American Automakers need to be Accountable
American automakers are in trouble and they are hoping the American Public will help save their businesses. I like to support American businesses and I think it is important to support those companies in our cities, states and country.
The beginning of 2006 I purchased a 2005 Chevy Impala from Nash Chevrolet as a Certified Pre-Owned car. I owned my own business for four years and gave Mr. Nash and all his employees a discount for the services we provided to them. I was always told when I needed another car; they would give me one at cost. I was told this by Mr. Nash, his assistant and several of the sales people who took advantage of our services. After my business failed and my credit was in ruins, I called on the Nash Family to see if they would help as they indicated before.
I was again told they would give me a car at cost and my credit problems would not prevent me from purchasing from them. I was so relieved that I never researched the car. They brought me the Impala and told me to take it for the weekend and they would complete everything on Monday. I was blown away and started feeling better about my situation. I really did not want the Impala, but felt I had no choice in the mater. I looked at a Scion tC3 before and would have preferred it, but needed a good deal on a car, so I went to Nash hoping they would follow through as they had promised for more than two years.
I purchased the Impala and hated the car, but felt I had no other choice. I found out afterwards that my credit scores were much higher than I thought it would be and I could have purchased almost any car. So I was a fool and did not negotiate price and was completely taken advantage of by the Nash Family. This was completely my fault and goes back to the ancient saying, “Caviet Emptor” - buyer be ware.
This caused anger, but at myself and not the dealership that I gave all the appropriate information to take advantage of me. They did not discount the car by one cent. I paid full price, the price they wanted from anyone and they gave me nothing for the years of services I gave them. But whose fault was that…mine!
I am doing far better at the end of this year than I expected and I wanted to buy a car that I wanted, not what I could. I went to the local Mini Dealership and negotiated an appropriate price for a Mini Cooper S and they came offering me $9,000 dollars for my 2005 Chevy Impala. I’ve paid more every month on my car note and still owe over $17,000 dollars, but several other dealerships only offered to give me $9,000 for my Impala that is in great shape and perfectly maintained. I looked at Kelly Blue Book to research the value of my car before hand, and know they will sell it for $16,000, but they will only give $9,000. So I spoke with Kelly Blue Book to find out why the huge difference and they claim that all car evaluations are based on other factors and are the fault of American Automakers due to the facts that they do not hold their value. So I ask how they create the evaluation they use on their site (which most dealership use as a guide). They told me the average maintenance for the type of car with its ability to continue operating safely and how long they car should last based on records. They sent me statistics showing the average Chevy Impala last approximately six years. A three year old Chevy Impala starts to have major maintenance issues and based on these two issues, the evaluation of a three year old Chevy Impala is like most other American automobiles where in the neighborhood of thirty months, the car is only worth approximately 43% of its original value.
This information was eye opening as to why the average American car has no value. Compared to Toyota, Honda, BMW, Mini, Mercedes, and many other vehicles that hold their value extremely well, most American cars plummet like a stone dropped into water. I can’t buy the car I want because I can’t get out of the car I have without loosing more than half of the money I owe on my current vehicle.
This trap is what drives consumers away from American Automakers and why we are making Toyota and Honda the largest car companies in the world. Until Ford, General Motors and Chrysler change the average maintenance records of its vehicles, change the longevity an American car will last on the road and change the value its automobiles have any year they are resold; they will never dominate the industry again.
I want to buy products made in the United States of America. I want to support those companies who provide products and services to consumers around the world from my city, my state and my country. But I can’t afford to loose half of the value of my current car or my next car. I need to know that what I am buying is safe, will not fall apart while I completely maintain it as it should be and that when I resale my vehicle, the value of the car is reasonable.
This should be a wakeup call to Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. The American public wants to support you. We want to enjoy some of the beautiful cars you’ve created, but you must change what you do and how you do it with your consumers in mind. Until you focus on our needs, we can’t help save you.
