i would like to learn what this board thinks of that organization.

thnx.

any dealer ship are there to make $$, but some are better than others even they steal your money and gave u something back, some just want to eat u alive.

Have fnds who owned Smart car, some dealer are more reasonable than others.
For us here we all try to avoid the dealership as much as possible, reason being they tend to charge much more than indie garages. Most of us dont mind getting hands dirty so we're kind of mutual exclusive to each others.

Also parts we could support fastlane here, or else we have no place to chat.

__________________

i wouldn't disagree.

but autonation as an entity...straight or crooked?

'Kinda like asking if Casino (s) are straight or crooked.
'Kinda like asking if Bank(s) are straight or crooked.

AutoNation's business model involves relieving you of as much wealth as possible
[for the perceived (on your part) return of a functional automobile]
WITHOUT 911 having to be dialed by either party.
AS DO ALL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS (New or "Pre-Owned").

EXAMPLE:
They have a "UNIT" they proffer to the general public for 5K USD...
You walk in and offer them 10K USD.
(DO YOU THINK THE SALES WEASEL WILL SAY, "NO" ?)

Better Example:
They have a unit they paid 2.5K USD for...
They proffer it to the General Public for KBB or Edmonds retail @ 5K USD.

To Help you answer your own question:
See if they'll deliver to you the name,address and 'Phone # of the previous owner.
See if they'll offer to you the sales contract involved in the unit's purchase.

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

ANY business that is involved in sales will buy an item (unit) for less than they sell it for.

How else do they pay their employees?

As with anything, it's up to the consumer to be knowledgeable and vigilant.

Making a profit is not immoral, I think the issue with dealers is how some treat customers. This can be controlled by the buyer. The dealer is not putting a gun to the customer's head.

Don't like the treatment, walk away.

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

A trivia point; the CEO of Autonation is Mike Jackson, who used to be the head of MBUSA in the late 90's. While he was at MBUSA he reduced dealer profit margins from as much as 25% on higher end cars to 7% across the line.

x 144

The world is now so rich and so well connected via internet and other systems that the cheesy used car dealer can't get away with it like he used to be able to do.
This is why so many companies /used car lots close after a while.

WALK. you will rarely regret it.

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6