Most new car dealerships fail mystery shopper test

[polak]

How I feel like going car shopping:

[Hevishot]

AMVIC will not do anything about this as they usually side with the big bad dealers. I find it funny that the smaller "mom and pop dealers" play by the rules and the big guys that own several dealerships hose everybody and get away with it. Although from personal experience im shocked that shaganappi did not hose the mystery shopper.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

^Invoice price is supposed to be considerably lower than MSRP. I'm confused as to what you're saying here.

Very much apples to oranges, as that environmental fee doesn't go in the retailer's pocket.

Sorry, maybe I'm not explaining it well. What I mean is, the dealership posts one price on the vehicle, then it's not uncommon to actually end up paying significantly less than that price (for trucks anyway). Everyone knows how much you should end up paying with internet research, within a range, so I'm not sure why the dealerships continue these games and go to the trouble of posting those prices when they're incredibly wrong.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Oh, I see. It's definitely because a TON of people are completely unaware of how easy it is to find out what the invoice price is and just walk onto the lot.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

If you're buying a new KIA, careful with that spare tire cost...can be upwards of $750. For a damned spare tire.

Holy frack... I thought you were joking but then I saw this on their webpage:

Why did my new Kia vehicle come with a Tire Mobility Kit in lieu of a spare tire?


Kia has introduced the Tire Mobility Kit (TMK) in lieu of the traditional temporary spare tire in some of its newer models. This is a trend in the automotive industry to improve fuel efficiency by lessening vehicle weight. In addition to reducing weight, this also increases the rear cargo space area of the vehicle. Your Tire Mobility Kit is located in the trunk under the floorboard cover. Please refer to your Owner's Manual for specific directions. In the event of an untimely tire issue, Kia Roadside Assistance can also provide service if there are any issues in using your Tire Mobility Kit. Kia recognizes that some customers may prefer the compact spare tire in their vehicle. A compact spare tire kit (which will include a tire jack) is available for purchase as an accessory on some Kia models. To find information on how to purchase Kia genuine parts and accessories, please contact your local Authorized Kia for pricing and availability information

Kia's bargain car roots shine through again..... I have a feeling this will spread to other manufacturers soon.... just like bag fees on airlines.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I just googled to find out what a "Tire Mobility Kit" actually is... seems it's a can of sealant that is injected through the valve stem to plug the puncture, and a small electric compressor to reinflate the tire. Which, if it works, I guess I don't really care if they give me a spare tire or not... I've literally never had to use the spare in any of my cars. The gas cost it takes to carry that 40+lb spare for hundreds of thousands of miles adds up.

Wouldn't help on blowouts or certain types of tire damage but it's really a risk / reward scenario in terms of lessening vehicle weight and increasing storage space. I'm not against it in principle.

[burn_this_city]

Most cars that don't have spares come with runflats from factory.

[FireFly]

A friend who works in the Honda factory in Ontario says they also put in a run flat kit instead of a spare tire.