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The Car Dealership 12 Favorite Slang Phrases

January 2, 2025
AAR is celebrating the holiday season by spending the last two weeks of 2024 chattering about some lighter issues- we spent much of our blog space on auction practices- not a lot of Xmas cheer there. So in the spirit of Christmas and the New Year, we present our “Car Dealership 12 Favorite Slang Phrases:. Ok, it’s not EXACTLY the 12 Days of Christmas, but you get the idea.

Some of these phrases you may recognize, some not. Heck, you may read them and think, “Jeez, did we REALLY say that back then?” You may get a chuckle, or even scowl. But this week and next, we will revisit some of the most charming (or not) car dealer phrases and slogans. Special thanks to Dave Carberry for his Car Dealership Slang Dictionary on www.eradius.com. Enjoy!

In alphabetical order:
  1. BEATER: SEE SLED – we all know one when we see one. Some raging turd trade in that barely runs, and smells like a bucket of poo. Especially wonderful to have to move one to the back in 95 degree weather with dirty diapers stuffed under the seat. Yuck.
  2. BE BACK – Prospective buyer who has been in the dealership once or several times. In theory, they want more information. In most reality, they will continue to waste your time and irritate the crap out of your desk manager. Often these guys become PIPE SMOKERS (wait till next week). More yuck.
  3. BOGUE – Customer with terrible credit. They normally come in wanting the Platinum F150 and can’t qualify for the 09 Ford Focus on the CASH SPECIAL line. Also known as RATS. Problem with these customers is you normally spend a crap ton of time with them. PRE-QUALIFY!!!
  4. CLOSER –  Usually a pushy salesman whose job it is to “close” the deal with a customer when the customer hesitates. Closers can be your best friend in a dealership; just don’t go drinking a the bar with them. They are usually broke and have a high tolerance for Crown Royal. Half the time they get you into a fight and land you in jail.
  5. ETHER –  Slang term used in association with what you think it is- somebody is pretty high on getting a new car – “in the ether”. Like convincing someone a 13 Elantra is worth $850/month- that dude won’t be happy once he comes OUT of the ether.
  6. FLAKE –  See BOGUE, above. We had a cat 25 years ago that kept looking at our 93 Probe GT we had on the lot- he came in about 4 times and kept yammering about putting in an AWD conversion kit. FLAKE!
  7. GREEN PEA –  Here is a universal one- “New salesman or sales business manager”. How many times did one of you make him take the FLAKES and the BOGUES?
  8. LAID AWAY –  A customer who has paid the maximum price for as many items (warranty, etching, rustproofing, extended warranty, etc) as possible. Known also as a HOME RUN or SUCKER. Think back to when the Ford Expeditions came out, or more recently, anyone who paid sticker + $$$$$$ for a Cybertruck.
  9. LAY DOWN –  Self explanatory. Do these people exist anymore?????
  10. LOT LIZARD – The nice definition is “the sales people who stand around outdoors on the car lot, usually in small groups of two orthree, waiting for a customer to come along so they can pounce on them to make a sale”. Be on the lookout for fake Rolexes, hair gel, and an abundance of polyester ties and chains.
  11. MICKEY –  Slang term used to describe a down payment loan that is arranged by the dealership. Also known as a PICKUP PAYMENT. Usually associated with FIRST PAYMENT DEFAULTS.
  12. NICKEL –  Refers to $500 for either for the SLED or BEATER trade-in, or down payment. Should be the highest $$$ amount ever put on any 15 year old Land Rover. Same goes for Passats, Audis, and any Chrysler product older than 2010.

Anyway, folks, here is AAR’s 12 Car Dealership Favorite Phrases! We will get 12 more done before the New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!


Review, Rate, and Resolve!

Dane Hulse

President/Founder |  AAR

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Manheim and Meridian Cars—What’s the Deal?

October 15, 2024

We’ve all done it… Nearly 100% of the time, without thinking twice. Even if we did, we probably wouldn’t care.


What’s this common occurrence in the car dealer world?


Buying or selling a previously arbitrated or failed post-sale car. Or… in plain language… buying someone’s problem and dumping one of yours on another dealer. If we really thought about it, some of us might feel a little ashamed (maybe not).


For those who don’t know, Meridian vehicles are basically Manheim (or Manheim-powered) units returned via the “Deal Shield” policy offered on most Manheim purchases.


Here’s the recap of a story from one of our dealers


Dealer bought a 2020 Altima SR Premium with a 4.0 CR. Seems like a decent deal, right?


But then…

-$1,500 in paintwork.
-$1,400 in tires (Manheim cut $500 off the price for that).


The final blow?


The car had a non-disclosed AutoCheck for theft recovery!!


Yep, was double-checked. It wasn’t announced when purchased …


That deal left a bad taste his mouth, and he decided…


“no more Meridian Remarketing for me.”


But this got me thinking…

-Should Manheim Be More Transparent?
-Should they announce that Meridian vehicles are Deal Shield rejects?
-Should the issues they were returned for be disclosed?


Isn’t this kind of like a Used Car Lemon Law situation?


Let’s be real… dealers dump their junk on each other all the time. It’s nothing new.


But Manheim, as the legitimate re-purchaser of these vehicles, should they have a duty to announce these units as buybacks?


Dealers don’t have to announce much about their cars—red light, green light, it’s all in play.


But Cox Automotive, with their empire of products and services, shouldn’t they hold themselves to a higher standard when it comes to transparency on vehicles they’ve repurchased for known issues?


Isn’t this a bit like unwinding a deal because of undisclosed structural damage?


That has to be announced going forward.


Where’s the line? Should Meridian Remarketing disclose that their vehicles are Deal Shield buybacks?


Seems like a conversation worth having…


Let me know what you think in the comments.

Dane Hulse

President/Founder |  AAR

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  • In Sept I bid/purchased a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It was deliver with some smoking, upper engine knocking and ticking noise and oil steadily drippin…

    Jeff Lewis OpenLane

  • As some may know, in addition to being the President and Founder of Auto Auction Review, I am a buyer for a dealer group in Atlanta, Georgia. I buy p…

    Dane Hulse DealerClub

  • I’m a small independent who is getting choked out to death financially by the big corporations including the big corporate auctions. I’m certain many …

    Rob Harrington Tallahassee Auto Auction

  • Read my complaint that I filed with AAR. Openlane at times has sketchy inspections, and their arbitration policy and process is terrible. They are s…

    Carl S. OpenLane

  • Americas Auto Auction in Pensacola: This is “my home auction” for about 20 plus years. It’s a great auction for the little guys who buy here in terms …

    Rob Harrington America’s Auto Auction of Pensacola

  • Long Beach Auto Auction scores again with me. Bought one today ordered my first post sale inspection on a qualified unit. LBAA informed me that…

    Rob Harrington Long Beach Auto Auction

  • I am a small wholesale dealer who sells all of my cars at Manheim Georgia. Recently I sold a Kia Sorento to a large buyer, and the unit went through …

    Tony Schuble Manheim Georgia

  • What an awesome website! (My first time here!) I wanted to give a huge congratulatory message regarding Long Beach Auto Auction in Mississippi. About …

    Rob Harrington Long Beach Auto Auction

  • Great Auction, Amazing People…

    Roger Stehr State Line Auction

  • Great overall experience…

    Roger Stehr OVE (Online Vehicle Exchange)
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