Here's a pic of one of the "cars" that were busted in that Skyline street racing incident. http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk257/robert_so2/DSC03034.jpg Absolutley hilarious, what an amazing license plate!
Hello from Mid-Ohio! (this is our team's hospitality van...ok, not really, but I did the duct tape work) Image Unavailable, Please Login
so what exactly happened? I only heard small bits and pieces.... someone care to tell me what really happened?
OK, this is a very simple question, that has caused myself, friends and family many headaches and problems over the years... Vasco is a good candidate to answer this question; WHY AREN'T CAR DEALERSHIPS OPEN ON SUNDAYS ????????????? Myself and my girlfriend work 6 days a week, we are looking into a new BMW for her. Sunday is our only day off to relax and enjoy our week, and it is a perfect time to carefully browse the dealership inventory. Why are Maranello, Autohaus, and many other BMW dealers closed on Sunday??? Do they expect me to stroll in at 7pm after work on a Monday evening ? Yeah, I'm in a really good and fun mood at that time. Why not stay closed on Mondays, and open on Sundays instead?
Dear Tirekicker, Sorry but I am NOT a "good candidate" for this question. You and I have discussed this in the past here on fchat. I am not for it whatsoever. In fact I just found out something new after all these years in the car biz...In Quebec dealerships are all CLOSED on the weekends! We should do the same! As you want to relax on the weekends so do we. I (and many others) appreciate the interest either way but we are humans too and can schedule you in during the week I personally do by appointments if the vehicle is available but that would be it. Try selling cars on the weekend then come talk to me...
If I'm not mistaken, didn't they try to open dealers on Sundays in Quebec not too long ago? There's a Dodge/Chrysler dealer that is open 7 days a week.
Vasco, thats a bunch of BS. Then why not keep the Eaton Centre, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, and any other retailers closed on Sundays too? Sure, nobody wants to work on Sundays, but that is the nature of the retail business. You must be available to your customers whenever, whatever. Who wants to go car shopping during the weekday?? Who has time to test drive cars, talk with a salesperson, and go thru all the paperwork during the weekday? Car shopping takes patience, and Saturdays and Sundays are best for that!
i agree. When the day arrives my place will be open saturday and sunday BY APPOINTMENT only though. At autoforum we were open saturdays from 11am-3pm which seemed to be be the busiest times and the rest of the weekend by appointment.
WOW, this is the kid that got everyone kicked out of Yorkdale parking lot. Thanks buddy I can use this Ok ok I can explain it since I was involved from the start of it all... First thing, 2 meets where happening. Toronto Nissan Club at Yorkdale and GTRCanada at Commerce Gate. I was at the commerce gate meet with 25 other skylines and around 30 cars... http://www.police.york.on.ca/Press/%5B2008-04-07%5D%20SEVEN%20DRIVERS%20CHARGED%20AND%20THEIR%20CARS%20IMPOUNDED.pdf The first 2-3 paragraphs was the meet I was attending at this point the group had to split up and well I went to Yorkdale with some people for the Toronto Nissan meet, some went down 7(they got impounded) and some went down the street for pictures. The cars got impounded they were 3 skylines, porsche boxster, Toyota Poseo and I think a WRX. I ended up sitting at Yorkdale for maybe 5 minutes until that stupid 300zx mentioned above did a huge donut in the middle of the parking lot basically pulling the last straw and we were told to leave, it was one crazy road trip night...I think I did a few hundred k...
James, there is nothing wrong with that. I even mentionned that I will gladly do by appointment written in my previous post. But the Prince of Kleinburg or Don of Vaughan only see's what he wants. I also agree one should be there for a client. Dealing with hi-end cars you HAVE TO do that. But sorry, no need to open up a full Sunday. Forget it. But If the client is hot on some car then i'll be there in a flash. For me....it's a given. And James 11-3 is perfect on a Saturday! I did that while at Caliber and it worked fine. For the record I also deal in ALOT of very cheap cars both wholesale and retail and I am even there for clients on Sundays by appointment regardless if it's a $2500 Benz or $200K Benz. Luca, you ask who has the time and for test drives etc.? I work with WFC's LTD. And trust me, the guys that walk in and make time during the week for test drive etc can easily buy the place 10 times over. Ironically these are the same guys that are very understanding and are very cool to deal with. And you must remember, there is Saturday too. I am only arguing being open on Sunday. And mention that Saturday would be a bonus but reality I must be open! No worries.
