37 replies to this topic

[FreeLantz]

I think the new MKZ might make a difference.  The more I see of it, the more I like.

[DaveAdmin]

Quote

If you ask me, just from what I can tell of this generation at large that are college aged now is that by and large they do not care about luxury brands.

Yeah, that's why nobody buys Beats or Bose headphones when they can get superior models from "lesser" brands (e.g. Sennheiser and Grado) for half the price.

I've heard that one before. Yet I'll bet that most college kids look up at BMW and anything else German, and down at pretty much anything American other than perhaps Hemi Challengers, Mustangs, and Corvettes. And maybe big pickups and SUVs -- anything Detroit can acceptably make well without leaving their stereotypes.

[trumpet12345]

DaveAdmin, on May 3, 2012 at 08:07 am, said:

Yeah, that's why nobody buys Beats or Bose headphones when they can get superior models from "lesser" brands (e.g. Sennheiser and Grado) for half the price.

I've heard that one before. Yet I'll bet that most college kids look up at BMW and anything else German, and down at pretty much anything American other than perhaps Hemi Challengers, Mustangs, and Corvettes. And maybe big pickups and SUVs -- anything Detroit can acceptably make well without leaving their stereotypes.

Well perhaps it is just demographic. If you had them the keys from their daddy's german car, they will probably drive it like they stole it-though the same is to be said with a camry. Maybe it is just because where I am, but most the people seem to want hip, sporty, and not luxury. About the only "Car" people on campus are the jeep people, and they want nothing to due with the germans.

Now at the last school I was at, it was divided. The rich kids, used to their family money, would choose an overpriced luxury car because they flaunt themselves. The other half, the lesser off half, wanted anything with wheels that ran. If given the choice, they also seemed to not opt for german luxury. Maybe a bit of spite, not wanting to be what they hated to see?

[JA Cumbo]

IMO, the last car Lincoln made that I actually wanted was the LS V8.

[PCRMike]

Or maintenance costs keep the lower income folks out of them.

[DaveAdmin]

Insurance companies have realized that younger drivers are a huge risk and jacked up premiums. A lot of people just can't afford 'em. Heck, it'll cost me nearly $2,000 a year for my daughter when she starts, and I'm on a nonprofit discount plan. I've also been using the company for decades or so and nobody's ever paid a claim on my behalf... except one other guy's insurance company back in the mid-80s.

PS> Not that they gave me a break on my homeowner's insurance just because of that.

[PCRMike]

Well, our insurance runs us about 100 a month, with two drivers, three vehicles, all just liability.  My daughters just got their license and it shot up to 210.  I do get a good rate on homeowners.  Allstate has done me good.

[eekamouse]

trumpet12345, on February 4, 2012 at 06:47 pm, said:

I wish lincoln would try something radical. Like, bring back a flagship sedan that reminds people of the old school cadillac and other big cars of the past. Give it a 2.0 ecoboost or something, and make it just well rounded in mpg and speed. It would just be the most unique new thing on the road. The thrill of the oldschool look with modern tech and safety, reliability, etc. Yeah full size sedans are on there way out, but this is a seperation from slightly larger midsize, this would boost a big trunk to actually hold stuff again. Lincoln needs a radical departure, a seperation from all other luxury car companies and Heck-at least something this radical would sell more than 5000 units based soley on it being the cool new thing all the old money would want to at least look at-a blast from the past they were into.

How about bringing back the Mk. II? If not in execution, how about in substance? Ford doesn't seem to know what to do with the Lincoln brand. Which is sad.

[jsb399]

PCRMike, on May 4, 2012 at 02:30 pm, said:

Well, our insurance runs us about 100 a month, with two drivers, three vehicles, all just liability.  My daughters just got their license and it shot up to 210.  I do get a good rate on homeowners.  Allstate has done me good.

Allstate has the best auto rates, I left State Farm and dropped my premiums in half (with flawless driving record).
Allstate is a little bit high for homeowners in my opinion.
Check out personal umbrella policy for liablity, it's a crazy world out there. Can get $2 million coverage for only $338 per year.

Edited by jsb399, May 5, 2012 at 10:53 am.

[PCRMike]

Good to know.  I am going to see Jim today and I will ask.  Thanks!

[Doug D]

jsb399, on May 5, 2012 at 10:52 am, said:

Allstate has the best auto rates, I left State Farm and dropped my premiums in half (with flawless driving record).
Allstate is a little bit high for homeowners in my opinion.
Check out personal umbrella policy for liablity, it's a crazy world out there. Can get $2 million coverage for only $338 per year.

Allstate may have the best rates, but I found their customer service to be lacking.  In short, they stink.  After being with GEICO for years we switched to Allstate as GEICO had been going up on their premiums over the years.  Switched to Allstate.  Then we switched our homeowners to Allstate (had Liberty Mutual).  All fine and good.  Then we received a letter from the homeowners stating they were dropping our policy as they found one tree had branches touching the house.  Didn't even give an option of cutting the tree down (which I eventually did) or trimming it back.  After a few phone calls, I went back to LM for the homeowners (policy was listed as lapsed, but not cancelled so I reinstated it).  Also switched the auto to LM.  We may pay a little more, but the LM policy is 12 months vs 6 months anywhere else so at least it's locked in for an entire year.  And we do get discounts for having both policies with LM along with good driver discounts and good student discount for my son.

I will say GEICO has excellent customer service - at least in the claims division.  When we did have a claim, I didn't get into a long song and dance of denial.  They paid as expected and we didn't have to get into a arguement over coverage.

[DaveAdmin]

Make SURE you know what you're getting with Allstate. They've been known to retroactively change their terms.

What you're paying is irrelevant unless you list the amount of liability and your location. Insurance varies by location and liability.

[PCRMike]

Ditto, Dave.  I have it in writing.  My agent is really good on keeping up with those things too.  He watches the policies for changes.  I got a call last month that they were looking to lower my coverage, and he called me to ask if I had requested that.  I told him no and he fixed it.

[Mopar AL]

How did Lincoln turn into Insurance R Us

[PCRMike]

(guilty as charged)  I dunno.  <:-)

[Ian]

JA Cumbo, on May 3, 2012 at 07:22 pm, said:

IMO, the last car Lincoln made that I actually wanted was the LS V8.

And believe me, you don't want a Lincoln LS. They're expensive to fix and far from being the most reliable. Take that from me, working in the Service dept. of a Ford/Lincoln dealership.

[jsb399]

http://www.detroitne...ext|FRONTPAGE|p

[CherokeeVision]

jsb399, on May 14, 2012 at 11:35 am, said:

http://www.detroitne...ext|FRONTPAGE|p

Perhaps people are tiring of the sharp edged Cadillac styling? I took an art class in college and while at the time I thought my sharp geometric shapes were great the Instructor hated them. Now I can see why.