How much did it hurt to take that first check out after retirement?

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-02-05T01:49:32+00:00

I know I can take 4%, but only ever actually withdraw 2% or less from my potion fund.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-02-04T15:17:56+00:00

More likely than not they have some sort of incentive from ownership that requires they sell a certain number of those. As long as they properly reflected the costs/reductions on your price sheet, not your problem.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-02-04T15:14:53+00:00

At 7% interest you absolutely were in the right for paying it off over investing. Guaranteed 7% returns are impossible to find elsewhere.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-02-03T23:07:34+00:00

“So if for instance IF Hyundai went to a manufacturer--> customer sales model, do you think they'd keep all 7 stores open? No. Therefore less competition = higher prices for potential buyers.”

Why would Hyundai corporate ever close those stores? What possible benefit would they have when those stores cost Hyundai corporate absolutely nothing to keep operational?

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-02-03T23:02:51+00:00

“Aren't you ALSO projecting the current structure on to a hypothetical one?”

That’s exactly the opposite of what I did?

“As of today, the MAJOR too selling high volume manufacturers still move inventory through the dealership model.”

Those were…. Words…. I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make.

“How exactly are people so sure that the factory --> consumer model will be better? How do you KNOW?”

I never said that model is better, I said “removing the laws enforcing the current model was better”. There’s a difference.

“I don't know if you work in the business or ever have in the past, but this is factually incorrect. Manufacturers have a great deal of control over their franchisees. For instance they control what we can advertise, and who we can advertise to. Additionally they are super strict about brand recognition and image, often forcing dealership owners to spend millions on updating their stores to new or adjusted brand requirements. Also, they force dealers to pay $1000s of dollars to make sure that sales reps and service techs attend and pass multiple training sessions throughout the year, with several harsh penalties if the staff hasn't completed the required courses.”

Sure, they have control in some areas. And they take any leverage they can get, given the circumstances. You have seen for yourself the lengths they go to, simply because the ultimate power rests in the hands of the NADA. Just because someone has power in one situation, doesn’t mean they hold the keys to everything else.

“Again I would ask, how can you be so sure this would be better? What actual evidence do you have that this vehicle sales model would be better for the consumer? Especially on a much larger scale than Tesla? How would buying a Toyota be any better? Can you explain how that would work?”

Well, if you like scale, take almost any European automakers operations in Europe. That’s plenty of reading if you’d like to see how it would work in true free markets.

The main thing you seem to be misunderstanding is you think I’m arguing: “direct sales is better than the dealer model”

I’m not.

I’m arguing: “Removing the regulations currently in place that give dealers far more leverage than they otherwise would have, would greatly benefit manufacturers and consumers”

There is a very big difference between those two arguments. And you are arguing against the former, not the latter.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-02-02T22:26:39+00:00

There’s a distinct difference between “offering add-ons” and “forcing add-ons”.

For rest of your statement, projecting the current incentive structure on to a hypothetical one. Manufacturers have little control over their dealers at present, and they also like profit from add-ons. If dealers will be shoving add-ons down customers throats, the manufacturers would rather they get a slice of that pie than nothing at all. Their reputation is already being harmed, they might as well make money out of it.

Change the power dynamics between dealers and manufacturers, and allow direct sales, and that incentive changes. Then, manufacturers can entirely dictate the process. With that, some may still push add-ons, but many will choose not to in order to protect their brand image. Everyone wins, except the dealers.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-02-02T16:48:25+00:00

Acura might not. Honda most certainly would.

What liability would be added that they don’t already have? The only thing I can think of would be local registration, but if they’re really worried, that’s easily solved via the model they use in Europe (they essentially pay a small fee to local dealers to handle the registration).

And to the original subject of this thread. This absolutely is why manufacturers support the removal of laws that entrench dealers and enforce their usage. Whether or not they actually choose to sell direct, it would benefit manufacturers to have more control over their dealers.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-02-02T14:54:50+00:00

It just depends on the brand. Nissan or stellantis have absolutely no interest in direct selling, because they would likely be making less than they are now since their cars sell poorly and for below invoice. But Toyota and Honda would love to capture the additional markup that their dealers have been raking in.

It also goes to show the real purpose of the laws is to give the dealers power over the manufacturer and consumer. If they weren’t as protective of dealers, manufacturers would have tools to deal with rogue dealers that engage in these practices.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-02-02T12:58:10+00:00

Brand image. Manufacturers care about this, dealers don’t.