Vasco, you make some good points there. Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with what you're saying, and I'm not being stubborn by "seeing only what I want". The fact is, 2008 is different from 1998, and even more different than 1988. Times are changing, the retail and automotive industry is evolving into a different animal. Back in '88, there was no Sunday shopping. Can you imagine that now?? Saturdays would be pandemonium on the streets. Now we have 24 hour Loblaws, and 24 hour Wal-mart, Ebay, and many other convienient options to choose from. I'm not talking about the big CEO who buys 200$K Porsche or BMW, I'm talking about an average Joe like me who works from 7-6pm, and who has to get home to pick up kids and mow the lawn. (I don't have kids, just an example). The same goes with car shopping. Gone are the days of "win on Sunday, sell on Monday." Husbands and wives both work now, and child care/day care is a big obstacle. I get home at 7:00 pm, and my g/f the same. We both work on Saturdays, so that leaves us with one and a half days to go car shopping. Every dealership is jammed on a Saturday. Have you been to the automall at hwy 7 and Martin Grove?? How about the automall at Dundas/Erin Mills ?? Its insane trying to schedule a test drive, or even sit down with a rep during that time. Part #2 of my argument: What about Service ?? Why do I have to bring my car in for service during the week, or on Saturday? I need my car during that time. Sunday would be a perfect time to drop my car off in the morning, and pick it up in the afternoon since my wife/g/f is able to arrange to pick me up. And since I'm relaxed and not tight for time on a Sunday, I could also browse the dealership while I'm waiting for my car to be serviced. Another future sale perhaps?
I have been following your conversations, and now i think i need to add my 2 lira Personally, im getting sick of this culture we have greated. I think everything needs to be closed on Sundays like the past. I think a work week that is 40 hrs needs to be identified as 40 hours, and not 48 hours where 95% of the population gets no overtime. This crackberry thing, and cell phone crap has gone too far. I think as a society we need to go back to basics, every family i know is running 100% hot all day, everyday. This contributes to the increase in divorce rate, job dissatisfaction, lack of tiem with kids, famil and friends. I applaud dealers for staying closed, and could only wish that others continue to follow suit. Life needs to be simplified.....this very thing for the sake of convience is actually making us more slaves to products we dont need. Luca, you dont need to drop off the car on Sunday, if you controlled your business correctly you could do it during the week. This added pressure as a society to keep going 24hrs a day.......is stupid. We all need to slow down, and focus on what matters. Buying a car on Sunday shouldnt be your goal for the day of rest
Rick, I agree with your comments. But the fact remains that we're in 2008, not 1988. You suggest that we "need to slow down, and focus on what matters.", very true but what matters to me, and everyone is a job, wife/girlfriend/boyfriend, kids, house, family, parents and so on. The business climate has changed drastically in the last 25 years. Gone are the days where the wife can stay home, and take care of the house and kids. Gas, homes, cars, etc are so damn expensive now, both spouses must work just to pay the bills. (If I bought a $550,000 house which is average price in the GTA, and work 9-5 at a desk job, chances are my wife needs to work as well.) Society has brought this pandemic on its own. I remember at my family home, my dad worked from 8-4, ( my mom never did). My mom was a homemaker and raised us well, in a house with no mortgage. Now, I'm faced with a gigantic mortgage, car payments, internet bills, cellphone bills. Its difficult to afford all that on one income, and I also need to work until 6:30 just to break even. (And nobody is living in luxury either).This leads to the point of time. Time is the most precious thing these days, because there is very little of it left. Yes, buying a car on Sunday shouldn't exist, because it is a day of rest. But what other options do we have? I would love to have everything slow down, and go back to the old days, but we all know that will never happen. We have to deal with the crappy situation that is called '2008'.
