Daily Podcast: See, They Install That TruCoat at the Factory. There's Nothing We Can Do.

Justin Berkowitz
by Justin Berkowitz

North Dakota has a population of 640,000. It also has the largest state-owned sheep research center in the United States. What it doesn't have, however, is easy access to a number of car brands. North Dakota, you see, is the only state in which Kia doesn't have a single dealership. North Dakota is also missing Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, BMW, Isuzu (no love lost over that, either), Volvo, Saab, Jaguar, or Hummer. We often call dealerships out on the carpet for tactics that interfere with sales, but not being there altogether is a step beyond. Naturally there is a reason why a number of luxury import brands don't have a presence in an agricultural state with a relatively tiny population. For those who are in the market for such vehicles, they're in some luck: the largest city in the Peace Garden State is Fargo, which sits right on the Minnesota border (where you can get your hands on *anything*). But hey, it means there are plenty of opportunities for you to get rich by owning your own car dealership. Where else could a BMW dealership claim an entire state as its sales territory?

Justin Berkowitz
Justin Berkowitz

Immensely bored law student. I've also got 3 dogs.

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 4 comments
  • N Number N Number on Nov 28, 2007

    One of our contractors in Wyoming is a North Dakota crew. They talk just like the Minnesotans in the movie and I've never been able to get a straight answer out of them as to why their state is "The Peace Garden State." Super bunch of guys, though. Hard working. They drive Chevys.

  • Tech98 Tech98 on Nov 28, 2007

    The International Peace Garden spans the North Dakota-Monitoba border: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Peace_Garden Perhaps that's the only noteworthy attraction in the entire state.

  • Blautens Blautens on Nov 28, 2007

    Mr. Farago - Sure, I'll correct you...sort of. The Hyundai 5 year/60,000 mile "New Vehicle" warranty IS transferable...but the 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty gets bumped down to 5/60 for the next lucky owner...per the Hyundai website: "Second and/or subsequent owners have powertrain components coverage under the 5 year / 60,000 mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty." Not bad. Perhaps you're thinking of Chryslerebus and their non transferable "lifetime" powertrain warranty. P.S. Keep up the podcasts...you have more listeners than you think.

  • Mud Mud on Nov 29, 2007

    One of my favorite movies!

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