Then you probably might not understand, touché!

 

I don’t know what to say really. Those programs, are designed to attract people who would never of come to the showrooms. It’s also a data gathering method as the information from the test driver is collected. I don’t see going to the dealer to get a $50 for a test drive as immoral. It’s savy for the person to collect the card.

 

First, If you don't like Ford offering $10 show test-drives, then don't blame me for it. I did not set that policy, or did I fund it. Second, though Ford still does the $50 card-offer each year, they have only done the $10 offer at the show once....I used it, last year, to briefly sample the then-new EcoSport. Third, as I pointed out in another post, some companies spend even more than Ford and Lincoln at the big shows....Toyota is a good example, though it is not the same kind of things that Ford does.

I also think that several of us (me included) are getting off topic.

 

Folks--it wasn't my point. I was just trying to do a fellow member a favor by man-splaining the original point. I don't really care, frankly--I'm sure plenty of car sales people are twiddling their thumbs on a Wednesday afternoon at 3:00pm anyway.

To me, it's just an occupational hazard; we've all complained about car sales people that don't call back--and, in my experience, many of them have (accurately) sensed that the "buyer" isn't really interested in the car (for whatever reason), and doesn't want to waste time (and some end up losing sales because of it).

 

My buddy is a prof at one of those schools that was involved with the college scandal. I ran it by him and would be unable to copy/paste his take on the subject of promotional test drives (he's in the philosophy dept.). Put it this way, no worries (I wish I could paste his response, the guy is pretty good at breaking it down like drums and bass).

Off topic? We're talking about long term financing and suddenly gift cards and morals hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha I can't even fin

 

yes my post was in response to you saying 8k is a lot.

good for you.

Your conscience doesn’t sound entirely clear, but whatever. I guess i’m tired of you bragging often about saving a load on DIY maintenance, making a load on ‘freebies’, making a load in the stock market, yet criticizing new car prices when you have ZERO intention of buying one. But anyway, apologies if my comment offended.

Thank you.

please feel free to pm me his take... i’d be interested.

But back on topic... i’ve seen and known tons of people who drive a luxury car but don’t have much of anything else (except probably even more debt). But in america living beyond ones means is the norm, not the exception.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitkahuna

Thank You.

I understand what you two are saying, but, for reasons which I explained earlier, although I can't speak for others, that's not what I am doing. I don't test-drive vehicles solely for gift cards or other incentives, though I won't turn them down if offered. For one thing, I don't need to get paid ...I make more than what I need, even in retirement. And much of the excess that I make is given to charity...... just how much, I won't say, because I consider that my own business.

 

i usualy take out 72 month terms on all my auto loans for the one reason that id rather have more months in the contract with a lower monthly payment to fall back on when times might get hard however at the same time nothing is stopping me from paying the same ammoutn each montht that iw ould pay if i only had a 48 month term
and with laons being simple interest on most of the auto loans out there you pay if off quicker you save interest simple as that like the difference between a 4 year and a 6 year loan can in some casses be a differnce of as little as 50 a month and as much as 100 per month depending on what someones credit is like.
its also a not so big known fact that bankes would rather you have a longer term because \if you take it to the entire term of the loan they get ot make sometimes as much as 4000 more on interest for 2-3 extra years they like giving and aproving peopel for these loans but wont penilize you for paying it off early is someone is smart and say you pay an extra 40 dollars a month on your auto loan you could cut 14 months of the term
for another example i had 6 years paymetns at 225 a month i paid 300 a month and this got it paid off i think t was like 18 months faster than if i aid the regular paymetn

 

A few months ago I went to a Hyundai dealership with my $50 test drive coupon that came to my e-mail. I bought the car. I was ready to buy something anyway so why not take the $50 challenge. I had no need to test out everything since I knew what was out there with their insane prices and lack of amenities I prefer. The only stop I made was at carmax for an appraisal on my trade, which the dealer beat, and a quick look at the Turbo CX5 that didn’t cut the mustard. I had already eliminated all other cars because of price, push button shifters, joy sticks or track pads, uncomfortable tire and wheel packages etc. The Santa Fe pushed all my buttons and I could not find anything to complain about (shocker to me). I pay cash, not that that is always the smartest move but I mentally feel better not owing on anything including houses. By the way they were giving 6k off on their website no haggle. Now I see 9k off. The car feels better every day I drive it and remember I came out of a near perfect LS 460.

