Carl,

It has been a while, however, in response to your email & post - allow me to say this:

Although no longer Used Car Director of Beach Auto Group, it's still safe to say business is striving toward an upward slope. Fixed ops are just that. As for sales, the current economic position of most dealers today (moreso Import Dealers), is focusing on customer retention, maintaining stong gross & more importantly - getting the deals bought by the banks. Even though more and more indirect lending sources are standing on the sidelines, it's still safe to say the rebound is near. As usual, your profit's in the used car dept. Period. This isn't 1999 (pre-dot-com-bust) when everyone was All-in for the new car & would lay-down at your door, pen/check in hand.

Demographically - Boston is where it's at. Dense city-urban generation x/y, etc..etc... Not to mention the 40,000 college students, which most that graduate next month need wheels. Small city-more money = stronger economy within the Region.

Again, thanks for the inquisition - however you need to be a pro right now to make any money -- AND you needed to be surrounded by them as well. Remember, You're only as strong as your weakest link.

-Benjamin Stimer