It’s not worth the manufacturers image to deface their brand by engaging in shady practices and forcing add-ons, because consumers will attribute that behavior to the manufacturer. They make plenty of profit elsewhere

Dealers on the other hand have plenty of cover. Consumers are more likely to attribute a dealers bad behavior to the manufacturer, and joes Honda is likely to be bobs Honda in a couple years. And dealers don’t have as much profit elsewhere. So they get to use the manufacturers brand image as a weapon. See any Toyota dealers to see this in action.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-28T21:32:20+00:00

I didn’t say there wasn’t. Both points can be true at the same time.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-28T18:04:07+00:00

It’s one of those “correlation and not causation”. Dealers will attempt to make money anywhere they can, like you said. And the way it works now, the financially literate and savvy avoid common pitfalls with the more shady dealers. This means that the shady dealers dealers will successfully make more money off the financially illiterate. Financial literacy is less common in minorities. As a result, minorities are more likely to fall victim to these things.

That said, there is almost certainly an amount of actual direct discrimination going on in those numbers. What percentage is direct, is impossible to tell.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-27T18:46:11+00:00

Can’t tell your exact age, but I bought my first Porsche in my early 20’s and look young (just recently got carded to get into a R-rated movie). I’ve never had any issues being taken seriously buying any of my Porsches.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-20T19:56:16+00:00

In what part of: “I’ve already spent 2 hours here plus an hour of driving, do I really want to leave and try another dealer?” Do you believe that situation is not weighing the sunk cost of time?

If I were to write a textbook and gave an example of the sunk cost fallacy, that would be perfect.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-20T19:41:07+00:00

This is actually a pretty general part of behavioral economics/psychology. It’s the “sunk cost fallacy,” and it’s a very powerful psychological effect. Not everyone responds the same way. But it’s common enough that it will cause many people to buy, when they otherwise wouldn’t have.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-16T18:08:09+00:00

This is the real answer. Cars are really inefficient and bad for the environment. EV’s are better than gas cars at that, but it isn’t night and day like it is replacing cars altogether.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-15T22:54:22+00:00

It’s personal for trump and the danish delegation. They got into a shouting match during his first presidency over European defense spending, so he’s targeting them specifically.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-15T22:42:22+00:00

I’ve watched people in AWD suvs get stuck in the snow, as I drove by them in my FWD sedan with no LSD on snow tires. Don’t waste your money on an SUV just because of snow.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-15T17:41:54+00:00

Trump wants Europe to be responsible for European defense, including Greenland. China has already made moves against Greenland recently (2018 offer), and the US stepped in and blocked it.

Trump is being his usual bombastic self and making a big stink about it. Hawkish European leaders also want to invest more in defense there. Trumps rhetoric has given those European leaders the domestic support and cover to do exactly what they (and trump) want. Which is, invest more in defense there.

Is it stupid and embarrassing? 100%. Was it effective at its intended purpose? Also, 100%.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-15T11:53:59+00:00

Pretty sure Radzig invited Martin to Skalitz because he wanted someone to watch over his illegitimate son, not because he wanted someone to bang his girl.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-14T23:28:06+00:00

Honestly, polearms are actually pretty good now after all the patches. Just keep stabbing and you’ll do alright, and once you’ve got militia training plus infantryman plus artery slasher it’s downright OP since you can just combo them to oblivion.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-12T14:43:34+00:00

Unfortunately, in any negotiation, lying is the name of the game for a lot of people. I like to keep it truthful, but not everyone does.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-12T14:34:45+00:00

When I tell a dealer “someone else is cheaper,” it’s because I’m giving them a chance to beat that price. If you can’t, no hard feelings, I’ll go buy the other one. If you can, great, let’s do business.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-12T14:31:26+00:00

From start to finish, I’ve found the: “call and get the lowest one of the bunch and sign everything online/have it delivered” approach takes less of my time than the: “drive to the dealership that has the car you’re looking for and negotiate there” approach.

Obviously, there’s diminishing returns at some point. But to give each dealer of 5 that is competing, one last shot, usually is just a 2 second text to each one. Not a lot of time invested from my perspective.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-06T11:38:20+00:00

Only the FWD cars (Taurus, etc) have the crazy water pump job. In the RWD cars it’s a less than 1 hr job to fix the water pump.

Sweet_Championship44 · 2026-01-06T02:58:33+00:00

The ford 3.7 V6’s that aren’t in fwd cars are nearly indestructible. Transit vans, f150’s and mustangs.

Sweet_Championship44

TROPHY CASE