas is so cheap!
@ShrijaniMaia: Probably a bad idea associating yourself with that slimy add. Even worse promoting the trucks because gas is cheap because it won't last. Am I the only one actually worried about how cheap gas is? I mean, I love filling my car for 20 bucks but I fear that exact mentality will make some Americans rethink the smaller more eco friendly cars for something that gets 15 miles per gallon. When gas was expensive it sparked a gas-guzzling revolt and I see that loosing traction because people without common sense see the cheap gas as an excuse to pick up the cheap SUV. I may be hated for saying this but if I have to pay up to about 2.99 a gallon to ensure these trucks and SUVs are pulled from the road, so be it.
@GavinEstecado: I totally agree. I'd pay $5 a gallon just to get all these gas guzzlers off the highway, and our country steered away from foreign oil.
@GavinEstecado: I have already seen this in action. As soon as gas started rapidly dropping in price and the dealerships made it known they were desperate to sell SUVs and trucks.
Of course the people I saw driving SUVs with dealer temporary paper license plates all looked not too bright. They will all be crying for someone to save them when they can't afford to drive their Penistruck5000 because gas suddenly went back up to $4 a gallon. Stupid people have short memories.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-268564-100x100.png\")
And yoou all should go out and get these trucks while gas is so cheap!
That one phrase represents everything I despise about Americans as consumers. WTG!
This is a sucker add. The dealership has no intention of honoring these deals, and the sales people will in fact feign ignorance of them even if presented with the add take directly from the paper.
I fell for one of these a few years back. Went into the dealership with it in my hands and asked \"where are the cars for (whatever ridiculous price was offered).\" The sales person looked at the add, asked me \"so, what sort of car are you looking for?\" and then proceeded to sell as usual. When I insisted on looking at the cars advertised, he said \"I have to go check with my manager about that.\" And then he never came back. After waiting fifteen minutes, I saw him showing another customer around the lot. So I left.
@bagumpity: Car salesmen are scummy. They'll lie through their teeth and say anything to get the sale. I used to hate buying cars. But once you realize that you kind of hold a lot of power (you can always get up and walk away, which they DO NOT want) you can call a lot of the shots. If they don't cooperate, there's always another deal a mile away.
A long time ago, by friend's dad bought three buicks, for his business...they gave him a free YUGO. Which I drove proudly! The cars name was, for all intents and purposes,an electric car, because it wouldn't retain a charge in it's system so had to be plugged into a charger whenever it wasn't actually being driven.... And, it really was made of some composite cardboard- like material. I loved that little POS.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-606484-100x100.png\")
A Kia dealership in the Atlanta area has ran a \"BOGO\" (BOGUS, more like) ad more times than I can recall. The most recent deal was- purchase a new Kia Amanti (basically a Korean Buick, emphasis on the \"ICK\"!) and they'd throw in a \"FREE\" Kia Rio base sub-compact (without A/C, radio, power steering). The Amanti stickers for $26k but currently has a $5k rebate- they sell for $18k ($8k off MSRP) if anyone actually wanted to buy one.
The fine print of the Kia dealer's ad shows that they keep all rebates, the Amanti sells for FULL sticker price (their sticker after they add $3000 of paint sealant and pinstripes) and the deal MUST be financed through their preferred lender at an insane interest rate! They don't lose as penny and they get rid of two cars at once. To add insult to injury, the Amanti (with a $26k sticker remember) is only worth $13,500 trade-in the moment you drive it off the lot!!!
Chrysler vehicles probably have comparable abysmal resale value by now....assuming they could resold, which would require a buyer.
The sad thing is, even with prices this cheap... I would still rather buy a Toyota, Nissan, or Honda. Just shows you how much some of us value american made cars.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-10718-100x100.png\")
There's a dealer doing that here, too. Buy a Pacifica, get a PT Cruiser free.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-494901-100x100.png\")
@jurijuri: I see only two problems with that offer. First you have to buy a Pacifica. Second, they stick you with a PT Cruiser.
@Stonecutter:
I would actually drive a PT Cruiser if it weren't for the engine choices. You can have a coarse, underpowered, thirsty 2.4L or upgrade to a fast, expensive turbo version.
If they threw a decent 4-cyl in it or even a small v6 I'd consider it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-54738-100x100.png\")
I would rather pay full price for a Tundra or Titan before taken two basket case trucks that will eat me alive with maintenance costs.
Looks like I won't be getting rid of my '06 Titan anytime soon since the new Titan will just be a re-badged Dodge.
Not yet but the next-gen Titan will be based on a Ram. The Titan has really held up well with its older design against the new Ford and Toyota.
What a shame Nissan is tossing a great platform away.
@Trick: Well that's disappointing to hear. I wonder what made Nissan USA decide to start talking to Dodge?
