[FWDLK] car lifespans

OK.

I worked at one of the largest Dodge dealerships in northern Ohio

back in the sixties. I worked in the service department for almost three years.

We did everything we could to take care of the customer. Chrysler had their

5 and 50 warranty and people expected a car to be trouble-free for that period.

At least the drive train was to be without worries. I worked my way to the service

write-up and warranty area. I warranted every thing I could for the customer.

Free pick up and delivery. Free towing. Discounts on parts. My reward ? The

owner's daughter married a bean counter who milked our dealership to open

a new dealership in SC and one in Texas, then closed us down.

There wasn't any foreign car to worry about. Triumphs and MGs, Cricket, and

whatever. Simca ? Toyota was no where, and I remember the first Hondas having

a recall to fix all those rusted out fenders.

People who could afford new cars brought them in for major service, and quite a few

brought them in for the oil and filter, brakes, and tune-ups that were our bread and butter.

Of course, the dealerships charged more for these services than the corner gas station

full of untrained kids waiting to learn on the customer's car. I also was one of those,

kids waiting to get my hands on a car needing work. It was less costly to have oil & filter

and tires and brakes done down at the corner gas station. So some people did that.

Chrysler products always had cheap interiors and very strong mechanicals. Once they

escaped from the stodgy designs, they went nuts the other way, with RoadRunners and

SuperBees and cartoon characters, racing workshops, and factory racers. Lightweight

and fast. We wanted those ! I remember mopar having performance since 1955.

Before that, it was square and slow.

Remember, every year they made the new cars faster and better and we wanted those !

The older cars were getting used up and times were good. We sought out the newer stuff.

Then, all of a sudden, insurance and prices went up and performance was dead.

I loved the Toyotas I bought in the seventies, then eighties.

Now we look back with longing for the good old days.

It is amazing that performance cars are now being made. Hurray!

Tom S

southern Ohio 1955 Dodge Coronet

1957 Coronet (project for sale)

(3) Barracudas

(2) Chargers

2005 Mustang GT

From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List on behalf of Ray Jones
Sent: Tue 2/13/2007 1:02 AM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Fwd: Re: [FWDLK] car lifespans

As stated, these were my observations over 30 years or so.
Mostly "Dad" bought his Whatever and then had it serviced down at the
corner Gas Station or Garage. As I remember, that was the way of life.
I'm sure the Mfg. wanted the dealerships to feature service, and most
did, but the Owners and General Managers focused on sales. And this was
mostly about Maintenance services and not heavy repair.

And as I said, I never worked for a domestic, unless it was an add on.
A Toyota dealer I worked for also had AMC, i was actually hired to just
work the AMC line. I could tell you stories about how bad they were to
work on. That cured me, only foreign after that.

Ray

On Feb 12, 2007, at 11:12 PM, eastern sierra Adj Services wrote:

> Ray, with all due respect, I think your memory, about domestic
> dealerships, for whom you may not have worked, is "faulty".
>
>
> Neil Vedder

[FWDLK] car lifespans - domestic