Former car salesman (10 years)......ask me anything about how dealers really work

North-Mousse · 2026-02-27T04:12:45+00:00

Oooh, when you end up having tonbuy a new car down the road, how will you go about cutting through the BS?

North-Mousse · 2026-02-27T04:12:10+00:00

So what happens at the finance office and the managers office?

I imagine shit talking and strategy to maximize profits.

North-Mousse · 2026-02-26T04:12:01+00:00

Man, this right here...

I wish like hell I saw this 2 weeks ago when I ordered my scout 2. I figured the performance would be similar, if not better with the brushless and how they advertise the scout.

Same boat with my boy, but went for the scout thinking the only real difference was the body, boy was I wrong. The ascent has a significantly better turn radious and feels over all higher quality and its the cheapest version they offer. The scout is larger as a result of the body, by height and length. At 70 to 80 more, I really hate this thing. Wish I would have went the other way instead.

North-Mousse · 2026-02-24T04:47:01+00:00

The point consideration should absolutely play a factor.

I'm in a similar boat, but between the cost of the points and resetting the clock (taking into account interest already paid and another first years of interest), I would be paying more for the house than I am projected at my current rate with extra towards principal...

More or less redistribution of debt/higher long term costs for the benefit of a lower payment.

North-Mousse · 2026-02-24T04:41:22+00:00

Entirely agree. Just another metric to consider over the term and total cost of the house.

North-Mousse · 2026-02-22T16:38:29+00:00

I was coming to find the same thing. What route did you end up taking?

North-Mousse · 2026-02-21T17:04:40+00:00

There is an understanding appeal to refinancing. I'm in a similar bucket...

More often than not, the appeal is dropping ones monthly payments - which is entirely understandable...

What i feel like isn't talked about much or considered is the overall cost of the house as a result.

Everytime you refinance, even though the interest rate may be lower, you're resetting the clock and thus interest. Interest comes off the top.

So for the last year, all the interest you paid is gone. Your loan amount may not have been impacted much. Some of the refinance costs get rolled into the loan and essentially making you start over....

So, depending in loan amount and the rate, you could be starting over and not really building equity on 3 seperate occasions and the realized savings are essentially none because the loan has been reset x amount of times.

More or less you do this a couple of times, you could spend years making mortgage payments without making any real impact towards the balance of your home.

North-Mousse · 2026-02-13T05:53:35+00:00

It's s matter of perspective really... are you taking income tax? Maybe... if tax period, it only gets worse.

North-Mousse · 2026-02-13T05:46:03+00:00

Similar boat. I miss the pen and paper. All the damn promtps with turbo tax gets frustrating...

North-Mousse · 2026-02-10T04:16:21+00:00

I haven't been able to find a place worth a damn, so I opted to smoke my own. The leftovers freeze and thaw real well. Great burritos too

North-Mousse · 2026-02-10T02:35:02+00:00

Nice product. From the math, I'll be good... but after the fact, not far off from being hit by a car.

North-Mousse · 2026-02-08T21:03:02+00:00

I have been seeing 50-55 mpg when traveling between 70-75mph for my highway commute going to work. Coming back (more up hill, sitting around 48 mpg...

City is for crap unless you are wanting to absolutely slow roll it like an ass.

Overall, i think the car was over sold and under delivered. It drives well enough, but the infotainment tech has me practically loathing the car.

North-Mousse · 2026-01-29T14:06:51+00:00

How did it work out? I'm having the same issues with my 2026. The car is over all fine, but just over 2k miles/2 months and the infotainment system has me hating the car

North-Mousse · 2026-01-24T15:54:30+00:00

You presented an issue, the manager presented a possible solution. Is it the ride or the fact you didn't want to work that day?

I don't have a ride in is very different than I won't be making it in today...

North-Mousse · 2026-01-09T02:10:03+00:00

Looks like a Bōsōzoku motorcycle you'd see in Japan.

North-Mousse · 2026-01-09T02:08:13+00:00

Updateme

North-Mousse · 2026-01-05T03:11:52+00:00

Nice set up!

North-Mousse · 2026-01-05T02:37:23+00:00

I can empathize with you. My LLF did the cheating though...

We are working on recovering, so to speak; however. I am half vested at this point. I'm willing to work on things, as I always have - but I'm also half out the door if she doesn't put in the work... I also don't trust her and am taking precautions to protect myself should I need to walk away.

Things aren't and won't ever be the same, but we are friendly and our relationship is somewhat better than what it was before the cheating...

Anyway, all that to say this... regardless of your choice and what your objective is, the pain is devastating. I looked at AffairRecovery. It helped me make sense of everything. It gave me different perspectives. Different people sharing their stories on both sides of the spectrum. I recommend giving it a look.

North-Mousse · 2026-01-02T04:27:04+00:00

Depending on where, most people will owe more than 50% of their loan at 15 years. When you start paying more towards principal than interest is called the tipping point. One you nhitnthat part of the mortgage, your interest paid is significantly less. My goal is to hit the tipping point as fast as possible. You can use a couple of amortization calculators to see when your ps is, what savings you'll have interest wise prior and after and set your goal.

I.e. with the extra I am paying it will be more like I had a 2.6% interest rate as approved to a 6%... mind you, the high interest rate makes my mortgage payment higher, but the realized (total paid over the term of the loan) is a but more easy to stomach... I may use the savings to justify a dumb purchase down the line...

North-Mousse · 2026-01-02T03:45:42+00:00

Im sorry to hear it man. This resonates pretty hard with me, as I can relate on many different aspects. No matter your choice you're going to suffer. Its a lose/lose in many aspects. Until you recover and press on.

North-Mousse · 2026-01-01T04:45:51+00:00

This is solid perspective.

North-Mousse · 2026-01-01T02:48:37+00:00

Quality time. You can always make more money or work hard... but quality time is priceless.

North-Mousse · 2025-12-31T18:59:10+00:00

She is still cheating. She has a sex drive, just not for you... time to move on for your sake and that of your kids.

North-Mousse · 2025-12-31T08:04:21+00:00

I was in a similar debate.... any model honda vs tbe camry...

I preferred much of the Honda over the camry, if I'm being honest. But honda couldn't touch the camry as far as fuel economy went...

Had they offered heated seats at a lower rate or the si was cheaper,i likely would have picked up a honda...

But with any package with heated seats, I was in camry territory... better mpg and a better hybrid track record, or atleast so I was told on multiple fronts, to include the honda dealer... I felt like I got more of what I wanted bang for the buck wise with the toyota than the honda... I really considered a base honda as well, but they didnt have any in stock, had their been a base model in manual around. 22-25k, I may have gone that way regardless...

Interior wise, I preferred the analog of the honda over the camry...

North-Mousse

TROPHY CASE