I am sort of biased against Dodge products after dealing with one of the infamous transmission runs from 97-02(?) where the trans failed after 2-3 years. We ended up replacing that stupid transmission in our Ram Van at least 3 times (under warranty thankfully) before we dumped that stupid thing.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-37033-100x100.png\")
Chrysler has had shitty transmissions in at least one or two models continually since at least the introduction of the Caravan.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-129508-100x100.png\")
The part that makes me laugh is the 5% of Accessories. They're giving away a whole second truck, but they'll be damned if they're going to throw in free pant-saver floor mats.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-659387-100x100.png\")
Hah yeah, but i think before we look at the car indusstry debt we should look at the college loan debt system. If all that money came through people would spend alot more money since they wouldnt have 100k in loans from when they were 17 lookin for \"higher education\". When is that system gonna get changed. \"Hey your finally done with highschool! welcome to debt!\"
Bailout anyone?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-116137-100x100.png\")
I especially like this caveat: \"Not responsible for typographical errors.\"
What? Oh, buy one get one free, that was a typo. We only wanted to print that to get more suckers, er people, to come in to check out the greeaaaat deals we have here at University Dodge!
anyone notice that a brand new 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee costs $17,788, but a used 2006 Honda CR-V (a much smaller SUV) is $18,999?
@Meltdown: Too bad CR-V, as noted by the OP, is a Honda. I have no idea where Toyota fits in the picture, maybe apart from Honda and Toyota both have plants in the USA and employ a large number of workers.
Brand sells. Quality sells. Bad quality does not.
Well...if you buy them separately, the total is $27k...but if you buy the quad at list, it's $35k....I highly doubt anyone will take the deal, and if they do, they're an hero!
What they are doing is using all of the incentives on the 1st truck and second to pay for the 2nd truck. Then they charge full price on the 1st truck and Employee price on the 2nd truck. The trucks are not identical so the free truck is the cheapest truck made.
These are rarely good deals, because in order to get the \"free\" car, you usually have to give up most or all discounts, rebates, or other incentives. In some cases it can actually cost you more than if you didn't go for the buy one get one free deal. In most cases it just ends up being full price on the one, and a discount on the other.
This is Ali, sales manager @ University Dodge. We've done about 10 of these deals so far since the start of October. The key to this ad is that it is legitimate. You don't have to finance through Chrysler Financial and you don't need to have lease loyalty, though we would welcome the additional rebate to help us out.
Truth of the matter is, the rebates are so high that we can offer this BOGO without a catch. We're even offering 60% off the GO truck. Very simple, buy a new 2008 Dodge Ram Quad Cab for list price (30+ trucks to choose from) and get a brand new 2008 Dodge Ram Regular Cab (about 6 to choose from).
For more info, visit our website, www.UniversityDodge.com.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-296530-100x100.png\")
@VasinDrury: Hey Ali!
Die slowly, cut into a thousand pieces! I don't care how you spin it or what you say that contradicts your ad, you're a stinking liar and scumbag and your face needs to be introduced to Mr. Toilet Bowl!
(I feel better now)
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-21380-100x100.png\")
I'm sure, somewhere, buried in small print, it says something like (*not available to the humanoid life forms of earth).
Still, if you could get that deal, you could use the second truck as a source of parts to replace all the crap that breaks on the first one.
I agree with previous commenters...I rather have one reliable Toyota than two POS Dodges.
The ad is for buy one AT MSRP get one free... but the trucks advertised are for LESS than MSRP. So you'd actually be better off buying two at advertised discounts, if you actually wanted a second truck.
@workingnonstop: Whoops, to clarify, meant that the advertised trucks are listed for LESS THAN HALF of MSRP. So that's why you're better off. Lost a couple of words there... :)
1. Who the hell is still buying these things? I've been near enough building sites in the UK and the largest thing anyone has that isn't actually a haulage truck is a Mitsubishi Warrior, that's still a fair bit below the outrageous dimensions of the Ram. They don't seem to have any trouble getting by. (Or going all the way across the unpaved wastes of Mongolia...)(In fact I've only ever seen one of them in this country, filling up at petrol station... the driver was there when I arrived, and STILL pumping after I'd paid (card-pay pump) and moved off. Wouldn't like to be paying his bills. Or trying to get the thing off the forecourt as I'm not sure it would have easily fit between the barrier posts, I've seen smaller courier trucks)
2. And who the hell is going to want two of them at once, who isn't already on some kind of fleet supply agreement? Redneck family? Very small landscaping firms? How big a market can there be for people who want two non-identical enormous pickups at the same time?
Can we stop with the cheap shots at the Big 3's quality? Their quality has been on par or better than the imports for several years now. Sure, the 80's and early 90's were bad but they've improved a lot since then. Can someone do an article about that on the Consumerist? I mean, there's only several million lives at stake.
@Enduro: Isn't Capitalism all about survival of the fittest? If the 'Big 3' aren't strong enough to survive the current recession and coming depression then they should file chapter 7 or 11 and get over themselves. As far as several million lives at stake, who's at fault? As a tax paying citizen of this country, it's not MY obligation to see that these corporations stay afloat. If I own a business and make bad decisions what happens to my business? Will you give me money to keep paying the employees? Let the auto makers fail. It was their own decisions that have lead to the situation that they are now facing.
