Comments on: Auto Dealers Get Creative to Dig Out of Sales Slump
By Blame The Media on 12-24-08
“Many of the dealers blamed the mainstream media for helping perpetuate an atmosphere of fear. ” That’s right, shoot the messenger. Folks aren’t buying because the Bush administration is SO INCOMPETENT & CORRUPT, they let their banker friends steal everyone’s retirement. How much did Eisenheimer lose? Many people here are afraid that the rest of their investments will be worthless before the crook in the White House is forced out and moves back to texass.
By Randy Bekkedahl on 12-24-08
Good article! I always enjoy reading about local people and local issues. In an era of homogenized national news, I believe there is still a place for local reporting. Thanks Beacon.
By Roark on 12-24-08
“Such tactics might not necessarily mean profit”—-BS.
I will never give business to Kari nor recommend them to anyone, ever since they lambasted Wal-Mart which is a lifeline for a lot of people in the valley.
By JB on 12-24-08
What this article fails to mention is a major reason that the car dealers are having it tough - available credit! With banks and other financial institutions tightening credit requirements for borrowers, car dealers are having a much tougher time selling cars now than before when credit was a lot easier to obtain.
By JD on 12-24-08
Yes, Roark, I was kind of appalled at Jim’s slam on WalMart in his ads. Kind of bold, I thought. But that wouldn’t stop me from doing business there. Something else already did! There’s a person there I wouldn’t trust on a race track or in charge of servicing my vehicle. Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson.
By Citizen on 12-27-08
I vow to never buy an american made car, or allow my children to. Any company receiving a bailout will never see my business!
By JB on 12-28-08
Citizen, when was the last time you even looked at new cars? There is no such thing as “American” made cars anymore. All new cars these days are assembled with components manufactured in different countries. Even Japanese and Korean car manufacturers assemble their cars with factories in the US, from components produced in many different countries.
By JB on 12-28-08
Also, there is a German car manufacturer (BMW) with a factory in the US as well (South Carolina).
By mt don on 12-28-08
hey citizen -—> i guess you better get the horse and buggy going if you vow to never buy a car from a company getting a bailout…..the foreign manufacturers in the south received huge financial incentives to build those plants there - free land, no property taxes and reduced corporate taxes…to the tune of 150,000 per employee…. the bailout of the big 3 is about 5-6k per worker. Canada has bailed out their auto manufacturers, so has germany, sweden, japan and south korea. So EVERY CAR COMPANY IN THE WORLD has received a bailout! Like I said saddle up the horse and buggy if you’d like but don’t say it’s only america that is bailing out their manufacturers
By JB on 12-28-08
Actually, there are 3 German manufacturers in the US: BMW, Mercedes, and VW. Not sure if Audi has a plant here or is planning to build one. Looks like Alabama got the lions share of the plants, but they put up the biggest tax incentives of the 8 southern states that have foreign car plants initially. Everybody thought they were crazy…they aren’t saying that any more.
By JD on 12-28-08
When one researches and understands the auto industry’s corporate makeup worldwide, it is quite surprising just who owns what! Both Ford and GM are much, much bigger than what most people think. For example, GM has owned Opel since 1929. A very, very lucrative investment! Opel is to Europe what Chevy is to North America. And, many GM cars we are very proud of are actually Opel’s design and even built by them, at least partly. Ever been to England, driven a Vauxhall? Very popular. It’s a GM. Like those awesome Lotus sports and luxury cars? GM. Yeah, citizen, your foot is in your mouth.
By JB on 12-28-08
And then there are the Chinese automakers…be sure to look for them coming to the US in 3-5 years, perhaps even sooner.
By Sammy on 12-28-08
To JB and JD….you two losers get a friggin life would you.
By JB on 12-28-08
Sammy, shame on you for trolling for flamers…you are the one that should get a life. 
By Citizen on 12-28-08
Nah…..I plan on getting cars made by companies other than the BIG 3. You know, the ones that actually make it into consumer report as worth a dime. American cars are notorious for lower quality, increased maintanance and shorter lifespan. Speaking from experience and from the experience of others, my american cars have always been crap and broke down, my subaru and honda are the most dependable and reliable cars ever. So if parts in them are made in america I am forced to take the bad with the good. THe bad being the american part.
