Need I say More :)  http://youtube.com/watch?v=ylNwSv6c7m0

Best of both worlds, Amy!  I drive a '98 Mercedes SUV with more dings and dents than you can shake a stick at!  In the Spring, I actually had a front-end loader drive onto the hood!  My car was parked, so it wasn't a moving violation for me.

The dent wasn't that bad, so I just decided to let it go.  

When clients ask me why I have so many "dings" on my "MERCEDES", I call them "war wounds".  I can tell anyone exactly where I was for each ding or dent.

My car is "me".  I have a few dings and dents.  And I've been through the battles and have won more than a few wars.

If I were a Seller or Buyer?  I'd want ME!

I forgot what the question was after you said, "Fanny Packectomy!" OMG that is funny.

Seriously, what was the question again?

Amy and Cathy, you both have warm, wonderful smiles, and are bright and intelligent. The type of car you drive is most likely way down the list when it come to reasons clients choose you. Pick a car you like, that makes sense to you, and the people who are drawn to you for all kinds of other reasons will likely think higher of that car because you chose it.

Years ago, before I was a Realtor, we used a Realtor that we loved. She helped us find the home we still live in and enjoy to this day. For the life of me I can not remember what type of car she drove. I do remember how she took notes on every comment we made as we looked at homes and said, "I am getting a better and better idea of what you are looking for with each comment you make, keep it up." She was like an ace reporter following a hot story. I remember things she pointed out in the house the first time we walked through it, things she predicted the inspector would spot. I remember how she recommended a particular mortgage company and walked us in and introduced us to the man we'd be working with on the loan. I remember how she gave me a list of documents to bring with me for that initial  meeting at the mortgage company and how the guy smiled and said, "Wow, Carol always has her clients prepared. This is impressive!" We still have the cookie jar she gave us (filled with home baked cookies) just after closing. I would have never dreamed of asking Carol to discount her commission! For the life of me I can't remember her car, however.

Chantal, you snuck in here just before I posted my comment. I would have included you in the above comment directed at Amy and Cathy.

Excellent topic Amy.

I'd imagine there's a fine balance between looking professional and looking like you don't need the commission, or that you're out of touch with the average buyer.  I also would think it depends quite a bit on what market, and what market segment, you operate in.  Would you agree?

By the way, I had my fanny pack-ectomy in the eighties.  No complications, but the scars are still there ;)

My first broker, when I asked what kind of vehicle I needed for RE (which I always associated with Caddies, and I am not a Caddy person) told me "One with comfortable seats and a good AC!"

(I'm on the AZ Colorado River where it gets HOT)

That was good advice numero uno!

2. Easy for a fitness-challenged person to climb in and out of.

3. Enough leg room in back seat for a tall man to be comfortable.

I test 2 using my 80 year old dad. If he can climb in, I'm good.

I test 3 using my 6' 2 1/2" husband.  LOL he should always be in the  back seat!!!  ;)

In my area I NEED a 4 x 4 for traversing the good earth.

Ford Exploder Sport Trac 4 x 4 with all terrain tires, moon roof, leather seats and vinyl floors, dual zone AC and headphone jack for back seat (kids) is my drug of choice. I LOVE that vehicle and will probably replace with a new one soon.

I still want that white Vette, Bill! Not for RE though. :)

Good topic Amy. I drive a 4 door Toyota Tacoma 4x4 truck with a gazillion miles on it. I'll always have a truck. When I show property, it's always clean and presentable, but my wife says otherwise... lol

Carey, did you ditch the "Members Only" jacket too??? How about the single glove???

Craig, my sequined white glove only comes out for weddings and impromptu group dance parties :)

Carey, the sequinectomy wasn't permanent?

I drive a Dodge Dakota 4 door pick-up.  The back doors open to 90 degrees out which make it easy to get into.  I very seldom have a man set in the back seat.  Just one of them man things.  I show waterfront, ranches, and res.  I think the biggest thing is that it is clean.  I can take it to the detailer a lot of times for the difference in price of say a Hummer, Caddy,or Lexus.  Just my humble opinion.  Oh by the way I keep a fishing rod in the back seat so that I have to move it to the back of the truck everytime that I leave to show.  Sort of sets the tone of living in a waterfront area and how laid back the area is and a good place to retire.  Got a little wordy did't I.

