General Car Talk Discussion Thread
10-14-2014, 10:54 AM
Don't care...
it really does. You've got folks that are enthusiastic about their product.
You don't feel like you have to count your fingers after you shake hands either.
You don't feel like you have to count your fingers after you shake hands either.
10-14-2014, 01:09 PM
Fahrvergnügen'd
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civicdrivr (10-14-2014)
10-14-2014, 05:57 PM
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Hardly the same thing as the bailouts the other automakers received. In fact, Telsa had to have matching funds to qualify for the loan as i recall. And I believe Musk was so broke that he ponied up another, what was it? $65-85mil of his own cash? But, yeah, it was essential to the survival of Tesla and got them to their IPO. This is not an uncommon strategy; companies do this quite often.
A really cool thing about Tesla/Musk is that they will share their technology with competitors rather than 'patenting up'. Musk has an interesting philosophy in general. Look at SpaceX (which I think is more interesting to Musk than Tesla). Have you ever checked out HyperX?
A really cool thing about Tesla/Musk is that they will share their technology with competitors rather than 'patenting up'. Musk has an interesting philosophy in general. Look at SpaceX (which I think is more interesting to Musk than Tesla). Have you ever checked out HyperX?
You're also delusional. Those patents that he made public all require the use of their proprietary lithium ion battery system. Hmm.. didn't he just build a battery plant.
Are there many of you that worship Musk like this? I'm getting the feeling you like Steve Jobs as well.
Like I said, glad it all worked out. He's a great visionary, the future, but come on... I mean.. come on.
10-14-2014, 05:58 PM
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
10-14-2014, 09:21 PM
Dealerships that provide good service will be able to survive because people will want to buy cars on impulse. They will also need those cars serviced and repaired. Some manufacturers may have no interest in running their own dealer networks.
However, some manufacturers might ... And right now the NADA, etc are blocking them because they are using the government to protect their business from modernization. That rarely ends well.
So, I have no interest in putting you out of work Rick. But I think that it's hypocritical for some people (not you) to go on and on about a free market and then only actually want one when it's convenient for them.
If a dealer cannot compete with a manufacturer-owned store then I'd have to question the viability and quality of that dealership in general. I think 95% of the dealers I've been to suck. They suck to buy it from them and they suck to go there for service.
If a dealer cannot compete with a manufacturer-owned store then I'd have to question the viability and quality of that dealership in general. I think 95% of the dealers I've been to suck. They suck to buy it from them and they suck to go there for service.
If Lexus Corp. has a dealer in town & competes with my work as well as Sewell, what's to stop Lexus Corp. from screwing us over to kill business? Doesn't seem like sound business to provide a product to a rival company that will take it & sell it back against you. What laws are in place that will forbid you from stopping your supply knowing afterwards, they'll go out of business?
I used to sell cars in college. I know the life and I know the business a little. The internet was a threat until they figured out how to use it to their advantage. They bitched and complained about how people were coming in with the invoice price and negotiating from there rather than MSRP down.
Things change ... I think a culling of a lot of shitty dealer chains might not be a bad thing. It would certainly help a brand like Kia and Hyundai. My experience with those dealers has been that they are generally shady motherfuckers who sold cars to people that couldn't afford them by cheating the system.
Why would I go buy a $60K car from one of them?
Things change ... I think a culling of a lot of shitty dealer chains might not be a bad thing. It would certainly help a brand like Kia and Hyundai. My experience with those dealers has been that they are generally shady motherfuckers who sold cars to people that couldn't afford them by cheating the system.
Why would I go buy a $60K car from one of them?
We're talking about the potential of a Manufacturer vs. a Dealership. The dealership relies on that manufacturer to stay in business. If the manufacturer finds it losing business, all it has to do is play dirty & cut supply or find ways to shut it down; remember the dealership not only needs the supply, but approval of the manufacturer to stay in business.
I can't see a co-existence happening. The manufacturers have too much of a upper hand as the builders of the vehicles & supplier to dealers.
