🤌 Vintage Rides *Chef’s Kiss*

TOGETHER WITH

There are a few things about the job of the porter we can learn from. First, a porter is a listener. Think of all the things they know about every employee and your loyalest of customers. Second, they have excellence in mind. You know, the ones you can count on to line up the new car row with a pristine amount of precision. Lastly, nothing is outside their scope of work or gets called into question because of their pay plan. Light changed? Got it. Car moved? Got it. Leaves blown? Got it. Tables set up? Done.

Seems like we could all use a little 'porter' in us to start this week...

Keep Pushing Back-Paul, Kyle, & Chris

DEALERS

💯All Things Used Car’s 100th Episode 🎉

Congratulations to David Long's All Things Used Cars, which celebrated its 100th episode on Friday! It’s a great accomplishment, and we’re proud to be a part of it. 🌋

The centennial session focused on the value and importance of appraisal accuracy. Here were some key dos and don’ts that we took away:

✅ DO include the customer and the salesperson in the walk-through. Allowing the salesperson to be involved in the appraisal process along with the customer shows transparency in the dealership. It helps build rapport and provides the customer a better understanding of their appraisal value.

❌ DON’T skimp on the pictures. Take a bunch, especially of cosmetic defects and the odometer.

✅ DO keep track. Closely monitor your appraisers’ estimated reconditioning evaluation versus the actual reconditioning costs. If you aren’t keeping track, you can’t know if you’re providing accurate appraisals, or where you could be improving.

❌ DON’T skip detailed inspections. Examine the mechanical, electrical, and technological functionality of each vehicle and consider things like:

• How many keys does it have?

• What kind of navigation and infotainment systems does it have? Will it require subscriptions?

• What is the status of the tires and rims?

✅ DO test drive the car. At least a few miles and get it up to 65MPH, if possible, to evaluate things like brakes, alignment, dash alerts, gears, AC/heat, adaptive cruise control, and lane-assist functions.

❌ DON’T forget about your market. When evaluating a car, understand what you have and how it fits into your specific market. For example, if your dealership typically sells a lot of white cars with tan interiors, a blue car with a grey interior is likely going to be less profitable or take longer to move.

Catch the full replay here for lots more A+ appraisal advice.

Telling it like it is - DO practice diligence. DON’T leave money on the table.

AUTOMOTIVE

Nissan, Green Loans, and Alfa Romeo

Last week, we looked at Renault's new battery deal. Nissan is also enjoying the freedom of their rebalanced alliance and pushing into software and EV development independent of Renault.

Nissan, Japan's third-biggest automaker, is looking for a partner outside the auto industry to get their cars smarter and more connected.

This plan could lead to the complete end of their alliance with Renault.

As EV popularity and availability increase, more lenders are offering Green Loans to consumers who shop around. Basically, the loan is a standard auto loan but with a lower rate to incentivize environmentally-friendly vehicles.

Depending on the lender's offerings, customers could save somewhere between .25% and 1.0%.

Another key incentive in green loans is an option to extend the term beyond the standard 24-84 months.

Alfa Romeo plans to be fully electric by 2027, but any journey, even one filled with lightning, starts with a single step.

The brand will release its first electric vehicles in 2024. The Brennero is a crossover easily compared to the Jeep Avenger. Unconfirmed performance and range specifics are also based on the Avenger. 😬

TL: DR - Nissan is on the rebound, Banks are getting into the EV push, and Alfa Romeo is ready to party (next year).

TOGETHER WITH GRAMMARLY

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AUTOMOTIVE

Vintage Cars Are A Solid Investment (If You Can Afford It)

According to Knight Frank's 2023 Wealth Report, vintage cars have risen 185% in value over the past decade. This outpaces the growth of luxury wine, watches, and art, and falls only second behind rare whiskey.

However, it's not a sector for the financially faint of heart. Asset managers like Azimut and Hetica, who are committed to including vintage cars in their portfolio, require a minimum client investment of 125K euros (~$137K).

Market analysts predict that the global race to reduce combustion engines will only serve to heighten interest in retro roadsters and further increase their value.

It makes sense - Luxury cars have all the great qualities of other expensive collectible items but with the added benefit of using them at a drive-in movie.

CULTURE

LEGO’s Lifelike Lookalikes

LEGO and Peugeot Sport have teamed up to bring us an impressively intricate, 1:10 scale model of the 9X8 Hybrid Hypercar, Peugeot’s futuristic racer set to compete at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. 🇫🇷

With 1,775 pieces, it features a faithful replica of the car’s V-6 and electric motors (though sadly no real batteries), and glow-in-the-dark lights. 💡

Race to your nearest LEGO store on May 1st to grab the new set. 🏎️

Video editor and LEGO Masters Australia finalist, Nick Lever, has recreated a super accurate original Nintendo Game Boy in bricks, complete with the angled Start/ Select buttons and the distinctive green-tint screen. ✅

The buttons don’t move, but they do contribute to the replica’s overall *chefs kiss* because the A/B buttons are hats, just like Mario wears. 🤌

You can spend as little as $50 to purchase all of the parts and instructions needed to DIY. 🛠️

Speaking of spot-on replicas you can make at home, remember when LEGO threw this hilarious shade at Tesla’s unveiling of the Cybertruck? 🛻

Image Credit: LEGO/Twitter

Telling it like it is - LEGO really is the GOAT. Surprising to no one, they have those too (but they’ll cost ya). 🐐

Quick Hits

• The NBA fined the Dallas Mavericks $750K on Friday for sitting out its top players to secure a better draft position. 💸

• PBS follows NPR in saying deuces to Twitter. ✌️

• The solar-EV start-up, Lightyear, is already calling it quits, but you can buy their prototypes at auction. ☀️

• Montana lawmakers vote to ban TikTok. 📵

• Following Reuter’s interview of former Tesla employees who raised privacy concerns, two US Senators have written to Elon Musk demanding an explanation. 📬

History

• 1964: Ford Mustang introduced at the New York World’s Fair at a base-price of $2,368.

• 1970: Paul McCartney releases his first solo album, "McCartney.”

• 1972: The Boston Marathon allowed women to compete for the first time

• 2011: The HBO hit "Game of Thrones" premieres.