[Tommy sez: Oh by the way I keep a fishing rod in the back seat]

Hey that's cool, Tommy. Lets clients know you are truly a neighborhood expert!

I keep a casino bucket full of quarters in mine for the same reason! :)

Candice said: "I keep a casino bucket full of quarters in mine for the same reason! :)"

LOL - me too, except for the "full" part :)

Step stool? Nope, I advise them to get a running start... lol

If I know my vehicle is going to be an issue, I start to beg early for my wife's Land Cruiser.

For good or ill, I actually took a listing recently from a guy that had a better car than me. And, the reason was because of his car.

The reason the seller didn't take the listing was because a 22 year old showed up to the house in a 90 thousand dollar BMW. He was likely a very talented agent (even at 22) as they were very impressed with him and he had a great sales record.

The listing actually came down to the car. The seller told me that they liked him a lot and were ready to list with him until I showed up.

"A 22 year old that drives a 90k car will not give a Sh*! about our house," was the response of the owner.

Had he not been so flashy with the car, then they probably would have selected him.

The house was a 520k house...not luxury but nice enough for them to not flinch at a luxury vehicle.

I know that I’m slightly off of the subject, but I was wondering if it is just me, or if as a group we don’t drive clients around anymore. I have yet to drive a client in my car. Not that I would mind, but it always works out that I meet the client(s) at a location and they follow me from site to site. The closest that I came to actually having a client in my car, was one time while we were waiting for the lister to show up, the client sat in my car to await the lister‘s arrival. Is this unusual, or has this been most of your experiences as well?

My husband picked *my* car - Dodge Magnum.  It's got the muscle, looks great - stands out, yet it's a station wagon!  I did once have to drive his car to drive an out of town buyer around for a day.  Fortunately, we had gotten to know each other because hubby drives a POS during the week.  Buyer's husband even loaned me his portable GPS.  Fun!

Jackie, there was a recent thread about just that. Try a quick search and see if it comes up. Can't remember the author, but perhaps one of the others will . . .

I tell my agents that I don't care what they drive as long as they keep it clean and functioning properly.

It does depend on your speciality.  If you specialize in luxury homes, then a luxury car might be appropriate. If you specialize in farm and ranch, then you should have a more rugged vehicle.  

I don't haul people around in my vehicle much and even when I was a regular agent, I didn't do it very often even then.  

I like a full size car because of my back.  If I didn't, I'd spend most of my time with a heating pad on my back and popping Aleve.  I drive a '96 Crown Victoria with 134K miles on it. He (his name is Victor...) does get decent gas mileage even though He has a 4.6 liter engine in it....about 26 highway mpg and 19 in town. He's looking a bit ragged though since the clearcoat is peeling but he runs great.  I think I can get another 2 or 3 years out of him.  I'd like to get a more fuel efficient vehicle but I'm waiting for them to work the bugs out of the hybrids before I shell out any money.  I don't buy brand new cars anymore either because that is a waste of money and I don't like going into debt.

Here it is Candice ---> http://tinyurl.com/yrqgvw

It was me!  Here it is  http://tinyurl.com/2ugj7r

oops - that didn't work right.  Try this one!  http://tinyurl.com/3896bx

Beez, I found another one in addition to yours. LOL

Thanks Belinda & Craig

Guess I'm a mom.  I drive a Honda Oddysey Van.  With leather, built in DVD player with wireless headphones, 4 captains chairs and a stow away back seat.  I work with a lot of military families, and when they get to town they don't have any place for the kids to be except with us.  I have DVD's for every age group.. those with the headphones help the parents and I focused on getting that house ASAP!!  

I think it has to be what your clients expect.  In our new "green" era, having a hybrid comes with a story... use it to your advantage. I think your clients will respect you for it.

Shelly

I suggest looking at the car manufactures total investment in the US as that directly impacts the economy here check here. http://www.levelfieldinstitute.org/

The new Cadillac CTS is nice, 100k warranty great gas mileage for a car with over 300 horse power.

