On the topic of minivans, have you seen the new Nissan Quest? Seems like a pretty cool toy...lots of goodies.

Here's a link:

http://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/Mo...,29706,00.html

 

who's attention am I after?? well, anyone who sees something out of the ordinary... and can remember it. One thing I've seen is, the nicer the vehicle in "corporate america", the notion of you being overpaid is given, and if a company pulls up lookin' low budget, then the quality is probably not far off. I know my distributor has a big yellow H2 that has his company name on it,... the radio stations do it, ... hell, there's a software company here in houston that has a lime green porsche 911, that has all sorts of funky stuff on it,.. and they park it near I10 and 610, and when i saw it in Austin,.. I immediately knew who's car it was and where they were from... that's the effect I'm after.

 

The difference between your business and these other businesses you describe is that the "toys" of those businesses are subsidized by the masses, i.e. thousands, hundreds of thousands or even millions of customers pay $50 a piece for software so the company can afford a Porsche. We all know that radio stations make their money from advertisers. Your business, on the other hand, deals with clients one at a time, right? Given the choice, I would rather not be one of your customers, knowing that I would by subsidizing the flashy Hummer you're cruising in. That's the impression having a flashy Hummer would make on me.

 

Those Hummer sites are hilarious!!!

 

I hate to be the voice of reason on this, but I think alot of people are right. What does a hooked up H2 or any other vehicle for that matter have to do with a HOME Theater installation. I'd be more impressed with a white van and some good references than someone who "looks" like they were good with car stereos and were looking to make the jump to HT.

I agree the perception will be that your vehicle is being sudsidized by the higher prices you'll be charging for the already custom/already perceived to be too high HT work.

There is no rule that says you can't have the nice ride, but make business be about business and make playtime be about playtime.

I don't know just my thoughts.

 

I also have to tell you in all honesty, I would be much more impressed with a van in good shape (clean and dent/ding free if possible for a work vehicle) where everything in back was organized. All the tools required with any additional items in places where they are supposed to be stored and easily accessible for the installer. A place for everything and everything in it's place. When a guy rolls up to do work with the grotty ol' pickup and everything in the back looks worse than my attic, I don't have a very good feeling about either his professionalism or his competency. Funny thing, all the flaky companies in Silicon valley that handed out Z3's or beetles or whatever, all seem to be gone now. And no, I don't remember any of their names. I am looking for a roofer and who am I looking for? Well, for one someone who can stand behind his work for more than six months.

 

the poll says you need a stupid lil white contractor van

and that's probably what will be best for you actually. H2 cargo space is smaller than my bro's xB (lol probably true)

 

Earlier this year I had a contractor come by to bid on doing some landscaping. His truck was huge and brand spanking new and I immediately thought he must charge a lot! We did use him for some work, (some of which was great of some of which wasn't so great) and he WAS expensive in my view, so I validated (right or wrong) my first perception that he's making too much money.

A guy who fixed my gutters had an older but clean large truck. I felt like his fee was appropriate.

May be b.s., but it's the way I felt.

 

I agree, funny sites! Those Hummers are piles. I personally think anyone driving an H2 is a complete tool. There is not one redeeming quailty on that piece. People buy them because they are trendy and new looking, and they have a complex that that vehicle fills. It's a damn shame that those H2s are a dime an f-ing dozen around here and no one cares about them! The smart decision is to buy a workvan. You have the most cargo space, best mileage, cheapest overhead, and you don't look like a jackass driving an H2 company car. Besides, if you get an H2 it doesn't matter how successful your business is, you'll fold paying the service and upkeep on that pos H2. Did I forget to mention Hummer has the worst reliability of any carmaker in the world? Driving an H2 isn't a status symbol, it's an intelligence symbol.

 

If you get a Hummer and hook it up, you will be very reluctant to put in big items that may scratch it when it is loaded/unloaded. You will also have less room and horendous gas mileage compared to a van. You will also be paying a lot of overhead with an H2 (car payments, gas mileage, insurance, repairs/maintainance, & hook-ups), which is not a good idea when your business is a fledgling.

Stick with something simple like a van.

 

You should look into these.....White/Freightliner imports the Mercedes Benz Sprinter Vans here in the states.

My buddy just bought one, lots, lots of room. You can stand straight up in the back of van even of you are over 6 ft tall! They have gobs and gobs of torque from the Mercedes Benz 5cyl inline turbo diesel!

My buddy paid $27,900 for his and got a pretty good rebate also.
Here is a link to find out more............

Freightliner Sprinter Vans

 

i will add that clients (in my case patients) do look at what you drive. they want to know that you are successful. but not too successful. when i first got my lex, i lost a family that was under care b/c they said i was charging their insurance too much. their insurance, not them. but they were fine with it when i was driving the civic. now i park in the back of the office, most of the time, and try to keep a low profile. double edged sword, i tell ya.........


Doc

 

Yes, it is. But if you stay in the middle, away from the extreme edges, you won't get hurt.