Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[you&me]

Originally Posted by Sliver

That'll fill with water and/or flicker and cost $2850.

That's the upgraded "Authenticity Kit"

[Nufy]

New truck shopping today to replace my wrecked Ram.

Any negotiating Tips ?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Nufy

New truck shopping today to replace my wrecked Ram.

Any negotiating Tips ?

Uh, understand you have no power and hope they only kinda #### you instead of totally ####ing you?

Whatever you think you’re paying, it’s more.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Nufy

New truck shopping today to replace my wrecked Ram.

Any negotiating Tips ?

Tell them you're paying with cAsH and watch them fall all over themselves to serve you.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Uh, understand you have no power and hope they only kinda #### you instead of totally ####ing you?

Whatever you think you’re paying, it’s more.

I was under the impression that Stellantis brands have been dealing with a glut of inventory...so maybe if he wants a RAM or a Jeep, things may not be quite as dire.

[dammage79]

I think Dodge and jeep have had the worst sales year since the 70s and 80s. Fiat has really messed dodge up IMO.

It's inventory clear out season too so they can make room for the 2025s. So great timing on your part, and it's end of month

Ads all over saying Jeep and Dodge are giving 10 percent off off MSRP and that really what you should be paying right now given their lack of sales

GM has clear out prices too. I don't shop ford but I assume they have clear out deals too.

I think you could honesly get closer to 15 percent off Stellantis products right now.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I think Dodge and jeep have had the worst sales year since the 70s and 80s. Fiat has really messed dodge up IMO.

Keep in mind, it's not Fiat Chrysler anymore, and has been Stellantis since 2021, which was a merger of FCA and Peugeot SA...so you can blame the Italians AND the French!

Stellantis is clearly ####ting the bed, but I think it can be argued that things were a lot worse before Fiat came long. Go look at any of their cars from the 2000s before Fiat got involved, and it was truly the darkest timeline of plastic-fantastic crap.... Avenger, Calibre, Nitro etc. The Daimler Chrysler years in the late 90s/early 00's were awful, and then Cerberus made them even worse. The Marchionne/FCA years were relatively good for everyone....especially Jeep.

The homely classics they were putting out before the Fiat merger:

Spoiler!

My sister in law had one of these...it was probably the biggest turd I've ever driven.

[btimbit]

It's really been a slow decline for them.

They went from solid in the mid 90's
Then went to crap
Then to garbage
Then to utter ####

[Nufy]

2 dealers so far...Same trim level of truck...same pricing as I can get off of their websites.

No negotiating,...no extras available so far.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Nufy

2 dealers so far...Same trim level of truck...same pricing as I can get off of their websites.

No negotiating,...no extras available so far.

Ram? I had heard they are waaaaay overstocked, too, so I'm surprised there's isn't wiggle room.

[Nufy]

Its 20% off MSRP so I am told.

They showed me the dealer invoice "supposedly"

Money is in the financing I guess. As its an open deal I can make balloon payments to get it paid off faster and pay less interest.

[Canadianman]

if you know what you want, email every dealer in Southern Alberta asking for their out the door price for it. Then recirculate the best offer until you get something you want.


Why are you wasting your time with one at a time?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Table 5

The two new Scout concepts that came out are interesting. Definitely getting a Rivian vibe, but with features that should make it better for the real world...ie. a gas range-extender, more tactile buttons not just screens, body on frame, solid axle, apparently easier repairability (Rivians get crazy expensive to fix even with a fender bender)...and bench seats!


https://www.theautopian.com/embargo-...utely-amazing/

https://www.theautopian.com/watch-th...ive-right-now/

I'm not a big EV guy, but this does look pretty cool and attempts to fix a lot of real-world issues people have with them. It's owned by VW though, so let's see where it ends up.

It is supposed to start around $60K USD which is pretty good if they content is decently.

[speede5]

Our local Dodge/Ram dealer has so many trucks on the lot they had to move all their used inventory to another location. You can barely drive through the lot. Id expect patience will get you a decent deal.

[cam_wmh]

Anyone ever had a diesel with a Webasto, inline heater?
Experience with it? 7.3 Powerstroke?

[Wormius]

So after our unfortunate rear-ending by a Ram (pretty sure it wasn't Nufy), we managed to snag a Rav4 Prime.

Coming from the an old car where we could replace the windshield for about $200, to something with more tech in everything, are things like rock chip repairs more complicated? I have just been comparing Toyota's window replacement program, with just going through insurance if the damage warrants a replacement. I think Toyota's programs is $!700 for 7 years with 4 replacements within that time. We replaced our old windshield twice within 13 years, but it was in really bad shape. If I add a restriction to glass replacement on my insurance it drops the premium by about $27 per year with a $500 deductible.

I guess like others have said, insurance seems like a waste of money when you don't use it.

On the tire note - if anybody is interested in a set of winter tires on rims that fit a 2011 Rav4, let me know. I'll be posting them soon. I don't know the exact km of wear they have, but I can take some pics if anyone wants details.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Coming from the an old car where we could replace the windshield for about $200, to something with more tech in everything, are things like rock chip repairs more complicated?

I would never buy a dealer windshield. A reputable place like Cal-Alta will get you something that works, and I've found their glass more durable than dealer glass in most cases.

Depending on how much you drive, that insurance may be ok. I'm on 7 years and 8 years for the current windshields on our cars. The 8 year old one is probably finally due after this winter.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Wormius

So after our unfortunate rear-ending by a Ram (pretty sure it wasn't Nufy), we managed to snag a Rav4 Prime.

Coming from the an old car where we could replace the windshield for about $200, to something with more tech in everything, are things like rock chip repairs more complicated? I have just been comparing Toyota's window replacement program, with just going through insurance if the damage warrants a replacement. I think Toyota's programs is $!700 for 7 years with 4 replacements within that time. We replaced our old windshield twice within 13 years, but it was in really bad shape. If I add a restriction to glass replacement on my insurance it drops the premium by about $27 per year with a $500 deductible.

Get a glass shop to quote you a replacement on your windshield and see what it would cost.

Some cars still have the option of cheap windshields, but things like heated front screens, solar-attenuated glass, and integrated camera systems increase the cost of the windshield considerably. Considering my windshields will cost between $2,000-$3,000 out-of-pocket not including the installation cost, I’ve personally stopped waiving glass coverage as the savings aren’t justifying the risk. I don’t know about your RAV4, but anyone with a sunroof or panoramic glass roof (as is becoming quite common) should not be waiving glass coverage, as that also means your glass roof will not be covered, and replacing one of those will hurt the pocketbook BADLY. I’ve heard of them shattering without warning in seemingly innocuous circumstances.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I would never buy a dealer windshield. A reputable place like Cal-Alta will get you something that works, and I've found their glass more durable than dealer glass in most cases.

Depending on how much you drive, that insurance may be ok. I'm on 7 years and 8 years for the current windshields on our cars. The 8 year old one is probably finally due after this winter.

I wasn't thinking too much of the glass quality itself, just the other things that have to done because of the new features that are part of the windshield.

[chedder]

We just did our first windshield for the bronco. Worst vehicle ever for rock chips. We managed 2 1/2 years on the original but it was really cracked up for the last year.

Repair place told me all of the camera realignment stuff is just bs meant to get more money out of customers. He said they've been doing this since cameras came out and have never had an issue where they get out of alignment.

Truth or was he just lying because he doesn't have the equipment to align them?