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REALTORS® Choice Award: Vehicle of the Year

By
Education & Training with ToniHogan.com

OK, I promise this is my last blog post for the day. But I just got the brilliant idea and had to share it.

I have been a huge Hyundai fan for several years now. I bought a brand new Sonata and traded it in three years later for a brand new Sante Fe.

I think it must be the warranty because the resale/trade-in value is craptacular. I also love the way the vehicles look. However, I've decided not to buy another car until I can get my dream car. I won't even go to the Hyundai dealership to get my oil changed. I have no will power!

Well, I went to my car (small SUV) to get my wireless keyboard and mouse from
my new "mobile office." It's so cool. I have a printer and power converter in the back of my car. On the way back into the house a light bulb came on!

 

 

Chrysler has a new Town & Country with a table. Yes, a table! I immediately began to play out the scene in my head where I'm showing a client a house and the LOVE it! So, I say let's step into my office and draw up a contract. And, guess where we go...

  

I have never been fan of minivans but this is so kewl! So much for my Mercedes CLS. I give this vehicle the REALTORS® Choice Vehicle of the Year Award!

Posted by

 

Toni Hogan®
Agent Success Coach

ToniHogan.com
AgentSuccessMBA.com

Comments (18)

Mike Norvell Sr
Morris Williams Realty - Leesburg, FL
Norvell Consulting Group
Wow, very nice post. you really seem to have a wish list building I fluctuate on what my next car will be. I have had a very nice Caddy STS for the las t four years, and that is about as long as I have ever kept a primary car. Not willing to make the leap back to mini van land though...best wishes
Nov 14, 2007 01:48 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate
LOL. I love my car so much I bought it at the end of the lease. Of course, with real estate being in such a wonderful predicament right now, I can't afford a new one anyway and now I'm spoiled. So I'd rather drive a 4 year old Infiniti FX45 than a brand new... whatever it is. I don't really want anything else anyway. So I'm feelin ya!
Nov 14, 2007 01:51 PM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos
I keep hearing such good things about Hyundai products.  Sounds like a good choice.
Nov 14, 2007 01:52 PM
Toni Hogan
ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX
Mike, if I ever do get my Mercedes CLS I can't imagine that I would drive it around for doing real estate business. Although, it would hold up. So, I guess I could do both when I am a Top Producer. LOL!
Nov 14, 2007 01:52 PM
Toni Hogan
ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX

Lisa, we passed by a new Infiniti FX45 today. It was candy apple red with the paper tags still on it. My son and his best friend were in the car with me. We each said that was a nice car in our own way...I think it went something like this:

ME: Wow, cool!

My son: That's ice! (whatever that means)

Bo: Nice ride!

It sounded like it had a roaring engine in it too!

Bill, I like my Hyundai, especially the 10-year warranty. I just don't like that they lose a LOT of value. I barely had 30K miles on my Sonata when I traded it in at three years old. I actually flipped 30K while driving around looking for my new Sante Fe in the color I wanted. They gave me less than $7,000 for it. Maybe things will change as they improve the brand.

Nov 14, 2007 01:59 PM
Donna Grady
Keller Williams Realty - Wilmington, NC
Bringing Home Results
You and I both got the same idea with the Town and Country.  I am driving a 1999 Plymouth Voyager (minivan) with 172,120 miles to date.  Last spring my mechanic told me I would have to replace it.  After crying in his ear about how this car has all my memories of being a soccer mom travelling to all the games, he agreed to try to fix it.  He reminded me that after all it was a piece of machinery and could be replaced.  When I picked it up two weeks later, he said that he really can't believe that he was able to fix it.  He said that I had about two more years with it.  Sadly, the paint is bubbling and peeling on it.  I know that being Realtor is about setting an image and most Realtors have new, shiney, expensive cars.  Two weeks ago when I drove a couple from Chicago around our city, was the first time that I actually felt embarrassed about my car.  But the Dodge Caravan has the same table set up but will be cheaper than the Town and Country.  Got to sell quite a few more homes before I can get a new car.
Nov 14, 2007 02:07 PM
Toni Hogan
ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX
Donna, sorry to hear about your baby. :-) At 172K miles, I think she's done her duty for you. Just remember you might have to give up the vehicle but no one can take your memories. Thanks for the heads up on the Dodge. That Chrysler is a little pricey.
Nov 14, 2007 02:14 PM
Gary Bolen
McCall Realty - South Lake Tahoe, CA
CRS - Lake Tahoe Real Estate Information