Ahhh...no !! The problem is greed....my parents still have the same tv from 75 and works just fine, yet everyone i know is upgrading their 42" plasma's with 55. Cell phones werent good enough, we need crapberries, high speed at $50 a month, plus HD channels....and on and on. If everyone was realistic, you could easily buy a $400,000 home and live a modest lifestyle you could do it on a 9-5pm job. The problem is you need to go shopping on Sunday...the malls are packed on Sundays, everyone eats out becuase it takes to long to cook, and people dont ahve the time becuase they have to get that new car. Many, many people are living beyond there means. I know for a fact i could stretch myself out for an something if i wanted too...but at what cost ? This is becoming a society problem, and this 24hr run rate is bad for everyone, not just car dealers. People need to evaluate whats important in life, and thats forging relationships with friends, family and leading good clean living. Not this crap of cutting people off on the highway and then giving the finger....this whole me society is not where i wish to raise my children in. I think we all need to put a foot forward and reverse it somehow....and you can do it to, when you have kids, teach them respect and about repsonsibilty. And all you young guys and gals getting ready for the business world, stop thinkig you can do things faster and better and make more profit. Lead your companies about quality, and excellence and human compassion....not just double digit growth. The US should see a correction in the coming years in reference to this...at the way their going. oh, and for you car dealers, stay closed on Sunday
You can't buy a decent home for $400,000. (Maybe in Orangeville, or in a crappy Toronto suburb). This is a great comment. I've been preaching this for years. Rick, just for a guess, I think in 25 years there will be 1/2 the amount of dealerships, and 1/2 the amount of newspapers in the city. The motorcycle industry has changed drastically, there are no more 'independent' dealerships left, they are all factory now. The same will happen with our domestic dealers, (GM, Ford, Chrysler). They will close half of the independent mom and pop dealers down in the next 25 years.
Vasco, please don't get me started on that! House prices are waaaayyyyy out of line these days. I've been heavy into the real estate listings recently, and I've been finding good stuff, but mostly bad stuff which is severely overpriced. The grand victorians down on College and Dundas for $800,000 are a good deal in my books. You can't beat the location, and the houses are fairly large. I've seen 45 year old dumps in Etobicoke selling for 1.2$ million, it makes me laugh and cry at the same time. Some people are crazy, they think because they have a house in Etobicoke, or North York that its worth a million bucks. These same houses could be bought for $299,000 back in 1998. Anyways, lets not go there, because I will be up all night on this thread complaining.
This too shall pass my friend. Everything is in for a correction. But dont sell it short, there is plenty around for 400-450K...again, the problem is you cant and wont live in a bugalow, you have this vision of 3,000 sq feet...we all do. The thinking needs to change to living within our means to live. Watch when the next generation tells employers to go F.off, cause they live at home with mommy and daddy....even the increase in immigration wont help that lots of fun stuff coming down the pipes in this new world of ours that the American greed created
I choose to only work 35 hours per week. It limits my income, but it also leaves me more time for rest and leisure. I choose to (as of may 30th) live in a modest house, with only 1200sq ft of living space....but only a 15 minute drive to downtown and a 45 minute bus/subway ride to work. I choose to be satisfied with a simple Sony 27" Vega TV, no home theatre system, a 20 year-old sound system, basic DSL, and a cell phone whose number is only known by my in-laws and father. I choose to rarely go on vacation. But I love dining out, hanging out at the cafe with buddies or going for week-end excursions in the country with the wife and the red car. I choose to NEVER enter a store or mall on Sundays. It's a day of rest, worship and spending time with family. In the end, I may not have all the material things that my friends have, but I can say beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I'm much happier and grounded than they are. ...or ever will be!
But I love driving the piss out of it! http://supercarfreak.net/gallery/albums/Summer_2008/DSC01002.jpg How my car sits as of summer 2008. I love the new wheels! 5spd is just an insane amount of fun, I am now a believer.
Yes sir - BBS CH FTW!! Rest of the impromptu street "photo-op" pics from my buddy's place: http://supercarfreak.net/gallery/Summer_2008