Deeply Conflicted,
Todd M. Dobson
American automakers are in trouble and they are hoping the American Public will help save their businesses. I like to support American businesses and I think it is important to support those companies in our cities, states and country.
The beginning of 2006 I purchased a 2005 Chevy Impala from Nash Chevrolet as a Certified Pre-Owned car. I owned my own business for four years and gave Mr. Nash and all his employees a discount for the services we provided to them. I was always told when I needed another car; they would give me one at cost. I was told this by Mr. Nash, his assistant and several of the sales people who took advantage of our services. After my business failed and my credit was in ruins, I called on the Nash Family to see if they would help as they indicated before.
I was again told they would give me a car at cost and my credit problems would not prevent me from purchasing from them. I was so relieved that I never researched the car. They brought me the Impala and told me to take it for the weekend and they would complete everything on Monday. I was blown away and started feeling better about my situation. I really did not want the Impala, but felt I had no choice in the mater. I looked at a Scion tC3 before and would have preferred it, but needed a good deal on a car, so I went to Nash hoping they would follow through as they had promised for more than two years.
I purchased the Impala and hated the car, but felt I had no other choice. I found out afterwards that my credit scores were much higher than I thought it would be and I could have purchased almost any car. So I was a fool and did not negotiate price and was completely taken advantage of by the Nash Family. This was completely my fault and goes back to the ancient saying, “Caviet Emptor” - buyer be ware.
This caused anger, but at myself and not the dealership that I gave all the appropriate information to take advantage of me. They did not discount the car by one cent. I paid full price, the price they wanted from anyone and they gave me nothing for the years of services I gave them. But whose fault was that…mine!
I am doing far better at the end of this year than I expected and I wanted to buy a car that I wanted, not what I could. I went to the local Mini Dealership and negotiated an appropriate price for a Mini Cooper S and they came offering me $9,000 dollars for my 2005 Chevy Impala. I’ve paid more every month on my car note and still owe over $17,000 dollars, but several other dealerships only offered to give me $9,000 for my Impala that is in great shape and perfectly maintained. I looked at Kelly Blue Book to research the value of my car before hand, and know they will sell it for $16,000, but they will only give $9,000. So I spoke with Kelly Blue Book to find out why the huge difference and they claim that all car evaluations are based on other factors and are the fault of American Automakers due to the facts that they do not hold their value. So I ask how they create the evaluation they use on their site (which most dealership use as a guide). They told me the average maintenance for the type of car with its ability to continue operating safely and how long they car should last based on records. They sent me statistics showing the average Chevy Impala last approximately six years. A three year old Chevy Impala starts to have major maintenance issues and based on these two issues, the evaluation of a three year old Chevy Impala is like most other American automobiles where in the neighborhood of thirty months, the car is only worth approximately 43% of its original value.
This information was eye opening as to why the average American car has no value. Compared to Toyota, Honda, BMW, Mini, Mercedes, and many other vehicles that hold their value extremely well, most American cars plummet like a stone dropped into water. I can’t buy the car I want because I can’t get out of the car I have without loosing more than half of the money I owe on my current vehicle.
This trap is what drives consumers away from American Automakers and why we are making Toyota and Honda the largest car companies in the world. Until Ford, General Motors and Chrysler change the average maintenance records of its vehicles, change the longevity an American car will last on the road and change the value its automobiles have any year they are resold; they will never dominate the industry again.
I want to buy products made in the United States of America. I want to support those companies who provide products and services to consumers around the world from my city, my state and my country. But I can’t afford to loose half of the value of my current car or my next car. I need to know that what I am buying is safe, will not fall apart while I completely maintain it as it should be and that when I resale my vehicle, the value of the car is reasonable.
This should be a wakeup call to Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. The American public wants to support you. We want to enjoy some of the beautiful cars you’ve created, but you must change what you do and how you do it with your consumers in mind. Until you focus on our needs, we can’t help save you.
Deeply Conflicted,
Todd M. Dobson
