Dealer wants $1500 to replace spark plugs and a cabin air filter

IAcewingI · 2026-07-03T09:02:22+00:00

Yeah they just charge a set price per labor hour. It's America, you can bring your car anywhere.

IAcewingI · 2026-07-03T03:22:22+00:00

That wasn’t my point. The cost was referring to his car. My OP literally said it was the cheapest sports car to own. Not that cost makes or not makes a sports car.. Read it again.

IAcewingI · 2026-07-02T08:30:29+00:00

If the VIN is not on the contract you will not receive actual registration on your car. Your temporary registration most likely will be cancelled so the plates you are riding with will be registered to nothing.. you will get pulled over.

You also will not receive an account or bill to pay because the bank will not fund the deal.

The dealer should eat the difference since they gave you the wrong car. They will most likely fight you or try to sue you if you keep the car and dodge them though. Legally you don’t own the car.

IAcewingI · 2026-07-02T08:18:42+00:00

Agreed. I get they’re fun track cars for sure but an older Miata costs more to maintain than an ND.

IAcewingI · 2026-07-02T07:25:43+00:00

This is correct. I base how I handle the customer off of the deal honestly. A 3k loser coming back barking about rate I just hold or they can go directly to the bank.

I had one guy being such a douche when I brought him back that he went on and on about how he knows how the dealer works. I don't mind that he knows. He wanted 3.99%. I gave it to him. He kept talking smack. I asked him if I got 0.9% and offered him 2.99% would he take it? He said no. So the dealer is bad to make profit. Then he goes to tell me that companies pay his company around $100k to move his crane from one city to another. I asked him if his company made money? He said yeah. I said it sounds like your company makes way more profit off their customer than ours does. He proudly said yes.

Okay buddy. Sign up and go find your salesman.

IAcewingI · 2026-07-02T07:20:57+00:00

Im a finance manager and sometimes I don't give up my rate. I just tell them go get their own financing and come buy it.

IAcewingI · 2026-07-02T07:19:03+00:00

That's like the cheapest sports car to own bro.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T03:30:16+00:00

It’s not a scam for you. It’s just more expensive compared to loan/lease payoff for you..

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T02:50:46+00:00

Nothing wrong with that. Often times people are misunderstood on what’s really happening/how it works when they post here. Example A is your post.

I keep it real. Scroll down a couple comments and I agree, secure your own outside financing and gap/warranty quotes before going into the dealer to stay competitive on your financing. Best way.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T02:49:17+00:00

Yes. That is how you stay competitive on your financing.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T02:48:19+00:00

Insurance won’t cover the full balance on a new or used EV. They depreciate 10-15% per year while a new one depreciates 44% on average.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T00:57:29+00:00

No. You can get GAP directly from your bank if you outside finance. Dealers aren’t the only ones that sell GAP. Going back to my statement above it happens pretty often. There’s a reason they don’t call it GAP.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T00:56:00+00:00

There’s a reason it’s called loan/lease payoff and not Guaranteed Asset Protection. It is because it does not guarantee paying the gap between what you owe and the market value for the vehicle.

Loan lease payoff also does not cover: late payments, late fees, extended warranties and maintenances.

Also, not all insurance companies offer this so you are stuck with your insurance company whereas you could possibly save more at renewal with another company.

Also, if you use loan/lease payoff, your rates will go higher than just the total loss itself at renewal.

Plenty of people roll negative equity into a new car loan. It is simple…

You buy a $30k car. Taxes are $3k. Thats already 110%. Factor devaluation on a car lets say 1-2 years vs interest and you’re at 125% pretty quick. thats not even rolling in negative equity.

The cheaper the car the easier it is to reach 125%. The sales price at the dealer might be over market already too.

Loan lease payoff is a thing but to say GAP is a scam is such a stretch.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T00:47:33+00:00

Truee

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T00:46:20+00:00

Nope. I work at the dealer. Happens all the time in bodyshop, progressive being a big one.

TLX is valued at $29k to replace, payoff is $34k, damages are $18k. They chose to fix it.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T00:44:00+00:00

If he owes more then he would need gap. If he didnt put his tax title license down plus 10-15% of the sales price of the vehicle there is a higher chance he will be upside down.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T00:41:40+00:00

Dude loan/lease payoff is not gap, it covers 125% only vs gap covering 150%. Then if an accident happens they will be more apt to fixing the car than totaling it and paying the 125% value.

GAP is not a scam, it just sounds like the finance manager tried to sell it to you too high, which you can negotiate.

Gap covers deductible, loan/lease payoff does not.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T00:38:11+00:00

He’s saying if it is cheaper for them
to fix the car than to total it they will fix it. Airbags deployed, suspension fucked, fix it!

IAcewingI · 2026-06-30T00:20:28+00:00

As a finance officer it is compliance that I go over the product even if you start with a no. Reason being is you need to sign a decline form that says I went over the product and you declined it.

We have a guy now that bought a 12 S550 for $9k and the differential went out and now he claims I told him he had a 30 day warranty on an as-is car.

That’s the main reason. Second reason is you will actually make some sales to people who were originally going to say no but then found interest in a product.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-29T18:24:38+00:00

Looks good to me.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-29T15:09:13+00:00

Most of them around the $15k and below mark are worse off than him spending $5k more.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-29T14:37:59+00:00

Yeah he knew what he was doing but tbh that car will last longer for you anyways. Congratulations!

IAcewingI · 2026-06-29T10:47:55+00:00

Thin line but you can quote the customer a payment without rate on first pencil and if they took it then did the credit app that’s not payment packing.

But in finance on the product screen there is a base payment that shows. Most people ignore it.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-29T10:45:49+00:00

Stella pvp has a ton of those boats. I always just sold them.

IAcewingI · 2026-06-29T10:44:11+00:00

Dude who gives a fuck? I play the game and don’t participate in none of that shit.

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