The Chrysler 300c is nice too V/8 torque and has a lifetime warranty.

I have an 06 Wrangler and a 06 Commander.  

Al Block did a post earlier this year here

http://tinyurl.com/ywn85w

and Carmen and Jeff Bills did one similar here

http://tinyurl.com/yqvjf9

Bob, those are the kind of posts of shared information that keep me coming to learn. Nice job, Amy. Thanks!

Thanks for posting those Bob. Interesting!

This is a very good topic.  When I first got into the business 3 years ago I was driving a 2002 Dodge Dakota Pickup.  I loved the truck But i was worried about what my clients might think,  so about 3 months after getting my license I traded in my truck for a 2004 Dodge Durango. I feel good about that choice, I've had many of my clients compliment me on my SUV,  But yes I do think that you need to think twice about  do you really need a fancy car ro not,  I would  rather drive the average car and Sell myself and not worry about the car I am driving but to many people who know you are a realtor will say to them selves and I have heard it before that unless you are driving a nice car you must not be too good and selling real estate.  Most of us in the early years have gone through this.

Wow, what a fantastic thread!  My wife and I are hving discussions now on what to do.  

I have a 2003 Ford Expedition LTD (cloth seats, but nice and big, a good green color, seats 8, go anywhere 4x4)

A 2005 Chrysler Pacifica (Metallic blue and leather, similar bodystyle to a Mercedes R350).  

My wife has an 07 Expedition MAX Limited I can use if it's a very high end property and I want to show well.

My Point:  The 2003 Expedition is great in the winter, has been used on 4x4 trips over development parcels (one of my clients was telling me how exciting it was driving over a beaver dam with me earlier this summer to see some land), and I enjoy the ride.  It has a few dings, and if I keep it I'll probably spend some money making it look new again.  It has 160k and a new motor (totally my bad on the old one blowing up).

My Wifes Point:  The 2005 Pacifica still seats 6, burns 30% less fuel, has a classier leather interior and is lower to the ground which might make it more appealing, and it is more luxury than my big truck.  I've had good response from it as well, and it's also nice to drive, but not in blizzard weather where I have little concern with the Expedition.

What's your guys and gals opinion?  I'm excited to hear what you think.

Big bullish power that sucks fuel, goes anywhere, and has a few dings but sharp?  

Or midsize, more luxurious, quieter, better on fuel, but not as good to drive in winter (rememebr I can take the 07 expedition MAX if I need to)

I'd consider my expedition the firefighter, and the pacifica the metrosexual. <lol>

Other note:  resale : Pacifica 20,000 and Expedition 15,000

So Patrick, is the question which of the three vehicles to cut loose?

Is gas efficiency a huge issue? (Do you drive a lot, is gas expensive comparatively?)

What is more practical for your area--terrain, etc? Do you mostly city drive or do you need to roll over developer parcels a lot, etc?

In my area and with properties I need to deal with, my truck wins out. I have a cute little red Mustang for the zipping around gas efficiently but for everything else, the truck rules.

For you, I would think the area and your real estate needs would probably dictate, likewise.

PS. Just remember kidz . . . for every person who would judge you for not having a fancy car . . . there is at least one other person who would perceive you as 'not needing their business' or 'being too sale-oriented (rather than customer svc.-oriented)' for having too fancy a car.

I have heard that SOOOOO MANY times and I'm sure many of you have too.

Can't please all the people all the time so drive what works best for you and your situation/objective.

I also have seen enough instances in my area, where we get a lot of bored vacationers wanting to tour . . . where the looking for an agent with a big fancy car correlated to a non-serious 'lookie' rather than a bonafide principal.

Those who want to relax  in a nice cushy Lincoln or Caddy in between casino tournaments and going out on the river . . . YMMV of course.  ;)

I used to drive an old Acura legend with 200,000 miles. But one day, I decided that my customers needed to feel safe. So I bought an infiniti G35. My customers seemed to like it. My attitude improved, because I was happy driving people around all day.