By JB on 12-28-08
Well, I got a shocker for ya, Citizen…both Subaru and Honda have plants in the US…so I guess you are stuck with American made crap, just like the rest of us…
By JD on 12-28-08
Wow, JB, I didn’t know you were a loser. Here I thought you were such a wise, intellectual, caring person so willing to openly share thoughts and opinions on matters we care about . Sammy, Sammy, Sammy. You came to the wrong forum, didn’t you? You have nothing to contribute to the topic of discussion? It’s a big web. Surely there must be a site for your type. This is a nice newspaper. Try the other one, okay?
Citizen, my wife’s Suburu ate timing belts regularly. Good thing I’m a mechanic. All the window switches quit. The dealer wanted over a hundred apiece for them. Good thing I’m an electrician. It was fun dismantling all the sealed switches and cleaning the contacts and glueing them back together. She really liked the Suburban that replaced it. Good thing I can afford gas…
I do want a Honda soon. To run in the Hornet class at the racetrack. What a blast!
If anybody needs a great, hard working pickup, try the Chevy HD2500. I am thoroughly impressed with my ‘06. The only times I’ve ever opened the hood was to jump start Fords. Honest! The rest is handled by the superb crew at Eisinger.
What are the choices for a good truck? The big three. Is the Toyota a truck, in the true sense of the word, or just a pickup? (Hint: trucks have full floating axles and a pair of tapered roller bearings on each spindle supporting the hub) I don’t know, the Toyota rear ends look pretty twinky to me. I have to pull big trailers a lot. I’m not aware of any other pickup truck manufacturers out there. The toughest ones ever built got put under by the invention of the sport “truck”. Remember International? There was a TRUCK.
By KalNative on 12-29-08
;Hello you business people out there, the general public reads this, too. I’m apalled at some of the things you are saying on here….just being generally rude. I’m not taking sides, but maybe some of you need a vacation? You are getting a little cranky.
By Jackw on 12-29-08
I agree with Sammy and Kal Native, you both need to give it a rest, maybe business will pick up for you if you spend less time blogging and filling these comment sections with your jibberish. Not being rude, just practical.
By JB on 12-29-08
Wow…that’s a first. I thought this was a free country. Not only am I a loser, I need to get a hold on my attitude. Am I just going to shut up? Don’t bet on it. Either deal with me and read my commentary, or ignore me…I will support your right to complain about me, but I won’t be silenced.
By JD on 12-29-08
No kidding. Nobody is forced to come here and share. I find it a nice way to stimulate constructive thought. You know how it can be a nice break to sidetrack a little while doing so much computer work.So did you guys have anything to contribute to the topic or not?
Kari Hyundia’s advertised scheme gets you a great deal on one car, and then you can buy another for one dollar. Wow. I wonder how that works? You’d think there would be a lot of interest in that. But, do Hyundais appeal to those who have enough money to buy a new car? I don’t know.
By JB on 12-29-08
OK, back to the topic at hand…
I remember many years ago, there was a dealer in Florida (Cadillac maybe?) that offered a free Yugo (you see how dated this is) with a purchase of a car. It’s obviously just to move inventory. There’s another dealer in Chicago doing something similar to Kari Hyundai’s promo just recently, and from what I understand, has been doing it for many years. It seems auto dealers have a wealth of tricks up their sleeves to move cars when they really want to. In this economy, they will need all of them.
By heckracer on 12-29-08
Nice work guys. You ran the hecklers off. They are home at some Aryan site now where there attitudes fit in? I’m finding this story and the comments interesting, as a used car dealer I am desperate for some action too. Ive read the the book about the Cad dealer in Texas who suddenly realized he had to upgrade his facility to impress his clientele. I know it works, I did it too in better times. I think I know what JD was hinting in his mention of the local Dodge dealer. Improving the building was step one. Haven’t seen step two yet but I wouldn’t try their warranty service again. Disgusted. Their used car warranty is hard to compete with, how do they do it? I give up. I’m going to Mexico for a long vacation. Hope things get better , I will come back when it’s possible to make a living here. Maybe selling Dodges. I hear they are actually doing OK. Good luck, guys.
The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.