Ask Your Friendly Grassroots Car Dealer

nderwater wrote: What are the most memorable cars you've had on your lot?

We had 3 different NSX's, a 700hp Supra Turbo, a 930 911 Turbo, an H1 Hummer Diesel, 7 Type-R Integras over the years, one of which was stolen from the lot . A Lotus Elise, a GT-R, multiple WRX's, 2 STi's, multiple EVO's, 2 MR2 Turbos, an IS300 with a 2JZ and a 6-speed, 3 2.3-16 Mercedes 190s, at least 15 M3's, 3 M Coupes one of which was an s54 car, a 2001 911 Turbo, a pristine 320i BMW, a 1970's Celica, 15 B13 SE-R's, countless Civics, s2000's and 240sx's.

I am sure I am forgetting something, we sold over 1800 cars in the 9 years we had the lot.

That's quite a desirable line-up! Were there any cars that you were sorely tempted to keep for yourself, or did keep for yourself?

Lots of the cars were hard to part with, but that is the beauty of having a dealer license to feed automotive ADD.

The hard part was when I sold my portion of the dealership and went to the Police academy. Driving the same car for several months in a row took some getting used to. When I got back into flipping cars in 2011 it helped with the ADD but I had my second child then which put a damper on the fun cars. I drive a FJ60 land cruiser now.. It has A/C and the kids fit in the back.

I made $30K at Carmax working part time (3 days a week, 1 4 day week a month)

There is money, it is just how dedicated and clever you are.

i never had anything too exotic really. not compared to pimpm3 anyway. I try to stick to what I know. Lots of saturn S-series cars, though that herd is thinning. Mazdas. I do really well with Buick's too.

i traded for a nice '86 AE86 GT-S corrola for $500. unfortunately that was in like '98 or '99, when it was just a used car.

i also got a an early '80's 280zx once that had 440k miles showing.

belteshazzar wrote: it is remarkable how many guys have been dealers their whole lives, and know virtually nothing about cars.

I also find it remarkable how many people who have driven cars their whole lives and know virtually nothing about cars.

Until 2006, my little business was a gold mine. As leasing disappeared, the business has gotten tougher & tougher. When Toyota was leasing 400K cars a year & VW was doing similar numbers, the auctions were flooded with clean, three year old lease turn ins that I could buy, do minimal work to and sell quickly. We were the cheapest place around (low overhead) & did 90+ cars a month. It was great! Even though the business has changed drastically since then, I still love going to work every morning and there is nothing I can imagine that I would rather be doing.

Rupert wrote:

belteshazzar wrote: it is remarkable how many guys have been dealers their whole lives, and know virtually nothing about cars.

I also find it remarkable how many people who have driven cars their whole lives and know virtually nothing about cars.

most everyone drives, but if you're in the damn industry...

an example; a fellow dealer swearing to me that his supra had a V6. i pop the hood, only for him to point at the engine and say "see, i was right".

What are "floor plan fees?"

The interest you pay on the money you borrowed to buy cars with.

Awesome thread, came close to opening my own dealership but backed out in the melt down.

Pimpm3 has the best setup, if only I cold find a friend like that!

In reply to belteshazzar:

I do primarily wholesale at the moment. Is there anything you can sell in Nebraska that might be cheaper here in the northeast? A good friend of mine was selling Chrysler 300s to a Chrysler dealer in Omaha, but they had to have chrome wheels. Anything I can supply you with?

i appreciate the idea, but the stuff i sell is so cheap already, it doesnt leave much room for gravy.

i realize a lot of my comments arent necessarily encouraging. its a ton of hours as an owner. and the pay isnt glamorous. youre also the bad guy in virtually every situation.

so why does anyone do it. i'm personally not qualified to do anything else. at least not AS qualified. another weird reason for me is the cash. and by cash i mean cash. like a guy came in and bought an old audi off me yesterday and gave me 3200 dollars in 20's. sure, only 800 or 900 of them were profit. sure i went all week without making a penny. but it still gives me a buzz having it in my hand. its really good ive never warmed up to gambling.