The table between the seats looks really cool. We've got a few choices: in the summer a big cadillac is fun, in winter, and most of the time, it's an expedition for us. Gulp.

best 

Nov 14, 2007 02:17 PM
Toni Hogan
ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX
Gary, my husband's Dodge Ram 1500 has more room than my Sante Fe but the kids hate the back seat. It's like a bench and very uncomfortable on long road trips. My back seat reclines but there's not much elbow room for three kids. If you have a 7-11 in your town then that would be a BIG Gulp! I just paid $50 to fill up my car. My husband pays almost double. I don't EVEN want to know what it costs for the Expedition. :-)
Nov 14, 2007 02:22 PM
David Swierczynski
Retired - Antioch, IL
RETIRED
I have always been an advocate of used Range Rovers. My current one only has 130 some miles on it and I retired the prior with over 200K! The classic style means your never driving anything out of date (even at 10 years old). You can pick these vehicles up CHEAP and because they cost so much new they are usually well taken care of. Horrible gas milage is their achilles heel but hey your driving a Range Rover ;-) 
Nov 14, 2007 02:31 PM
Joyce "Joy" Mahaney Brewster
High Profile Realty - Glendale, AZ
I love this blog and you make many wonderful points although the last minivan with the table, really takes the cake.  That's THE ONE!!!!!!!  It gets my vote too.
Nov 14, 2007 02:35 PM
Michael Sloan
RE/MAX Advantage - Las Vegas, NV
Vegas, Nevada RE/MAX Advantage Las Vegas, Nevada
I am not a mini van fan./ but i see your logic. very nice! I currently drive a Ford F-150, amd it does not work well when i have families or older clients. i have been pondering the concept of which car would be the most ideal. I know it will not be a mini van, but sonata..... maybe. thank you for the post!
Nov 14, 2007 02:38 PM
Toni Hogan
ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX

Yeah David, but does it have a table? :-P Just kidding!

Joyce, my client was impressed that I typed their lease application and went to the car to print it out. Imagine how impressed they'd be if we just drafted up the paperwork in my mobile office. :-) All I would need then is Starbucks! haha!

Nov 14, 2007 02:40 PM
Toni Hogan
ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX
Michael, if you are thinking car and Hyundai the new Azera is really nice. If you are thinking SUV, the Sante Fe now has a third row and a slightly sleeker design. Go ahead, ask me anything Hyundai. LOL!
Nov 14, 2007 02:43 PM
Kyle McWilliams
Pacific Coast Executive Realty - San Diego, CA
Hyundai is the way to go.  I drive an XG350 and i absolutely love it.  That Town & Country is gorgeous but quite a bit too pricey.  Stick with Hyundai if you ask me  :)  Just my two cents.
Nov 14, 2007 03:28 PM
Toni Hogan
ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX
Kyle, I used to love the XG350. They don't make it anymore. My husband was in Denver this week on business and they put him in the Hyundai Entourage...the new minivan. He said it was great. I probably won't get the Chrysler minivan or any other vehicle for now. But, I still think the office on wheels concept is groovy.
Nov 14, 2007 03:52 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Toni, I like the table alot. But, I drove a mini van for 10 years carting my kids around and I was glad to be out of it. Too bad you can't just pop a table out of the trunk, hidden somewhere.
Nov 14, 2007 10:04 PM
Toni Hogan
ToniHogan.com - Houston, TX

Missy, I am not a mini van type but I have bought a vehicle to accomodate my business needs. That's how I got the Sante Fe. I need a vehicle to cart around my preschool gymnastics equipment when I taught classes at daycare centers. Gee, that was fun.

But the Santa Fe is not a mini van. :-)

Nov 14, 2007 11:04 PM