 

Also i think that people need to remember that its good to finanace something yeah the interest could end up costing you but the honest truth is the best thing for your credit is a lauto loan you might say you never want to live on credit and only ever plan on cash but when people say that i call B/S the reason i call B/S is cause its 2019 and you can't do stuff without credit of somesort unless you have a few HundredThousand dollars sitting in the bank that you got no plans for then you should have credit always be worried about your credit cause one day your going to need it weather you are renting a car that requires a credit card cause some rental agencys do not accept debit cards or your checking into a hotel that requires a a credit card and does not accept debit cards. or that time that comes up that you hear a family memeber is really sick and you have no choice but to go to them because they might be on there last leg and that plane ticket costs 1,200 dollars last minute credit is what allows you to not have to worry about is it all going to be ok. you don't have to use the credit you have but you do need something that will allow you to build your credit and keep it good cause while no credit is better than bad credit credit is alot better than no credit and bad credit. i also know for a fact that i have some friends who just refuse to understand this and they have millions in available liquid funds to go to whenever they need it but two of them over the past 20 years of being adults decided they wanted to go get a nice car wanted to finance it to build there credit and one of them was not able to get aproved for a auto loan even though he could show the banks he had over 10M in the bank the other one was able to get a loan but at a buy here pay here lot and we all know what those interest rates are luckly he wnet amediatly and got a secured credit card and a year latter was able to refinance the buy here pay here car and then make his payments ontime for 2 years and now i justed asked him thismorning about this question and he has a credit score in the high 700s

 

Holy ****, is that one sentence?

 

Looks like a voice speech done on a cell phone.

 

I discovered this strange world through my job. I worked with some very unique peoples.
One in particular was shocking. He was a gigolo, seducing womens as a part of his living. He had a Mercedes S-Class, and he lived in the garage he was parking whenever he was "between two phases". Behind that, he had a fake, lavish lifestyle, he played for his multiple, cash loaded, girlfriends.

Another guy I met, had a unique technique. His whole friendbase had a Lamborghini sportscar. They where 8 dudes having a part-property of this car and they shared the different charges in a common pot. And, every sunny weekend, they took turns to who will have the right to drive it. Using the car to bait some golddigger and play them for the fools they where.

A guy I know actually, is also a phenomenon. He has spared every cent in his life for an Audi R8. He tactially designed his life around the goal to be able to posess an Audi R8. And he has exactly this car now. Little detail, he is an electrician. A well paid job in Switzerland, but nothing sufficient to be able ot buy yourself a top class sportscar.

In the last time, I also see a raise of Porsche Cayenne, driven by cleaning Workforces. Now that the car is available on the used market, it has become the fake jewel around peoples wanting to fake their wealth.

A common point about all those peoples is their origin. They all come from cultures that are recognizing cars as a form of status symbol. In our culture, this status symbol definition is shifting, and lately, defines more around the lifestyle (veganism, sport, voyage) than around big metal sarcophagus.

 

When I was in college, some guy approached me and was telling me about a garbage bag factory in Nigeria, and his German car conversion shop, which he showed me. I was 18 so I listened. The next thing I knew was he loaned me a 2 y.o. S class and I had it for about a month. I'll never know if it were truly a scam, likely it was, but he targeted me because of the richey riches I hung with in college. It was cool having that big Mercedes for about a month. Possession is 9/10, right? This lead me to get a Porsche when I was 19, brand new. At any rate, those folks I hung with were the super rich. Back then? A big deal. Today? Tons of rich people are among us. My friend has an exchange student who flies to LA every weekend. Point is when I was 18, and my buddies would let me use their ATM card and I'd see the balance were six figs, I thought it was amazing. Today, not so much. There are all kinds, usually, one really cannot judge a book by its cover, especially today. I think a comment was made here, or in this thread, that there was a time when you had these nice cars etc., you did have money because leasing was non-existent.