Last edited by Rick_TL-S; 10-14-2014 at 09:26 PM.
10-14-2014, 09:23 PM
Fahrvergnügen'd
You must be high.. match funds.. what in indebted collateral? Musk was begging buyers to pay more for the roadster and borrowing money from friends just to keep a roof over his head. I bet he put his head in a noose every day until he got that loan.
You're also delusional. Those patents that he made public all require the use of their proprietary lithium ion battery system. Hmm.. didn't he just build a battery plant.
Are there many of you that worship Musk like this? I'm getting the feeling you like Steve Jobs as well.
Like I said, glad it all worked out. He's a great visionary, the future, but come on... I mean.. come on.
You're also delusional. Those patents that he made public all require the use of their proprietary lithium ion battery system. Hmm.. didn't he just build a battery plant.
Are there many of you that worship Musk like this? I'm getting the feeling you like Steve Jobs as well.
Like I said, glad it all worked out. He's a great visionary, the future, but come on... I mean.. come on.
10-14-2014, 09:27 PM
Fahrvergnügen'd
There are not enormous lots of cars in Europe. They order cars and wait patiently for them. This idea of picking any car in any color with just about any options that's already sitting on a lot is very American.
This is just my opinion, of course. But if dealers don't figure out a way to adapt, they're going to get run out of business. If they can't compete they have no business being propped up by protectionist laws.
10-14-2014, 10:25 PM
I understand that. But it's a short term way at looking at what is going to happen to this business model. The days of traditional dealerships (for sales at least) is going to end sooner than later.
There are not enormous lots of cars in Europe. They order cars and wait patiently for them. This idea of picking any car in any color with just about any options that's already sitting on a lot is very American.
This is just my opinion, of course. But if dealers don't figure out a way to adapt, they're going to get run out of business. If they can't compete they have no business being propped up by protectionist laws.
There are not enormous lots of cars in Europe. They order cars and wait patiently for them. This idea of picking any car in any color with just about any options that's already sitting on a lot is very American.
This is just my opinion, of course. But if dealers don't figure out a way to adapt, they're going to get run out of business. If they can't compete they have no business being propped up by protectionist laws.
Thus, I have no desire to continue this.
Last edited by Rick_TL-S; 10-14-2014 at 10:28 PM.
10-14-2014, 10:33 PM
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
when you got people involved in the industries in threads, there's always a greater likelihood shit's gonna hit the fan. 
10-14-2014, 10:36 PM
Fahrvergnügen'd
Let me completely applaud you on ignoring everything else I typed and drifting away to how the Europeans do business, or how the dealership network needs to adapt/compete to something you have no desire to actually explain why rather than "my opinion"; they are already in line to be run out of business competing against the manufacturer for sales.
Thus, I have no desire to continue this.
Thus, I have no desire to continue this.
10-14-2014, 11:09 PM
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
10-15-2014, 01:27 AM
Team Owner
Lol
10-15-2014, 07:45 AM
Don't care...
You must be high.. match funds.. what in indebted collateral? Musk was begging buyers to pay more for the roadster and borrowing money from friends just to keep a roof over his head. I bet he put his head in a noose every day until he got that loan.
You're also delusional. Those patents that he made public all require the use of their proprietary lithium ion battery system. Hmm.. didn't he just build a battery plant.
Are there many of you that worship Musk like this? I'm getting the feeling you like Steve Jobs as well.
Like I said, glad it all worked out. He's a great visionary, the future, but come on... I mean.. come on.
You're also delusional. Those patents that he made public all require the use of their proprietary lithium ion battery system. Hmm.. didn't he just build a battery plant.
Are there many of you that worship Musk like this? I'm getting the feeling you like Steve Jobs as well.
Like I said, glad it all worked out. He's a great visionary, the future, but come on... I mean.. come on.
So sharing technology is bad, okay, that's a point of view. Yes, he plans to build a battery factory. Sadly Texas lost out to Nevada as the home for it but that's still better than China which has the lion's share of world Li battery mfg. (The real IP in battery tech is not the battery/chemistry, it's the management system, BTW.)
