$70k and you don't get a spare,a jack or a lug wrench

[Mike SC Hunter]

Does no one else check out a car, see that it lacks a critical feature, and say, "This is not the car for me..." and walk away?

I guess it's like the guys who buy a new pistol, take it home, and weeks later note something they should have noticed at first glance if they'd really been looking.

PERFECT RESPONSE...............Your last sentence..........Has created lots of whiners, moaners and complainers on gun forums.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Today's consumers don't select an automobile, they choose which dream to hang onto based on advertising BS. Then they don't purchase the car, they buy the payment plan. While doing so they willingly participate in the tag team match involving the salesman, sales manager, and finance manager as they spend several hours working him into a corner until all resistance is gone and the papers are signed.

I prefer to play the game by my rules, show up with financing pre-approved by my credit union, tell the sales rep what I'm looking for and if it is in stock I tell them what I am willing to pay. When the inevitable game starts I tell them I am leaving now but please call me if someone here is capable of saying Yes or No on the offer, no other conversation will be necessary.

Real simple, do you want a solid deal now or do you want to watch me go somewhere else?

No spare, no jack, no lug wrench? That would all be included in the proposed deal. Take it or leave it.

No, it doesn't work every time, but it works most of the time and is usually good for at least 20% savings (not to mention the hours saved from the tag team match).

Recently my friend was looking for a new truck........Found one on a lot. Offered the salesman a price......Salesman said "Lets go inside and talk" Friend said "you go inside and talk. I'm going home"........And he did.

 

[LVSteve]

I'm fairly certain that BMWs on the US market all have runflats and no spare. Many do not even have a space to store a spare of any type. My 2015 3-Series certainly does not.

Buddy has a 2-series SUV and it does have a space, but no spare or tools. They are not an option in the US, but I believe they are required on SUVs in Australia, so the body has the spare wheel well. He bought a space saver and tools as a package from a 3rd party company.

The 'no spare, 50 mile runflat' is OK in much of Europe or the East Coast, but it doesn't fly well out here. We have to pick and chose where we take our runflat only vehicles. This is a real sign in NV. It used to say 'Next gas 100 miles', but that station closed.

 

[RetCapt]

Don't gots to show you no steenking spare tire

Been there, almost did that.

In 2018 we bought a new Jeep Grand Cherokee, with the optional hemi V-8.

After meeting with the sales rep, we went to our hotel before ordering the specific vehicle the next day. I wanted to go through the catalog to find exactly what I wanted.

When I went through the catalog I found what obviously was my true love, a hot rod version of the GC with a larger, much hotter hemi V-8. Checking my computer I found that it would do the quarter mile in 13.4 seconds at 104 mph. I thought this would be ideal for my bride if she were running late to an appointment and needed to make up some time. Since this would probably be our last new car, due to age, I wanted a (practical) hot rod.

This variation was much more expensive than the other GC models, but what price happiness. The catalog listed the included spare tire as one of the small, low speed, distance-restricted donuts. I thought it strange to have to pay extra to get a fifth wheel/tire on the most expensive model in the line.

I had done one of my very best sales pitches to my bride, so I really thought this was going to happen. The sales rep did not understand why this model did not come with a regular spare tire, so he checked with the sales manager. Turns out the wheel/tire system that was stock on this car was too large to fit into the well in the rear floor. Thus, no conventional spare tire.

We live in a very isolated mountain area, including almost no cell coverage. Besides that we were just about to start a two month+ road trip through the Canadian and American Rocky Mountain west. Hugh isolated areas.

So we defaulted to the standard hemi. It still runs pretty well, the quarter in 15 seconds at 90 mph. My bride has accepted this very gracefully. Some months later, the great road trip done, she was at the local Jeep dealer in Redding, CA, for something minor. She was waiting in the customer lounge, and another individual was there.

Inevitably a conversation got started. They discussed the Jeeps they each had in, when the gentleman mentioned which model each had. It turned out he had the model I had lusted after and why we had not gotten it. The guy chuckled at this and stated this model was a lot of fun to drive, but despite being a Jeep, with all that implies, it really is a city car, not suited to our use.

He was of course right.

I do believe I detected a subtle hint of smug satisfaction on my brides' part when she told me of this conversation.

 

[Rodan]

Even my GPS knew 50 was the "loneliest road in America"...

 

[Bullet Bob]

"I'm fairly certain that BMWs on the US market all have runflats and no spare."

Heck, BMW's don't even have a dipstick to check your oil. I understand their thought process, electronics are pretty good these days. And, how many people who have them, use them? But still.

I have a real soft spot for automobiles of any type and age. That's just like my firearm soft spot, so it must be me.

 

[Rat458]

Wife had a BMW that had that setup.
No spare and a can of Fix a flat.
No problem,we have AAA.
Got a flat on the beach,tow company would not set foot on the beach.
Car full of kids and grandkids.
Not a good day,lucky she didn't ruin the rim driving the short distance into town.
Got rid of that car,was a money pit.
Made sure her new car has a spare tire and a Dipstick.

