Thud when braking

[HHhuntitall]

Don't be naive. The manufacturer websites list MSRP, not invoice prices.



I understand how business used to work back in the 60s, but times have changed. Slim margins are the way to thrive in the internet world. Information is free.



Check out Edmunds.com and autos. msn.com



The margins aren't as high as you think.



The last two vehicles I bought were purchased for 3% and then 2. 5% over invoice pricing. Add back the holdback, they made less than 6% on either sale - $2000 and about 1000.



Take the parts department, for example. Some parts are sold at MSRP, some are sold at 100% OVER MSRP, depending on the customer and the parts manager.



Flip over to the internet and margins are cut WAY back, 20% over INVOICE.



Hopefully you'll quit trying to argue with me and learn, so when you buy your next car or truck you won't get ripped off. A friend of mine asked me to help her buy her first new car and I saved her about $5k off MSRP, about $2500 more than she had hoped for. The internet is full of information - use it to your advantage.

Well, I'm always open to suggestion, other ideas, etc. I'd much rather learn from other's mistakes. But I don't think I'm being niave. I just don't see it. It can't cost THAT much to manufacture these vehicles, what with the advances in automotive assembly lines, outsourcing parts to the lowest bidder, and JIT inventory. Where is that money going? The new radio systems are nice, but they don't cost Dodge $600 like they do you. Where is that money going? If not the dealer, than who? If it really cost that much, then why are import cars not more popular? Oh, wait... ...



It's just my right to dissagree, and a gentlemen's dissagreement isn't harmful to anyone, unless you cross certain lines. I have the internet, obviously, and I use it. I won't be using it to purchase a new vehicle, as I won't be purchasing a new one. I can't justify puchasing a vehicle, driving it off the lot, and losing a 10-25% of it's value, just find out it gets less mileage and has more problems than my old one. That lesson I have learned from watching those around me. I admire the fact that you shop around, and are willing to help those around you save money.



Again, that's my prerogitive. My manners also require me to apologize for the fact that it bothers you so much. But you are right, I won't be arguing with you about it anymore... .

 

[Cosmo]

You're venturing into another discussion...

How can it cost $40k+ to build a truck? United Auto Workers.

End of story. The auto industry in America was on easy street for 30 years after WWII, and management took the road of least resistance - give in to union demands. Why do we have guys pressing buttons on a robotic machine when the machine could just do its job automatically? The unions required that employees not be laid off, so there are people getting paid essentially to do nothing. Then they collect pensions when they retire.

The real world caught up with the big three a couple of years back. After building utter crap for many years the general public took their money elsewhere and the snowballing benefit and pension costs nearly caused the big 3 to go under. Bailouts were made, but the costs are still passed on to the buyer.

There is dealership profit - less than 10% in most cases, and then there is manufacturer profit. I haven't got a clue what kind of profit the manufacturers make off the sales of their products to the dealers.


I'll compare the $600 radio to the $2. 40 oil pan drain plug gasket.

Subaru sells them to us for $. 60 each. Does it really cost $. 60 to make a stamped steel crush washer? No, certainly not. I would wager the cost is actually closer to a penny a piece. They've been using the same crush washer since about 1989 when the 1990 Legacy made its debut, so the manufacturing equipment has LONG since been paid for. So the dealership pays about $. 60 each. MSRP is $1. 20 iirc. If you walk into my dealership and ask the parts guy for one, you're going to get a bill for $2. 40 plus tax. It's a ridiculous price to pay for the part, but somewhere along the line that's what our parts department decided they were going to charge for the piece. But you can definitely go online and buy one cheaper, right? Surely. I know where you can buy them for $. 72 each, plus shipping. Thin profit margin banks on volume to make up the profit.

Basically what I'm saying here is that yes, there is a lot of money in the car business, but the sales side doesn't earn most of it. When my ex bought a new car (with me at bat) she got the car for about $500 over invoice, then Nissan had a couple grand cash back that dropped her cost well below invoice, AND the dealership put heated seats in for free AND removed several dents on her old car for free as well. She wasn't even trading the old car in. Did that dealership make a lot of money off of her? Nope. They lost money.

Why would a dealership lose money? Because they have a loan accruing interest on that car just sitting on the lot. When they sell a car, it frees up that money to get another one in. If a car sits on the lot too long, the holding costs eat them alive. It's all about flipping inventory.

 

[bigflatdaddy]

So here's the update (to the original post)...



While waiting for the new ball joints to arrive, the factory ball joints practically self-destructed with every bump. The new Carli joints have been installed, and during that process, we found that the wheel bearings were also toast. Unfortunately, I'm still plagued by the thud and when I jack the truck up by the frame and leave the wheels hanging - I can't find a single reason for the thud. Nothing is loose, nothing looks worn... Would a bad shock do this? Any other ideas?

 

[PFranzese]

I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was plagued by front end clunks and thuds when hitting bumps, I never could find a reason for it. I changed the shocks out for a set of konis because the thing road like a boat and all the noises went away. So anything is possible.

 

[rbattelle]

Have you checked the spare like Sandflea said?

-Ryan

 

[bigflatdaddy]

The spare checked out fine. Went for an alighnment today and I have a little tire wear that is now pointing the finger at shocks... we'll give that a shot and go from there. I wish my truck was smaller, it would make a nice yard ornament.