And, yes, I have great respect for anyone that can make a vision a reality. Let me know what you've got going, I might be interested in investing.
10-15-2014, 01:26 PM
Fahrvergnügen'd
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civicdrivr (10-15-2014)
10-15-2014, 01:48 PM
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
A pretty typical arrangement here; granted on a bit grander scale than you'll usually see in the VC realm. But you meet targets for capital raises and other financing is made available. Very common.
So sharing technology is bad, okay, that's a point of view. Yes, he plans to build a battery factory. Sadly Texas lost out to Nevada as the home for it but that's still better than China which has the lion's share of world Li battery mfg. (The real IP in battery tech is not the battery/chemistry, it's the management system, BTW.)
And, yes, I have great respect for anyone that can make a vision a reality. Let me know what you've got going, I might be interested in investing.
So sharing technology is bad, okay, that's a point of view. Yes, he plans to build a battery factory. Sadly Texas lost out to Nevada as the home for it but that's still better than China which has the lion's share of world Li battery mfg. (The real IP in battery tech is not the battery/chemistry, it's the management system, BTW.)
And, yes, I have great respect for anyone that can make a vision a reality. Let me know what you've got going, I might be interested in investing.
Ford stealing BMW's swag. Might as well pay your kid $10 to make some racing sounds while you commute to work.
10-15-2014, 03:19 PM
Fahrvergnügen'd
<<<@!1!@>>>
Was the car even running? Because it certainly sounds different in this video:
Was the car even running? Because it certainly sounds different in this video:
10-15-2014, 03:42 PM
Senior Moderator
10-15-2014, 03:42 PM
Senior Moderator
I reach 40K in two days. 
10-15-2014, 04:05 PM
Fahrvergnügen'd
10-15-2014, 04:06 PM
Fahrvergnügen'd
10-15-2014, 04:17 PM
Senior Moderator
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charliemike (10-15-2014)
10-15-2014, 04:57 PM
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
pace yourself.. were you in a coma.
10-15-2014, 05:12 PM
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
Oh, the ol' "I have a life outside of the internet" line. 
Admit it, you were too busy looking at porn
Admit it, you were too busy looking at porn
10-15-2014, 05:18 PM
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
likely story
10-15-2014, 05:25 PM
Moderator
10-15-2014, 05:27 PM
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
10-15-2014, 05:27 PM
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
I, on the hand, have learned to type with one hand
10-15-2014, 06:04 PM
Team Owner
10-15-2014, 06:54 PM
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
10-15-2014, 07:49 PM
この道は毛むくじゃらのマンコだらけ..
Anyone used Porterfield R4S brake pads before? My racing buddies have recommended it to me over EBC and Hawk HPS as a street pad. Haven't heard too much about them other than in the Lotus racing community. All I hear are good things though. If anyone has personal experience that would help me a bunch!
10-15-2014, 08:11 PM
Team Owner
I am literally LOLing right now at our friend.
Someone said:
Response:
Someone said:
You are simply dreaming if you can think you can easily find on average similarly equipped, similar mileage, similar conditions 2011 335i and 2011 TSX at almost same price.....dreaming....
False profits?? The reason you see more BMW on dealer lots is maybe because BMW sells many more cars than Acura??
False profits?? The reason you see more BMW on dealer lots is maybe because BMW sells many more cars than Acura??
base TSX does not have push button start.
10-15-2014, 10:36 PM
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
que?
10-16-2014, 07:41 AM
Don't care...
The following users liked this post:
civicdrivr (10-16-2014)
10-16-2014, 08:07 AM
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
The following users liked this post:
civicdrivr (10-16-2014)
10-16-2014, 08:42 AM
2024 Honda Civic Type R
When I first bought the ST, I thought the sound symposer was pretty neat, but after I put on an intake and especially an exhaust, I don't hear it anymore so it doesn't matter to me. Would be the same for the Mustang.