 

[steelslaver]

Not only are the donuts only rated for a few miles, but many cars will not go above 35 mph with one on a drive axle as the anti lock brake system reads the difference in wheel rpms and limits your speed. Ask me how I found this out 50 miles from somewhere that could fix a tire. There are places in Montana where it would be a long way to a tire repair shop and AAA isn't what it used to be and you may end up sitting a long long time. I carry full sized spare, a 12 volt compressor and a plug kit in every rig.

 

[NYlakesider]

Wife had a BMW that had that setup.
No spare and a can of Fix a flat.
No problem,we have AAA.

Got a flat on the beach,tow company would not set foot on the beach.


Car full of kids and grandkids.
Not a good day,lucky she didn't ruin the rim driving the short distance into town.
Got rid of






That's the way it is up here in the lake area I live in. They will not go off a paved road or driveway.

My truck needed towing and I was asked that question. On the phone talked to the tow company. Told them I live a 1/2 mile off the paved road and that my driveway is gravel.

Told them I hold a CDL, used to tow for my buddies garage years back and maintain the driveway myself and you will have no problem. Also told them plenty of room to turn around. They were there in a 1/2 hour! Helps out if you can talk the lingo!

 

[ladder13]

Big Money Wasted

 

[LVSteve]

Even my GPS knew 50 was the "loneliest road in America"...

Actually, that sign is on Highway 6 a few miles East of Tonopah, NV. While Highway 50 was given the name 'Loneliest Road in America', it is relatively busy compared to Highway 6 between Tonopah and Ely.

 

[Autonomous]

What's next? No choke button?
Seriously, even bigger vehicles do this too. We have a Class B RV on a 2021 Promaster 3500 chassis. No spare, just the patch kit and pump.
It was $1,000 + to buy a spare and a good mount that didn't just bolt to the rear door skin.

 

[glenwolde]

It all started when they removed the cigarette lighter. They knew they had us.

 

[glenwolde]

Wife had a BMW that had that setup.
No spare and a can of Fix a flat.
No problem,we have AAA.

Got a flat on the beach,tow company would not set foot on the beach.


Car full of kids and grandkids.
Not a good day,lucky she didn't ruin the rim driving the short distance into town.
Got rid of






That's the way it is up here in the lake area I live in. They will not go off a paved road or driveway.

My truck needed towing and I was asked that question. On the phone talked to the tow company. Told them I live a 1/2 mile off the paved road and that my driveway is gravel.

Told them I hold a CDL, used to tow for my buddies garage years back and maintain the driveway myself and you will have no problem. Also told them plenty of room to turn around. They were there in a 1/2 hour! Helps out if you can talk the lingo!

That's kind of odd, as along the Texas coast most of what they do is pull people out of the sand when they get stuck . They charge extra for the beach. Doesn't bother them at all.

 

[smoothshooter]

70K for a car to begin with is nuts. No spare or wrench compounds the problem. What good is AAA if you get a nonrepairable wound in your tire? It is also a safety issue. To me that product is defective at the time of sale. Also, 650 for a tire is nuts.

Consumers put themselves at a disadvantage when they even consider buying such products.

Rant over

AAA will at least get you and your car home. Worth every penny.

 

[31FordA]

Back in 1999, when I bought my ‘94 Grand Marquis, it came with a donut spare. I was not happy with that, so I went to the junk yard and got an extra wheel. Took the wheel to my tire guy, had a new 15” tire mounted and put my new full size spare in the trunk in place of the donut spare. It just fit. I also have a breaker bar in the trunk in place of the lug wrench.

I’ve probably got a half dozen donut spares in the garage from various cars. My new 2011 Grand Marquis still needs a full size spare, but that will have to wait for me to be able to drive again.

 

[smoothshooter]

70K for a car to begin with is nuts. No spare or wrench compounds the problem. What good is AAA if you get a nonrepairable wound in your tire? It is also a safety issue. To me that product is defective at the time of sale. Also, 650 for a tire is nuts.

Consumers put themselves at a disadvantage when they even consider buying such products.

Rant over

AAA will at least get you and your car home. Worth every penny.

 

[yeti]

Had a BMW M3 with runflat Z rated tires, fun car. Seemed weird not to have a spare.
All the problems were mostly electrical OMG another warning light?! No complaints on the tires.
I prefer a spare, but the current Acura doesn't have one either.

 

[StrawHat]

I have not changed a tire in decades. That is what AAA and my mechanics get paid to do. Once my hands started making a living for us, I respect them.

Kevin

 

[Telecaster]

I think we’ve had maybe 3 or 4 punctured tires or less in my wife and my combined 50+ years of driving. I guess we’re lucky.

The last one was on her new Palisade. Took it to an independent tire shop. They said it was between the tread and sidewall area so a plug may not last. It’s lasted just fine so far.