@Enduro: Isn't Capitalism all about survival of the fittest? If the 'Big 3' aren't strong enough to survive the current recession and coming depression then they should file chapter 7 or 11 and get over themselves. As far as several million lives at stake, who's at fault? As a tax paying citizen of this country, it's not MY obligation to see that these corporations stay afloat. If I own a business and make bad decisions what happens to my business? Will you give me money to keep paying the employees? Let the auto makers fail. It was their own decisions that have lead to the situation that they are now facing.
Actually, according to Consumer Reports, only Ford has substantially improved.
GM has the Malibu platform which has been very good but they also have the CTS, the Saturn Sky, and the Acadia which are crap.
Chrysler, according to CU, is shooting out nothing but turds.
If the auto industry wants $25B I would put the following conditions on the deal:
1. GM and Ford only. Chrysler is a private company and there are no shareholders to get hurt. Let Mercedes buy 'em back at a discount.
2. All senior level executives get shown the elevator shaft. No golden parachutes. Even I'm smart enough to figure out how to improve quality after 30 years. (open the hood of a Honda and see how they do it)
3. UAW agrees to a 20% pay cut across the board. 80% is better than unemployment.
@Enduro:
a) they arent cheap shots. Product quality is a legit target.
b) really? improved a lot? care to show/prove/link?
c) you mean several million jobs, not lives. Still unfortunate, but more correct.
my 2008 merc milan broke its stabilizer/shock/suspension arm not 10 days after its 36000 mile (just out of warrantee you see)...
then they wanted to repair one of my tires, at $200 per tire. just for the tire!, and then they could only order two at once...
also tried to get me to 'flush my transmission fluid' for $200.
in short, thanks ford/lincoln/mercury, but no thanks. nevar again!
This reminds me of the ads I always hear on the radio about how if some dealer \"can't beat a competitor's price for the identical car, they'll give it to you free!\". Then in the disclaimer it says they reserve the right to purchase the competitor's car. So, another example of how there will be exactly 0 times that this \"deal\" will happen, since they will either a) \"beat\" the deal by $.01 (since it never says 'beat it by $X', or b) just buy it from the other dealership and sell it to the customer. This has always just seemed very sleazy to me.
This is the problem with American, BIGGER IS NOT BETTER. This is why American car industries should go down in flames, they advertise these big ass vehicles, help oil companies keep fuel demands high, and then cripple the economy with forcing people to get credit they can't afford. Then you know what's next, outsourced collection calls. Revamp America, revamp.
Ignorance is blis on the internet. It appears that no one who has posted on here has any knowledge of anything mechinical or what drives the auto industry here and overseas. The Goverment, this and the otheres in the world, does not want GM, Ford or Chrysler to fail for one reason, It would bring the entire industry to it's knees. Nissian, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Toyota, etc. Meceredes owner Diamler screwed Chrysler up. The most recalls ever for the Chrysler brands was under the ownership of Diamler. So the foregin car makers are more stupid than the ones in Detroit. And all you people think they are some form of Golden God made of cheap plastic. I get sick sitting in a Toyota from all the plastic fumes, everything they do is cheap and it shows. Cheap leather, if you want to call it leather, like in a Lexus, or Toyota that is way over priced and the labor is way under paid. But folks in Alabama and other states need to work so 10.50 an hour is cool, but they hammer on there Detroit counterparts making 25 an hour doing the same job, with better conditions and better benefits, like retirment and 401k plans. I would rather have two Dodge ram's sitting in my driveway that were made in Saint Louis, than on Titan that has a GM Engine and a Chrysler rearend. 90 percent of all American Manufactor recalls are from Foregin made parts that go bad. And as for Chrysler,
January 2nd, 2009 by Bill Cawthon
According to preliminary figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Chrysler recalled the fewest vehicles among the six largest automakers in the U.S. market.
Through December 31, Chrysler had recalled a total of 360,000 cars and trucks, a significant decline from the 2.2 million recalled in 2007. In the same period, General Motors' recalled 1.9 million vehicles, an increase from last year's 538,000, and Ford recalled 1.6 million vehicles, well off the 5.5 million it recalled last year.
Among the leading import brands, Toyota's total went from 640,000 vehicles in 2007 to 833, 000 through Wednesday and Honda's numbers climbed from 550,000 to 797,000. Nissan's recalls declined from 1.3 million last year to 581,000 this year.
The NHTSA says its preliminary figures show recalls were issued for 10.2 million cars and light trucks in 2008 and were down 30 percent from 2007. If these figures stand, they would represent the fewest automotive recalls since 1994.
And i think that says that.
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There are all kinds of asterisks on that ad.. Kind of like the pucker they'll invade if you try to get that deal.